Excessive background noise when answering a call can make it difficult for you to understand the conversation. Webex Contact Center offers background noise removal feature that separates and removes background noise from human speech. This feature is available only for premium agents in Flex 3.0 organizations and must be enabled by Cisco.

However, if a customer wants you to listen to the background noise (for example, noise issues in faulty machines), you cannot disable it from your desktop. In such scenarios, contact Cisco Support.

Access popover to answer a call

If the Task List pane is collapsed, you can see the popover at the bottom-right of the Desktop. The popover is the pop-up dialog box that is displayed when a call, chat, email, or social messaging conversation request is routed to you.

The Desktop displays the following popovers:

  • Connecting popover: The connecting popover informs you that a new contact request is in the process of being assigned.

  • Contact request popover: The contact request popover appears after the connecting popover. You must take action on the contact request popover before your state changes to RONA. The popover displays variables, action buttons, or links based on the configuration that is defined for each channel.

You can’t sign out when a connecting popover or contact request popover appears on the Desktop.

When you have multiple requests, the popovers are stacked. If you have more than five requests at any point in time, the requests are displayed as 1-5 of <total number>. You can accept the email, chat, or social messaging conversation by clicking the Accept button in each popover. To accept all requests together, click Accept <number> requests. The earliest request is displayed at the top. The order is emails, social messaging conversations, chats, and calls from top to bottom.

The popover displays the variables, the action buttons, or the links based on the configuration that is defined for each channel. The following table lists the variables that are displayed on the popover for the voice channel:

Table 1. Voice Channel Variables Displayed on Popover
Voice Channel-Call TypeVariables Displayed on Popover

Incoming Voice Call

In Flow Designer, your administrator configures the variables, labels of the variables, and the order in which they must appear on the Agent Desktop. A minimum of three and a maximum of six variables are displayed on the popover. An incoming popover doesn't display variables marked as secure by your administrator.

The consult call request displays a maximum of nine variables on the popover. That is, the three default variables (Agent Name, Agent DN, Agent Team) and a maximum of six variables configured by your administrator. The three default variables refer to the agent who initiated the consult call.
If your administrator has enabled the senstitive data protection for your desktop, you will only see the last four digits of the incoming call number; the rest remains hidden.

Callback

  • Phone Number
  • Queue Name
  • DNIS (Dialed Number Identification Service)

Outbound Preview Campaign Call

Variables that are based on the configuration that is defined by your administrator.

Outdial Call

In Flow Designer, your administrator configures the variables, labels of the variables, and the order in which they must appear on the Agent Desktop. A minimum of three and a maximum of six variables are displayed on the popover. An outdial popover doesn't display variables marked as secure by your administrator.

The consult call request displays a maximum of nine variables on the popover. That is, the three default variables (Agent Name, Agent DN, Agent Team) and a maximum of six variables configured by your administrator. The three default variables refer to the agent who initiated the consult call.

Answer a call

When you receive an inbound call from a customer, the contact request popover follows the connecting popover. The status of the incoming call displays as Ringing.

If you don’t answer the call within the maximum available time, the call returns to the queue, and the system changes your state to RONA. A popover appears with options to change your state to either Available or Idle. For more information on RONA popover, see Understand agent states for Webex Contact Center.

Before you begin

You must be in the Available state to answer customer calls. If you are in the RONA state, you must manually change your state from RONA to Available.

1

When you receive a call request in Agent Desktop, use your physical phone to answer it.

The timer starts and your interaction control pane appears.
2

(Optional) Perform the following tasks in the interaction control pane, while you're handling a call:

Hold and resume a call

You can put the customer on hold to consult with another agent or look up additional customer information.

Before you begin

You must have accepted the call request.

To interact with another agent, you need to initiate a hold and resume on the Agent Desktop rather than using a phone device (hardphone or softphone).

1

Click Hold.

The Call on Hold state displays next to the timer. The End button is disabled.
2

Click Resume to take a call off hold.

When you are consulting with another agent, your call with the customer is automatically put on hold. When you take the customer off hold, the consulting agent is automatically put on hold. Both calls can’t be on hold simultaneously.

Initiate a consult

You can initiate a consultation with an agent, queue, dial number, Entry Point (EP)/Dial Number (DN), and organization.

