Identify the 8x8 feature first
8x8 virtual receptionist: Auto Attendant or Power Keys?
The phrase 8x8 virtual receptionist has more than one documented meaning. Current Auto Attendant documentation uses it for a caller menu; older Account Manager documentation says Power Keys was formerly called Virtual Receptionist. This guide separates those meanings, then covers the current Auto Attendant menu and schedule. It is not a guide to conversational AI intake.
| Scheduled state | Greeting and rule to identify | Destination check | Time evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal weekday open | Approved weekday open menu | Each announced key reaches its named object | Test time and Auto Attendant time zone |
| Normal weekday closed | Approved closed-hours result | Caller reaches the intended closed-office endpoint | Test time outside the configured open interval |
| Holiday with limited open hours | Holiday Open Hours menu or chosen weekday-menu reuse | Holiday-open selections reach the approved recipients | Selected holiday date and limited local interval |
| Holiday closed period | Holiday Closed Hours menu | Closed-period path matches the announcement | Selected holiday date and closed interval |
| Exception finished | Normal weekday menu restored | Usual destinations reached again | Date and time after the exception |
01 / Identify the 8x8 feature first
Identify a caller menu or an operator’s phone keys.
The older Power Keys guide describes an add-on for handling calls and monitoring extensions through phone line keys, including line appearances, busy lamp fields and speed dials. Its configuration belongs to Account Manager and enabled extensions. That is different from the current Auto Attendant guide, which describes callers choosing a route from a menu.
If the task concerns buttons on a receptionist’s desk phone, stop before following the menu procedure below and identify the account product and applicable Power Keys documentation. The older guide is evidence of terminology, not confirmation that a particular device, add-on or migration path remains available today. If the task concerns the greeting and keypad choices callers hear, proceed with the current Auto Attendant scope.
02 / Identify the 8x8 feature first
Prepare the destinations and select the correct Site.
The setup guide, updated September 11, 2026, lists user profiles, Ring Groups, Call Queues and extension forwarding rules as prerequisites where required. Creation starts in Admin Console under Auto Attendants. A Site must be selected before menu rules can be created.
For the office’s proposed menu, identify the exact destination object for each key before recording the prompt. For example, an existing-customer choice could point to an agreed office destination while new inquiries use another approved path. Record the selected object name and intended recipient so an administrator can distinguish a similarly named object at another site. This example does not establish how an existing account is configured.
03 / Identify the 8x8 feature first
Set the time zone, then resolve the holiday exception.
The Auto Attendant profile includes its time zone, and the weekly hours follow that selection. The separate holiday guide says holiday schedules override standard business hours on the selected dates. Holiday exceptions can specify open or closed status; holiday handling can reuse the weekday open menu or define a custom menu.
Before saving a closure, write the date, intended local hours and destination beside the greeting. Consider a service office open for limited hours on a normally full workday: the exception must identify both the limited open period and the closed result. Compare the Holiday Open Hours and Holiday Closed Hours menus instead of assuming that changing the recording changes the route. Keep the announcement consistent with actual office coverage.
04 / Identify the 8x8 feature first
Test the schedule result through the public number.
Arrange a supported test method and window with the authorized administrator; use consenting test callers. For each case in the worksheet, record the business number called, test time and time zone, active menu, key selection and destination reached. A successful call to a Ring Group directly does not check whether the public number selected the correct holiday menu.
Keep the previous configuration and its approved restoration procedure available. After the exception has ended, confirm that the normal weekday behavior returns. If the greeting is correct but the recipient is wrong, investigate the menu action and destination object separately. If the recipient is correct but the wrong hours apply, review the time zone and exception date before editing destinations.
Common questions
Make the next step clear.
Resolve the details that matter to your team and callers.
Does 8x8 virtual receptionist always mean Auto Attendant?
No. The older Power Keys documentation uses Virtual Receptionist as a former name for a phone-key call-handling add-on. Identify the account product and the task before selecting instructions.
Does this guide establish which phones support Power Keys today?
No. The older page explains the terminology. Verify current device, account and add-on compatibility with 8x8 before planning a Power Keys configuration.
Why can I not create the Auto Attendant menu rules?
The cited current setup guide requires a Site to be selected before menu rules can be created. Have the authorized administrator check that field and the intended account configuration.
Will normal weekly hours take priority on a configured holiday?
The holiday guide says holiday schedules override standard business hours on the selected dates. Verify the date, time zone and the holiday open and closed handling before relying on it.
Identify Auto Attendant versus Power Keys first, then verify the Site, destination objects and time-based menu actually selected by a test call.
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