Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Calendar User Availability API launching to beta soon, sign-up now and preview documentation in advance

[Update] 

What’s changing 

Coming soon to beta, the Calendar User Availability API will be used to programmatically access the working location feature in Google Calendar. You can gain access to the beta through the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program


You can preview the API documentation now to prepare in advance and share your initial feedback as we move closer to beta.




Who’s impacted 

Admins and developers 


Why you’d use it 

The working location feature is an easy way for users to share where they’ll be working for any given day or period of time. Up until now, only end users could create these calendar entries. Now, this information can be read and written using an API to manage and accommodate the needs of your employees. 


Customers rely on other applications to set their location context, such as booking a desk with hot desk booking tools or requesting and setting “work from home” days in HR management tools. This creates duplicative work for end users. With the API, a user’s working location can be programmatically set or accessed directly from the user’s calendar to any other third-party application. 


Additionally, by surfacing working location context into other systems and tools like internal team directories, customers can optimize the flow of people in their physical office locations. Or you can use the API to prepare for the demand of dining services, conference rooms, and more, based on this data. 


Getting started 


Availability 

While all developers will be able to use the API, apps created using the API are only accessible to those on eligible Workspace editions: 
  • Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade and Nonprofits customers, as well as legacy G Suite Business customers 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Frontline, G Suite Basic customers 

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