Servetel Rebrands: Acefone is the new home of Enterprise Communication on Cloud Know more arrow

Retain Your Customers Using Cloud Communication Solutions

author_37

Yukti Verma

Author
category Contact Center calendar August 17, 2020 clock 5 mins read eye Reads: 571

Table of content

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter

Your sales department knows how hard it is to convert potential buyers into actual customers. Losing a business prospect is detrimental to business growth. However, losing a loyal customer is a crippling mistake that could essentially stagnate your business expansion. 

According to the book Marketing Metrics, the success rate of selling to a new customer is merely 5-20% whereas it is 60-70% for an existing customer.

For the success of your business, it is crucial to formulate a robust customer retention strategy. Failing to do so would directly hamper your business growth. 

This article will illustrate important tips to help business owners retain customers. Stay on the right track to unhampered growth without losing your valuable customers.

1. Understanding why Customers Leave

There can be various reasons for your business to lose loyal customers. Two primary reasons are:

  1. 65% to 70% of customers reported leaving a certain brand because they feel neglected. 
  2. Around 15% of existing customers leave a business because they are disappointed with the offerings and services. 

Lack of proper communication between service providers and customers often triggers further dissatisfaction. This may convince your existing customers to switch their loyalty and opt for your competing brands instead. 

Enhancing customer relationships and services is a quintessential step to retain customers. 

2. Communication is the Key

It is important to establish connections and maintain a positive rapport with existing customers using easy communication channels. One has to explore reliable communication channels to reach out to customers and address their grievances better. The best way to achieve this is to opt for VoIP Phone System

These services allow you to enjoy the upper hand over those using traditional forms of telephony. Cloud solutions ease the process for existing customers to reach out to the concerned personnel.

You need to consider employing the latest technologies in call centers to improve the communication processes further. Some enterprises have their own team of in-house customer support. These organisations have to shape their business model accordingly to harness the benefits of smart VoIP communication technology.

3. Traditional Landline Systems are Outdated

Traditional forms of telephony (the analogue telephone network) are heavily dependent on wired circuits. The system operates by sending signals via an array of tangible interlinked switch boxes through copper wires. Understandably, they require complicated maintenance and can be highly time-consuming. 

This system heavily restricts the scope and capabilities of business communications systems. It is also heavier on the pocket compared to the cost-effective VoIP systems. With analogue systems, there is also the added challenge of constant upgrading.

4. Why Consider VoIP for Better Communication?

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a modern cloud telephony solution that relies solely on internet connections to communicate. In this system, the data is transferred digitally via either a wireless or a wired phone network. 

Users can make calls through their smartphones, computers or VoIP enabled phones. Your business can get a competitive edge through:

  1. Minimised call cost
  2. Enhanced sound quality
  3. And more reliability

As our society entered the internet age with gusto, cloud communication technology has sidelined traditional telephony systems across the globe. Its popularity is predicted to continue increasing due to its cost-effectiveness and easy accessibility. 

The recent globalisation and digitisation trends followed in trade and commerce also propel VoIP’s popular usage. The cloud phone system essentially enables customers to reach you in an easy and affordable manner. 

Here are 5 tips to improve customer retention using cloud solutions: 

1. Making Customer Retention Easier with Advanced VoIP

Using VoIP solutions, you can initiate and receive as many HD voice calls as your business needs, without having to worry about the bandwidth and budget. With easy installation possible in minutes, you can start using the set-up immediately, and on any internet-enabled device. You can also avail of any number of extensions to scale the service to your business needs.

VoIP can also be integrated with your CRM software, which allows easy collaboration across teams and offers various benefits for managing the business processes. Remember, the two primary reasons why customers switch to other brands are when they feel neglected and disappointed. Once you smoothen out communication blockages with the adoption of modern technologies, addressing customer grievances becomes easier.

2. SIP Trunking

SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol. These are basically virtual phone lines that help users carry out phone calls over the internet to anyone worldwide. 

This consolidated and easy-to-manage communication system can reduce your costs significantly. It cuts down on expensive hardware investments. All the while, your callers can enjoy better call quality and reliable phone service.

3. Hosted PBX

Cloud hosted pbx systems require no complicated or costly infrastructure. Moreover, there are no limitations on adding phone lines and extensions. 

