The 3CX Web Client is a powerful tool that has been receiving more and more feature updates and improvements over time, but let’s not forget the powerful presence status that is at the core of 3CX functionality. Do you and your users utilize the feature to its fullest? Read on to see why and how status profiles can be used.

What is presence?

If you are new to 3CX, presence statuses allow a user to change the behavior of their account depending on the different times of day or depending on a specific set status. This could mean making sure that calls and chat messages do not bother you when you are trying to focus or having calls forwarded to a colleague or team when you are on annual leave. Users can choose from the following status options:

• Available
• Away
• Do not disturb
• Lunch
• Business Trip

The last two presence names can be customized to your own preference but more on that later.

Quick access from the avatar icon

Changing your status on the fly is an important aspect which is why it is easy to set by clicking on your avatar icon in the top left corner of the screen. With 2 clicks, you can easily change to a status of your choice. From this menu, you can also opt to set your status temporarily for a fixed amount of time.

Presence customization

Presence statutes offer total flexibility and ensure that no matter the organization type, users can set up their profiles to fit exactly what they need.

Custom status messages

You will notice that on each status line when clicking on the avatar, there is a pencil icon. Selecting this allows you to enter any message (up to 120 characters) that is then displayed to all other users. By using this feature, all your colleagues are aware of your availability should they need to advise a client.

Custom profile names

The last 2 status names can be amended to your preference. This can be done by navigating to “Settings” > “Status” > “Lunch” or “Business Trip” and editing the ‘Custom profile name’ field. This could be helpful for users who want to create a separate PUSH profile. Check out the ‘tips and tricks’ portion of this recent blog.

Flexible call routing

Setting a different status is not just about showing your colleagues your availability. It’s a powerful way to redirect calls to ensure that customer calls are not missed. By navigating to the status settings, users can decide what happens in the following circumstances:

• What to do with unanswered calls from external or internal sources
• Where to route a call if a user’s extension is busy or unavailable

Profile-specific options

In some instances, having your mobile ring at the same time as your 3CX extension can be useful. When setting up the ‘Available’ and ‘Lunch’ profiles, users can tick the ‘Also ring my mobile’ box. In addition to this option, users can allow multiple calls to be received on a single extension and choose if PUSH notifications should be delivered or not.

User-specific exceptions

Flexible call routing is a brilliant feature that all users can employ to ensure that calls are routed correctly. But what if a loved one or a VIP calls? A user can use the ‘Exceptions’ function to set up a dedicated behavior.

For example, if a user’s status is set to DND and the CEO of the company calls, it wouldn’t be so great for them to get voicemail. So by setting the CEO’s phone number up in the exemptions list, a user can then choose how that call is handled, overriding any other status forwarding rules.

Status scheduler

The status scheduler feature in the Web Client is a great tool for users who work part-time or any combination of hours that may be out of the global office hours scope. By setting up a personal status schedule, users’ extensions can be set to automatically change status depending on the day of the week and time of day. Multiple time slots per day can be entered and bulk ‘Add’ and ‘Clear’ options make getting set up quick and easy.

Easy greeting management

Setting different statuses could have a knock-on effect that you might not think of initially. When you set an ‘Away’ status for example, would your generic voicemail greeting still be applicable? Likely it won’t. The solution? With the Web Client, you can record and set up status-specific voicemail greetings. Navigate to “Settings > Greetings”. No need to worry about re-recording a voicemail every time.

Are you using your presence to its fullest extent?

Using the power of the 3CX Web Client to customize and update your profile status is easy and intuitive. Presence customization is not just limited to the Web Client but is available across the free mobile apps and the desktop application for Windows and macOS. If you are not using your presence profiles to their fullest extent, today is the day to reap the benefits.