# Online Scheduling Platforms Microsoft's 'Bookings' Service Makes Online Scheduling Easier By Hayley McGlone | Published 2016-07-21 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bookings References: [techcrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/20/microsoft-debuts-bookings-a-new-office-365-service-for-online-appointment-scheduling/?ncid=rss) [Microsoft](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microsoft-teams-1) is expanding its Office 365 suite to include a new [online appointment scheduling platform](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scheduling-infrastructure) called 'Bookings.' The service is aimed at making it easier for both businesses and consumers to schedule and organize appointments. Bookings manages every aspect of appointment scheduling including booking the original appointment online, [sending out confirmations and reminders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meeting-on-time), handling re-scheduling and cancellations and updating the business staff's calendar. The Microsoft platform will work in conjunction with its Office 365 platform to provide a holistic service platform for its business consumers. The platform also helps consumers to make and keep track of all their appointments. Bookings works on both desktop and mobile platforms and all customers have to do is enter in their contact information and book the appointment and Bookings processes the rest of the appointment into the business's system. Bookings keeps both businesses and consumers in mind with its easy to use online scheduling service. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.9/10 - Popularity: 29% | Activity: 49% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Mobile](https://www.trendhunter.com/mobile) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Online Appointment Scheduling:** Microsoft's 'Bookings' shows the growth potential for online scheduling platforms in streamlining appointment management. - **Holistic Service Platform:** The integration of Microsoft's 'Bookings' with its Office 365 platform showcases opportunities for delivering a more comprehensive customer relationship management experience. - **Cross-device Accessibility:** The expansion of 'Bookings' to desktop and mobile platforms indicates the importance of enhancing user experience through seamless scheduling access across all devices. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Technology:** The rise of online scheduling services like 'Bookings' present opportunities for technology providers to deliver more robust and customizable scheduling solutions for businesses. - **Healthcare:** The healthcare industry can leverage scheduling platforms like 'Bookings' to streamline patient management and reduce wait times. - **Retail:** The retail industry can make use of scheduling platforms to better align staff schedules with peak customer traffic and improve customer service. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Client Booking Management Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/omnibooking.md) - [Online Booking Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marble-booking.md) - [Team-Wide Appointment Scheduling](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fillout-scheduling.md) - [Online Booking Management Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reserve-rabbit.md) - [Unified Video Call Schedulers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zoom-scheduler.md) - [Hybrid Work Scheduling Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microsoft-teams-1.md) - [Social Messaging Booking Assistants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/calendarfix.md) - [Appointment Management Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/settr.md) - [Freestyle Meeting Schedule Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scheduling-tool.md)