Before you begin

You must be on an active call.

1

Click Consult.

The Consult Request dialog box appears.

To interact with another agent, you need to initiate a consult call using Consult Request dialog box on the Agent Desktop rather than using a phone device (hardphone or softphone).

2

Choose one of the following options to consult with the agent, queue, organization, or dial number:

  • Agent: You can select an agent from the drop-down list or use the search field to filter the list. The drop-down list displays the names of the agents who are in the Available and Idle states. The agent name is preceded by a colored icon indicating the current availability state.

  • Queue: You can select a queue from the drop-down list or use the search field to filter the list. The drop-down list displays the queues that are available to consult the call.

  • Dial Number: You can enter a number or name, select a number or name from the drop-down list, or use the search field to filter the list. The drop-down list displays your enterprise address book and entry points. Names are listed along with the numbers from the address book.

    • The drop-down list displays the entry points in the Dial Number only if the feature is enabled for your organization.

    • The Agent Desktop validates the format of the dial number that you enter. The dial number can contain 3-18 digits and the supported special characters.

      The Agent Desktop supports only the special characters + (plus), # (hash), * (asterisk), and : (colon) in the Dial Number field. If you copy a number with special characters or letters to the Dial Number field, the Agent Desktop retains only those special characters that are supported and removes all other special characters or letters before allowing you to transfer a call.

    • The dial number supports the following formats:

      • US format: + [Country Code][Area Code][Seven-digit Phone Number]. For example, +12015532447

      • E.164 number format: [+][Country Code][Number]. For example, +11234567890

      • IDD (International Direct Dialing) format: [IDD][Country Code][Number]. For example, 01161123456789

Select Organization if you want to consult another agent who uses a collaboration tool.

If you are using Microsoft Teams, you can search for a subject matter expert by the first name, role, department, or phone number.

If you are using Webex App, you can search for a subject matter expert using the name.

If you are using Microsoft Teams, only the subject matter experts who have a Business phone number assigned will appear in the search list.

To search for a subject matter expert by phone number, enter the complete phone number to retrieve the appropriate result.

There could be a delay in fetching the presence and contact information of subject matter experts. Refresh or reload the search result to fetch the updated presence information of the Microsoft Teams subject matter experts.

Agents who access Desktop inside Microsoft Teams can consult with or transfer calls to Microsoft Teams users only when SSO is enabled in the Microsoft Azure account.

If you are using Webex App, only the subject matter experts who have a Work phone number assigned will appear in the search list.

There could be a delay in fetching the presence and contact information of subject matter experts.

3

(Optional) Click to retrieve the most recent list of agents, queues, entry points, and dial numbers.

4

Click Consult. The Consult Requested state is displayed next to the timer.

The consult call request displays a maximum of nine variables on the popover. That is, the three default variables (Agent Name, Agent DN, Agent Team) and a maximum of six variables configured by your administrator. The three default variables refer to the agent who initiated the consult call.

When the consult call request is accepted by an agent, two Interaction Control panes are displayed on your desktop along with the variables.

  • Caller (customer): The Interaction Control pane displays the customer details. The status is updated based on the actions you perform. For example, when you are consulting with the agent, the customer call status is Call on Hold.

  • Consulted agent: The Interaction Control pane displays details of the agent with whom you are consulting (the agent who receives the consult call). The status is updated based on the actions you perform. For example, when you start consulting with the agent, the status changes to Consulting. You can put the consulting agent on hold by clicking Hold. The status changes to Consulting on Hold.

The consulted agent can exit the call by clicking Exit Consult, and the call continues between you and the customer.

If a consult call is initiated through the dial number mapped to an entry point (EP-DN), consider the following points:

  • Ensure to select the entry point number from the drop-down list.

  • Search criteria must be an entry point number and not special characters such as () (parentheses) or - (hyphen).

  • If the specified entry point number doesn't match with the EP-DN configured by your administrator, the consult call is initiated to the dial number and not to the EP-DN.

  • If the consulted agent doesn't answer the consult call or the device is malfunctioning, the system changes the consulted agent's state to RONA.

