Google Calendar's 'find a time' feature will help schedule work meetings
Google is rolling out a new feature for its Google Calendar application for Android that could take some of the pain out of scheduling work meetings.
With the new "find a time" button, users can get suggestions for meeting times that will fit in to the calendars of whomever is invited. The feature is designed specifically for organizations where calendar sharing amongst colleagues is the norm, Google product manager Stella Schieffer wrote in a blog post.
The Calendar feature takes into account differing time zones, availability and the times when people usually have meetings when figuring out the best meeting option.
If no times fit, Calendar will examine the schedule conflicts and figure out which ones can be most easily rescheduled.
"'Find a time' makes suggestions, but you're still in control," Schieffer wrote in the blog post. "You can tap to see everyone's schedule at a glance -- perfect for making sure the timing works for all. And if you manage someone else's calendar, you can use the feature to schedule meetings on their behalf as well."
Google Calendar's 'find a time' is similar to the app's Goals option that was rolled out earlier this month. As Google explained in a blog post, the Goals feature is designed to help people find time to work on personal goals during a hectic week.
When something comes up that conflicts with the time allocated to a goal, Calendar will automatically reschedule the goal. There's also a 'Defer' button that will push the goal to a vacant slot at a later time.
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