Time Groups: Build Schedules for Business Hours Routing
Time Groups define reusable schedules that specify when certain call routing rules should be active. A Time Group contains one or more time entries, each with optional date ranges, days of the week, and daily time windows. Time Groups are used by Time Conditions to determine whether to route calls to a "matched" or "not matched" destination.
Table of Contents
- Access Time Groups
- Time Groups Overview Table
- Create a Time Group
- Time Entry Rows
- Editing and Deleting
- Common Use Cases
Access Time Groups
Log into PBX.IM Dashboard, go to Call Routing, select Time Conditions from the dropdown menu, then click the Time Groups tab at the top of the page.
Time Groups Overview Table
The main table displays all configured Time Groups with the following columns:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | The descriptive name of the Time Group. |
| Operating Time | A summary of the configured time entries, showing date ranges, days, and time windows at a glance. |
| Labels | Tags used for organizing and filtering Time Groups. |
| Time Zone | The time zone applied to this group's schedule. Defaults to your account's time zone if not set. |
Click any row to open the Time Group editor. Use the Add time group button to create a new group.
Create a Time Group
Click Add time group to open the creation dialog. Fill in the following fields:
| Field | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Name | Enter a unique, descriptive name for the Time Group (e.g., "Business Hours", "Holiday Schedule", "Weekend Support"). Required field. |
| Labels | Assign labels for easier organization and filtering. Select from existing labels or create new ones. |
| Time Zone | Select the time zone that applies to this group's schedule. If left empty, the account's default time zone is used. This ensures time entries are evaluated against the correct local time. |
| Exclude Groups | Select other Time Groups that should be excluded when this group is active. For example, if you have a "Holidays" group, exclude it from your "Business Hours" group so holiday schedules take priority. The current group is automatically excluded from the selection list. |
Below the fields, you configure one or more time entry rows that define the actual schedule.
Time Entry Rows
Each Time Group contains one or more time entry rows. Each row defines a schedule window using the following fields:
| Field | How to use it |
|---|---|
| From (Date) | Optional start date for this entry. Use the date picker to select. Leave empty if the entry should apply indefinitely. |
| To (Date) | Optional end date for this entry. Must be on or after the From date. Leave empty if the entry should apply indefinitely. |
| Days of the Week | Select which days this entry applies to (Sunday through Saturday). Leave empty to apply every day. Multiple days can be selected. |
| Time From | The daily start time for this entry. Defaults to 00:00 (midnight) if not set. |
| Time To | The daily end time for this entry. Defaults to 23:59 if not set. |
The end date must be on or after the start date. If both date fields are left empty, the entry applies to all dates. If both time fields are left empty, the entry covers the full 24-hour period.
Adding and removing rows:
- Click the + button on the last row to add a new time entry. This lets you define multiple schedule windows within the same group (e.g., split shifts or different hours on different days).
- Click the trash icon to remove a row. At least one row is always present.
Editing and Deleting
- Click any row in the Time Groups table to open the edit dialog with the same fields as creation.
- Modify any fields and click Save to apply changes.
- To delete a Time Group, click the delete icon in the table's actions column and confirm the deletion.
Common Use Cases of Time Groups
Standard business hours -- Create a Time Group named "Business Hours" with days set to Monday through Friday, Time From 09:00, and Time To 17:00. Use this with a Time Condition to route calls to the main office during work hours and to voicemail outside them.
Holiday schedule -- Create a Time Group named "Holidays" with specific date ranges for each holiday (e.g., From Dec 25 To Dec 25). Exclude this group from your business hours group. Pair with a Time Condition to play a holiday greeting and route to voicemail.
Split shift coverage -- Add two time entry rows in the same group: one for the morning shift (08:00--12:00) and one for the afternoon shift (13:00--17:00). This skips the lunch hour, during which calls can be handled differently.
Weekend support -- Create a Time Group with days set to Saturday and Sunday, Time From 10:00, Time To 14:00. Use it to route weekend calls to an on-call team during limited hours.
Multi-timezone operations -- Create separate Time Groups for each office location, each set to the appropriate time zone. For example, "NYC Office Hours" at America/New_York and "London Office Hours" at Europe/London. Use them in chained Time Conditions to route calls to whichever office is currently open.