  • If the consulted agent doesn't accept the consult call, the agent initiating the consult call receives a consult call failure message.

  • Until the consulted agent accepts the consult call, the Transfer and the Conference buttons are disabled for the agent who initiated the consult call.

  • The Resume button is enabled even if the consulted agent has not yet accepted the consult call request.

  • The consult call request displays a maximum of seven variables. That is, the default variable (Agent DN) and a maximum of six variables configured by your administrator. The default variable refers to the agent who initiated the consult call.

  • The consulted agent can't edit variables. To view the updated variables, the consulted agent must refresh the browser.

  • Consult calls may fail due to the following reasons:

    • You can't retrieve the entry point, dial number, or both from the list.
    • You enter an invalid entry point or dial number.

    If the issue persists, contact your administrator to resolve it.

5

(Optional) You can perform the following while on a consult call with another agent.

  • Click Resume to put the consulting agent on hold and take the customer off hold.

  • Click Transfer to transfer the call to the consulting agent. The transfer request is initiated and the Wrap Up Reasons dialog box appears. For more information, see Transfer a call.

  • Click Conference to establish communication between you, the customer, and the consulting agents. For more information, see Start a conference call.

6

When finished, click End Consult.

The Wrap Up Reasons dialog box appears. For steps on how to apply a wrap-up reason, see Apply a wrap-up reason.

Actions each consult call participant can perform

Each call participant involved in a consult call can perform different actions. Use this table to understand how each participant can interact.

  • The primary agent refers to the agent who initiates a consult call.

  • The consulted agents refer to the agents who accept the consult call.

Participant

Actions

Customer
  • A customer can't initiate a consult call.
  • By default, the customer is put on hold when the primary agent consults another participant unless other participants are already in the conference. If the primary agent consults a second participant while the conference is ongoing, the primary agent can choose to keep the customer from being put on hold.
  • The customer can drop-off from an ongoing call with the primary agent, ending the consult. However, if a conference is in progress, it will continue.

Primary agent
  • The primary agent can initiate and end a consult call.
  • The primary agent can resume a customer call that was put on hold.
  • The primary agent can consult with other agents. If a conference has already been initiated (if it’s not the first consult), the agent has the option to allow the conference to continue or put the other agents on hold.
  • The primary agent can transfer a call to another agent. When the transfer request is initiated, the Wrap Up Reasons dialog box appears for the primary agent. The call continues between Agent 2 and the customer.
  • The primary agent can start a conference call with the other agent and the customer.
  • When a customer drops from a consult call, the consult ends, and the Wrap Up Reasons dialog box appears for the primary agent. However, if a conference is in progress, it will continue.
  • The primary agent can end a consult call by clicking the End Consult button or by hanging up the physical phone. The customer and consulted agents are dropped from the consult call.

Consulted agent
  • When the primary agent resumes a call with the customer who was put on hold, the consulted agents are put on hold and the customer is taken off hold.
  • The consulted agents can't resume a consult call.
  • The consulted agents can't apply a wrap-up reason for a consulting call.
  • The consulted agents can end a consult call by clicking the Exit Consult button, and the call continues between the primary agent and the customer.
  • The consulted agent can accept a transfer request made by the primary agent during the consult call.
  • If the primary agent starts a conference call when consulting other agents, the consulted agents are part of the conference call.
  • If the customer drops from a consult call, the consult ends. However, if a conference is in progress, it will continue.

Non-agent participants (Dial Number)

Non-agent participants do not have call controls, such as consult, add participants or end conferences, unlike agents with Contact Center capabilities enabled.

Initiate a conference

You can start a conference call between agents and subject matter experts. You can add a maximum of eight participants, including the customer and yourself.

Group communication is further enhanced by allowing three or more individuals to communicate simultaneously. This feature efficiently manages calls with multiple participants, by keeping the conversations active without any interruption.

Before you begin

You must have already initiated a consult call. For more information, see Initiate a consult.

1

Click Conference.

To interact with another agent, you need to initiate a conference on the Agent Desktop rather than using a phone device (hardphone or softphone).

The customer is taken off hold and you, the customer and the consulting agent can communicate with each other.

2

(Optional) Click Exit Conference to exit the call. The call continues between the customer and other participants. The call continues between you and the customer.

