Handle Auto Answer

Note: Auto Answer is currently on limited availability. Contact 8x8 Support for more help.

To further enhance the call handling efficiency of agents in 8x8 Contact Center, we have introduced Auto Answer. With this new feature, in persistent connection mode, every phone interaction that is offered to an agent is automatically connected eliminating the need to accept it manually. This new configurable option enhances agent efficiency by quickly connecting the calls and reducing the number of clicks an agent has to make. Auto Answer also helps prevent agents from rejecting or missing calls on their workplace phone. Unlike the Persistent Connection mode or On Demand mode which have no audio indication, when in Auto Answer mode, agents receive an audio prompt to alert them of a call as it connects.

Considerations when using Auto Answer:

• The agent’s audio may be connected before any visual notification is made on the screen for the interaction or any screen pop can be enabled.
• Direct Agent AccessIn an IVR script, direct agent access permits a caller to reach an agent directly rather than through skills-based routing logic. (DAA) or Direct AgentAgents use the Agent Console to view and manage customer interactions. Virtual Contact Center supports Regular agents and Supervisor agents. Routing (DAR) calls are only sent in an Auto Answer mode to an enabled agent if their status is set to Available.
• An agent with Auto Answer enabled, and with a post-processing time set to zero, could potentially find themselves with a non-stop succession of calls.
• If a supervisor is in Auto Answer mode while monitoring an agent who is not, the supervisor may be connected first, but the customer continues to hear queue music or the ringtone until the agent is connected.
• Auto Answer is supported by 8x8 Work for Desktop. If the device is not supported, the system defaults to the standard manual answer.
• The Auto Answer feature is visually indicated with an Auto-answer label in the control panel, when the status is set to Available, or Work Offline.
  

  Note: If Auto Answer is enabled, the answer call button is absent in the user interface when agents are offered calls.

  Note: Auto Answer is only supported on line 1 for phone interactions.
  

To handle calls with Auto Answer enabled:

In 8x8 Agent WorkspaceThe brand new interface for 8x8 Contact Center agents to receive and process customer interactions., if Auto Answer is enabled for an agent, the agent is notified of their new status as soon as they log in.

1. Log in to 8x8 Agent Workspace.
2. Click Ok on the Auto Answer notification. Auto Answer is now connected.
   

Note: When 8x8 Agent Workspace is enabled, the label Auto-answer displays in the Control Panel.

3. Change your status to Available to receive calls.
   When Auto Answer is enabled, agents receive an audio prompt to alert them as a call connects.
   

If you change your workplace setting, you will receive a verification call. You must validate your new setting before you receive calls. For details, see our topic about how to validate your workplace setting.

Note: Validation calls are not auto-answered.

Combinations for connection mode and Auto Answer settings

Auto Answer can be combined with the Persistent feature to create an on/off combination of the two features. Auto Answer settings combined with Persistent Connection mode can be configured at multiple levels depending on the feature's availability:

Connection	Behavior
Persistent Off, Auto Answer Off	Phone Connection mode is On Demand and Auto Answer is off, so the agent needs to answer the phone for every phone interaction.
Persistent Off, Auto Answer On	Phone Connection mode is On Demand and Auto Answer is on, so the agent's phone connects on demand, and the interaction is auto-answered when offered.
Persistent On, Auto Answer Off	Phone Connection mode is Persistent, so the agent media path is always connected, but for every phone interaction the agent must accept the call.
Persistent On, Auto Answer On	Phone Connection mode is Persistent, so the agent media path is always connected, and the interaction is auto-answered when offered.