The Agent Scheduling editor allows you to create shift calendars and assign agents to specific shifts. You can publish this shift schedule and make it available for the agents and other managers. You can create and manage agent work schedules, mass assign shifts, generate shift assignment assignments and shift reports. Expand below to learn about the available options.
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Agent Scheduling Settings
You can use the Settings tab of the Agent Scheduling window to define the work schedule for agents, approval workflows for requests sent by agents, and thresholds for compliance. Depending on the settings, agents can perform the following actions on the Agent Desktop:
View their work calendar
Request leave
Request swapping of shifts
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You must configure these settings before you create a shift.
All times will be are displayed in Eastern Time.
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Configuring General Settings
To define a shift (such as the first day of the week, time format, start and end time, and the duration of break); allow shift notifications; and to allow agents to swap shifts and request leaves, in addition to configuring the respective approval workflows:
Click the Settings tab.
On the General subtab, specify values in the following fields.
First day of the week: This field contains the days of the week as options. Select the day when you want the work week to begin for a shift.
Time format: If you want the time in the shift to appear in the 12-hour time format, select 1:00 pm. If you want the time in the shift to appear in the 24-hour time format, select 13:00.
Open time: Select the start time of the shift.
Close time: Select the end time of the shift.
Default break duration: Select the duration of the break.
Show Reminders: Select this check box if you want agents to be notified when their shift begins. You can configure the time in minutes.
Allow agents to swap shifts: Select this checkbox only if you want to enable agents to request swapping of their shifts with other agents.
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The agent who receives a shift swapping request can accept or reject the request.
Require manager approval for swaps: Select this checkbox only if you want the shift swapping requests to be sent to the shift manager for approval.
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The shift manager is the user that appears in the Manager for approvals field on the Shift Details tab of the Agent Scheduling window.
Allow agents to request time off: Select this checkbox only if you want to enable agents to request leave
Require manager approval for time off requests: Select this checkbox only if you want leave requests to be sent to the leave manager for approval.
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The leave manager is the user that appears in the Manager column for the respective leave category on the Time Off Categories tab of the Agent Scheduling window.
Click Save. The general settings are configured.
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To view, approve, or reject the requests sent by agents, use the Work Queue option in the WFO tab.
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Creating a Leave Category
To create a category for leave (for example, PTO, sick leave, and training):
Click the Settings tab, and then the Time Off Categories subtab. A table appears, displaying the following columns:
Time Off Category
Description
Manager
Click New. TheCreate Time OffCategory window appears.
In the Name field, enter the time-off category name.
In the Description field, enter a description of the category.
From theManagerdrop-down list, select the name of the manager who must be notified of the leave request..
Click Save. The leave category is created.
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To delete a leave category:
Select the leave category you want to delete.
Click the Delete button. The Warning window appears.
Click Yes.
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Creating a Work Area
To create a work area for a shift (for example, IT, sales, security, and support):
Click the Settings tab and then the Areas subtab. The Areas window appears.
ClickNew. A blank row appears in the table.
In the Name field, enter a name for work area.
In theDescriptionfield, enter a description of the area.
ClickSave. The work area is created.
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To delete a work area:
Select the leave category you want to delete.
Click the Delete button. The Warning window appears.
Click Yes.
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Configuring Scheduling Constraints
You can use scheduling constraints to define parameters such as the agent's minimum shift duration, maximum shift duration, minimum time between shifts.
Click the Settings tab and then the Scheduling Constraints subtab.
Specify values in the following fields:
Field
Description
Agent's minimum shift duration (in minutes)
Enter the minimum shift duration for an agent. The value automatically gets converted to hours and displayed. The minimum value for this field is 15 minutes.
Agent's maximum shift duration (in minutes)
Enter the maximum shift duration for an agent. The value automatically gets converted to hours and displayed. The minimum value for this field is 15 minutes.
Agent's minimum minutes between shifts
Enter the minimum duration that you want to provide between shifts.
Maximum number of hours per day for an agent
Enter the maximum number of hours per day that can be assigned to an agent.
Maximum hours per week for an agent
Enter the maximum number of hours per week that can be assigned to an agent.
