How to handle duplicates in Teams directory search

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Introduction

Microsoft recently announced a significant optimization for the search by name and extension functionality in its Teams auto attendants. You have probably already had this case where 2 employees share the same first and last name, making the search in the directory a little complex. This new update allows a new search attribute to be added, thus giving more details to the caller.

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Optimization details

The new UserNameExtension attribute is added to attendants ; this is a string that specifies how to expand usernames in search by adding additional information after the name. When multiple search results are found, this attribute activates and returns the value of another attribute chosen by the administrator.

• None : default value, the username is pronounced as is.
• Office : adds the information of the office configured in Entra ID.
• Department : adds the information of the department configured in Entra ID.

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Configuration in PowerShell

You can configure the new UserNameExtension attribute via the following PowerShell commands :

Connect-MicrosoftTeams

$AAToModify = Get-CsAutoAttendant -Identity 45693a48-7f85-aaaa-bbbb-cccccccccccc
$AAToModify.UserNameExtension = "Department"
Set-CsAutoAttendant -Instance $$AAToModify = Get-CsAutoAttendant -Identity 45693a48-7f85-aaaa-bbbb-cccccccccccc

The configuration may take several minutes to be effective. Your menu should then look like this:

Note that the change is only possible in PowerShell at the moment and any update via the Teams Admin Center would cancel this configuration ; but as usual, a future update will allow it to be done in web mode, be patient.

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Caller experience

Using this attribute, searching the directory for a duplicate name will return office or department information.

• For Maxime Hiez – HR, press 1.
  
• For Maxime Hiez – IT, press 2.

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Conclusion

You now know how to fix duplicates when searching by name or extension in the directory.

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Sources

Microsoft Learn - New-CsAutoAttendant

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