Outbound calling
Outbound calling is a receptionist or agent placing calls rather than answering them, for example to confirm an appointment, follow up a lead or return a missed call.
Also called: outdials, AI outbound calls
The concept is simple: the same agent that answers the phone dials out on the business’s behalf. Common uses are appointment reminders, callback requests, and following up inquiries that arrived by another channel.
Outbound is regulated differently from inbound. Automated or pre-recorded calls to consumers generally require prior consent, do-not-call registries apply, and calling hours are restricted; the rules differ by country and by whether the call is marketing or transactional. A business considering outbound automation needs a consent record for each number it dials.
This entry defines the concept only.