A Call Detail Record (CDR) is a comprehensive data record that meticulously documents the specifics of telecommunication exchanges within a network, including calls and text messages. Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), providers of wireless communication services, routinely record these details to monitor and bill subscribers for network usage. The CDR encompasses crucial information, such as the duration and completion status of a call, date and time, associated costs, source and destination numbers, and the location of the cell towers involved. Additionally, it may include details about the type of device used and any features employed during the call.
Beyond billing purposes, MNOs leverage CDRs to map the approximate locations of subscribers at specific times by combining the subscriber’s identifier, the time of the network event, and the location of the relevant cell tower. These records play a pivotal role in revenue generation for telephone service providers and are vital for law enforcement when required. CDRs extend beyond traditional telephony, also encompassing SMS messaging, VoIP, and cloud phone calls, capturing metadata about these communication methods.
Maintained by telephone exchanges, CDRs serve as a detailed log of all telephonic activities passing through the network. The records include information such as the time and duration of calls, source and destination numbers, and the completion status of the call. For Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, the CDR includes usage details like the source and destination points, usage period, and total charges incurred during the billing cycle. These records are often emitted in the form of tickets, offering valuable insights into individual customer/user behavior.
Furthermore, CDRs are instrumental in generating reports that help identify exceptions to regular calling patterns, such as out-of-hours calls, international calls, and significant deviations from historical data. By collecting and analyzing this information, enterprises can gain valuable insights into network usage, capacity, performance, and diagnostic metrics.
How Does a CDR Work?
Call Detail Records (CDRs) are generated through dedicated software designed to log telecommunication exchanges, and these records are subsequently stored in a compatible database. In the case of larger service providers, they often employ proprietary CDR software to efficiently store and analyze call details. Conversely, companies utilizing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems typically leverage open-source software programs that incorporate a built-in CDR feature.
The process of logging calls involves the software assigning a unique call identifier (ID) to each incoming call, whether it originates from a VoIP connection or a cell tower. This distinctive code accompanies the call as it traverses between phone extensions or cell towers. After the completion of the call, the software records it in the database, capturing essential information such as the date, duration, and other relevant details. This systematic approach ensures a comprehensive and organized compilation of telecommunication data, facilitating subsequent analysis and reporting for both service providers and companies utilizing these systems.
What Information Is Included in a Call Detail Record (CDR)?
A Call Detail Record (CDR) is systematically generated by mobile network operators (MNOs) when a subscriber initiates or receives a network event like a call, SMS message, or mobile data usage. This meticulous record, crucial for billing, excludes the content of network events to ensure user privacy. Instead, it captures essential details about SMS messages, inbound and outbound calls, including:
- Date and time of the call
- Called number ID
- Duration of the call
- Type of call (incoming, outgoing, or toll-free)
- Cost of the call
Importantly, CDRs do not expose call recordings or message content, focusing solely on metadata. This metadata encompasses key information such as:
- Date and time of the call
- Call duration (in minutes)
- Source and destination phone numbers
- Type of call (inbound, outbound, toll-free)
- Cost of the call (based on a per-minute rate)
The specific data included in a CDR may vary based on the logging method, be it via a cellular tower or VoIP system. Regardless, the mentioned records adhere to industry standards. CDRs may also extend to cover metadata for SMS messaging and other official communications transmissions, maintaining a focus on call and message occurrences without revealing their contents. In essence, a CDR serves as a structured overview of telecommunications activities, facilitating accurate billing and network management while upholding user privacy.
Why Are CDRs Important?
Call Detail Records (CDRs) serve as a cornerstone in telecommunications, meticulously documenting every billable call on a telephone system and offering a plethora of benefits for businesses:
- Cost optimization: CDR analysis empowers businesses to pinpoint underutilized or redundant phone numbers, facilitating informed decisions on disconnection to reduce communication costs. Additionally, CDRs aid in the identification and minimization of non-business calls, contributing to overall cost efficiency.
- Network usage optimization: By uncovering patterns in call activities, CDRs enable businesses to optimize network usage. Recognizing peak customer interaction periods allows for resource allocation during crucial times, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Revenue growth opportunities: Evaluation of usage patterns through CDRs unveils potential avenues for revenue growth. The discovery of demographic-specific trends enables businesses to tailor services or offer targeted incentives, aligning with specific customer groups and enhancing overall business strategy.
- Security and fraud detection: CDRs play a crucial role in detecting unusual usage patterns that may indicate potential threats. Administrators can proactively flag suspicious activities, such as out-of-hours calling and international calls, for further investigation, bolstering defenses against fraud and security breaches.
- Billing and record-keeping: Vital for generating phone bills and maintaining comprehensive records of phone system usage, CDRs are indispensable for billing departments. They assist in dispute resolution, fund allocation tracking, and logging telephone system usage. IT departments can also leverage CDRs to identify disruptions in phone service.
- Insights for management: Offering valuable insights into calling trends and employee phone usage, CDRs empower managers to make informed decisions. Analysis of patterns and trends derived from CDRs enhances decision-making in terms of management and personnel strategies.
In essence, CDRs, with their global coverage, generated and stored by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), and high spatial and temporal resolution, provide businesses with a powerful tool. Their near-real-time nature and encompassing billions of data points make CDRs invaluable for enhancing efficiency, revenue, and security in the realm of telecommunications.
What Kind of Data Is in CDR Reports?
A Call Detail Record (CDR) report serves as a comprehensive breakdown of telecommunications data, providing insights into user or phone number-specific calling activities. When generated for a single user, the report unveils metrics such as call volume, duration, and associated costs, offering a detailed perspective on individual communication patterns. In contrast, a CDR report for a phone number provides a more general overview of its calling activity, presenting a bird’s eye view of usage.
Accessing a CDR report is convenient for users with administrative privileges on their business phone system, eliminating the need to request it from the telecommunications provider. In the case of VoIP usage, users can directly access and download the report from the web portal.
However, certain nuances are present in CDR reports, as metadata from VoIP and cloud phone calls, which are not billed, is typically excluded by telephone providers. VoIP calls, specifically SIP-to-SIP, bypass the public switched telephone network (PSTN), resulting in no corresponding charges. Understanding CDR content is crucial for gaining valuable insights into business calling activities, prompting the inclusion of this feature in call center software like that offered by ROI Call Center Solutions.
Items left off CDR reports are primarily communications transmissions that do not incur charges. VoIP services often exclude free SIP-to-SIP calling from CDRs, as these calls operate within the VoIP network and do not traverse the PSTN. Calls made to landlines, mobile phones, and international numbers, subject to per-minute charges, are consistently logged on CDRs. For cloud phone systems, call logs of unbilled Internet calls are usually accessible in the “call history” or “recent calls” section of the web phone service, contributing to a comprehensive overview of communication activities.