Predictive dialer
What is Predictive dialer?
A predictive dialer is an outbound calling system that dials multiple phone numbers ahead of agent availability, using a statistical model of answer rates, average call duration, and agent occupancy to predict when an agent will free up — connecting only the calls that get answered by a human to an available agent and discarding or dropping the rest. It maximizes agent talk time for high-volume outbound campaigns, at the cost of some calls being answered with no agent yet available (an abandoned call).
More detail
Because a predictive dialer intentionally over-dials, a portion of calls that a human answers will find no agent ready — regulators in several jurisdictions cap this abandonment rate (commonly around 3%) under telemarketing rules like the TCPA.
A predictive dialer differs from a preview or progressive dialer, both of which dial one number at a time per available agent rather than betting ahead on future availability.
Frequently asked
- Why do some calls from a predictive dialer have dead air before an agent speaks?
- That's an abandoned or agent-not-ready call — the dialer predicted an agent would be free by the time the call connected, and the brief pause is the system detecting a human answered before actually bridging an agent onto the line.
- How is a predictive dialer different from a progressive dialer?
- A progressive dialer places one call per available agent at a time, guaranteeing an agent is ready when it connects; a predictive dialer dials ahead of availability using statistical prediction, gaining higher agent talk time but risking some abandoned calls.
See also
Build it on Orbit
Voice, messaging, email, video, and AI agents on one platform and one pay-as-you-go bill. Start free — no credit card required.