Concept

The Advanced Hosted Services Call Queuing feature allows PBX administrators to manage high traffic call flows. This feature is sometimes called an ACD (which stands for Automatic Call Distribution). When all lines are in use for the company or group, you can place the caller in queue until the next available agent is free instead of having the caller listen to a busy signal or sending them to voice mail. While in a queue, callers can hear music on hold or custom company announcements. There are several different types of queues that can be used depending on business needs.

Definitions

There are five types of call queues:

  • Round-robin (longest idle) – This type of queue routes callers to the available agent that has been idle the longest.
  • Ring All – This type of queue routes callers to all available agents at the same time.
  • Linear Hunt – This type of queue routes callers to the available agents in a predefined order. The order is defined when editing the queue's agents.
  • Linear Cascade – This type of queue routes callers to groups of available agents in a predefined order. The order is defined when editing the queue's agents.
  • Call Park – This feature places the caller on hold until an agent retrieves them. It is not used for ACD functionality.

Rules

  • Call queues can be configured and modified only by users with a scope of Office Manager/Call Center Supervisor or higher.
  • Only once a call queue is set up can agents be added.
  • Call queues can contain both on-net and off-net agents.
  • Only online agents can be part of an active queue.
  • If a device is not registered then the agent will be considered to be offline.
  • Icon colors represent agent status; grey - offline, green - online, red - online but currently taking a call.
  • Agents that are a part of multiple queues can prioritize one queue over another.
  • Queues must have music on hold files uploaded to it; otherwise, domain default music on hold will be played.
  • You must assign a dedicated extension/owner.
  • Each device under the same user needs to be added as an agent to ring. For example, if user 100 has 2 devices, 100 and 100a, adding 100 as an agent will not ring 100a even if 100 is set to ring all its devices.
  • If the extension you are creating for the queue is not currently present; the system will create one and indicate this by showing the green New label to the right of the dialog box.

Adding a Call Queue

To create a Call Queue select the 'Add Call Queue' button from within the 'Call Queues' tab.

When prompted, complete the form by entering a numeric name and an existing extension to be associated with the queue. 

Note: To locate the existing extension, you may begin typing it in the Extension field, or you may click the field and select as a drop-down option. Additionally, if an extension is selected that is already being used, a small warning message will appear, as seen below.

Optionally, you may enter a Department and/or Site for the Call Queue.

Once the queue has been named and numbered, select the appropriate Queue Type and complete the instructions listed below for the applicable Queue Type.

Note: Please be sure the Basic information (within the red rectangle seen above) is entered before proceeding to the Queue Type instructions. 

1. Round-Robin

To enable a Round-Robin queue type, select the radio button that displays “Round-robin (longest idle)”.

Basic Tab Fields

  • If 'Record Calls' is enabled, then the call queue can be configured to be recorded.
  • If 'Statistics' is enabled, the system generates call queue-related information for the Call Center Supervisor.

Pre Queue Tab Fields

  • The 'Require Agents' sets whether at least one agent is required to be online before sending the caller to the queue.
  • The 'Queue Audio' sets the type of audio to play during call queueing. If ringback is selected, the API will copy over the ringback.wav file from the default audio list into the MOH directory. 
  • The 'Require intro MOH' will play the MOH in full and not attempt any agents until it completes.
  • The 'Max Expected Wait' is the time in seconds before the queue is unavailable to new callers. This applies when the queue's average wait time reaches the maximum expected wait.
  • The 'Max Queue Length' is the maximum amount of callers allowed in the queue before it's full and unavailable to new callers.
  • The 'Allow Callback' option allows the system to prompt the user for a callback option instead of waiting if timing conditions are met.
  • If the queue reaches the maximum wait time or the queue is full the Forward if the unavailable option will be used. 

In Queue Tab Fields

  • The Queue Ring Timeout is how long the queue will attempt to ring agents before following an exit option.
  • The Agent Ring Timeout is how long the queue will ring agents before moving on to the next available. This should be less than the Queue Ring Timeout.
  • You can set if you want an agent to be logged out of the queue if they miss a call
  • If agents fail to answer before the Queue Ring Timeout the Forward if unanswered exit option will be used.
  • Callers will be sent to queue's voicemail if agents fail to answer before the Ring Timeout and Forward if unanswered is not set. This will also trigger the system message; “Please continue to hold or Press 2 to leave a voicemail” and then return the call back to the queue if nothing is pressed.

