We're currently facing a challenge in our hybrid office where 100 people are competing for about 60 desks. Right now, we're managing our desk bookings with an Outlook calendar, but it's not cutting it anymore for our hybrid setup. I'm looking for a more visual solution that integrates with Outlook and ideally doesn't cost much—preferably free! I've checked out Deskbird, Archie, and am considering Microsoft Places but I'm unsure if it's right for us. Does anyone have experience with these tools or know of any free alternatives? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
5 Answers
Honestly, finding free software that meets your needs might be tough. You might end up spending money or your sanity finding the right one. We switched to Archie, and it’s been great for us. A visual floor plan makes it easy for everyone to use—a much better experience than our old Outlook setup!
If you're open to paid solutions, Skedda is pretty good. It’s not free, but it’s also not crazy expensive, and it’s straightforward to set up.
Check out these options: [seatsurfing.io](https://seatsurfing.io) and [LibreBooking](https://github.com/LibreBooking/app). The first one looks particularly user-friendly!
I’d say Microsoft Places might be limited because it lacks a map feature unless you have the right setup with Teams Premium, which can be a hassle. We use Robin, and it works pretty well with an easy-to-create map, but I’m not sure how much it costs.
If you want something that might not cost extra, consider Microsoft's Bookable Desk. It works through Teams and integrates with your existing licenses if you have a Desk Phone. Here’s more info on that [link](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/rooms/bookable-desks).
Actually, there is a map option, but you need the correct format to make it work. You can check it out [here](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/places/configure-maps-in-places).