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Current Avaya ACD Configuration

Overview

This document provides a comprehensive inventory and analysis of the current Avaya Contact Center ACD routing configuration, including vectors, skills, hunt groups, and routing logic.


Current Environment

Platform Details

Component Version Role
Avaya Communication Manager 8.1.2 Call processing and routing
Call Center Elite 7.2 ACD functionality
Avaya Application Enablement Services 8.1 CTI integration
Call Management System (CMS) R19 Reporting and analytics

Infrastructure

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│         AVAYA CONTACT CENTER TOPOLOGY           │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                 │
│  ┌───────────────┐      ┌──────────────────┐  │
│  │ Communication │◄────►│  Call Center     │  │
│  │   Manager     │      │     Elite        │  │
│  │  (CM Server)  │      │   (ACD Engine)   │  │
│  └───────┬───────┘      └──────────────────┘  │
│          │                                     │
│          ▼                                     │
│  ┌───────────────┐      ┌──────────────────┐  │
│  │   Media       │      │       CMS        │  │
│  │   Gateway     │      │   (Reporting)    │  │
│  └───────────────┘      └──────────────────┘  │
│          │                                     │
│          ▼                                     │
│  ┌───────────────┐      ┌──────────────────┐  │
│  │   Agent       │◄────►│      AES         │  │
│  │   Stations    │      │   (CTI Server)   │  │
│  └───────────────┘      └──────────────────┘  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Vector Directory Numbers (VDNs)

VDN Inventory

VDN Extension Description Associated Vector DNIS
1000 5000 Sales Main 10 1-800-XX5-0100
1001 5001 Sales Spanish 11 1-800-XX5-0150
1002 5002 Tech Support 20 1-800-XX5-0200
1003 5003 Billing 30 1-800-XX5-0300
1004 5004 VIP Support 40 1-800-XX5-0500
1005 5005 General Inquiries 50 1-800-XX5-0900
1006 5006 After Hours 60 (All numbers)

VDN Configuration Example

VDN: 1000 (Sales Main)
├─ Extension: 5000
├─ Name: "Sales_Main_VDN"
├─ Vector: 10
├─ Override: None
├─ Measured: Local and Trunk
├─ DNIS: 18005550100
└─ Meet-me Conferencing: n

Call Routing Vectors

Vector 10: Sales Main

VECTOR 10 (Sales_Main)
Name: Sales Main Routing

01  wait-time 2 secs hearing ringback
02  collect digits after announcement 2000 for none
03  goto step 7 if digits = 1
04  goto step 8 if digits = 2  
05  goto step 9 if digits = 0
06  announcement 2001
07  queue-to skill 10 pri m
08  queue-to skill 11 pri m
09  route-to number 5100 with cov y if unconditionally
10  stop

Announcements:
├─ 2000: "For New Sales, press 1. For Account Management, press 2. 
│         For an operator, press 0."
├─ 2001: "Please hold while we connect you to the next available agent."
└─ 2002: "All of our agents are currently assisting other customers..."

Vector 20: Technical Support

VECTOR 20 (Tech_Support)
Name: Technical Support Routing

01  wait-time 2 secs hearing ringback
02  check skill 20 if calls-queued > 10
03  goto step 10 if check succeeded
04  announcement 2100
05  collect 4 digits after announcement 2101 for 5 seconds
06  goto step 20 if digits = expected-value
07  queue-to skill 20 pri m
08  wait-time 180 secs hearing music
09  goto step 7 if unconditionally
10  announcement 2102
11  queue-to skill 21 pri m
12  stop

Announcements:
├─ 2100: "Welcome to Technical Support"
├─ 2101: "Please enter your 4-digit PIN for faster service"
└─ 2102: "We're experiencing higher than normal call volume. 
          Transferring to our general support team."

Logic:
├─ Check queue depth (step 02-03)
├─ If > 10 calls waiting → Overflow to skill 21
├─ Collect PIN for VIP identification (step 05-06)
└─ Normal routing to skill 20 (step 07)

Vector 30: Billing

VECTOR 30 (Billing)
Name: Billing Department

01  wait-time 2 secs hearing ringback
02  check skill 30 if available-agents > 0
03  goto step 8 if check succeeded
04  announcement 2200
05  collect 1 digits after announcement 2201 for 5 seconds
06  goto step 10 if digits = 1
07  goto step 15 if digits = 2
08  queue-to skill 30 pri h
09  wait-time 300 secs hearing music
10  announcement 2202
11  queue-to skill 31 pri m
12  stop
15  disconnect after announcement 2203

Announcements:
├─ 2200: "Thank you for calling Billing"
├─ 2201: "Press 1 to continue holding, or press 2 to receive a callback"
├─ 2202: "Transferring to our payment specialists"
└─ 2203: "We'll call you back at the number you're calling from within the hour"

Features:
├─ Agent availability check (step 02)
├─ Callback option during high wait times (step 05-07)
├─ Overflow routing to skill 31 (step 11)
└─ Maximum wait time: 5 minutes (step 09)

