Forgive My Newness...

[BrownsGreens]

This probably is a dumb question, but I'm very new to the world of telephony automation.

 

My question is simple. I have a website which sells gift certificates to offline merchants. I print a certificate number on each certificate which I want to be able to have the merchant pick up the phone, call a number and be able to verify the certificate is legit and mark it as redeemed in the database so it can only be used once.

 

I'm paying for hosting service through another company. Do I have to have the server connected directly to my phone line for this to work? Or do I need a hosting company that has the capability? Or can I work with a database that is hosted somewhere else directly from my computer using a voiceguide?

 

Sorry for the barrage of questions and if there is an area that details this all out for me, please point me in the right direction.

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

[SupportTeam]

This sounds like a fairly straightforward application.

 

The IVR system (VoiceGuide) needs to be able to query the database which stores the details of the issued certificates, and then needs to be able to update that database to mark a particular certificate as redeemed.

 

Then easiest way would be to have the database which stores the certificate details residing on the same system as VoiceGuide. If the number of certificates is less then a million then you could use MS Access for this, as the database would probably only have one simple table which stores the certificate details.

 

Other databases are fine, and they do not need to be on the same computer as VoiceGuide - have a look at the Help file's section on Database Query module to see how VoiceGuide works with other databases. see: http://www.voiceguide.com/vghelp/html/modDbQuery.htm

 

If you want you can send an email to sales@voiceguide.com to get a quote on having the entire system designed for you and deployed on your own computer (remotely using PCAnywhere).

[BrownsGreens]

Great, thank you for the quick and courteous reply! As my business grows, how do I add more lines? Just call my telephone company and tell them I need 2-3 more phone lines coming into the house and then just plug them all into a dialogic card?

 

I will want to have only one telephone number that will be the same for everyone to call. Thanks.

 

Currently, all of the information is on a mySQL database and the database is not on my machine. I have to use phpmyadmin in my hosting control panel to access it (at least it's the only way I know how to).

 

Once it is working, it will be a very simple phone call, not much too it, just a greeting, merchant keys in the certificate number, then two options - either yes, certificate is good and redeem it, or no, it's not good, then hang up.

 

Does call waiting work? For example, if one merchant is on the phone and another calls in, will it pick up the next call as soon as the first hangs up?

 

Thanks again for your help and sorry if my questions seem very elementary.

[SupportTeam]

how do I add more lines? Just call my telephone company and tell them I need 2-3 more phone lines coming into the house and then just plug them all into a dialogic card?

Yes.

I will want to have only one telephone number that will be the same for everyone to call. Thanks.

The phone company sets all this up so that the calls arrive on any of the lines in the specified group that are free.

Currently, all of the information is on a mySQL database and the database is not on my machine. I have to use phpmyadmin in my hosting control panel to access it (at least it's the only way I know how to).

Sounds like that database would need to be reached over the internet if you have the IVR system setup at your office. It would be best if the database was on the same local area network as the IVR (or on the same machine as the IVR).

Once it is working, it will be a very simple phone call, not much too it, just a greeting, merchant keys in the certificate number, then two options - either yes, certificate is good and redeem it, or no, it's not good, then hang up.

That's a very straightforward script - would only take about 5 modules or so.

Does call waiting work? For example, if one merchant is on the phone and another calls in, will it pick up the next call as soon as the first hangs up?

VG does not have any issues with call waiting. If the phone company will send a waiting call in as soon as the current call hangs up then VG will detect the ringing of the new call and will answer it like any other call.