With your phone system moved to the cloud, there will be no lag in the response time and you can enjoy uninterrupted communication even during emergencies. 

4. Free Phone Numbers

These free-to-dial numbers provide a highly productive business communication channel that can enhance customer experience, and consequently, customer retention. Customers can now call you from anywhere and at any time without incurring extra expenses. 

You can choose easy-to-remember numbers to encourage customers to call you. Furthermore, if your business relocates, you need not change the number! The toll free number can be used anywhere in the country. 

5. Quintessential Call Center Solutions

Needless to say, your customer retention goals will be easy to achieve with advanced call center solutions at your disposal. All-inclusive telecommunication solutions also include real-time visual call display and various predictive dialing features.

Better reach, high voice quality, and low latency guarantee high call success rates. Better customer retention becomes possible when communication is smoothened both ways. 

Wrapping Up

Your dream of maximum customer retention is sure to become a reality if you embrace modernisation in business processes. It is imperative to implement the latest and smartest telecommunication technologies to strengthen your business communication.

Visit Acefone to try the top industry solutions for your business or talk to one of our experts at 1888-859-0450.

If you're interested in improving your business communication solution

call icon big

Give us a call on

or
mail icon big

Write an email to

Reviews

star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2
0(0)

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter
author_37
Yukti Verma

Author

Yukti is a content marketing enthusiast with a soft spot for Saas. She loves weaving complicated concepts into simple stories. When not at work, she is found reading books or watching movies.

All You Need To Know About Call Routing

author_37

Yukti Verma

Author
category Contact Center calendar August 14, 2020 clock 4 mins read eye Reads: 570

Table of content

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter

Keep the customer experience up and running even when you aren’t available by smartly routing calls to the most relevant agent. Call routing is a brilliant feature that comes complimentary with your hosted phone system.

It gives you the opportunity to make sure each call goes to the best-qualified department or agent. Additionally, this simple feature is powerful enough to change your customer experience in the long run.

In this article, we will explain how a simple feature can greatly affect your contact center and how you can use call routing to boost your customer service.

1. You can Direct Calls to the Right Department

When a customer calls you, they want to be directed to the right person as soon as possible. Once you have gained relevant information from a customer, you can then direct them to the needed department or agent using a sophisticated IVR menu. 

Customers will be delighted that you are directing them to the right person, as they may be unsure of who to speak to, particularly if they are new customers. Call routing can help you deliver excellent customer service by easily putting calls through to the relevant department, as a longer wait time is likely to leave customers dissatisfied. 

If an agent is unsure of a customer complaint or query, it is better to pass it onto someone who would be able to help them efficiently. This makes the customer confident in your service—a simple gesture that saves a lot of hassle while dealing with escalating customer queries or complaints as well. 

2. It can Help get Customers to the Next Available Agent Quickly

Call routing will automatically send incoming calls to the next available agent. There is no manual element involved, therefore, calls will be connected quickly and efficiently without your agents taking any further action.

This means that customers will not experience long waiting times and in fact, will be pleased that their call is being dealt with efficiently. Moreover, as a manager, you will be able to see real-time data for your incoming calls and also add or remove agents as per the call flow.

3. You can use IVR Systems to Help Customers Select Who to be Routed to

IVR systems give customers the ability to route their own calls to the department they would like to speak to. It can be completely personalised according to your business needs, and can often save your agents time and effort in finding the right person to deal with a customer query. 

4. It can give you the Best Possible Chances of Conversion

If a customer gets the information they need quickly and efficiently, they will be impressed with your service and would be more inclined to make a purchase. On the other hand, if they have to wait around, they might move to a competitor who can help them better. Therefore, one must not underestimate the power of a quick reply. 

Call routing can greatly assist, as agents can immediately transfer calls internally to a more qualified agent or to someone who is better suited to answer their query. With IVR systems too, there are plenty of ways in which call routing can help increase customer satisfaction and therefore give you better chances of closing a sale.

5. Choose a Custom Number and Route the Calls to Local Agents

Custom numbers can help you create ties in local communities anywhere in the world. Furthermore, customers will feel much more comfortable calling a local number than an international one. When they do call your local number, you can choose where their calls are routed, either to the next available agent or to a locally-based agent.

This means you can have agents across multiple time zones, speaking multiple languages, and the customer can go straight to the most relevant person. It is the simplest way to open up your business to a global market!