Number of minutes after a shift starts that the first break can be scheduled
Enter the number of minutes after a shift starts that the first break can be scheduled. The minimum value for this field is 15 minutes.
Number of minutes before a shift ends that the last break can be scheduled
Enter the number of minutes after a shift ends that the last break can be scheduled. The minimum value for this field is 15 minutes.
Is a meal break required?
Select an option to provide details of the meal break.
How many minutes does a person need to be scheduled to be eligible for a meal?
Enter the duration for which an agent needs to be scheduled on the job to be eligible for a meal break. The value automatically gets converted to hours and displayed.
What is the duration of the meal?
Duration of the meal break. The value automatically gets converted to hours and displayed.
Is the meal paid?
Whether the meal is paid for by the company.
Is a break required?
Select an option to provide details of the break.
How many minutes does a person need to be scheduled to be eligible for a break?
Enter the duration for which an agent needs to be scheduled on the job to be eligible for a break. The value automatically gets converted to hours and displayed.
What is the duration of the break?
Duration of the break. The value automatically gets converted to hours and displayed.
Number of minutes between meals and/or breaks
Enter the gap between meals or breaks.
Maximum number of employees on break at one time
Select how many agents can be on a break at one time.
Average agent hourly cost
Enter the cost per hour for an agent.
ClickSave.
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Defining Compliance Thresholds
Compliance thresholds are used to highlight statistics that are out of compliance, based on the values you define.
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Compliance thresholds are indicated by red cells in reports.
To define thresholds for compliance:
Click the Settings tab, and then the Adherence Thresholds subtab.
Specify values in the following fields as required.
Adherence Percentage: Enter a value that indicates an agent's conformance with the scheduled tasks for the contact center, in percentage. The value represents the timeThe formula used to calculate this value is as follows: (Time spent working / Total scheduled time) x 100 Example: If you expect your agents to conform to the scheduled tasks 85 percent of the time, enter the value 85.
Occupancy Percentage: Enter a value that indicates an agent's occupancy for the contact center, in percentage. The value represents the time during which an agent handles calls and performs related activities in the ready state, The formula used to calculate this value is as follows: (Time spent in the ready state / Total available time) x 100 Example: If you expect your agents to handle calls or perform other scheduled tasks 95 percent of the total time that they are available to do so, enter the value 95.
Utilization Percentage: Enter a value that indicates an agent's utilization for the contact center, in percentage. The value represents the amount of time during which an agent handles calls and performs related activities in the ready state, expressed The formula used to calculate this value is as follows: (Time spent in the ready state / Total scheduled time) x 100 Example: If you expect your agents to handle calls or perform other scheduled tasks 90 percent of the total time that they are scheduled to do so, enter the value 90.
Conformance Percentage: Enter a value that indicates an agent's conformance with the scheduled work duration for the contact center, in percentage. The value represents the time during which an agent works, expressed The formula used to calculate this value is as follows: (Time spent working / Total scheduled time) x 100 Example: If you expect your agents to work 98 percent of the total time that they are scheduled to do so (including starting early or finishing late), enter the value 98.
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The conformance percentage might be higher than 100% if agents work for a duration that exceeds the scheduled work duration.
Schedule Adherence Tolerance: Enter the amount of time that indicates the gap between two events that are initiated by agents and must be reported, in seconds.
Example: If you want the time between the last reported event and the event that must be next reported to be five seconds, enter the value 5. This ensures that any event that occurs five seconds after the last reported event is reported.
Click Save. Compliance thresholds are defined.
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Creating and Managing Shifts
Creating and Managing Shifts
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Creating Shifts
TheShifts tab allows you to create, copy and edit shift details. To create shifts:
In the
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Creating Shifts
TheShifts tab allows you to create, copy and edit shift details. To create shifts:
In the Shifts tab, click New. The Create Shift window appears.
Specify the Shift Name.
Enter a description in theCreate Shiftwindow. ClickSave. The shift gets created and a window appears.
Verify the shift name in theShift namewindow.
Select theManager for approvalsfrom the drop-down menu to approve tasks for the shift.
Verify the description of the shift.
Select theCall Centerfrom the drop-down menu to associate the shift to a specific call center.
