Time Router

The Time Router module directs calls to different destinations based on the time and day of the week. Perfect for managing business hours, holidays, and special schedules.

Common Uses

• Business hours routing
• After-hours handling
• Weekend schedules
• Holiday management
• Lunch break routing
• Special event scheduling

note

Notice the green and red sockets on the right side:

• Green (Yes): Routes calls during defined time intervals
• Red (No): Routes calls outside defined time intervals

Setting It Up

Configure your Time Router with these settings:

1. Name: Give your router a descriptive name (e.g., "Business Hours" or "Weekend Router")

2. Time Schedule: Pick one of the schedules you created under Time Schedules in the main menu. The router then follows that schedule's days, hours, exceptions and time zone.

3. Use dedicated time intervals: Switch this on to define the hours directly in the router instead. The Time Schedule dropdown is disabled and two more settings appear:

   • System Time Zone: System (uses the time zone set under Settings > General) or a specific time zone for this router
   • Dedicated time intervals: Click "Add Time Interval", select the days of the week and set the start and end times (24-hour format). Add as many intervals as you need

Multiple Intervals

You can create several time intervals for flexible routing. For example:

• Monday-Friday: 8:00-17:00
• Saturday: 9:00-13:00

Practical Example

This example shows:

1. During business hours (green path):
   • Calls route to the Sales Queue
2. Outside business hours (red path):
   • Calls go to an after-hours voicemail

Time Management Options

The phone system offers two ways to manage time-based routing:

1. Time Router Module:

   • Part of your call flow
   • Specific to one routing scenario
   • Flexible interval configuration
   • Immediate routing control

2. Time Schedules (Main Menu):

   • Organization-wide schedules
   • Applies to multiple users
   • Manages exceptions (holidays)
   • Controls all contact methods for users

When to Use Each

• Use Time Router for specific call flow routing
• Use Time Schedules for organization-wide time management

Best Practices

1. Time Zone Management:

   • Consider caller locations
   • Account for daylight saving
   • Use system time zone for consistency

2. Schedule Planning:

   • Include buffer times
   • Plan for holidays
   • Consider lunch breaks
   • Account for early/late calls

3. Routing Strategy:

   • Set appropriate after-hours handling
   • Configure holiday routing
   • Plan emergency bypasses
   • Test across time boundaries

4. Multiple Intervals:

   • Group similar time patterns
   • Keep intervals organized
   • Document special cases
   • Review regularly

warning

Calls without a matching path (no connection from the appropriate socket) will be terminated. Always ensure both Yes (green) and No (red) paths are properly configured.

Advanced Tips

Feature	Description	Example Use
Multiple Intervals	Several time windows	Different weekend hours
Timezone Selection	Local or system time	International business
Yes/No Logic	Dual routing paths	Business/after hours

Connect Time Router with other modules like:

• Ring Groups for team availability
• Voicemail for after-hours messages
• Queue for business hours handling
• Audio Playback for time-based messages