6. Manage all Calls in your Online Portal

With hosted phone systems, business owners and managers have access to an online portal where they can control every aspect of their phone system. They can re-route calls to different agents based on priority, see exactly how long the wait times are and direct calls to the right department, all in just a few clicks.

If they find they are receiving more calls than what their agents can handle, they can simply add more remote agents to help deal with the call flow. Call routing can help managers successfully deal with incoming calls, ensuring excellent customer service.

Your customers will never have to jump in between agents for a resolution. The time saved by call routing can be used effectively by agents to undertake training or to deal with more calls. The choice is yours.

If you would like to find out more about call routing and how it can solve common business headaches, call our expert team on 1888-859-0450.

If you're interested in improving your business communication solution

call icon big

Give us a call on

or
mail icon big

Write an email to

Reviews

star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2
0(0)

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter
author_37
Yukti Verma

Author

Yukti is a content marketing enthusiast with a soft spot for Saas. She loves weaving complicated concepts into simple stories. When not at work, she is found reading books or watching movies.

Autocorrect Your Auto Attendant Script: Some Dos and Don’ts

author_36

Acefone Editor

Author
category IVR Service calendar August 10, 2020 clock 5 mins read eye Reads: 425

Table of content

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter

Welcome to Acefone Communications. For advice on auto attendant scripts, press 1. To talk to our customer service representative, press 2. 

Now imagine this is what a customer hears when they call your business. These lines are read by a virtual receptionist, also known as an auto attendant (AA), who greets you and routes your call to the preferred agent or department. Accompanied with the IVR (interactive voice response) system, AA allows call forwarding to representatives based on keypad inputs.

Before we get to the dos and don’ts of an auto attendant script, let’s explore why you should be employing a digital operator in the first place:

Consider this—a high volume of calls is blowing up your phone lines. In the absence of digital assistance, you’re left with two options. First, to let the consumer suffer through the dial tone and music while they wait to be connected, and second, to hire several operators who would be responsible for multiple calls. Let’s face it, neither seems attractive.

However, with the introduction of a virtual receptionist, you can create a uniform greeting to welcome callers, while also saving money on staff recruitment and training.

Additionally, a human operator would have to manually deal with the spam calls that could have been easily navigated and filtered by the auto attendant. Furthermore, your customers are happier to have their calls picked up on the first ring. Gone are the days of counting rings while waiting for an executive to answer.

Since you can control the auto attendant script, you can plug in any basic information that you need to convey to your callers. If a majority of your calls are centered around the same query, you can simply put that information into the script and save your employees the hassle of having to explain it numerous times. This way, you also reduce repetitive calls.

Finally, the presence of this technology lends a professional look. When a digital receptionist greets a caller, the latter is instantly given the impression of a well-managed and technologically forward business. This is especially true in case your firm receives a call post work hour. Your virtual operator is functional 24×7, and can inform the consumer of your work timings, encouraging them to leave a message.

There are several merits of using an auto attendant, it’s important to know how to use this feature properly in order to reap the maximum benefits. The script is the make-or-break factor: a good one will leave consumers feeling satisfied, while a bad one can frustrate them. Here are some simple dos and don’ts to follow while constructing a script for your auto attendant:

What to do when creating an auto attendant script?

As mentioned above, your digital receptionist is only as good as its script. Do the following to make a strong first impression on a caller:

  • Welcome your clients with a warm greeting and identify your company’s name at the beginning of the script; first-time callers would require a confirmation. In this beginning portion, you can also include any warnings or additional information. For example, currently, retail outlets are warning their callers of delays in delivery due to COVID-19.
  • Keep your script short and sweet. Nobody enjoys listening to, or can even keep track of, a long recording of several departments to contact. Cap your script to a concise 30 seconds. Narrow down your options to a handful, or else the consumer might lose interest or randomly press numbers to speed up the process. IVR systems are built to ease communication, not complicate it further.
  • Hire a professional to record the message that the auto attendant will play. Computer-generated voice messages tend to sound robotic. Not only can they detach the consumer from the experience, but they may also give a lazy and impersonal vibe. A professional, on the other hand, will be able to relay emotions as you’d like. A closer representation of an actual conversation through a human voice can ease the consumers.
  • Ensure that the most frequently utilized options are announced before the less commonly chosen ones. For example, if the status of a delivery is the most sought-after query for a retail website, then that should be the first option given by the auto attendant.
  • On the contrary, given the option of talking to a sales executive at the end of the list. If it’s provided too early in the script, people might not be patient enough to listen to any other option that might be more suited to their needs.

