Schedule Callback while in the queue or EWT is high

Updated 

In this article we will learn about how admins can configure IVR to schedule a callback when customers wait to connect to an agent.   

Business Use Case 

When customers interact with an IVR system, they often opt to connect with a live agent to report an issue or seek assistance. Throughout this process, there are various situations where customers may require a callback. Here are a few examples:

  • When all agents are busy and are unavailable to take new calls, customers can be given the choice to either wait on hold or schedule a callback for when an agent becomes available.

  • If a customer needs to end the call before their issue is resolved, they can request a callback to continue the conversation at a later time.

In these scenarios, brands aim to offer customers the option to schedule a callback while they wait, and then trigger the callback as soon as an agent is ready to take calls or at a specific date and time as requested by the customer.

Solution 

Sprinklr IVR can be configured in a way which asks customers for confirmation to schedule a callback when they are waiting in the queue for more than the certain timeout period set in the agent node or on the basis of estimated wait time.

Sample configuration is shown in the screenshot-

Pre-requisite for configuring this in IVR: Sprinklr Voice should be enabled for the environment and your user should have IVR View, Edit or Create permission

We can configure Schedule Callback node in an IVR using following node-

  • Use Work Queue Properties Node to get work queue related properties from this node if brand want to provide callback option even before sending to queue if wait time is beyond certain limit

  • Use Decision Box Node to take decision on the basis of estimated time. 

  • Use Assign To Agent Node, and set Time out and work queue.

  • Use Schedule Callback Node for scheduling callback. 

Configuration steps 

Get Estimated wait time and offer callback if EWT is more than certain limit-

For fetching the EWT we need to use work queue properties node. To know more about this node visit system action nodes of IVR. You can specify the work queue for which you need EWT and the variable name which will store the information.

Sample configuration is given below-

After this you can use decision box to make decision on the basis of workqueue property IVR.

Sample configuration of decision box is given below-

 

Note: In the above example, the decision regarding the wait time was based on the variable "workQueueProp.waitTimeInMillis" which represents the value in milliseconds. To set a condition for a one-minute, we used the value 6000.

Assign Agent in case EWT is less than certain limit-

If wait time is less than the certain limit, i.e., in the above example 1 min, you can use assign agent node to assign the call to agent. To know more about this node visit manage customer inflow nodes.

We can specify timeout in the node, It is the maximum time the user will wait in the queue. As soon as this time is exceeded, the user will be removed from the queue and moved to the timeout leg in IVR

For example, if the timeout duration is 25 sec, then the customer will be moved to the timeout leg if they have not been assigned to an agent within 25 sec. 

Sample Configuration is given below-

 

  

Callback option in case EWT is more than certain limit/customer have waited more than timeout in the queue-

Use gather customer response to inquire whether they would prefer to schedule a callback or wait for an available agent. If the customer opts for a callback we can use Schedule callback node and if customer chooses to wait for an agent connect that path to assign agent node.

Note: If you connect back the leg to assign agent leg after timeout, it retains the position in the queue.

 

Configure Schedule Callback Node 

Once customer specify that they want to schedule callback, you can use schedule callback node to schedule callback, you can define the Phone number, priority, time for callback, Assignee, etc

To know more about this node visit manage customer inflow nodes.  
 

Note: When implementing the callback feature, it is crucial to adjust the priority of inbound calls to prevent potential issues. By default, the priorities for both inbound calls and scheduled callbacks are the same. However, to avoid a situation where inbound calls are delayed while agents are occupied with scheduled callbacks, it is advisable to increase the priority of inbound calls. This adjustment helps prevent a cascading effect and reduces the likelihood of an increase in callbacks, as customers may wait longer and schedule callback if agents are primarily engaged in handling scheduled callbacks.

You can also do following things in this flow-

  • You can also take confirmation on the number on which callback should trigger and even ask callback number from the customer, you can use gather customer response to take phone number and use that in schedule callback

  • You can also define the time for callback, if it will be blank as soon as any agent will get free customer will get the callback.