There is an option to exit out of a Call Queue before reaching Queue Ring Timeout. In cases when there are no agents logged-in a Call Queue OR there are no agents available (all agents are busy) callers can press a star (*) button to exit from a Call Queue. If a Call Queue has Voicemail enabled then Callers will hear a Voicemail prompt (Press 2 to leave a voicemail) and if a Call Queue has the Callback feature enabled then Callers will hear a Callback prompt (Press 3 to keep your place in the queue and receive a callback when an agent is available). 

Please note that this escape button (*) will work only if a call is in Waiting mode, not Dispatching, i.e. if a call is being dispatched to an agent (there is an available agent) then upon pressing (*) nothing will happen.

Note: The voicemail box used if you press 2 will be the call queue owner/user mailbox.

2. Ring All

To enable the Ring-All queue type, select the radio button that displays “Ring All”.

Basic Tab Fields

  • If 'Record Calls' is enabled, then the call queue can be configured to be recorded.
  • If 'Statistics' is enabled, the system generates call queue-related information for the Call Center Supervisor.

Pre Queue Tab Fields

  • Require agents sets whether at least one agent is required to be online before sending the caller to the queue.
  • Queue Audio sets the type of audio to play during call queueing. If ringback is selected, the API will copy over the ringback.wav file from the default audio list into the MOH directory. 
  • Require intro MOH will play the MOH in full and not attempt any agents until it completes.
  • The Max Expected Wait is the time in seconds before the queue is unavailable to new callers. This applies when the queue's average wait time reaches the maximum expected wait.
  • The Max Queue Length is the maximum amount of callers allowed in the queue before it's full and unavailable to new callers.
  • Allow Callback option allows the system to prompt the user for a callback option instead of waiting if timing conditions are met.
  • If the queue reaches the maximum wait time or the queue is full the Forward if unavailable option will be used.

In Queue Tab Fields

  • Set the Queue Ring Timeout for how long the queue will attempt to ring agents before following an exit option.
  • If agents fail to answer before the Queue Ring Timeout the Forward if unanswered exit option will be used.
  • Callers will be sent to queue's voicemail if agents fail to answer before the Ring Timeout and Forward if unanswered is not set. This will also trigger the system message; “Please continue to hold or Press 2 to leave a voicemail” and then return the call back to the queue if nothing is pressed.

There is an option to exit out of a Call Queue before reaching Queue Ring Timeout. In cases when there are no agents logged-in a Call Queue OR there are no agents available (all agents are busy) callers can press a star (*) button to exit from a Call Queue. If a Call Queue has Voicemail enabled then Callers will hear a Voicemail prompt (Press 2 to leave a voicemail) and if a Call Queue has the Callback feature enabled then Callers will hear a Callback prompt (Press 3 to keep your place in the queue and receive a callback when an agent is available). 

Please note that this escape button (*) will work only if a call is in Waiting mode, not Dispatching, i.e. if a call is being dispatched to an agent (there is an available agent) then upon pressing (*) nothing will happen.

Note: The voicemail box used if you press 2 will be the call queue owner/user mailbox.

3. Linear Hunt

To enable the Linear Hunt queue type, select the radio button that displays “Linear Hunt”.

Basic Tab Fields

  • If 'Record Calls' is enabled, then the call queue can be configured to be recorded.
  • If 'Statistics' is enabled, the system generates call queue-related information for the Call Center Supervisor.

Pre Queue Tab Fields

  • Require agents to set whether at least one agent is required to be online before sending the caller to the queue.
  • Queue Audio sets the type of audio to play during call queueing. If ringback is selected, the API will copy over the ringback.wav file from the default audio list into the MOH directory. 

  • Require intro MOH will play the MOH in full and not attempt any agents until it completes.

  • The Max Expected Wait is the time in seconds before the queue is unavailable to new callers. This applies when the queue's average wait time reaches the maximum expected wait.

  • The Max Queue Length is the maximum amount of callers allowed in the queue before it's full and unavailable to new callers.
  • Allow Callback option allows the system to prompt the user for a callback option instead of waiting if timing conditions are met.
  • If the queue reaches the maximum wait time or the queue is full the Forward if the unavailable option will be used.