What to avoid when scripting for an auto attendant?

While we have understood what must be done to improve upon your scripts, there also needs to be a discussion about what to avoid maintaining a healthy brand image:

  • Do not cut the call on the customer if their response is slightly delayed. Customers sometimes require more time to reply when asked to provide details, perhaps of credit/debit cards, or if the script is too long. Hanging up on the consumer can frustrate them and leave them with a sour opinion of your company—not to forget, you’re cutting away a potential sale.
  • Choices must stay limited. Do not offer more than six options; the customer can then comprehend every single one of them, instead of getting lost in a flurry of words.
  • Do not bombard your clients with your website information when they connect to your IVR system. A subtle mention should be enough. Many companies tend to constantly plug in their website or slogan while the consumer is on hold, which can really get annoying.
  • As mentioned earlier, keep it short. Do not spend too much time on the greeting. A 3-4 liner is more than enough. Auto attendants that go on about the company relentlessly defeat the purpose of quick and satisfactory customer service.

Conclusion

IVR has become an integral feature in contact centers around the world. Auto attendants allow you to greet consumers and help them navigate the IVR system. Using the right words and techniques to communicate in this step is vital, considering this is the first impression any caller will have of your business. The more complex your script becomes, the less the likelihood of its success. However, keeping things short and organised will put your best foot forward for the customers. You can follow very easy steps to put forward a hgh-quality virtual receptionist service.

Introduce auto attendants through IVR in your organization from Acefone and enjoy the benefits of cost-effective, consistent, and efficient virtual operators.

If you're interested in improving your business communication solution

call icon big

Give us a call on

or
mail icon big

Write an email to

Reviews

star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2
0(0)

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter
author_36
Acefone provides a broad range of cloud communication services to businesses of all sizes, which includes Hosted Phone Systems, Free Phone Numbers, and Cloud Contact Center Solutions. Being the UK's leading provider of VoIP service provider, we always strive to provide excellent customer service and high-quality custom solutions to our customers.

Toll Free Numbers Cost Callers Nothing, So Here’s a Free Guide [Infographic]

author_36

Acefone Editor

Author
category Toll Free Numbers calendar August 7, 2020 clock 7 mins read eye Reads: 40

Table of content

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter

What did advertisements look like when you were a child? Perhaps that famous actor, or those two dogs dancing, or even that touching tale of mother and child? If not the visuals, we bet you can still hear the jingles play in the back of your head.

At the same time, remember numbers like Airtel 121 or Vodafone 141 that were often advertised at the end of these jingles? Sure, these are easy-to-recall numbers, but that’s always the case with toll free numbers—just like nostalgia-evoking jingle music, these digits always remain with you. Be it today or a decade later.

This is, of course, only a small way in which toll free numbers can be beneficial to your organization. Before we jump to the details, let us go through the basics:

why you need a toll free number

What is a Toll Free Number?

We all know about the 1800 numbers we often find on television advertisements or billboards. However, not many of us know of their function. 1800 or toll free numbers are contacts that can be used by consumers to call a company (helpdesk, sales team, etc.) without any charge. To be clear, the cost of the call does not vanish but is simply transferred to the receiver instead.

1800 numbers have been an important invention in the telecom industry as they eased communication between the consumers and organizations by incentivizing the former. Customers now communicate more frequently with companies. Not only is the call free of charge but the number is easy to remember and associate with a brand. Furthermore, it makes any company look larger than it is and more professional.

What is a Vanity Number?

There’s no doubt that toll free numbers are easy to remember. However, if you wish to take the recall value up a notch, you should try a vanity number. A vanity number refers to an 1800 toll free number followed by letters or words (corresponding to the Dialpad) that can be easily associated with your brand. You can also include your brand name in your vanity number. For example, Acefone may favour a 1800-SVTL (1800-7885) number as opposed to any generic combination.

Vanity numbers can be tailored and, thus, have an extremely high recall value. They can be memorized in seconds and give your brand a competitive edge.

Now that we have covered the basics and benefits, let’s look at some applications of a toll free number and how a single contact can change corporate and public communication:

How can a Toll Free Number help?

