Telemarketing productivity is usually measured by the "hit rate". The hit rate is the number of live conversations that a telemarketer has in one hour. The primary factors that contribute to the hit rate are the algorithm, telemarketer interface, and telemarketer learning curve.

The algorithm of a predictive dialer is the mathematical formula it uses to "predict" when a telemarketer will be free. Some algorithms are much more effective than others. The most effective algorithms take statistics from each individual telemarketer when determining when to dial the next number. Others merely use a group algorithm, which does not account for unique calling patterns for each telemarketer. When deciding what predictive dialer to invest in, it is advisable to investigate how much research and development went into the algorithm.

The telemarketer interface is the way that the telemarketer receives information about the prospect and records information about the prospect. The more complex the interface, the more time telemarketers spend recording information, and the less time they spend talking to customers.

The telemarketer learning curve is the total time it takes for a telemarketer to become productive on a predictive dialer. This is an important factor in telemarketing because of the high turnover rate. If one week is required for a telemarketer to learn to use the operator interface, that will weigh into the overall hit rate.