Planning your Standard Auto Attendant

Before you start to set up your Standard Auto Attendant, it is a good idea to sketch out the operation of each menu on paper. This allows you to plan what options you need from the menu and how each one will operate.

For example, the main menu for a pizza company may need to include the following options:

1. 1. Play an announcement giving directions to the store, then return to the main menu so that the user can select another option.
   2. Place an order with a server.
   3. Speak to the manager.
   4. Speak to another employee using dial-by-name.

The diagram below shows how this menu would operate, including the key presses to access each option:

In the diagram, option 1 (directions to the store) is shown with an arrow returning to the main Welcome menu so that the caller can select another option if required. This is because this option is playing a recording. The other options do not allow the return to the menu.

For out-of-hours and holiday operation, Standard Auto Attendant may provide an announcement that the store is closed (without allowing the caller to select any options), or it may provide an alternative set of menu options.