Queue Calls

This guide will explain how to use Twilio's Queue feature to create a call queueing system. A Queue stores incoming calls in order. You can then connect the first call in the queue to another call easily. The complete code sample will show you how to accept an incoming call, place it into a queue and then connect a live agent to the first call in the queue.

For this demonstration we'll be using two Twilio phone numbers, so if you'd like to try the code out live, you'll need to buy two phone numbers. For more help getting setup with Voice be sure to read our Getting Started guide.

When our first number is called, Twilio will make a request to our server to place the caller in the Queue.

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const VoiceResponse = require('twilio').twiml.VoiceResponse;
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const response = new VoiceResponse();
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response.enqueue({
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    waitUrl: 'wait-music.xml'
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}, 'support');
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console.log(response.toString());

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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
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<Response>
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    <Enqueue waitUrl="wait-music.xml">support</Enqueue>
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</Response>

We start by creating a TwiML response that uses the Enqueue verb to create a new Queue and place the caller into it.

You can learn more about how to serve TwiML from your own application in our webhook guides. You can explore all the available TwiML functionality in our TwiML reference docs.

When our second number is called, Twilio will make a request to our server to connect the agent to the Queue.

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const VoiceResponse = require('twilio').twiml.VoiceResponse;
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const response = new VoiceResponse();
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const dial = response.dial();
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dial.queue({
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    url: 'about_to_connect.xml'
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}, 'support');
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console.log(response.toString());

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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
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<Response>
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    <Dial>
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        <Queue url="about_to_connect.xml">support</Queue>
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    </Dial>
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</Response>

To connect to the first caller in the Queue all we do is Dial the Queue by name.

By default the call will end when the Agent or Caller hang up, but in most cases we'll want to connect to the next Caller automatically.

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// Download the Node helper library from twilio.com/docs/node/install
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const VoiceResponse = require('twilio').twiml.VoiceResponse;
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const twiml = new VoiceResponse();
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twiml.say('You will now be connected to the first caller in the queue.');
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const dial = twiml.dial();
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dial.queue('Queue Demo');
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twiml.redirect();
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console.log(twiml.toString());

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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
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<Response>
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  <Say>You will now be connected to the first caller in the queue.</Say>
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  <Dial>
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    <Queue>Queue Demo</Queue>
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  </Dial>
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  <Redirect></Redirect>
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</Response>

An empty <Redirect> verb will redirect the caller to the beginning of the TwiML, which will then Dial and connect to the next person in the Queue. As a final touch we add a <Say> verb to tell the agent that they are being connected to another caller.

With Twilio's TaskRouter you can implement very sophisticated call-center workflows like:

• assigning available Agents to the next caller in the Queue
• offering tiered support plans, that allow premium customers to skip the queue
• routing certain callers to different teams based on business logic

Hopefully this guide got you up and running with Twilio Queues. Email us and let us know what features of Queue you would like to know more about.