The Transfer button has been replaced with the Exit Conference button. To transfer control of the call, you will now need to exit the conference. Upon your exit, the participant who has been in the call the longest will automatically assume control.
3

Click End to end the call.

The Wrap Up Reasons dialog box appears. For steps on how to apply a wrap-up reason, see Apply a wrap-up reason.

Actions each conference call participant can perform

Each call participant involved in a conference call can perform different actions. Use this table to gain an understanding of how each participant can interact.

  • Primary agent refers to the agent who starts a conference call.

  • Conferenced agents refer to the consulted agents who are part of the conference call.

Participant

Actions

Customer
  • A customer can't initiate a conference call.
  • By default, the agent puts the call on hold unless they allow the customer and other participants to continue talking.
  • Customer is taken off hold when the agent starts a conference call. The call continues between the primary agent, the conferenced agents, and the customer.

Primary agent
  • The primary agent can start and end a conference call.
  • The primary agent can start a conference call with conferenced agents and the customer by clicking the Conference button.
  • The primary agent can put a customer or conferenced agents on hold by default, but also can allow the conference paritcipants to continue with the customer.
  • The primary agent can click Exit Conference to transfer a call to longest available conferenced agent. The Wrap Up Reasons dialog box appears for the primary agent. The participant who has been in the call the longest will automatically assume control and the call continues between the conferenced agents and the customer.
  • When a customer drops from a conference call, the interaction continues with the other agents on the call.
  • The primary agent can end a conference call by clicking the End button. They can exit from conference by hanging up the physical phone.

Conferenced agents
  • The conferenced agents can end a conference call. However, if the conferenced agents are participants, they can't end the conference call.
  • The conferenced agents can't apply a wrap-up reason for a conference call. However, they can help the primary agent with wrap-up assist.
  • The conferenced agents can exit a conference call by clicking the Exit button. The call continues between the primary agent, the other conferenced agents, and the customer.
  • If the conferenced individual is an agent rather than a participant, they can also consult and add another participant to the call.
  • If the customer exits from an ongoing call with the primary agent and the conferenced agents, the agents can continue the interaction. The call then enters the Wrap up assist state and no further hold, resume or consult can be made.

Non-agent participants (Dial Number)

Non-agent participants do not have call controls, such as consult, add participants or end conferences, unlike agents with Contact Center capabilities enabled.

Group communication is further enhanced by allowing three or more individuals to communicate simultaneously. This feature efficiently manages calls with multiple participants, by keeping the conversations active without any interruption.

Participant action

Description

Customer leaves the call
  • The conversation does not end immediately. Instead, the remaining participants can continue their discussion.
  • The call ends only when there's one participant left. This ensures that all discussions are completed and the call's "handle time" (the total time taken to handle the call) is accurately tracked.

Agent leaves the call

The call does not end when the agent exits the call. It continues between the remaining participants.

Both customer and agent leave the call

The call ends when both customer and agent leave the call.
Wrap up assistIf the customer exits the call, the call enters the Wrap up assist state. Existing participants can continue the conversation, but no new participants can be added.
Supervisor monitoring
  • Supervisors can't monitor or barge into a call that is in "wrap up" state. However, they can continue monitoring if they have already started.
  • If the supervisor was monitoring an agent who exits, they'll be dropped from the call.
  • If a supervisor is monitoring through a secondary agent and the primary agent is still on the call, they can continue monitoring.
  • A supervisor can stay on the call as long as there's at least one agent present, regardless of who they initially started monitoring.
Admin controlThere are no admin controls.

Transfer a call

You can transfer the active voice call (inbound and outbound) to another flow associated with an entry point. If you can't resolve a customer question and want to escalate the call, you can transfer the call to another agent or supervisor.

Before you begin

You must have accepted the call request from a customer.

1

Click Transfer.

To interact with another agent, you need to initiate a transfer on the Agent Desktop rather than using a phone device (hardphone or softphone).
The Transfer Request dialog box appears.
2

Choose one of the following options to transfer an active call to a queue, an agent, an entry point, or a dial number:

  • Agent: You can either select an agent from the drop-down list or use the search field to filter the list. The drop-down list displays the names of agents who are in the Available state.

