For example, in a department store with many locations, each location might have had its own switch with a multiple independent node network. The same extension could be used to represent a unique department in all stores (extension 4567 might be the luggage department). If the customer migrates to a single distributed server, a user could no longer dial 4567 to get the luggage department in their store. The user would have to dial the complete extension to connect to the proper department.

Instead of dialing a complete extension, users can use the multi-location dial plan feature and dial a shorter version of the extension. For example, a customer can continue to dial 4567 instead of having to dial 123-4567.

Communication Manager takes the location prefix and adds those digits to the front of the dialed number. The switch then analyzes the entire dialed string and routes the call based on the administration on the Dial Plan Parameters screen.