Question about queue

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amraa_kaze

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When all of the agents in the queue are either on call (busy), if new callers call, they are placed in a waiting queue. But when this happens, the caller's money is running or minute is running or however you say it - they are losing money. Is it possible to configure such that they still get in the waiting queue but their money doesn't run until they successfully connect to an available agent?
 
amraa_kaze,

Basically what you are after is impossible with "standard" carrier services. Your carrier will recognise that you have picked up the call from the time that your PBX takes the call and places it in the queue...

There may be some sort of external service (it would need to be offered by the carrier), but apart from that, its starts billing the minute your PBX answers the call to commence the call flow (to a queue, to an extension, to a ring group etc)..

Regards

Bob
 
Bob, thank you for your response.
it is now my understanding that PBX takes the call and places it in the queue first before checking if there's any available agents to forward the call to. Is this correct?
Is there any way that the PBX doesn't take the call unless it knows there's a free agent available?
 
amraa_kaze,

First of all, finding a routine or macro (e.g. like used by FreePBX) that would do this, will be almost impossible. The reason for this is that it is not how a professional business would like to run.

Using your idea of only allowing calls in if an agent is available, you would need to write a macro that disabled your ability to accept calls based on Agents available. What this would present to a caller would be an engaged signal or a call drop, which is not very professional. The caller would not know whether their phone has an issue, or you have an issue on your end....However I am sure it could be written, but as for a professional outcome, I know I would not like it....

It is well known that waiting in a Queue will cost money (even carriers or internet providers have you waiting in queue....as a caller you weigh up whether it is worth waiting (which is why position in the queue or time to be answered is useful to a caller (which you can do with a standard Elastix system). If a person who calls, cannot afford to wait (e.g. they are using a Mobile), then you would choose a landline and call for a local call cost.

Likewise, you can implement a Queue Breakout IVR, say every minute (which is again in Elastix) with a message allowing them to leave a voicemail if they wish or there are some addons which will allow call back.....that is a professional solution.

Otherwise your other solutions is to hire more agents or add a priority number with a Priority queue if you have some "special" people. Provide them with this number if they have to ring the queue often...

All these things are industry standard....and expected... I know I get frustrated when I get no feedback on my position in the queue (so I can confirm I am not wasting my time with all agents on lunch).....and more frustrated when I cannot leave a message - I come to a very quick conclusion that it is a company that I don't wish to deal with...

Regards

Bob
 
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