Select theNumber of slotsyou want to allocate for the shift.
Select the Work Area for the shift in theAreafield. You can choose the area that you created on theConfigtab.
Select theStart timeof the shift.
Select theEnd timeof the shift.
You can choose to assign a color to a shift to distinguish between multiple shifts.
Select theRequired skillsfor the shift you are creating. Select the skills from the Available column and move to the Selected column.
Select theAllow breakcheckbox to define the break time duration for the shift. You can configure the break duration in increments of 5 minutes.
Select theBreak durationfrom the drop-down menu.
Define theScheduleof the Shift:
Select theStart dateandEnd date.
Select specific days of the week.
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You must configure the work area, Time Off Category, shift duration, break duration before creating a shift schedule. See the Agent Scheduling Settings section for more information on Time Off Category, Work Area, and General shift settings.
You can also copy the shift details of an existing shift using theCopyoption on theShift Detailstab.
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Editing Shift Details
You can edit shift details from the Schedule tab.
Select the shift you want to edit and click Edit.
Modify the required fields.
ClickSave.
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Assigning Shifts
You can assign shifts by drag and drop.
From theAssigndrop-down menu, clickBy Drag & Drop.
In theShiftcolumn, double-click the first cell select a shift. The available shifts appear in the drop-down.
Select a shift from the drop-down menu. In the first row, the shift and the shift timings appear.
From the first row, drag the shift and drop it in the corresponding agent cell to assign the shift.
You can do this for the number of slots available for the respective shift. After all the slots are filled, you cannot apply that shift to other agents.
Click Publish to save all the changes and make the schedule available for the agents and other managers.
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You can assign agents to multiple shifts per day and schedule multiple breaks per shift.
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Modifying the Assigned Shift
You can change the hours for the shift and breaks per shift.
Double-click the shift you want to modify for an agent in the Agents section. The Modify Edit Assignment pop-up window appears.
Click the + (plus) icon for the required shift.
Modify required options. You can modify Start time, End time, add or delete breaks. You can also add comments.
Click the Save button.
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Important
You can select multiple shift parameters such as shift time, break time, comments and modify these parameters. Go to Schedules > Agents > Select & Edit Assignments. You can select multiple shifts and update the parameters.
You can also assign not ready reasons to agents. To assign not ready reasons:
Double-click the shift you want to modify for an agent in the Agents section. The Edit Assignment pop-up window appears.
Select a reason from the list. Image Added
Click Save.
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If non-active time or published shifts are modified for an agent, a notification is sent to the agent in the Work Queue.
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Assigning Shifts in Bulk
From theAssigndrop-down menu, clickIn Bulk.
Select theScopeto assign the shift for a specific time.
You canFilterthe list of Available Agents by:
Agent Name
Call Center
Agent Team
Agent Skills
Select one or multiple agents (hold CTRL to select multiple) from the Agents available column and move them to Agents to schedule column.
Click Save to save the shift assignment.
Click thePublishbutton on the bottom-right corner of the Agent Scheduler to save all the changes and make the schedule available for the agents and other managers.
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Assigning Shifts by Copying Across Dates
From theAssigndrop-down menu, clickBy Copying Across Dates.
SelectSourceandTargetdate range.
Select the list ofAgentsto assign the shift.
Click theCopybutton and thePublishbutton.
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Assigning Shifts from the Shifts Tab
Click theSchedulestab and then click the By Shift tab.
From the Shift drop-down menu, select the shift.
Click the +Assign Available Slots option. The Assign Available Slots window appears.
From the Agent drop-down list, select the agent to whom you want to assign the shift.
In the Available Slot to Assign column, double-click on the cell to select a slot.
From the drop-down list, select a slot.
Click Assign to save the changes.
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Assigning Shifts from the Available Slots Tab
Click theSchedulestab and then click the Available Slots tab.
Click Auto Schedule. The Auto Schedule window appears.
From the Select a published forecast drop-down, select a published forecast.
From the Select a shift option, select a shift to which you want to assign agents. If you want to create a new shift, click Or Create a new shift option and then create a new shift.
From the Assign Agent section, select one of the options and then click OK.