Vector 40: VIP Support

VECTOR 40 (VIP_Support)
Name: VIP Customer Support

01  wait-time 1 secs hearing ringback
02  queue-to skill 40 pri t
03  wait-time 60 secs hearing music
04  announcement 2300
05  queue-to skill 41 pri t
06  wait-time 120 secs hearing music
07  route-to number 5200 with cov y if unconditionally
08  stop

Announcements:
├─ 2300: "As a valued customer, we're connecting you to our premium support team"

VIP Features:
├─ Priority: Top (step 02)
├─ Shorter wait threshold: 60 seconds before escalation
├─ Dedicated VIP team (skill 40)
├─ Escalation to senior team (skill 41)
└─ Final escalation to supervisor (5200)

Skills Configuration

Skill Groups Inventory

Skill # Name Description Agents Type
10 Sales_New New business sales 25 EAS
11 Sales_Account Account management 20 EAS
12 Sales_Spanish Spanish-speaking sales 8 EAS
20 Support_Tech_T1 Technical support tier 1 40 EAS
21 Support_Tech_T2 Technical support tier 2 15 EAS
22 Support_Spanish Spanish technical support 12 EAS
30 Billing_General General billing inquiries 18 EAS
31 Billing_Collections Collections team 8 EAS
40 VIP_Support VIP customer support 10 EAS
41 VIP_Senior Senior VIP support 5 EAS

Skill Configuration Example

SKILL 10 (Sales_New)
├─ Name: Sales_New_Business
├─ Service Objective: 80% in 20 seconds
├─ Service Level Threshold: 20
├─ Announcements:
│   ├─ Queue: 2001 (Please hold...)
│   ├─ Delay: 2002 (All agents busy...)
│   └─ Wait: every 60 seconds
├─ Expected Wait Time (EWT): Announced
├─ Multiple Call Handling: 1 call only
└─ Direct Agent Selection: Disabled

Agent Configuration

Agent Profile Structure

Agent: 12345
├─ Login ID: jdoe
├─ Name: John Doe
├─ Skills:
│   ├─ Skill 10 (Sales_New): Level 8
│   ├─ Skill 11 (Sales_Account): Level 6
│   └─ Skill 12 (Sales_Spanish): Level 10
├─ Auto-Answer: Enabled
├─ Multiple Call Handling: 1
├─ After Call Work (ACW): Manual
├─ Security Code: ****
└─ Supervisor: Yes/No

Skills Distribution Matrix

Agent Group Sales Skills Support Skills Billing Skills Language Skills
Sales Team A (25) 10(Avg:7), 11(Avg:6) - - 5 Spanish
Sales Team B (20) 11(Avg:8) - - 3 Spanish
Support Team A (40) - 20(Avg:7) - 8 Spanish
Support Team B (15) - 21(Avg:9) - 4 Spanish
Billing Team (18) - - 30(Avg:7), 31(Avg:5) 6 Spanish
VIP Team (10) All skills All skills All skills 4 Spanish

Hunt Groups

Hunt Group Configuration

Hunt Group Extension Members Calling Group Queue Coverage Path
100 5100 12 agents Operator Yes 2
110 5110 8 supervisors Supervisor Yes 3
120 5120 5 managers Management No 1

Hunt Group 100 (Operators)

HUNT-GROUP 100
├─ Extension: 5100
├─ Type: UCD-MIA (Uniform Call Distribution - Most Idle Agent)
├─ Queue: Yes
├─ Calling Group: 1 (Operators)
├─ Coverage Path: 2 (Voicemail)
├─ Members:
│   ├─ Agent 10001
│   ├─ Agent 10002
│   ├─ ... (12 total)
│   └─ Agent 10012
├─ Expected Wait Time: Announced
└─ Music on Hold: Yes

Routing Logic Analysis

Current Routing Priorities

Priority Levels:

Top (t)    - VIP customers, escalations
High (h)   - Billing, payment issues
Medium (m) - Standard sales and support
Low (l)    - Internal calls, training

Priority Assignment by Vector:

Vector 10 (Sales Main):        Priority: Medium
Vector 20 (Tech Support):      Priority: Medium
Vector 30 (Billing):           Priority: High
Vector 40 (VIP Support):       Priority: Top
Vector 50 (General):           Priority: Medium

EWT (Expected Wait Time) Calculation

Current Algorithm:
EWT = (Calls in Queue × Average Handle Time) / Available Agents

Example:
├─ Calls in Queue: 10
├─ Average Handle Time: 360 seconds (6 minutes)
├─ Available Agents: 5
└─ EWT = (10 × 360) / 5 = 720 seconds = 12 minutes

Announced to Caller:
"Your estimated wait time is approximately 12 minutes"

Performance Metrics

Current State Performance (Last 30 Days)

Queue/Skill Calls Offered Answered Abandoned Service Level ASA AHT
Sales_New (10) 12,456 11,234 1,222 (9.8%) 76% 48s 6m 15s
Sales_Account (11) 8,923 8,456 467 (5.2%) 82% 35s 8m 30s
Support_T1 (20) 18,734 16,891 1,843 (9.8%) 72% 55s 12m 45s
Support_T2 (21) 5,234 4,987 247 (4.7%) 85% 28s 18m 20s
Billing (30) 9,876 9,123 753 (7.6%) 79% 42s 9m 10s
VIP (40) 2,345 2,312 33 (1.4%) 94% 15s 15m 30s

