How to set up round-robin routing
Round-robin answers "which rep in this group?" after routing rules answer "which group?" Used alone it ignores fit; used together with rules it distributes fairly within the right team.
The key upgrade over naive rotation is awareness of availability and capacity, so fairness does not strand a lead on someone who is out.
Short answer
Set up round-robin routing by defining the rep group that shares leads, making the rotation capacity- and availability-aware so out or overloaded reps are skipped, combining it with routing rules that pick the group first, and monitoring for balance. Route to the right group by rule, then round-robin within it, respecting who can actually work the lead now.
Step by step
Define the sharing group
Decide which reps share leads evenly - usually a team, territory, or segment pod of interchangeable reps.
Make it capacity-aware
Configure the rotation to skip reps who are out of office or at capacity, so leads go to someone able to act.
Combine with routing rules
Use routing rules to select the right group first, then round-robin within it, so leads are both well-matched and evenly shared.
Monitor balance
Track distribution and adjust, so no rep is quietly over- or under-fed as availability changes.
Group first, then round-robin
Round-robin alone ignores fit - it would rotate an enterprise lead to an SMB rep. The right pattern is routing rules to pick the correct group by territory or segment, then round-robin to distribute fairly within it. Fit first, fairness second.
How Ardovo helps
Ardovo combines routing rules with capacity-aware round-robin, selecting the right group then rotating within it while skipping unavailable reps. Rook monitors balance and rebalances as availability changes, so distribution stays fair and every lead reaches someone ready to work it.
Frequently asked questions
Should you use round-robin alone for routing?
No - alone it ignores fit and would send a mismatched lead to the wrong rep. Use routing rules to select the correct group by territory or segment first, then round-robin to distribute evenly within that group. Fit first, fairness second.
How do you make round-robin fair when reps are out?
Make the rotation capacity- and availability-aware so it skips reps who are out of office or at capacity, rather than blindly cycling. This keeps distribution even among reps who can actually work the lead now, instead of stranding leads on someone unavailable.
How do you monitor round-robin balance?
Track lead volume per rep over time and watch for imbalance caused by availability, capacity, or reps grabbing leads outside the rotation. Adjust the group or rules as needed, since teams and availability shift and static round-robin can drift out of balance.