What is Auto Attendant?
When you call a company and the first thing you hear is a recorded message giving you choices and asking you to make a selection on your dial pad, you have reached an Auto Attendant. You listen to the message, make your choice and then get transferred to the correct person to assist you. That’s the plan, anyway. Each company must decide if Auto Attendant is right for them. It can save time and get calls handled more efficiently, but it can also detract from a personal touch. Many companies use an Auto Attendant to serve as a backup to answer calls that a receptionist or other staff don’t have an opportunity to answer after the first few rings. Auto Attendants can be configured to allow callers to hear information such as directions or business hours and other time consuming repetitive tasks while always giving them the option to reach an “operator.” Voice Mail is almost always used in conjunction with an Auto Attendant to make sure that all calls get answered and dealt with.
