There are many well-known scheduling and booking tools available such as the popular Calendly app or Acuity. But why pay for an external or third-party application when you have a scheduling tool probably included in your already paid-for Microsoft Office 365 suite?
In this article, we will explain in more detail the reasons why businesses should use Microsoft bookings more.
Microsoft Bookings is an easy-to-use scheduler included with Office 365
Microsoft Bookings, which is part of your Microsoft 365 licensing plan (included with Business Standard; E3; E5; Business Premium), simplifies the process of setting and managing appointments with customers. It’s ideal for businesses such as medical offices, law firms, consultants, advisors, auto shops, hair salons, or anyone who provides services on an appointment basis. Customers can set appointments themselves or you can do it for them.
Bookings has 3 primary components:
- An online bookings page where your customers can schedule appointments with specific staff members. This page can be used as a stand-alone page or embedded in your website and works on desktop and mobile devices.
- An online backend where you can view and manage appointments, set a staff list and schedules, specify your services and pricing, record customer preferences, and customize how the service works.
- A mobile app you can use to view and manage bookings and access customer information from anywhere you can get an internet connection.
With Bookings, you can efficiently:
- Bring in Business 24/7 – You get a customizable public web page your customers can use to book appointments around the clock.
- Put an End to Phone Tag – Customers can view available times online and book the slot that’s most convenient for them. Customers who prefer to call can do so, and you can enter their information manually. Either way, confirmations are sent immediately and automatically.
- Reduce No-Shows – Send automated appointment reminders to customers, on the schedule you define, with date, time, and directions. You can set the system up to remind staff members automatically too.
- Offer Self-service Rescheduling and Cancellations – It’s easy for customers to change or cancel an appointment. All they have to do is click the link contained in the appointment confirmation email. You can control how much advance notice is required for cancellations.
- Manage Bookings on the Go – With the mobile app, you can add or view appointments and access or change staff and scheduling info when you’re away from the office. You can also view customer information and call or text customers directly from your mobile device.
A quick comparison between Calendly and Microsoft Bookings
Calendly provides similar features, aesthetics, and user experience to Microsoft Bookings, its free version does not provide several benefits that you get with Microsoft Bookings.
The purpose of a scheduling tool is to save time (in this case, save money as well), and leveraging a third-party service inevitably leads to greater effort, complication, and confusion. It can become messy and tedious after a while.
Does Microsoft Bookings integrate with Microsoft Teams?
With what feels like every business now using Microsoft Teams to collaborate digitally, it’s reassuring to know that Microsoft Bookings is also fully integrated with this platform.
Whenever an appointment is booked via Microsoft Bookings as an online meeting, it’ll also appear in the dedicated Bookings app which you can add to Microsoft Teams. Just like other types of meetings, attendees will be sent a link to join the Teams meeting as they normally would.
If you’re a big Teams user, the integrated Microsoft Bookings app will let you do everything from creating dedicated calendars (e.g. for specific teams), assigning staff to appointments, and much more – all without leaving Microsoft Teams.
Are you getting the most bang for your buck from Microsoft 365?
Here at EPX, we’re on a mission to ensure all our clients get the most from their Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
If you’d like to make sure you’re making the most of your plan – or you’re yet to get started with Microsoft 365 – we can help.
Call us today on 01785 878 311 or book your free 15-minute consultation with one of our Account Managers here to learn more about what Microsoft 365 could do for your business.
