Universal Resource Scheduling (URS) in Dynamics 365 empowers businesses to efficiently assign resources—people, equipment, or spaces—to tasks and bookings. Whether you’re dispatching field technicians, coordinating appointments, or managing assets, the Schedule Board is your control center for smart resource planning.

Core Capabilities of the Schedule Board

• Live visibility into resource availability
• Smart job matching based on skills, geography, and time zones
• Multi-resource and multi-day scheduling
• Color-coded bookings for easier tracking
• Full support for both standard and custom entities

How to Configure the Schedule Board

1. Enable Scheduling for the Required Entity

Start by marking the entities you wish to schedule (e.g., work orders, custom service requests) as “schedulable.” This activates the generation of Resource Requirements that can be booked on the board.

2. Generate and Manage Resource Requirements

When a schedulable record is created, the system automatically generates a Resource Requirement that defines what kind of resource is needed (role, duration, location, skills, etc.).

3. Customize Schedule Board Tabs

Tabs help separate views for different departments, territories, or service teams. You can define:

• Which resources appear on the tab
• Default view type (hour, day, week)
• Time zone behavior
• Applicable resource territories and roles

4. Add and Configure Filters (Custom Filters)

Custom filters streamline the dispatcher’s job by narrowing resource options. To add filters:

1. Go to the Schedule Board Settings
2. Under the Filter Layout section, define custom filter fields
3. Bind them to fields such as resource type, skill, territory, or custom flags
4. Save the layout and publish the tab

Example filters:

• Skills Filter: Only show resources certified in HVAC
• Geo Filter: Display resources within 50km radius of the job
• Shift Filter: Morning, Evening, or Night availability

5. Define and Use Resource Views

URS allows you to control how the resource grid is displayed using different view types:

• List View: Displays resources in a vertical scroll for fast scanning
• Gantt View: Visual time blocks across the day/week (default for dispatchers)
• Map View: Location-based plotting of resources and bookings (great for mobile teams)

You can toggle these views based on dispatcher needs or define defaults per tab.

Advanced Scheduling Features

• Quick Scheduling: Automatically assign the nearest available and qualified resource
• Multi-Resource Scheduling: Book teams or crew members together
• Multi-Day Scheduling: Ideal for jobs spanning several days like training, repairs, or audits
• Facility Scheduling: Reserve equipment, rooms, or bays along with people
• Time Constraints: Enforce earliest start, latest end, or mandatory time blocks

Using the Schedule Assistant

The built-in assistant helps dispatchers identify the best-fit resource by analyzing:

• Skills and role matching
• Location proximity
• Availability window
• Fulfillment preferences like cost or working hours

Licensing Considerations

URS is fully included with the Field Service app and can be extended to Customer Service and Project Operations. If you only have Sales Hub, additional scheduling rights are required via add-ons or separate licensing plans.

Practical Example: Scheduling a Custom Task

Suppose a project manager needs to schedule a series of planning sessions with a consultant and a meeting room:

• Create a custom “Planning Session” entity
• Enable it for scheduling with resource requirements (consultant + facility)
• Use a custom filter for certified project consultants
• Book using Gantt view or Schedule Assistant for both resources simultaneously

Best Practices

• Use different Schedule Board tabs for different teams or services
• Train dispatchers on assistant filters and color cues
• Use territory and skill-based filters to minimize travel and errors
• Set up clear naming conventions for views and filters

Final Thoughts

With the right configuration, the Schedule Board becomes a live, intelligent canvas that balances customer needs, resource capabilities, and business goals. From simple field visits to complex project crew allocations, URS brings structure and visibility to every scheduling challenge.