Discover how to create and use auto attendants in the PATLive Flex Platform. Route calls, add bilingual options, and greet callers with a professional message.
The PATLive Web App, powered by the PATLive Flex Platform, makes it easy to set up an auto attendant (sometimes called a call menu). Adding an auto attendant to your setup is like a virtual front desk for your phone line, helping your business deliver a smoother, more professional caller experience. It also saves your team time by automatically routing calls where they belong.
How Auto Attendants Save Time & Streamline Calls
With auto attendants, you can:
- Ensure every caller is greeted consistently with a professional message
- Offer bilingual or department-specific options without extra staff
- Direct routine calls to voicemail or self-service menus to save receptionist minutes
- Route urgent calls straight to a live receptionist or on-call team member
- Customize menus for special events or seasonal changes
It’s an easy way to make your business feel bigger, more polished, and always available.
Step 1: Sign In
Go to the web app at flex.patlive.com and sign in with your PATLive credentials.
Step 2: Access System Settings
- Click your avatar in the top right corner of the screen (it will show your initials until you upload a profile photo).
- Select System Settings from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: Open Auto Attendants
- In the left-hand navigation, click Auto Attendants.
- To add a new auto attendant, click the “+” button next to the search box in the top right corner.
Step 4: Name Your Auto Attendant
- Enter a clear, descriptive name so you can easily tell it apart from other auto attendants later.
Step 5: Choose a Greeting
This is the message callers will hear when the auto attendant answers. You can:
- Upload an audio file.
- Click “or create a new one” to record a new greeting.
- Contact our support team to have your greeting professionally recorded by our in-house voice talent (included at no extra charge).
Step 6: Set Menu Options
Each keypress on the caller’s phone can be assigned to an action. By default, options will show as Disabled.
- Click the “+” icon next to the option you’d like to configure.
- Give the menu option a label (i.e., Send to English Script).
- Choose an action from the dropdown. Available actions include:
- Play an audio file
- Send the call to another auto attendant
- Forward to an external number
- Send to a group
- Send to a live receptionist (requires a script on your account. Contact support to set this up)
- Send to a submenu
- Send to a specific user
- Send to a voicemail box
- Route using a schedule
Step 7: Add a Back Option (Recommended)
A best practice is to set the “*” button to loop back to the same auto attendant. This replays the greeting and allows the caller to choose an option again.
Step 8: Save & Assign the Auto Attendant
- When your auto attendant is ready, click Save.
- In the left-hand navigation, select Phone Numbers.
- Locate the number you want to update and click the pencil/paper icon to edit its settings.
- In the call handling options, assign your new auto attendant so incoming calls route to it.
Until you assign an auto attendant to a phone number, it will not be active for callers.
You’re All Set
Your auto attendant is now live. Try calling your business number to walk through the menu just like a customer would. Need to tweak something later? No problem! Just return to System Settings > Auto Attendants to edit greetings, menu options, or routing rules anytime.