To recap the earlier points, toll free numbers are easy to remember, possess high recall value, can separate your business from the competition, and ease the communication between you and your customers.

In addition to this, you can purchase separate extensions to your 1800 number for different departments. This will ensure that there is first-point query resolution and increase customer satisfaction. The different extensions can also be used for various marketing campaigns. With this arrangement, you can monitor the statistics of individual endeavors.

To understand this better, let’s take the example of a beauty cream. One brand may pick a certain strategy to advertise on the television, and a different strategy to advertise on the radio. This way, they are able to reach varied audiences. Once the campaigns have run, the company can analyze how much engagement each medium got through the call responses they receive. This will enlighten the company as to which platform is the most profitable and where they should increase or decrease their budget.

As per Finances Online, 70% of customers call businesses after a Google search and 50% are frustrated by lack of calling options. Using a toll free number, you can have a uniform contact that can be advertised on every platform, including search engines. This increases connectivity with your consumers.

Toll free numbers combined with an IVR system (interactive voice response, which adds an automated call menu) also allow you to reroute your consumer calls to any preferred department or agent. This reduces wait times and increases efficiency in customer service. After all, for basic queries and simple routing, you don’t need human representatives when an IVR can do the job.

Many TV shows and brands even use toll free numbers for voting and survey purposes.

There are clearly several applications of 1800 numbers. So, the question remains, how does one acquire this number?

How to get a Toll Free Number?

First, you must consider certain necessities of your company and the features that a 1800 number service provides:

  • How many minutes of calls does your company receive every month? This value determines what sort of service is preferable for your establishment. Some companies may provide cheaper plans and then demand a high fee for going over the limit. To avoid exorbitant overage charges, you must research your incoming calls and choose a plan accordingly.
  • Does your customer contact require its own voicemail storage? Some toll free number providers enable you with separate storage for your customer voicemail. This may be a better option as it helps you separate your corporate and personal voicemails from the public ones. The organization of your voicemails can save you time and effort in the long run.
  • How can you block spam callers? A toll free number provider will extend the feature of blocklists. You can add spam numbers on this list to prevent them from contacting your agents and wasting their time. These calls can increase the workload on representatives and add to the wait time. Hence, eliminating them is highly beneficial for your company.
  • How can you track missed calls? Missed calls are lost opportunities. A lack of response can leave consumers with a bitter opinion of your company. Your toll free number provider should offer you an SMS alert service so you can monitor these missed calls and consider further actions.
  • What is the process after someone dials the contact? Using IVR integration and a monitoring dashboard, you are in control of the route that every call follows. Using keyboard input, the IVR system will reroute their call to the best-suited agent. You can monitor these statistics and the representatives’ performance using the monitoring dashboard.

Once you have understood the features and considered the requirements of your organization, you must compare different toll free number service providers. Plans and features vary from one provider to another. With Acefone, you can access all the above-mentioned benefits and more. While comparing providers, make sure you consider their fees, the monthly minutes, the features provided, and the numbers available. You must also keep in mind the quality of service they will provide later. Reviews are a great way of judging your compatibility with a toll free number provider.

Choosing a contact is a careful practice. You must decide whether you prefer to own a general number or a vanity one. The latter may sound more flashy but is not required for every business. Your number will be the representative of your business communication once you’ve purchased it. Hence, make sure it is ideal for your business—easy to memorize and associate with your brand.

Even if you move office spaces across the country, you need not change the number. Most providers offer high scalability that enables you to relocate or expand your business anytime you like.

Congratulations! You now own a 1800 number for your organization. You can start your marketing campaigns and see the boosted productivity for yourself.

Conclusion

Good communication is the foundation of every good relationship, even if it is just a corporate one. Toll free numbers allow you to engage in seamless communication with your consumers and encourage the latter to initiate the conversation. Buying a toll free number may sound complicated, however, it is a quick process. Once you have identified your company needs, you can procure a contact that is ideal in terms of features and services. Equip yourself with a memorable toll free number and become business-ready for ease in communication and analytics.

 

If you're interested in improving your business communication solution

call icon big

Give us a call on

or
mail icon big

Write an email to

Reviews

star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2
0(0)

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter
author_36
Acefone provides a broad range of cloud communication services to businesses of all sizes, which includes Hosted Phone Systems, Free Phone Numbers, and Cloud Contact Center Solutions. Being the UK's leading provider of VoIP service provider, we always strive to provide excellent customer service and high-quality custom solutions to our customers.

