What are time conditions and how do they work?
Time conditions (in English, time conditions or business hours routing) are rules in the PBX that automatically switch call behaviour based on the current time and day of the week. The exchange compares the current time with the set rules and selects the appropriate action.
Typical example: on weekdays from 8 to 17 hours, the call goes to the queue of the sales department. After 17 o'clock and on weekends it switches to a voice mailbox with an announcement of operating hours. On public holidays a special recording is played. All this without anyone having to manually switch the central system.
Why are time conditions important for a company?
Without time-based conditions, calls outside working hours either rang unanswered or were transferred to staff who were unavailable. Both scenarios damage the impression of a professional company.
- Informing customers - callers hear opening hours and know when to call back
- Voice mailbox - The customer leaves a message, and the company processes it in the morning.
- Holidays and vacations - special notification for planned exceptions without the need for manual switching
- Emergency hotline - Outside working hours, urgent calls can be redirected to the mobile number of a selected employee.
Setting time conditions in the virtual central station
The cloud-based PBX allows you to set any number of time conditions and their combinations. Exceptions, public holidays, company days off, are added manually or via an exception calendar, if the PBX offers one.
Remember to test the settings by calling from an external number when the condition is active. On virtualni-ustredna.cz you can set operating hours and exceptions via a clear calendar without needing a technician.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have different rules for different departments?
Yes. The sales department may operate from 8 to 18 hours, technical support from 9 to 17 hours, each with its own voicemail or forwarding to another number.
What happens if I forget to set a holiday period?
Calls will be handled as on a normal working day, office phones will ring. We recommend setting exceptions for holidays in advance or whenever the calendar changes.