Automated Call Tracking: Track Phone Leads with CDR API
Automate Your Call Tracking with the Simple Telecom CDR API — Know Every Call That Comes In
Key Automated Call Tracking Features
- Automatically retrieve call data for every inbound call via CDR API
- Track call source, duration, and cost per service number
- Assign unique numbers per campaign for channel attribution
- Integrate call data with CRM and analytics platforms
- Build automated reporting without manual data entry
What Is Automated Call Tracking?
Automated call tracking is the process of capturing and analysing phone call data without manual intervention. Instead of asking staff to log each call, or relying on caller memory to track where they heard about you, automated call tracking captures every inbound call’s details — who called, when, how long they spoke, and which number they dialled — and feeds this data into your analytics and reporting systems automatically.
The Simple Telecom CDR API makes automated call tracking straightforward. Every call to your 1300, 1800, or CTN number generates a detailed record containing the caller’s number, call duration, timestamp, and cost. The CDR API lets you retrieve this data programmatically, available within 1–2 minutes of each call completing. This near-real-time access means you can build dashboards, trigger workflows, and generate reports automatically.
For Australian businesses, automated call tracking is a game-changer. Phone calls remain one of the most valuable conversion channels, yet many businesses have no systematic way of tracking them. The CDR API changes that, giving you the same level of data about phone call conversions that you have about website conversions.
How Automated Call Tracking Works with the CDR API
The CDR API endpoint GET /api/cdrs is the engine of your automated call tracking system. You query it with a specific service number to retrieve all recent call records for that number. Each record includes the source_number (the caller’s number), start_time and end_time (in ISO 8601 UTC), duration_sec, destination (where the call was forwarded), and cost in AUD.
To build an automated tracking system, you run the CDR API on a schedule — for example, every 5 minutes — and process any new records. Compare the cdr_id values against your database of previously processed records to identify new calls. This gives you a complete, real-time feed of every inbound call.
For multi-channel tracking, assign unique 1300 or 1800 numbers to each marketing channel or campaign. Then query the CDR API for each number separately, or use the Services API first to list all your numbers and then iterate through them. This gives you channel-level attribution without any complex configuration.
Marketing Attribution with Call Tracking
One of the most powerful applications of automated call tracking is marketing attribution. By assigning unique numbers to different channels — Google Ads, Facebook, radio, print, billboards, email campaigns — you can determine exactly which marketing activities drive phone calls. The CDR API provides the data you need to calculate cost-per-lead, compare channel performance, and optimise your marketing spend.
For example, if you spend $1,000 on Google Ads and $500 on Facebook, with unique 1300 numbers for each channel, you can query the CDR API to see how many calls each channel generated and the total cost of those calls. If Google Ads generated 50 calls at $0.12 average cost per call, and Facebook generated 20 calls at $0.15 average cost, you know your cost-per-call for each channel.
This level of granularity enables data-driven marketing decisions. You can shift budget toward channels that generate the most calls at the lowest cost, test different ad creatives with unique tracking numbers, and measure the impact of seasonal campaigns on call volume.
CRM Integration and Lead Management
Automated call tracking becomes even more powerful when integrated with your CRM. Every inbound call can be logged as a lead activity automatically. The caller’s number, call duration, and timestamp are captured without any manual data entry. This gives your sales team a complete picture of prospect engagement — they can see when a prospect called, how long they spoke, and how many times they’ve called before.
For lead management, the CDR data helps you prioritise follow-ups. Prospects who call multiple times or have long conversations are likely more engaged. By flagging these calls in your CRM, your sales team can focus on the most promising leads. You can also set up automated workflows: when a call is detected from a new number, automatically create a new lead record; when a call is detected from an existing lead, add it as a note to their record.
This integration eliminates the gap between phone calls and your digital sales process. Every call becomes a trackable, measurable event in your CRM, giving you the same data richness for phone leads that you have for web leads.
Building Automated Call Reports
The CDR API makes it easy to build automated reporting dashboards. Pull data on a schedule — daily, weekly, or monthly — and generate reports showing call volumes, average duration, cost per call, and trends over time. You can slice the data by service number (campaign), date range, or any other available field.
For weekly reporting, query the CDR API for the past 7 days and calculate key metrics: total calls received, average call duration, total cost, cost per call, and calls by source number. Compare these metrics week-over-week to identify trends. For monthly reporting, use the full monthly date range to generate comprehensive performance reports for stakeholders.
Share these reports with your team through automated emails, Slack notifications, or a shared dashboard. The CDR API gives you the raw data — build whatever reporting system works best for your business.
Getting Started with Automated Call Tracking
Getting started with automated call tracking using the Simple Telecom API takes just a few steps. First, ensure you have at least one 1300 or 1800 number with Simple Telecom — these numbers are the foundation of your tracking system. If you’re tracking multiple channels, consider getting a unique number for each channel you want to measure.
Next, generate your API token from the Simple Telecom console (Settings → API Access → Generate API Token). With your token, test the CDR API using cURL or your preferred programming language to verify you can retrieve call data. Full code examples for PHP, JavaScript, and cURL are available in the official API documentation.
Finally, build your automated tracking pipeline. Set up a scheduled task (cron job, cloud function, or scheduled script) that runs every 5-15 minutes, queries the CDR API for new records, and processes them into your CRM or analytics platform. Start simple and add sophistication over time — even basic call volume tracking provides valuable insights for most businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Automated Call Tracking
How often should I query the CDR API for new calls?
CDR records appear within 1–2 minutes of a call completing. Querying every 5–15 minutes is sufficient for most businesses. For real-time applications, you can query more frequently, but be mindful of rate limits.
Can I track calls from multiple numbers with one API call?
The CDR API requires a single service_number per query. To track multiple numbers, make separate requests for each number. You can automate this by using the Services API to list all your numbers first.
Do I need special call tracking software?
No. The Simple Telecom CDR API provides the call data you need. You can build your own tracking system using standard programming tools, or integrate the data with existing analytics platforms.
How do I match callers to leads in my CRM?
Use the source_number field from the CDR data to identify callers. Match this number against your CRM’s contact records. If the number is new, create a new lead; if it exists, log the call as an activity on the existing record.
Is call tracking data available in real-time?
CDR data is available within 1–2 minutes of a call completing. This is near-real-time, suitable for most analytics and reporting needs. For truly immediate notification, consider combining with webhook capabilities.
Track every customer interaction with precision using our CDR API, giving you complete visibility into your call metrics and performance. Combine call tracking with Call Recording API: Enable and Disable Recording Programmatically to capture detailed conversations, then leverage Reporting Call Detail features to analyse trends and optimise your team’s response. Just like major brands such as Dominos 1300 Number | Simple 1300 Numbers, you can build a professional national presence while gaining actionable insights that drive business growth.