A Toll-tally Inclusive Guide to Setting Up Toll Free Number Solutions

author_36

Acefone Editor

Author
category Contact Center calendar clock 5 mins read eye Reads: 577

Table of content

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter

This is the ‘Customer is King’ era.

Consumer experience is no longer limited to the purchase itself.

With the advent of the Internet, communication channels have grown exponentially—we have emails, messaging apps, social media platforms, chatbots, and more. However, one form of communication has maintained its reign over these years: the telephone. Telephonic conversations are still extremely popular among clients for query resolution.

According to the Delhi School of Internet Marketing, 75% of consumers consider calling to be the best way to get a quick response. Many consumers in India are still dependent on telephonic conversations to solve queries, which is why companies must innovate and improve their customer service tools. 

Industries have tried to innovate their contact centres over the years. Some such innovations include cloud solutions, IVR, multi-media representation, and voice broadcasting systems. However, one of the most popular introductions has undeniably been toll free number solutions. These numbers usually start with ‘1800’ and allow consumers to contact the company for no charge. 

Naturally, customers prefer the option to call you for free. However, there are several other incentives organisations to set up toll free number solutions.

Before getting onto the simple set-up process, let’s take a look at the purpose they serve as well as their advantages:

What are toll free number solutions?

You may be familiar with 1800 numbers often shown on company advertisements. These numbers act as virtual contacts which consumers can connect to without any charge. So when a client calls the organisation using a toll free number, the call charge is transferred to the company instead. The pure economics of the system is enough to make the option popular.

However, these numbers not only relieve clients of charges but are also a simpler way of connecting to a company. A single 1800 number can be attached to several extensions as per your requirement, making your company’s contact easy to remember. In fact, organisations are known to associate a jingle with their numbers to make the experience memorable.

Features and benefits of toll free number solutions 

Having understood the basics of TFN solutions, their immense popularity makes much more sense. Additionally, there are several other benefits of investing in these numbers:

1. Brand Representation

Toll free numbers are easy to remember and are often well-known representations of the company. Clients  instinctively associate your brand with the number they come across in campaigns or advertisements.

2. No Confusion

Since the number is consistent across channels, customers don’t need to search for different contact details. They can remember a single number to communicate with the organisation efficiently.

3. International Calls

Before toll-free solutions were introduced, customers were often hesitant to contact international organisations due to exorbitant charges. However, since these numbers do not cost much, customers are now communicating with brands across the world more frequently.

4. Mobility

Locations have no bearing on the ownership of toll free numbers. This means that if you decide to relocate all your operations to the other side of the world, you can still hold on to the same number without worrying about going through the process of setting up again.

5. Interactive Voice Response

TFN solutions can be connected to interactive voice responses (IVR). When a customer calls your number, they are greeted with a message and their call gets routed to a suitable agent based on their inputs. First-contact query resolution is more feasible due to this set-up.

How can you set up toll free number solutions?

TFN solutions can be purchased from telecom providers or cloud-based service providers like Acefone. With the latter, you receive several additional benefits, and a chance to expand your customer service applications and features.  

A prerequisite for purchasing telephony solutions is that you consider the needs of your company and the options in the market. Let’s distinguish between a local number and a toll free number: 

A local number refers to a contact that is based in a certain location. This number is prefixed by the standard code of that town or city and isn’t free for the consumer. A toll free number is virtual and can be connected from anywhere. The former is better when you have multiple offices in varied locations and wish to connect to local consumers. The latter, however, is ideal for a unified contact centre that deals with all your customer support. It is also imperative to estimate your budget and whether you wish to own an international solution.

Once you’ve decided to opt for toll-free solutions, the rest of the process is smooth sailing. Follow these simple steps for making the purchase:

  1. Visit a cloud telephony provider’s website (like Acefone).
  2. Select the toll free number solutions option and begin the registration service.
  3. Complete your KYC (Know Your Customer) authorisation for safety purposes.
  4. Choose a payment option.
  5. Finally, you can select a toll free number of your choice.
    (This step is important and we suggest you pay close attention to the contact you choose. You can also opt for set vanity numbers or create your own.)

