Google Voice — After-Hours Setup
How to forward after-hours calls to PupPilot on Google Voice.
Setup Note
Requires Google Workspace Standard or Premier plan. The free personal Google Voice does not have auto attendant features.
How Google Voice Works
Google Voice for business is part of Google Workspace. Call routing is managed through Auto Attendants in the Google Admin Console at admin.google.com. Key concepts: Auto Attendant (virtual receptionist with schedule-based routing), Business Hours (customized open/close times), and After-Hours Actions (what happens outside business hours).
Call Flow
Open Hours
Caller
Main Number
Auto Attendant
Staff phones ring
After Hours
Caller
Main Number
Auto Attendant
Forward
PupPilot answers
Setup Steps
1
Log in to the Google Admin Console
Go to admin.google.com and sign in.
2
Navigate to Google Voice Settings
Go to
Apps → Google Workspace → Google Voice.3
Create an Auto Attendant
Click Auto attendants, then click Create. Name it (e.g., "Main Clinic Line") and click Create.
4
Set Up Business Hours Routing
Set up your business-hours greeting and call routing as desired.
5
Configure Business Hours
Click Edit Business Hours and select Customized hours. Set your clinic's open hours for each day of the week.
6
Set After-Hours Greeting
Under the After hours action section, record your after-hours greeting.
7
Set After-Hours Forwarding
Set the after-hours call routing to Forward to external number and enter your PupPilot phone number.
8
Assign and Save
Assign a phone number to the auto attendant and click Save.
Important Notes
- The free personal Google Voice does NOT have auto attendant — you need Google Workspace Standard or Premier.
- You can only set one block of business hours per day (no split schedules like 8–12 and 1–5).
- Use the Holiday closures option for dates like Christmas and Thanksgiving.
- Forwarding to external numbers may incur carrier charges depending on the destination.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Calls don't reach PupPilot | Verify the after-hours action is set to "Forward to external number" with the correct PupPilot number. Check that business hours are set to "Customized hours" (not 24/7). |
| Auto attendant option doesn't appear | You may be on the free personal Google Voice plan. Auto attendants require Google Workspace Standard or Premier. |
| Split schedule not available | Google Voice only supports one continuous block of hours per day. If your clinic has a lunch break, you'll need to keep business hours spanning the full day and use the no-answer fallback instead. |