Objective

Applies To

• 8x8 Contact Center
• Configuration Manager for Contact Center
• Schedules
• Holidays
• IVR
• Auto Attendant

Procedure

1. Click Home within Configuration Manager for Contact Center.
2. Select the Schedules tab.
3. Create a schedule by clicking on Add Schedule or amend a current schedule by double-clicking on the schedule name or alternatively clicking on the Pencil icon.
4. Within the setup for the Schedule, set your normal working hours under Weekly Schedule and then under Special Events and Holidays you can add your exceptions for the year, month, day etc.
   

   As special events are exceptions, the schedule will always follow the Weekly Schedule until the exception time starts and after the weekly time ends. This means if you want to open later than your Weekly Schedule you will be required to add a closed time slot into the exceptions to stop it opening as usual. See the examples of different scenarios below.

5. Examples of setups needed in the special Events for different scenarios: 
   • Open 8-6, want to close for a special lunch on Friday 23rd December 16 (such as a Christmas Lunch):
     
     
   • You want to open earlier on a specific day - in this example wanted to open 1hr earlier on Monday 19th Dec 16: 
     
   • Want to open 2hrs later ie on a bank holiday Monday:
     
     
   • Want to open later and close earlier on a bank holiday Monday: - 2 ways to do it: 
     First way (that is the clearest for all to read)
     
     
   • Second way
     
     
   • Setting up Choices in place of closed or open will mean the schedule will follow the "choice" options on the scripts instead of closed or open.
6. Once you have set your working hours and exceptions and given the schedule a name, click Save to exit the page. 

Note: If you have only amended the hours to close up early or set it to be closed then you do not need to go any further. However, if you have set a Choice #, read the next steps below.

1. Click on Scripts in Configuration Manager for Contact Center.
2. Create a script by clicking on Add New Phone Script or amend a current script by double-clicking on the script. 
   • Note: to make it easier and avoid any confusion, we advise you add descriptions for the respective choices you have set in the Comment field box on the new window that appears when you double-click on the script name.
     
     
     
      
3. The Script tab is where you can now go to implement the Choice # options associated with your schedule. You need to select the respective # (number) to link with the choice you set up within Special Events and Holidays.
   
   In this example, I will have it set to play a message that will inform the customer the business is now closed for the Christmas period and for them to leave a voicemail. This can be achieved by selecting either the Play (will play an audio file that was uploaded) or Say (will read out the text you entered) object and then adding the Forward to Voicemail Queue object.
   
   

Note: you must have set up the Voicemail queue with agents assigned to it in order for your agents to listen to the voicemail recordings!

What happens to calls that come into the Contact Center if it's closed?

• Hang Up - immediately hangup any calls entering the IVR queue.
• Forward to Queue - pass calls to another queue to handle.
• Forward to Voice Mail Queue - allow calls to go to voicemail.
• Forward to External Number - forward your calls to an external number outside of your center.