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Microsoft 365 Blog
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What's new in Microsoft Bookings: Updated homepage

PRC's avatar
PRC
Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
Feb 27, 2024

Introducing the updated Microsoft Bookings homepage  

Microsoft Bookings is a powerful tool that helps you schedule and manage appointments with your customers, clients, or colleagues. Whether you need to book time to meet people or set aside time for different meetings, Bookings makes it easy and convenient for both you and your attendees.  

 

Today, we would like to announce an update that will elevate the way you interact with Bookings, making it more intuitive, visually appealing, and seamlessly integrated into your workflow. Read on to find out what's new. This is primarily an experience update on the home page of Bookings and does not change any existing functionality.  

 

Exploring the Home Page 

With our latest update, the home page becomes your centralized hub for all things Bookings. You can now access both personal and shared bookings from a single surface. Whether you're managing personal appointments or coordinating with your team, everything you need is right on your homepage. You can easily switch between your shared and personal bookings pages workflows, view and edit your availability, and manage your appointments. You can create new meeting types (personal bookings) or bookings pages (shared bookings), either for yourself or for your team, with minimal clicks. 

 

Bookings homepage

 

 

Explore Personal Bookings 

Personal bookings is how you manage your own appointment timeslots, it allows you to easily configure and share your availability with your customers, clients, or colleagues. You can be in charge of your own time and avoid the back and forth of scheduling. You can also set aside time for specific activities by creating meeting types. Once you create a personal booking page, you can share a link with anyone who can then see your availability and easily schedule a time when you are free and is convenient for them. 

 

What are Meeting Types? 

Meeting types are the different kinds of appointments that you offer, such as a 30-minute consultation, a 15-minute check-in, or a 60-minute coaching session. You can customize each meeting type with a name, description, duration, location, and availability. You can also add buffer time, and confirmation emails to enhance your booking experience. The entire workflow of personal bookings is just the same.  

 

If you are new to Personal Bookings, here is what we have for you: 

 

Use the quick start templates. 

One of the easiest ways to get started with personal bookings is to use the quick-start templates. Find pre-created templates on your personal booking page that let you start booking appointments right away. You can use them as they are, or you can edit them to suit your needs. You can also create your own meeting types from scratch, or duplicate and modify the existing ones. 

 

Get Started Guide 

Our Get Started Guide walks you through the process in three simple steps. From previewing the customer experience to customizing your meeting types and sharing your booking page, we provide the tools and resources you need to succeed. To see it, just click on “Get Started” on the right side of your home page. 

Bookings Homepage with get started menu displaying

 

 

Explore Shared Bookings 

Shared bookings are booking pages that you create and manage for your team. They allow you to invite your team members to let your customers book time with you and your team. 

 

Enhanced New User Onboarding 

For new users embarking on their Bookings journey, we've introduced an exciting onboarding process designed to familiarize them with the product. From interactive coach marks to engaging tutorials, we make learning enjoyable and straightforward. Say hello to a smooth onboarding experience that sets you up for success from day one. 

 

The latest update for Microsoft Bookings only brings a fresh perspective to appointment management, with no functional or feature updates. With enhanced UI elements, we're committed to empowering you to do your best work. Whether you're a seasoned Bookings user or just getting started, there's something for everyone in this exciting update.  

Updated Feb 27, 2024
Version 1.0
  • TobiasAT's avatar
    TobiasAT
    Steel Contributor

    A bit disappointing. There are 728 feedbacks in the Bookings Feedback forum, and in your first Bookings post after a year you inform about an updated Homepage. Really not a big improvement for the last 12 months, but yeah, it's not Copilot. 

    Just as an addition, none of the feedbacks is a request for an updated Homepage. 

  • EdgarRamos's avatar
    EdgarRamos
    Copper Contributor

    Ok normally I don’t post on any of the communities but I have to say that this release is incredibly disappointing.

     

    There are hundreds of feedbacks from the community that have legitimate value for bookings as product but we got a new homepage. Geez thanks.

     

    What really bothers me is that bookings has a lot of small effort improvements that could be quick major wins, for the love of god show it some love. 

     

  • Neil Natic's avatar
    Neil Natic
    Copper Contributor

    How is it that we STILL cannot select a custom image for the banner.  Or as admins set one across our org.  This solution is so half baked its useless.  

  • AYKUTYLMZ's avatar
    AYKUTYLMZ
    Copper Contributor

    Big disappointing he means. Removing 'anyone' option can't be done for many years and millions are waiting on that. You say it is 2024 and home page is changed. A lot of bugs, a lot of problems but yeah copilot is more important..

  • CC12341234's avatar
    CC12341234
    Copper Contributor

    I am rather disappointed with Bookings all together.  Currently the issues are that the students name is not listed on the appointment and at times the person the student is meeting with is listed.  The students are not getting their notification a day before the appointment even though it is set up for a message to go out.  Bookings allows for appointments to be scheduled outside of business ours (like 8pm) when it is set up for 4:30pm to be the end time.  Too many random issues with Bookings to list them all.  Any assistance would be helpful.  Thank you.

  • CH0924's avatar
    CH0924
    Copper Contributor

    This is the first time I've seen Bookings, which appeared in my new Outlook. Honestly, I have no idea what it does or how it can help me. It looks like a slightly different way to book my appointments rather than from my calendar. I thought it was going to help integrate having multiple emails (and companies) in Outlook, attempting to combine them (and share, even if it shows other companies as "private meetings") so that I can share my calendar with outside parties. Further, I thought it would work like Calendly amongst my multiple emails/calendars so that I can send vendors/customers/employees my schedule by day, and it lists the times I (and others) are open for group meetings. I can't tell if it does any or none of these. 

     

    I would suggest Microsoft take more suggestions from the comments pages as mentioned above, and when new products are rolled out, feature them with an in-depth (video) presentation on the features and how they work with examples. That is what Todoist does, and it's very helpful.