Common terminology used in Microsoft Bookings

Questions

  • What does "customers," "staff," or "services" mean in Microsoft Bookings?
  • Why does Microsoft Bookings use business-oriented language?
  • How do Bookings terms translate to a college or university setting?
  • Who is the "business" or the "customers" in Microsoft Bookings at Bowdoin?
  • What is a "booking page" in Microsoft Bookings?

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin College faculty and staff using Microsoft Bookings. The application was originally designed for small businesses such as salons or sales offices, so the interface uses business-oriented language that does not map directly to an academic setting.

Resolution

The following terms appear throughout the Microsoft Bookings interface, with their Bowdoin equivalents:

  • Bookings — Unless referring to the application itself, this means “appointments.”
  • Staff — People who are taking appointments. At Bowdoin this could be faculty, staff, TAs, student workers, or anyone making themselves available for booking.
  • Business — The organizational unit whose calendar provides appointments. Examples: an academic advising office, student services department, or an individual’s name. You assign one or more staff members within a business.
  • Customers — The people booking appointments with you. At Bowdoin, these are usually students, but could be anyone inside or outside the College.
  • Booking page — The appointment scheduling page people use to book time with you, based on the services you have configured.
  • Services — The types of appointments you offer. Bowdoin examples: 30-minute office hours meeting, fall registration advising, IT troubleshooting session.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
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Related Articles (3)

Microsoft Bookings - Getting Started Guide
First-time login and setup introduction for Microsoft Bookings. Covers how to access Bookings, create your first calendar, and important initial configuration tips.
Remove the Service Price from Microsoft Bookings
How to remove or hide the default service price from a Microsoft Bookings appointment type. Since appointments at Bowdoin are free, the price field should be set to "Price not set."
Scheduling Office Hours Using Microsoft Bookings
Step-by-step guide to creating a Microsoft Bookings calendar for faculty office hours. Covers creating a calendar, configuring a service, setting up staff availability, and publishing the booking page.