Hunt group introduction
A hunt group is a way to connect different phone numbers together into a group so that they can all be called from one selected main number. This is especially useful for teams such as Sales or Support. To set up a hunt group click on Features Setup in the Telephone Manager and select Hunt Group.
Before setting up a hunt group
Before creating a hunt group certain factors have to be considered, which we will outline here. Once you have gathered this information you can precede to creation.
We recommend that you set up a new extension dedicated to each hunt group that will lead the group. Calls to the group will be directed through this number so it should be named accordingly. Whichever extension is used will be cleared of device profile/configuration. For information on how to set up a new extension click here. A Hunt Group can be called directly on a specified extension, or other extensions can be set to forward calls to the hunt group's main extension.
Which extensions will be in the hunt group? All these extensions will be called when the group's main number is called.
Creating a hunt group
Step 1 - Add the hunt group
From the hunt group screen, click 'Add'.
Step 2 - Name the group and nominate an extension
Give the hunt group a name, such as 'Sales' or 'Support', then pick an extension you have set up that the hunt group will be driven from. Once you have selected an extension from the list, the phone number and name fields will be automatically filled.
Step 3 - Decide the number of rings
No Answer Rings: This is the number of times each phone will ring before it moves to the next DDI in the group. This will not apply to simultaneous groups.
Step 4 - Define the hunt group type
Hunt Group Type can be set up as the following from the drop down menu:
Regular - This will ring the extensions in the group in order, continuously, starting from the extension that rang last.
Circular - This is similar to 'regular' except the first number to be called will always be the same. It will be the extension that is at the start of the list.
Simultaneous - All extensions will ring at the same time.
Uniform - The extension that has been idle longest will ring first.
Step 5 - Adjust forwarding preferences
Call Forwarding No Answer: when the call is not answered and you want it to be received by another phone. Enter the phone number that will receive unanswered calls and the Timeout (in seconds) i.e. the amount of time the phone will ring for before it is forwarded. You can set this up to forward directly to that phone number's voicemail by entering *55 before the DDI. For example enter *5520... instead of 020... .
Call Forwarding Busy: This is a further number to forward calls to if the first call forward is busy. You can also direct these calls directly to voicemail using the above steps.
Step 6 - Pick extensions to be included in the hunt group.
Add the phone numbers you want to ring in the hunt group by selecting them from the Available Members box. You can search by name or extension. Selected members will appear in the right-hand box.
Click save to finish the process and create the group.
Step 7 - Test
Call the lead extension of the group you have set up to test that it is ringing the correct numbers and
Editing hunt groups and adding new members
To edit a group select the group and click Edit in the top menu. You will be taken to the same menu used in hunt group setup where you can alter preferences such as the group name, extension leading the group and the display name (CLI) of the group. You can change forward preferences and add or remove members of the group.
Group Features
Group Features will apply to all numbers in a group. Here we explain the options.
Music on Hold: Switching this on plays music when a call is on hold.
Call Park: This will allow any extension in the group to pick a call up that is on hold.