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How to Configure Microsoft Bookings for Staff in Different Time Zones
Question details
The user needs to configure Microsoft Bookings so that staff members located in different time zones have their accurate working hours reflected for customer appointments.
- Product
- Microsoft Bookings
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Setting up availability schedules for globally distributed staff members, such as those in Japan, California, and Slovenia.
- Observed behavior
- Bookings interprets service hours solely based on the primary business page time zone, causing incorrect availability windows for staff in other regions unless manually converted.
Determine your Bookings page's primary business time zone and calculate the exact equivalent working hours for each staff member's local time zone before updating their profiles.
Configure Equivalent Time Ranges in the Business Time Zone
Convert each remote staff member's local working hours into the primary business page time zone and apply these customized settings to their individual profile.
Microsoft Bookings uses the primary business page time zone to interpret all service hours. To ensure staff members in different regions receive bookings during their actual working hours, you must translate their local availability into your business time zone.
Determine the time difference between your Bookings business page time zone and the staff member's local time zone. For example, if your business is in UTC+1 and your staff is in Tokyo, a 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Tokyo shift corresponds to approximately 2:00 AM to 10:00 AM in UTC+1.
Navigate to the 'Staff' section in Microsoft Bookings, select the specific staff member, and uncheck 'Use business hours'. Enter the converted time range you just calculated.
Go to your 'Booking Page' settings and make sure that 'Always show time slots in business hours' is disabled. This ensures customers can view the specific staff member's tailored availability.
Streamline Global Team Management with WPS Office
If navigating complex time zone settings in Microsoft 365 apps becomes overwhelming, consider using WPS Office for your administrative needs. It is a highly compatible, free alternative that lets you create, share, and collaborate on global team schedules effortlessly.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite on your device.
- 2. Create a Team Schedule: Open WPS Spreadsheet and use built-in templates to map out your global team's time zones and availability.
- 3. Share and Collaborate: Save your schedule in .xlsx format and share it seamlessly with team members anywhere in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone do customers see when booking an appointment?
Microsoft Bookings automatically detects the customer's browser or device settings and displays the available appointment slots translated into the customer's own local time zone.
Why are my staff's custom available hours hidden from customers?
If the 'Always show time slots in business hours' setting is enabled on your Booking Page, it overrides individual staff hours. Disable this setting so customers can see the specific availability windows of your global staff.
Does Microsoft Bookings automatically adjust individual staff availability for Daylight Saving Time (DST)?
Bookings adjusts based on the business time zone's DST rules. If a staff member lives in a region that observes DST differently, their relative working hours will shift, and you must manually update their availability hours in Bookings.
