I have a queue that only does chat interactions. Each agent has Utilization set for a max of 3 chats. 

In the example below, the manager of the department does not like how Agent B would get the next inbound chat, and Agent C would get the next new chat after that... but Agent A doesn't have any active chats and does not get either of those new chats. This is due to the "idle" counter starting at the end of the last handled interaction. 

• Agent A:
• active chats - 0
• last completed chat - 300 seconds 
• Agent B:
• active chats - 2
• last completed chat - 900 seconds
• Agent C:
• active chats - 1
• last completed chat - 600 seconds

Any suggestions on a possible configuration that could use the interaction start time, or at least not pile up chats on one agent before offering to others?

#Routing(ACD/IVR)

#AgentUtilization

------------------------------
Neil Bernhart

------------------------------

Sorry Neil that this never got answered.  I hope you already worked through a solution.  

The distribution depends on the type of routing you are using.  For Best Available, it looks at the skill values of the agents and then idle time since last interaction they were alerted on (not last they hung up on) is used for a tie breaker.  That is the key - it resets the timer each time the agent is alerted - even if they don't accept the chat.  

For All Skills, it looks at that idle time then uses skills as a tiebreaker.  There is nothing in the ACD routing that will look at both for the agent selection.  You can see what the value was when the agent was selected and guess how it chose that particular agent.  

Hope this clears this up for you and again, sorry I didn't see this sooner. 

I have a queue that only does chat interactions. Each agent has Utilization set for a max of 3 chats. 

In the example below, the manager of the department does not like how Agent B would get the next inbound chat, and Agent C would get the next new chat after that... but Agent A doesn't have any active chats and does not get either of those new chats. This is due to the "idle" counter starting at the end of the last handled interaction. 

• Agent A:
• active chats - 0
• last completed chat - 300 seconds 
• Agent B:
• active chats - 2
• last completed chat - 900 seconds
• Agent C:
• active chats - 1
• last completed chat - 600 seconds

Any suggestions on a possible configuration that could use the interaction start time, or at least not pile up chats on one agent before offering to others?

#Routing(ACD/IVR)

#AgentUtilization

------------------------------
Neil Bernhart

------------------------------

Thank you Robert.

On this queue, Routing Methos is "Standard", and Evaluation Method is "All skills matching".

To confirm... If I change Evaluation Method to "Best available skills", will it use the last alerted time as the tie breaker like you described?

Sorry Neil that this never got answered.  I hope you already worked through a solution.  

The distribution depends on the type of routing you are using.  For Best Available, it looks at the skill values of the agents and then idle time since last interaction they were alerted on (not last they hung up on) is used for a tie breaker.  That is the key - it resets the timer each time the agent is alerted - even if they don't accept the chat.  

For All Skills, it looks at that idle time then uses skills as a tiebreaker.  There is nothing in the ACD routing that will look at both for the agent selection.  You can see what the value was when the agent was selected and guess how it chose that particular agent.  

Hope this clears this up for you and again, sorry I didn't see this sooner. 

I have a queue that only does chat interactions. Each agent has Utilization set for a max of 3 chats. 

In the example below, the manager of the department does not like how Agent B would get the next inbound chat, and Agent C would get the next new chat after that... but Agent A doesn't have any active chats and does not get either of those new chats. This is due to the "idle" counter starting at the end of the last handled interaction. 

• Agent A:
• active chats - 0
• last completed chat - 300 seconds 
• Agent B:
• active chats - 2
• last completed chat - 900 seconds
• Agent C:
• active chats - 1
• last completed chat - 600 seconds

Any suggestions on a possible configuration that could use the interaction start time, or at least not pile up chats on one agent before offering to others?

#Routing(ACD/IVR)

#AgentUtilization

------------------------------
Neil Bernhart

------------------------------

I have a queue that only does chat interactions. Each agent has Utilization set for a max of 3 chats. 

In the example below, the manager of the department does not like how Agent B would get the next inbound chat, and Agent C would get the next new chat after that... but Agent A doesn't have any active chats and does not get either of those new chats. This is due to the "idle" counter starting at the end of the last handled interaction. 

• Agent A:
• active chats - 0
• last completed chat - 300 seconds 
• Agent B:
• active chats - 2
• last completed chat - 900 seconds
• Agent C:
• active chats - 1
• last completed chat - 600 seconds

Any suggestions on a possible configuration that could use the interaction start time, or at least not pile up chats on one agent before offering to others?

#Routing(ACD/IVR)

#AgentUtilization

------------------------------
Neil Bernhart

------------------------------

Hi Neil,

You may find this community post helpful as it discusses the same issue. You will also see an explanation of why you are seeing what you are.

Robert's suggestion of distribution type will only help if your agents have different skill proficiencies. Since you don't mention this in your original post, I'm not certain it will help you.

The fundamental problem is that there are two, diametrically opposing, schools of thought on how this should work. Some call centers (like yours, apparently) want interactions evenly distributed across all available agents. Others (mostly those whose agents deal with multiple interaction types) want one agent to be fully utilized before the next is assigned. Genesys have opted for the latter, however I can see a strong argument for making this a configurable option (perhaps on a per-queue basis?) I haven't seen an Idea posted for this, if there isn't one then I recommend creating one over on the Aha site.

HTH

I have a queue that only does chat interactions. Each agent has Utilization set for a max of 3 chats. 

In the example below, the manager of the department does not like how Agent B would get the next inbound chat, and Agent C would get the next new chat after that... but Agent A doesn't have any active chats and does not get either of those new chats. This is due to the "idle" counter starting at the end of the last handled interaction. 

• Agent A:
• active chats - 0
• last completed chat - 300 seconds 
• Agent B:
• active chats - 2
• last completed chat - 900 seconds
• Agent C:
• active chats - 1
• last completed chat - 600 seconds

Any suggestions on a possible configuration that could use the interaction start time, or at least not pile up chats on one agent before offering to others?

#Routing(ACD/IVR)

#AgentUtilization

------------------------------
Neil Bernhart

------------------------------