Need to transfer calls to external answering service

[abswv]

We have an Avaya Partner VMS system 7.0.
10 incoming lines
There are 3 lines that callers might dial direct. Line 1 & 3 & 7
Lines 6
Lines are handled by auto attendant during the day.
The phone co rolls over line 1 to the other lines.
Right now, I have someone transferring lines 1,3,7 at the end of the day to an external answering service.
I have a button programmed to dial *72,then the answering service number. So they pickup each line,
press the button to transfer it. Same kind of thing to untransfer in the morning.
Is there a way I can program a "night service" button to transfer calls to this answering service by pushing
1 button? And the same for taking it off night service.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Telecomboy]

The Partner is not the best system for forwarding off-site. You can forward an extension, but the call needs to route to that extension first. For your situation, you could do something like the following: During the day calls route to the day auto-attendant. At night (you can make this switch with a night service button) switch the calls to go to a different night auto-attendant. That night attendant would then say, "thanks for calling, if you need to talk to our answering service press 2 now (or whatever) and steer option 2 to extension 10 (or whichever extension you choose). You would then program extension 10 to forward to your answering service. The benefit is that you can change between day and night with a night button on x10. The drawback is that it isn't an immediate transfer. The caller has to choose the option for the answering service and then you would need to have x10 forwarded as well so it transferred properly.

The current way you have it set-up is actually what I would personally recommend. If you upgrade to an IP Office (when the time comes), that system can accommodate what you are trying to do with a simple push of one button.

 

[abswv]

Thanks. Thats kind of what I'm looking for. It's possible to have night service just go to extension (10 or whatever) instead of the AA, isn't it?

 

[Telecomboy]

Not if you are sending them to an AA during the day. You either have to send them to x10 all the time or they will need to route through the attendant first at night as well.