Understand Common Terminology Used in Microsoft Bookings

Questions

  • What do "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?
  • What does "services" refer to 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, teaching assistants, student workers, or anyone making themselves available for booking.
  • Business: The organizational unit whose calendar provides appointments. Examples: an academic advising office, a 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: a 30-minute office hours meeting, fall registration advising, or an 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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Remove the Service Price from Microsoft Bookings
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A complete walkthrough for setting up a Microsoft Bookings calendar so students or others can self-schedule appointments during office hours. Covers logging in, creating the calendar, configuring business settings and services, setting up the staff profile, and publishing the booking page. Applies to Bowdoin faculty and staff, who get Microsoft Bookings at no additional cost with their Microsoft 365 account.