    • You cannot transfer a call to an agent who is in the Wrap Up state.

    • The call is dropped if the target agent (an agent who receives the call) does not accept it.

  • Queue: You can either select the required entry point or queue from the drop-down list, or use the search field to filter the list. The drop-down list displays the queues and entry points that are available to transfer the call.

    Your administrator defines the workflows, queues, and entry points based on your organizational requirements. When transferring a call to an entry point, you can transfer the call to an entry point associated with the current workflow or a different workflow. During the transfer, the global variable values with the same name and data type are copied to the new flow associated with the entry point selected above. Any global variables in the first flow that don't match the name and data type of global variables in the new flow aren't carried over. When you transfer a call from flow 1 to flow 2 associated with an entry point:

      • If both flow1 and flow2 have a global variable customerID of type Integer and flow2 is active, the value of the global variable customerID gets copied from flow1 to flow2.

      • If flow1 and flow2 have variable var1 with data type Integer in flow1 and String in flow2, then var1 isn't carried over from flow1 to flow2.

      • If both flow1 and flow2 have a global variable var1 of type Integer, and activities such as Set Variable or HTTP Request update the value of var1 in flow2, then var1 in flow2 has the new value.

    When a call is transferred to an entry point, the call cannot be routed back to you.

  • Dial Number: You can enter a number or name, select a number or name from the drop-down list, or use the search field to filter the list. The drop-down list displays your enterprise address book. Names are listed along with the numbers from the address book.

    • The Agent Desktop validates the format of the dial number that you enter. The dial number can contain 3-18 digits and the supported special characters.

      The Agent Desktop supports only the special characters + (plus), # (hash), * (asterisk), and : (colon) in the Dial Number field. If you copy a number with special characters or letters to the Dial Number field, the Agent Desktop retains only those special characters that are supported and removes all other special characters or letters before allowing you to transfer a call.

    • The dial number supports the following formats:

      • US format: + [Country Code][Area Code][Seven-digit Phone Number]. For example, +12015532447

      • E.164 number format: [+][Country Code][Number]. For example, +11234567890

      • IDD (International Direct Dialing) format: [IDD][Country Code][Number]. For example, 01161123456789

    Select Organization if you want to consult a subject matter expert who uses a collaboration tool.

    If you are using Microsoft Teams, you can search for a subject matter expert by the first name, role, department, or phone number.

    If you are using Webex App, you can search for a subject matter expert using the name.

    If you are using Webex App, only the subject matter experts who have a Work phone number assigned will appear in the search list.

    There could be a delay in fetching the presence and contact information of subject matter experts.

    If you are using Microsoft Teams, only the subject matter experts who have a Business phone number assigned will appear in the search list.

    To search for a subject matter expert by phone number, enter the complete phone number to retrieve the appropriate result.

    There could be a delay in fetching the presence and contact information of subject matter experts. Refresh or reload the search result to fetch the updated presence information of the Microsoft Teams subject matter experts.

    Agents who access Desktop inside Microsoft Teams can consult with or transfer calls to Microsoft Teams users only when SSO is enabled in the Microsoft Azure account.

    Ensure that transfer features such as voicemail, call forwarding, and call waiting are disabled on WxCC agent phone numbers or extensions. If it is enabled and the RONA (Ring No Answer) timer is set longer than the voicemail timer, calls may be incorrectly routed to voicemail. WxCC marks the call as connected once it reaches the telephony layer and cannot detect if the call is forwarded to voicemail, resulting in call handling discrepancies.

3

(Optional) Click to retrieve the most recent list of agents, queues, dial numbers, or subject matter experts in your organization. The retrieved list displays the current agent availability states.

4

Click Transfer.

If you want to transfer the call immediately (blind transfer), select either Agent or Dial Number and click Transfer. The call is answered by any available agent.

The transfer request is initiated, and the Wrap Up Reasons dialog box appears. For steps on how to apply a wrap-up reason, see Apply a wrap-up reason.

Record a call

Your call with the customer is automatically recorded if your administrator has enabled call recordings. To pause or resume the call recording, follow these steps.

Before you begin

You must have accepted the call request.