Once you have selected your service and paid for it, you’re all set! 

It’s an easy and swift process, and now you can empower your customer service with a multitude of features. Ease the communication between your organisation and your consumers, and increase brand loyalty with these solutions. 

Summary

Toll free number solutions can be used by several industries—banks, businesses, contact centres, educational institutes, etc. These numbers are easy to remember and have great recall value. Customers do not incur any charges and thus, are inclined to use this option, while their installation is simple and efficient. Consider cloud-based solutions for your brand, which are loaded with features to support the customer experience. 

Try out a toll free number from Acefone now and smoothen your communication process for both parties.

If you're interested in improving your business communication solution

call icon big

Give us a call on

or
mail icon big

Write an email to

Reviews

star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2
0(0)

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter
author_36
Acefone provides a broad range of cloud communication services to businesses of all sizes, which includes Hosted Phone Systems, Free Phone Numbers, and Cloud Contact Center Solutions. Being the UK's leading provider of VoIP service provider, we always strive to provide excellent customer service and high-quality custom solutions to our customers.

Why Is Call Forwarding One Of The Most Important Features of Cloud Based Phone System?

author_37

Yukti Verma

Author
category Contact Center calendar August 6, 2020 clock 4 mins read eye Reads: 532

Table of content

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter

You don’t need to be a business tycoon to know that communication is the key to a successful business.

Even core functions like management and operations need a strong communication system to perform well. Such efficiency ensures a smooth flow of information within and between different departments of an organisation.

When we say communication, we mean both internal and external forms. For a company to thrive, it is necessary to foster clear, two-way relationships with customers and other businesses.

Having multiple channels of communication is just one way to assure that; emails, live chats, telephony make you accessible to all. Additionally, it helps your customer agents interact better and solve problems while also gathering essential feedback. 

A Reliable Hosted Telephony Service Is All You Need

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is an excellent medium to convey messages proficiently.  Every company needs to acquire an efficient telephony system in order to improve overall business communication, paying special attention to customer service. 

A cloud phone system not only streamlines service but also offers a dynamic calling experience. This can easily determine the success of your business as a brand. 

What is Call Forwarding? 

A feature of the cloud telephony system, call forwarding allows businesses to route incoming calls to various departments when an agent or a department is unable to take the call.

This can happen when an issue escalates or when increased phone traffic keeps the agents engaged. Call forwarding helps customers solve their queries by connecting them to the most relevant agent available as quickly as possible. 

Benefits Of Call Forwarding When Building A Positive Brand Image 

Call forwarding allows businesses to increase their workflow productivity and provides greater customer experience. You can explore the following benefits for your better understanding:

  • Boosts Customer Satisfaction

Customers call you with the hope of getting their problems solved. However, it may not be possible for every agent to solve every customer query.

Call forwarding acts as a saviour that enables the primary agent to transfer the call to the colleague or department best-suited to handle the issue. 

  • Saves Time

The world is fast-paced, and customers want their queries solved quickly without wasting time on call. They might get irritated easily when their problems are not solved instantly.

Call forwarding reduces the time spent on juggling between agents and departments to solve the customer’s issue. 

Respecting your customers precious time can help you win their loyalty.

  • Builds Trust Between Customers and the Business

Customers are bound to be happy when a business efficiently assists them with queries and problems. This encourages satisfied clients to constantly avail the firm’s products and services.

So, the faster you solve customer’s problems, the more trustworthy you become. 

  • Customer Service becomes Mobile

One of the most significant features of call forwarding is that agents are not chained to their desks. They needn’t answer calls from their desks only, but can easily forward them to multiple devices based on their convenience.

This eliminates any scope of disruption between customers and the business, even during odd hours.

  • Increase Accessibility

Most businesses have a publicised toll free number. This number enables customers to immediately connect with the business from anywhere in the country without bearing any charges!

This improves the accessibility of your business and builds a promising reputation for your business. Free of cost communication builds a better brand image for your organisation.

  • Gives the Business a Professional Look

Call forwarding comes with multiple add-ons that make your business sound professional.

Features like pre-designed greetings and automated call assistants, multi-lingual approach, location-specific service, on-hold ringtones, and more add credibility to your business.

This also offers dynamic customer service and adopts a more customer-centric approach.

