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Sequential mode (1 line)

Run one call at a time in the AI Sales Dialer: how sequential mode works, when to use it, and how it differs from parallel mode.

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Written by Valeriia Volobrinskaia

Learn how sequential mode works, when to use it, and how it differs from parallel mode.

User Level: Admin, Agent

Sequential mode dials one contact at a time. It's the right choice when each conversation matters and your agents want a moment to prepare before each call.

Setting up sequential mode

Sequential mode is the default. In Step 2: Contact of the campaign creation wizard, the Parallel Calling toggle is OFF by default, which means the campaign dials one contact at a time.

  1. Go to Dialer (new) > Campaigns and click + Add campaign.

  2. Complete Step 1 (name).

  3. In Step 2: Contact, add your contacts and leave the Parallel Calling toggle OFF.

  4. Finish the remaining steps and create the campaign. See Setting up a campaign in the AI Sales Dialer for the full walkthrough.

💡 Sequential mode does not require any add-on. Every AI Sales Dialer account can run sequential campaigns.

To switch to parallel mode, turn the Parallel Calling toggle ON in the same step and set the number of simultaneous lines. See Parallel mode (2+ lines).

How sequential mode differs from parallel

Sequential (1 line)

Parallel (2+ lines)

Calls at once

1

Up to 5

Who places the call

The agent clicks to dial

The dialer dials automatically

Agent preparation

Agent reviews the contact before dialing

Contact details appear when someone answers

Voicemail detection

Not active. Agent hears the greeting and decides what to do.

Active. Machines are filtered before the agent is connected.

Voicemail drop

Manual only. Agent clicks to leave a message.

Automatic when a machine is detected (if a recording is configured). Agent can also drop manually.

Add-on required

No

Yes (Parallel Calling add-on plus a per-agent seat)

Best for

High-value, prepared conversations on smaller lists

High-volume lists where maximizing talk time matters

How it works

  1. The dialer serves you the next contact and shows their details (name, number, company, CRM data).

  2. You review the information, then place the call when you're ready.

  3. You talk. Use the script or survey if the campaign has one. Take notes on the call.

  4. The call ends. Set a disposition to record the outcome. This is required before the dialer moves you forward.

  5. If automatic dialing is on, a countdown starts and the next call is placed when it reaches zero. Click Next Call to skip the countdown. If automatic dialing is off, you click to dial manually.

  6. The next contact is served and the cycle repeats.

Because only one call is active at a time, there's no risk of dropped connections or missed answers. Every call is one your agent chose to place.

When to use sequential mode

Sequential mode works best when:

  • Conversations are high-value and need preparation (enterprise sales, renewals, sensitive follow-ups).

  • Your list is smaller and every contact deserves full attention.

  • Agents are newer and benefit from reviewing each contact before dialing.

If your team needs to maximize the number of conversations per hour on a large list, consider Parallel mode (2+ lines) instead.

What agents can do during a session

Everything in Running a campaign in the AI Sales Dialer applies. In sequential mode specifically:

  • Skip, remove, and reorder controls (if enabled by your admin) are available between calls but disabled while a call is in progress or the auto-dial countdown is running.

  • Schedule a callback for contacts who ask to be called later. See Scheduled callbacks.

  • Drop a voicemail manually when you hear an answering machine greeting. In sequential mode there is no automatic voicemail detection; you decide whether to leave a message or hang up.

  • Pause your session any time to take a break. Your held contacts stay assigned to you.

Good to know

  • Voicemail detection does not run in sequential mode. If the call reaches an answering machine, the agent hears the greeting and decides what to do (leave a voicemail drop, hang up, etc.). Automatic filtering of answering machines is a parallel-mode feature.

  • Each real call counts as an attempt, whether or not the contact answered. A dial that never reached the server (e.g., an immediate network failure) does not count.

  • The dialer respects the campaign's retry and cooldown rules the same way in both modes.

Need help or have a question? Just reach out through our Support portal — we’re here for you.

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