6.5.4 Caller response options

Caller response options

The Caller response options are settings that will allow you to configure an IVR.

Under Caller responce options, you have the following:

Maximum number of digits

Selects the maximum number of digits (between 1 and 10) for this IVR service.

Unlike with some other telephony systems, the DFN IVR service allows you to configure key assignments to options that have more than one digit.

The default option is 1, which means that the IVR will expect the caller to type in one digit before starting to look for a destination to forward the call to.

The maximum value for this field is 10, which means that the system would either start looking for a destination once the caller has entered 10 digits on their keypad, or will wait for about 5 seconds after the first digit is entered before checking if the destination is configured.

Please note that this setting works in conjunction with Forward call to extension.

Forward call to extension

Activates / deactivates forwarding a call to an extension.

If activated: If the entered number does not match any of the existing caller response options, the number will be used as an extension number, and the call will be forwarded to the extension.

Add caller response options

Adds a caller response option.

You need to configure the following two options:

  1. Caller response: Desired input or response from the caller.

  2. The destination where the call will be forwarded to after the caller has entered the correct sequence defined in Step 1.

To add a caller response option:

  1. Add a Caller response option. Please note that you can add a number that is smaller than or equal to the maximum number of digits. For example, if you set the maximum number of digits to 1, you can only add one digit to a caller response option. If you set the maximum number of digits to 3, you can add between 1 and 3 digits.
    Please note that the sequence can be 1 to 10 digits and should only include numbers from 1 to 9.
    You can also use the * or # signs, but only on their own, not in combination with numbers. For example, #100 is not possible.

  2. Select the action for the caller response options between:
    • Hang up
    • Repeat: Repeats the option given by the IVR.
    • Retrieve voicemails: The system will repeat the announcement from the beginning until the caller responds or hangs up.
    • Forward to target: Please note that you can only select an existing target from the drop-down list and won't be able to set the destination to an external number.

Timeout

Activates/deactivates an automatic action when a caller has not entered any response option.

Timeout (seconds)

Specifies the interval (in seconds, between 1 and 999) after which the action on timeout will take place.

The default value is 15. The maximum value is 999.

Please note that the timeout will only kick in once the announcement has fully played. That means, if the announcement is 15 seconds and the timeout is set to 5, the IVR won't initiate the action on timeout until after 20 seconds.

Action on timeout

Selects an automatic action on timeout.

Action on timeout will be used after the announcement has been fully played, the timeout in seconds has expired, and

  • the caller has not entered any digits on their phone keypad,
    or

  • the number sequence entered by the caller is not valid, and the timeout timer is reset.

Target

Selects a target to which the call will be forwarded.

The options are:

  • Busy

  • Hang up

  • Repeat

  • Forward to target: Please note that you can only select an existing target from the drop-down list, and you won't be able to set the destination to an external number.

Important

Make sure that

  • you have selected an announcement to be played by the IVR service

  • that the maximum number of digits is greater than or equal to the maximum extension length

  • you have configured a timeout and action on timeout.