---
sourceDocument: Xanadu Service Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/xanadu/service-management-for-the-enterprise

 Release :

    - xanadu

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Xanadu Service Management

ft:clusterId :

    - sm4e

bundleId :

    - sm4e

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Agent auto assignment using schedules

# Agent auto assignment using schedules {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Xanadu
* 
* Updated August 1, 2024
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

Agents can be auto assigned based on the agent or the task schedule.

Auto assignment by schedule can be performed only in a [task-driven processing](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/dNFmBI_hcMSeFXb05z9rcQ "All applications use either task-driven or request-driven processes for handling tasks.")
environment, and the Auto-selection of agents will consider agent or task schedules configuration option must be enabled for the application. If this option
is turned off, only the [agent ratings](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/o39KiYc3rbcyTVG2kqYUBw "Rating-based methods, such as location, skills, and time zones, help to auto assign agents based on configuration settings and optional properties. The calculated ratings are used to determine the best agent to perform the task.")
are used for auto-assignment.  
When a task is qualified or marked as Ready for Work, agents ratings are evaluated, and the schedules of qualified agents are compared against the schedule of the task to determine the agent with the best matching schedule.  
Note:  
If the task includes specific time entries in the Window start and Window end fields, and no schedule of an agent falls within that task window, no agents are assigned. Also if the customer wants a task to be performed at or near a specific time, the Window start time should be set as close to that time as possible. For example, the Window start and Window end fields are set to 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm respectively. The customer prefers the job to be started at 4:00 pm. It is possible that an agent is dispatched at 13:00. So, setting the Window start closer to 4:00 can help ensure that the work is performed when the customer prefers it to be done.

If the application is configured to use other selection criteria, such as skills or time zone,
the ratings of all selection criteria are averaged, and the agent with the highest overall rating
is auto-selected for the task. See [Agent auto assignment using multiple selection criteria](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/OML_CxPp4IjiE9TTni3nvw "At its simplest, auto assignment involves identifying a set of selection criteria and automatically assigning the task to the agent who most closely meets the criteria. You can, however, select multiple sets of criteria, including both rating-based and time-based criteria.") for details.