In Queue Tab Fields

  • Set the Queue Ring Timeout for how long the queue will attempt to ring agents before following an exit option.
  • The Agent Ring Timeout is how long the queue will ring agents before moving on to the next available. This should be less than the Queue Ring Timeout.
  • You can set if you want an agent to be logged out of the queue if they miss a call
  • If agents fail to answer before the Queue Ring Timeout the Forward if unanswered exit option will be used.
  • Callers will be sent to the queue's voicemail if agents fail to answer before the Ring Timeout and
  • Forward if unanswered is not set. This will also trigger the system message; “Please continue to hold or press 2 to leave a voicemail” and then return the call back to the queue if nothing is pressed.

There is an option to exit out of a Call Queue before reaching Queue Ring Timeout. In cases when there are no agents logged-in a Call Queue OR there are no agents available (all agents are busy) callers can press a star (*) button to exit from a Call Queue. If a Call Queue has Voicemail enabled then Callers will hear a Voicemail prompt (Press 2 to leave a voicemail) and if a Call Queue has the Callback feature enabled then Callers will hear a Callback prompt (Press 3 to keep your place in the queue and receive a callback when an agent is available). 

Please note that this escape button (*) will work only if a call is in Waiting mode, not Dispatching, i.e. if a call is being dispatched to an agent (there is an available agent) then upon pressing (*) nothing will happen.

Note: The voicemail box used if you press 2 will be the call queue owner/user mailbox.

TROUBLESHOOTING NOTE: If the call is not being sent to voicemail then check the Default settings for the domain to make sure that both VMail Prov and VMail control are set to yes. If not then you may experience calls staying in the queue despite having passed the configured timeout limit

4. Linear Cascade

To enable the Linear Cascade queue type, select the radio button that displays “Linear Cascade.”

Basic Tab Fields

  • If 'Record Calls' is enabled, then the call queue can be configured to be recorded.
  • If 'Statistics' is enabled, the system generates call queue-related information for the Call Center Supervisor.

Pre Queue Tab Fields

  • Require agents to set whether at least one agent is required to be online before sending the caller to the queue.
  • Queue Audio sets the type of audio to play during call queueing. If ringback is selected, the API will copy over the ringback.wav file from the default audio list into the MOH directory. 
  • Require intro MOH will play the MOH in full and not attempt any agents until it completes.
  • The Max Expected Wait is the time in seconds before the queue is unavailable to new callers. This applies when the queue's average wait time reaches the maximum expected wait.
  • The Max Queue Length is the maximum amount of callers allowed in the queue before it's full and unavailable to new callers.
  • Allow Callback option allows the system to prompt the user for a callback option instead of waiting if timing conditions are met.
  • If the queue reaches the maximum wait time or the queue is full the Forward if the unavailable option will be used.

In Queue Tab Fields

  • Set the Queue Ring Timeout for how long the queue will attempt to ring agents before following an exit option.
  • The Agent Ring Timeout is how long the queue will ring agents before moving on to the next available. This should be less than the Queue Ring Timeout.
  • Agents to Ring Initially are the number of available agents to ring based on their predefined order.
  • This is the first group of agents in the linear cascade.
  • Agents to Add After Timeout is the number of additional agents to ring after all of the first group of agents has been called.
  • The queue will ring the first group of agents and add additional agents simultaneously.
  • You can set if you want an agent to be logged out of the queue if they miss a call
  • If agents fail to answer before the Queue Ring Timeout the Forward if unanswered exit option will be used.
  • Callers will be sent to the queue's voicemail if agents fail to answer before the Ring Timeout and
  • Forward if unanswered is not set. This will also trigger the system message; “Please continue to hold or press 2 to leave a voicemail” and then return the call back to the queue if nothing is pressed.

There is an option to exit out of a Call Queue before reaching Queue Ring Timeout. In cases when there are no agents logged-in a Call Queue OR there are no agents available (all agents are busy) callers can press a star (*) button to exit from a Call Queue. If a Call Queue has Voicemail enabled then Callers will hear a Voicemail prompt (Press 2 to leave a voicemail) and if a Call Queue has the Callback feature enabled then Callers will hear a Callback prompt (Press 3 to keep your place in the queue and receive a callback when an agent is available). 

Please note that this escape button (*) will work only if a call is in Waiting mode, not Dispatching, i.e. if a call is being dispatched to an agent (there is an available agent) then upon pressing (*) nothing will happen.

Note: The voicemail box used if you press 2 will be the call queue owner/user's mailbox.

5. Call Park

To enable the Call Park queue type, select the radio button that displays “Call Park.”

Basic Tab Fields

  • Only the name and extension of the call park are required to create the Call Park queue.
  • All calls through this call park can be configured to be recorded (this needs to be configured as outlined in Section 2 of the Enhancements section)