Key Findings: - ⚠️ Sales and Support T1 not meeting 80/20 SLA - ⚠️ High abandonment rates (>5%) in multiple queues - ✅ VIP queue performing well - ⚠️ Average Speed of Answer (ASA) too high for most queues


Pain Points and Limitations

1. Vector Programming Complexity

Issue:

Vectors are difficult to create and modify:
├─ Requires specialized programming knowledge
├─ No visual representation of call flow
├─ Testing requires production-like environment
├─ Changes require careful syntax checking
└─ Limited to 32 steps per vector

Impact: - Long lead time for routing changes (1-2 weeks) - Risk of errors during modifications - Dependence on specialized staff

2. Limited Real-Time Visibility

Issue:

CMS Reporting Limitations:
├─ Historical reports only (no real-time)
├─ Delayed data (15-30 minute lag)
├─ Complex report creation
├─ Limited dashboard capabilities
└─ Cannot drill down easily

Impact: - Supervisors lack real-time queue visibility - Difficult to respond to service level issues quickly - Limited proactive management

3. Skills Management Overhead

Issue:

Agent Skills Administration:
├─ Manual skill updates (command line)
├─ No bulk import/export capability
├─ Skill levels 1-16 (confusing scale)
├─ No dynamic skill updating
└─ Limited to 10 skills per agent

Impact: - Time-consuming to update agent skills - Inflexible during peak periods - Cannot easily adjust routing based on conditions

4. Overflow and Failover Limitations

Issue:

Limited Overflow Options:
├─ Fixed overflow thresholds in vectors
├─ No dynamic threshold adjustment
├─ Difficult to implement time-based routing
├─ Manual intervention required for emergencies
└─ No automated geographic failover

Impact: - Cannot respond dynamically to changing conditions - Risk of poor customer experience during spikes - Manual intervention required

5. Integration Challenges

Issue:

CRM Integration via TSAPI:
├─ Complex protocol (proprietary)
├─ Requires middleware development
├─ Limited data passed to CRM
├─ Screen pop delays (2-5 seconds)
└─ Difficult troubleshooting

Impact: - Poor agent experience - Higher costs for custom development - Integration fragility

6. Reporting and Analytics

Issue:

Limited Analytics Capabilities:
├─ Standard reports only
├─ Custom reports require database queries
├─ No trending or predictive analytics
├─ Cannot easily correlate data across systems
└─ Export process cumbersome

Impact: - Limited business insights - Time-consuming manual reporting - Difficult to optimize operations


Configuration Documentation

Backup and Recovery

Current Backup Process:

Daily Backups:
├─ Communication Manager: Full backup nightly
├─ CMS Database: Transaction logs every hour
├─ Vector translations: Weekly export
└─ Skills/Agent configs: Manual documentation

Recovery Time: 2-4 hours (full system restore)
Recovery Point: Last backup (up to 24 hours of data loss)

Change Management

Current Process:

1. Request submitted via ticket system
2. Change reviewed by CM admin team
3. Testing in lab environment (if available)
4. Change scheduled for maintenance window
5. Implementation by CM administrator
6. Validation testing
7. Documentation updated

Average cycle time: 1-2 weeks for routine changes


Migration Readiness Assessment

Data to Extract for Migration

Configuration Data:
☐ VDN list with DNIS mappings
☐ Vector logic documentation (converted to flowcharts)
☐ Skills list with descriptions
☐ Agent profiles with skill assignments
☐ Hunt group configurations
☐ Announcements (audio files)
☐ Business hours and holiday schedules
☐ Service level objectives
☐ Coverage paths and escalation procedures

Historical Data (for baseline):
☐ Call volume patterns (hourly/daily/monthly)
☐ Service level achievement (last 6 months)
☐ Average handle times by skill
☐ Agent utilization statistics
☐ Abandonment rates and reasons

Questions to Answer Before Migration

1. Which vectors have the highest call volume?
2. Which skills have the most complex routing logic?
3. What are the current service level targets?
4. How many agents need to be migrated?
5. What integrations are currently in use?
6. Are there any seasonal or time-based routing rules?
7. What announcements need to be re-recorded?
8. Which reports are used most frequently?

Recommendations for Webex Design

Based on current configuration analysis:

1. Simplify Routing Logic

Current: Complex vectors with nested conditions
Target:  Visual flow designer with simpler logic
Benefit: Faster changes, easier troubleshooting

2. Enhance Real-Time Visibility

Current: CMS reports (delayed)
Target:  Real-time dashboards in Webex Analyzer
Benefit: Proactive management, faster response

3. Dynamic Skills Management

Current: Manual, static skill assignments
Target:  API-driven, dynamic skill updates
Benefit: Flexibility during peak periods

4. Improved Integration

Current: TSAPI (complex, proprietary)
Target:  REST APIs (standard, simple)
Benefit: Faster integration, lower cost

5. Advanced Analytics

Current: Standard reports only
Target:  AI-powered analytics and insights
Benefit: Data-driven optimization