Time Condition vs Time Group in Hosted PBX: What You Need to Know

For companies, ease of communication between agents and customers is a critical success determinant, and PBX has served this need for long run.  Nowadays, the small business is shifting to networked communications as it is more active and resourceful when it comes to collaboration. Unlike the earlier times, the modern world doesn’t use the traditional PBX setups in which wired connections are present between the phone sets, and the switches are used to route the inbound calls.

In recent times, the corporate world has come across a new technology of Private Branch Exchange (PBX) . A Hosted PBX is also termed as virtual PBX phone system. It is a cloud-based phone system that offers stable, secure phone service for a company or industry via the Internet connection. Cloud PBX systems require less maintenance, and they can interlink with other cloud-based applications for a strengthened experience.

Let us understand the two main features of Hosted PBX that help the business to avoid missed customer calls.

Time Condition (TC)

Time condition is the communication feature in Hosted PBX that enables the businesses to set up distinct time patterns for call handling. It permits to route after-hour calls to various destinations at a different time like working hours, holidays or even lunchtime. Different Time Condition settings can be used for different inbound routes to manage which phone line is accessible at different times. Just by dialing the feature code on extension keypad, the business can shift into another Time Conditions.

Time Group

A time group is a categorized time period which directs the flow of call and decides routing track. These categories are called as time rules that specify a time range by the time, day month and year.

Time Group is used to define a company’s off hours. For example, you can define a time group 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday anually. 

This time group is then used in Time Condition (TC) to route the calls. For instance, when there is an incoming call, the time group will be checked in time condition. If the call is placed on Monday at 1pm, the it will be routed in a particular way (assuming Agents) and if the call is placed on Monday at 7pm then it will be routed in a different way (assume Voicemail). Time Group defines the time for any condition in call routing. 

Why does the company need Time Condition (TC)?

Time Condition feature can be used by the company to manage call flow based on time and date.

The time condition assigned to an inbound route manages the destination of a call according to time. The destination can be call queues, voicemail, IVR, Inbound Routes, and many more. To restrict the use of the outbound route, the time condition can be assigned to it.

For example, the business can make a Time Condition termed as lunch. For the same, the agent will then choose a Time Group that specifies what time is lunch, and then directs the call in the lunchtime to the voicemail whereas the calls received at during the business hours are routed straight to the front desk.

Proper Time Conditions (TC) can make the company arrangement more efficient and help avoid missing an urgent call or client ringing the Front Desk.

Wrapping Up

Hosted PBX is simple to manage, cost-effective, and offers all features that traditional PBX provides. Since Hosted PBX is cloud-based, there is no doubt that it will only be attaining more and more characteristics with the time. The time condition (TC) feature of Hosted PBX never lets the business miss a lead generation opportunity.

The value of a telephonic conversation for companies can never be overstated. A company without Private Branch Exchange (PBX) is difficult to imagine, and hosted Private Branch Exchange (PBX) is a game-changing factor for all the companies. Especially for small firms that depend massively on the freelancers and remotely working agents, it is ideal for them. Hence in modern times, a hosted PBX is a must have tool for every business so as not to compromise on the losses.