Time Schedules: Set It and Forget It
Automatically route calls based on business hours, holidays, and time zones. Your phone system works on your schedule - even when you're not working.
What are Time Schedules?
Time schedules automatically route incoming calls to different destinations based on the time of day, day of week, and special dates like holidays.
Imagine never having to remember to forward phones at closing time, never missing calls because you forgot to switch back after a holiday, and never having customers hear "we're closed" when you're actually open. Time schedules make this reality for Australian businesses from Perth to Brisbane, automatically managing your phone system based on your operating hours.
This technology goes beyond simple on/off switching. Modern time schedules understand the complexity of real business operations: different departments with varying hours, lunch breaks, public holidays, special events, and even time zone differences for national operations. Your Sydney sales team can work 9-5 Eastern time while Perth support operates on Western time, all managed automatically.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of flexible scheduling as businesses adapted to changing restrictions and reduced hours. Companies that implemented time schedules could instantly adjust to new operating hours without touching their phone system, maintaining professional service despite constantly changing circumstances.
For businesses operating across Australia's vast geography, time schedules are essential. They ensure Queensland customers calling at 8 AM don't reach a closed Perth office, while Adelaide businesses can serve both Eastern and Western markets effectively. It's not just about automation - it's about providing consistent, professional service regardless of when or where calls originate.
24-Hour Call Routing Example
After Hours
Voicemail
Open
Reception
Lunch
Mobile
Open
Reception
Closing
On-Call
After Hours
AI Assistant
📅 Regular Schedule
- • Monday-Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
- • Saturday: 10 AM - 2 PM
- • Sunday: Closed
- • Lunch break: 12 PM - 1 PM
- • Different rules per department
- • Automatic daylight saving adjustment
🎉 Special Events
- • Public holidays auto-imported
- • Custom closure dates
- • Extended holiday hours
- • Emergency overrides
- • Temporary schedule changes
- • Recurring annual events
Powerful Scheduling Features
Complete control over when and where calls route
Business Hours Profiles
Create multiple profiles for different scenarios. Standard hours, extended hours, reduced hours - switch instantly.
After-Hours Routing
Customize where calls go outside business hours. Voicemail, mobile, answering service, or AI receptionist.
Holiday Management
Auto-import Australian public holidays. Add custom dates. Set special holiday greetings and routing.
Time Zone Support
Perfect for national operations. Each location operates on local time. Perth to Sydney coordination made easy.
Temporary Overrides
Unexpected closure? Special event? Override normal schedule temporarily without losing your settings.
Department Schedules
Sales, support, and accounts can have different hours. Each department manages its own schedule.
Advanced Scheduling Capabilities
📆 Calendar Integration
- • Sync with Google Workspace
- • Microsoft 365 integration
- • Import team calendars
- • Out-of-office detection
- • Meeting-based routing
⚡ Smart Features
- • Weather-based adjustments
- • Emergency mode activation
- • Seasonal templates
- • Multi-location coordination
- • Predictive scheduling
Why Your Business Needs Time Schedules
Never Forget Again
No more rushing back to forward phones or missing calls because you forgot to switch systems.
Professional Image
Always deliver appropriate greetings and routing, whether it's 9 AM Monday or 2 AM Sunday.
Work-Life Balance
Staff truly disconnect after hours. Calls route appropriately without personal phone forwarding.
Save Money
Eliminate overtime for phone management. No need for staff to handle after-hours forwarding.
National Coverage
Serve customers across time zones. Perth to Brisbane operations coordinated automatically.
Instant Changes
Emergency closure? Extended hours? Make changes instantly from anywhere via web or mobile.
Time Schedules in Action
Real-world scheduling scenarios across industries
Medical Practices
Regular hours with lunch closure. After-hours to on-call doctor. Holidays to emergency line.
Retail Stores
Extended weekend hours. Holiday shopping schedules. Boxing Day sales routing.
National Operations
Perth office 6 AM - 2 PM, Sydney 9 AM - 5 PM. Seamless handover between time zones.
Government Offices
Strict hours with all public holidays. Emergency services always available.
Restaurants
Different lunch/dinner hours. Closed Mondays. Special event schedules.
24/7 Support
Shift changes at 6 AM, 2 PM, 10 PM. Different teams for each shift.
Multi-Location Coordination
Australian businesses operating across multiple states face unique challenges with time schedules. During daylight saving months, the time difference between Perth and Sydney stretches to three hours, while Queensland doesn't observe daylight saving at all. Smart time schedules automatically adjust for these variations, ensuring Brisbane customers aren't told "we're closed" when calling at 4:30 PM because the system thinks it's 5:30 PM Sydney time.
Holiday Complexity
Australian public holidays vary significantly by state. Melbourne Cup Day in Victoria, Ekka in Brisbane, Adelaide Cup in South Australia - each location has unique closures. Time schedules can automatically import state-specific public holidays and apply them to the appropriate offices. This ensures your Perth office remains open on Melbourne Cup Day while your Victorian locations route to holiday messaging.
Flexible Working Arrangements
Post-COVID workplace flexibility has made time schedules essential. Teams might work different hours on different days, with some staff in office and others remote. Time schedules adapt to these patterns, routing Tuesday calls to the office team while Wednesday calls reach remote workers. This flexibility supports modern work arrangements while maintaining consistent customer service.
Common Schedule Configurations
Templates for every business type
📊 Standard Business Hours
🏥 Medical Practice
🛍️ Retail Store
🌏 National Support
🎄 Australian Public Holidays (Auto-Applied)
National Holidays
- • New Year's Day
- • Australia Day
- • Good Friday
- • Easter Monday
- • ANZAC Day
- • Christmas Day
- • Boxing Day
State Holidays (VIC)
- • Labour Day (March)
- • Queen's Birthday
- • Melbourne Cup Day
- • Grand Final Eve
Custom Dates
- • Office Christmas Party
- • Annual Stocktake
- • Team Building Days
- • Emergency Closures
Time Schedule Best Practices
✓ Do's
- Plan holiday schedules in advance
- Test schedule changes before activation
- Document override procedures
- Update voicemail greetings to match
- Communicate changes to staff
- Review schedules quarterly
- Consider time zones for national operations
✗ Don'ts
- Don't forget daylight saving changes
- Don't make changes without testing
- Don't ignore state holiday differences
- Don't leave no after-hours option
- Don't overcomplicate schedules
- Don't forget to train new staff
- Don't assume one size fits all departments
Frequently Asked Questions
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