5. Automatic calls
Asterisk allows the execution of calls automatically, by means of .call extension files, which are located in a specific directory of the Asterisk server, in the case of Centos, the directory is /var/spool/asterisk/outgoing.
In the .call file you can include options such as the number of times a call will be attempted, what will be its outgoing trunk, what will be the context, extension and priority in the dialplan it will use, and you can also set variables that may be required by the asterisk in the execution of the call sequence.
This is an example of a file called call.call to communicate to a mobile number 3168459103, using the trunk TRK1, setting a variable ${var1} for Asterisk, trying 3 times, waiting 2 hours between calls:
Channel: SIP/TRK1/3168459103 MaxRetries: 3 WaitTime: 7200 Context: out-pbx Extension: s Priority: 1 Set: var1=5
6. Festival Text to Speech
Festival is an application that allows you to convert text to speech, from the dialplan or an external script.
If you wish to use more powerful text to audio conversion platforms, you can do the process by communicating via the service provider’s API.
7. Issabel’s customized modules
Issabel PBX allows the creation of custom modules through the Addon Developer, with which you create the necessary menus to call functions, which can report operations or make configuration changes in a database.
What can you do with these Asterisk call automation alternatives?
The flexibility of the dialplan and the execution of scripts through the AGI or the AMI, allow calls to be made, with customer interaction through an IVR, receiving and sending information with other systems and their databases.
In this way it is possible to automate calls, either to attend requests in a help desk, or to consult flight status, hotel reservations, shipment status, failure alerts, and any type of interaction required between a customer and a system external to asterisk, with which you want to expose or save your input data.
If your company needs to automate some of its processes through Asterisk and its different options, do not forget to contact us to our Whatsapp, there we can advise and help you with your needs.
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