  • If your administrator has enabled the Call recordings feature for your enterprise, you can pause a call recording while obtaining sensitive information, such as a customer’s credit card information. Your administrator specifies the pause duration. After the specified pause time time has elapsed, the recording automatically resumes.

  • Pause Recording and Resume Recording features don't work during conference and consult calls.

1

Click Pause Recording to pause the recording of an active call.

The Record icon () indicates that the recording is in progress.

2

(Optional) Click Resume Recording to manually resume paused recording.

Edit call-associated data variables

Call-Associated Data (CAD) variables allow the administrator to collect call data such as a case number or any customer's action code. During a call, you can edit the CAD variables if your administrator configures the CAD variables as editable.

Your administrator can mark variables containing sensitive information, such as personally identifiable information (PII) and your organization's data, as secure. If the variable is marked as secure, the Secure Variable icon appears beside the field name in the interaction control pane.

When consulting or transferring a call, if multiple agents edit the same CAD variable value at the same time, the changes that are saved first display, and the other agent is notified with a message. For example, consider that two agents (Agent A and Agent B) edit the same CAD variable at the same time and Agent A saves the value. Then, the value entered by Agent B is overwritten, and Agent B is notified with a message.

Before you begin

You must have accepted the call request.

1

Click within the text box of an editable field and enter an appropriate value. For example, enter a case number or an action code.

You can enter or paste a maximum of 256 characters for the CAD variable value.

2

You can do the following:

  • To change an existing value, select the value and overwrite it with a new value.

  • To copy a CAD variable value, hover the mouse pointer over it and then click .

  • To select date and time, click or click on the field. When editing a CAD variable corresponding to date and time, follow the supported international standard to save the variable value.

3

(Optional) If the secure variable values are displayed with an asterisk (*) symbol, click the Click to retry link to view their values.

4

After you edit the CAD variable values as required, click Save.

The system may delay displaying the updated CAD variable values, based on the routing configuration or events in Flow Designer. Saving the CAD variable values is subject to network availability and other operational considerations.

5

(Optional) To retrieve the previously saved values, click Revert.

End a call

After you’ve helped your customer with their questions or requests, we recommend asking the customer to end the call. If necessary, you can also end the call.

You cannot end the call when the call is on hold.

Before you begin

You must have accepted the call request.

1

Click End.

The Wrap Up Reasons dialog box appears. The Wrap Up Reasons dialog box appears only for the primary agent. The consulted or conferenced agents can help the primary agent with wrap-up assist.
2

Select the wrap-up reason from the drop-down list or use the search field to filter the list.

For steps, see Apply a wrap-up reason.

3

Click Submit Wrap Up.

4

(Optional) If you're using a handset or headset, you must disconnect the physical phone before you can receive the next call.

Callback

Customers can opt to receive a callback using an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) by calling, visiting the website, or using a chatbot (Virtual Agent).

The following are the different callback types:

  • Courtesy Callback: A customer can opt to receive a courtesy callback instead of waiting in the queue for an agent to answer the call.

  • Web Callback (Callback): A customer can opt to receive a callback by submitting a callback request. The request includes a name and callback number when visiting the contact center website or interacting with a chatbot (Virtual Agent).

The callback requests are sent to the Webex Contact Center system. When an agent is available, the system initiates a callback to the customer. The customer can be offered the callback option during peak hours or nonworking hours of the contact center.

Callback requests are routed to you as an incoming call request. The callback contact request popover displays the Callback label, the Callback icon (), the phone number of the customer, DNIS (Dialed Number Identification Service), the queue that routed the call to you, and a timer indicating the time elapsed since you received the call. The status of the incoming call is displayed as Ringing.

If the End Call feature for Web Callback is enabled by your administrator, the Ringing status is replaced with the Cancel button in the contact card request.

If the customer accepts the call, you are connected to the customer and the Interaction Control pane displays.

To cancel the Web Callback before the customer answers the call, click Cancel. When the callback is canceled, the Wrap Up Reasons dialog box appears.

If the customer doesn’t answer the call, the call is returned to the queue.

If the contact center has reached the maximum limit for concurrent calls that is set for the data center or tenant, you can't make more calls, and the corresponding reason codes are displayed on Agent Desktop.