Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.answeringagent.com/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
User Roles Guide
This guide explains the role-based access control system in Answering Agent.
Role Overview
The system uses a simple role-based approach with 4 predefined roles:
| Role | Description | Key Abilities |
|---|
| Owner | Team owner with full control | All actions including billing and team deletion |
| Admin | Full administrative access | Everything except billing and team deletion |
| Manager | Operational management | Manage assigned resources, view reports |
| User | Basic team member | View and interact with assigned resources |
Detailed Permissions
Phone Numbers
| Action | Owner | Admin | Manager | User |
|---|
| View All | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✗ |
| View Assigned | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Create | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Update | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✗ |
| Delete | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Assign Users | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Action | Owner | Admin | Manager | User |
|---|
| View All | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✗ |
| View Assigned | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Update Status | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Export | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
User Management
| Action | Owner | Admin | Manager | User |
|---|
| Invite Users | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Remove Users | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Change Roles | ✓ | ✓* | ✗ | ✗ |
| View All Users | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
Settings & Billing
| Action | Owner | Admin | Manager | User |
|---|
| Team Settings | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Billing | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| API Keys | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Integrations | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
Assignment-Based Visibility
A key concept in our permission system is assignment-based visibility:
- Owners: Always see ALL resources
- Admins: Always see ALL resources (assignments are ignored for simplicity)
- Managers with NO assignments: Can see ALL resources
- Managers WITH assignments: Can only see assigned resources
- Users: Always limited to assigned resources only
This allows flexible access control where managers can oversee everything or be limited to specific phone numbers, while keeping admin access simple and predictable.
Role Hierarchy
Roles follow a strict hierarchy:
Owner → Admin → Manager → User
- Each role inherits all permissions from roles below it
- Users can only be managed by roles above them
- Only Owners can change billing or delete the team
Best Practices
- Principle of Least Privilege: Assign the minimum role necessary
- Use Assignments: Limit manager access to relevant phone numbers
- Regular Audits: Review user roles and assignments periodically
- Document Responsibilities: Clearly define what each role should do in your organization
Common Scenarios
Scenario 1: Call Center Supervisor
- Role: Manager
- Assignment: Specific phone numbers for their team
- Result: Can view calls, tasks, and questions for their team only
Scenario 2: Technical Administrator
- Role: Admin
- Assignment: None
- Result: Full access to all technical aspects, no billing access
Scenario 3: Support Agent
- Role: User
- Assignment: Customer service phone numbers
- Result: Can view and handle calls for assigned numbers only
API Considerations
When using the API:
- Permissions are enforced at the API level
- The same role hierarchy applies
- Partner API has additional considerations (see API documentation)