Extension of the groupware interface: Microsoft Graph API (Exchange / Office365)
With the optional groupware system module, the customer can choose to display appointments/meetings from their individual groupware systems such as (Microsoft Office 365 Exchange, Exchange On-Premise/Outlook, HCL Notes /Domino, Zimbra) into the web desk and absences (such as Vacations) can be transferred to the groupware calendar (e.g. personal Outlook calendar). Additionally, the time off information is also displayed in the attendance list and if the appropriate authorization is given, you can also see the appointments/meetings of your colleagues.
The advantages resulting from this are obvious:
- Appointments/meetings, presences and absences of colleagues are displayed in the web des calendar views (personal calendar, group calendar or calendar overview for supervisors)
- Easier and efficient vacation and meeting planning, as the time-consuming consolations with colleagues is no longer necessary
- It eliminates to need to post holiday lists
- No need to create new entries in the Outlook calendar after the vacation request has been approved through the web desk
- Saves paper and time
- Perfect addition for a hybrid work place, as the planning/booking of home office days will be automatically be carried into the individual Outlook calendar
Since the latest Web desk update release, we have been using Microsoft Graph API In order to synchronize planned absence reasons in Microsoft Outlook (Exchange/Office 365) calendar or to display appointments/meetings from the Outlook calendar.
The Microsoft Graph API replaces the Exchange Web Service, which is currently not being developed any further. In order to raise the security standards, the basic authentication is replaced by OAuth 2.0. This eliminates the need to set up a service account that can access the employees’ calendars via impersonation rights.
Some of our customers have particularly high security standards. For this reason, we have built an option into the current Web desk version, which enables the user to share his Outlook (Exchange / O365) calendar himself and only then can Web desk access the user’s calendar. Employees thus grant his permission to access his calendar resources.
If your organization should migrate to Office365 in the near future or if you want to benefit from the advantages of the Web desk Groupware module in conjunction with your on-premise Exchange version, we look forward to hearing from you. We will show you the benefits and advantages of the groupware module in a non-binding conversation.