How it works

The Microsoft Exchange Server integration uses Exchange Web Service (EWS) to view, create, and edit your organizations’ calendars according to users’ actions. The integration uses an Exchange account and it is authenticated to the EWS API with Basic Authentication. You can find more information about the EWS here.

Technically all bookings made from Optimaze Worksense are created by the room’s Exchange account which is being booked. The room is the organizer and invites the user and possible other participants to the calendar booking.

Support for EWS for Office 365 will be decommissioned by the second half of 2021. See more details here.

Setup Exchange Server integration

Exchange Server

For the integration you need to:

1. Create a Service Account on your Exchange service

2. Enable EWS for the Service Account
   
   PowerShell command:
   Set-CASMailbox -Identity [username] -EwsEnabled:$true
   

3. Give for the Service Account Author role to the resources' (meeting room calendars you want to book from Optimaze Worksense) Calendars
   
   Powershell command for adding Author role for a singe account’s Calendar  folder:
   Add-MailboxFolderPermission -identity [mailbox-name]:\Calendar -User [username] -AccessRights Author 
   

4. Give for the Service Account Author role to the resources' Deleted items folders
   
   Powershell command for adding Author role for a single account’s Deleted items folder:
   Add-MailboxFolderPermission -identity [mailbox-name]:\"Deleted items" -User [username] -AccessRights Author
   

5. Disable multi factor authentication (MFA) for the Service Account

6. Allow 3rd party applications from external networks to use EWS

Optimaze Worksense

Once you have configured your Exchange Server accordingly you can enable the integration in Optimaze Worksense. You must have Administrator role in Optimaze Worksense in order to setup the integration enable booking features.

1. Log in to Optimaze Worksense

2. Navigate to the ‘Administration’ tab

3. Select ‘Exchange (BETA)’

4. Click the toggle button next to ‘Enable Exchange integration’

5. Enter your Exchange Server’s EWS URL

6. Enter the Service Account’s username or UPN

7. Enter the Service Account’s password

8. Click ‘Save’