  • 24/7 Assistance

This feature enables businesses to be reachable 24/7. You can accept customer calls all times, even from different time zones. You never have to miss a call even when you are away from your desk phone. 

  • Reachable During Emergency

Businesses always have a contingency plan for potential risks. Call forwarding takes care of the customer service aspect in a contingency plan.

For instance, if there’s a worldwide emergency, like a pandemic, the communication dynamic between customers and businesses will have to be shifted.

Or maybe not. Call forwarding allows employees to serve customers from a different location, even their home. This means that even in adverse situations, your customers can always count on you. 

Summing Up

After going through these various benefits, it can be concluded that call forwarding enhances customer experience multifold.

All its features are interconnected and functioned together to ensure smooth communication. Customers feel valued, satisfied and assured and become a potential loyal customer. 

In conclusion, businesses should wisely choose a cloud phone system service that offers a very dynamic set of features and service list. 

Acefone provides exemplary cloud telephony services that increase your workforce productivity and boosts customer satisfaction. Contact an expert at 1888-859-0450 .

If you're interested in improving your business communication solution

call icon big

Give us a call on

or
mail icon big

Write an email to

Reviews

star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2
0(0)

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter
author_37
Yukti Verma

Author

Yukti is a content marketing enthusiast with a soft spot for Saas. She loves weaving complicated concepts into simple stories. When not at work, she is found reading books or watching movies.

Boost Customer Experience Using Our Cloud Telephony Tools: A Handy Rulebook

author_36

Acefone Editor

Author
category Cloud Telephony calendar August 3, 2020 clock 9 mins read eye Reads: 459

Table of content

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter

Article in a Glance

This article will equip you with essential guidelines for creating a fulfilling customer experience. There are 6 rules to keep in mind:

Article in a glance

This is the customer is king era. Your business goal is to provide customers with the best experience so that they continue to renew your services. However, as amazing as your product’s features may be, there are other factors that determine a consumer’s decision.

customer experience, for one, is recognized by all major companies in the world. Do you happen to know whose words these are: “You’ve got to start with the customer experience and work back toward the technology, not the other way around”?

The answer? Steve Jobs. The mastermind behind the phenomenal success of Apple.

Customer is king

In the digital age, providing a seamless user experience is critical. Consider this quote by Jeff Bezos, CEO of AmazonIf you make customers unhappy in the physical world, they might each tell six friends. If you make customers unhappy on the internet, they can each tell 6,000 friends. 1 in 3 customers will leave a brand after even a single bad experience.

On the other hand, a happy customer is more likely to become a repeat and loyal consumer of your product.

But there’s no need to worry. Follow these simple rules to boost customer experience using our cloud telephony solutions, and watch as happy customers translate to positive business figures.

Rule #1: Choose an easy-to-remember number to pave your way into customers’ hearts

Companies like Domino’s and Pizza Hut get massive phone traffic daily. Have you noticed what’s common between their contact numbers?

It’s simple—Toll free numbers are the way to go!

When you’ve put so much effort into perfecting your product and piqued the interest of the buyer, the last thing you need is for the customer to be deterred because of extra effort.

Write it on stone: Do not let the customer’s process of contacting you require any effort on their part.

Reason why your business needs a free phone number.

Think about it—would a buyer trust a random number that may originate from anywhere and possibly be fraudulent, or would he prefer a trusty 1800 number. Additionally, 1800 numbers boost brand recognition as people will associate your number with countless other popular services that use it.

That’s not all. You can also opt for a virtual phone number or a vanity number to improve customer experience.

The buyer calls a virtual phone number and gets routed to a mobile or landline device. You only need an internet connection to set it up and there are no extra hardware costs, which makes this option insanely affordable.

Moreover, you can reach a wider clientele base without any geographic limitations. You could be based in a mountain lodge in Himachal Pradesh and still be able to perfectly cater to a customer in Vizag.

In your quest to enhance customer experience, you need to give vanity numbers a chance. These numbers are easily recognizable, often spelling out memorable words alphanumerically. For example, if your brand is named “FOMO”, it could be represented as 3666 in your phone number. This will drastically improve your brand recognition.

Actually, why stick to one kind of number service?

You can even choose a toll free vanity number, and get the best of both features!

Rule #2:  Create a seamless customer experience with the wonders of IVR

It goes without saying that being bounced around from one department to another like a ping-pong ball is not fun. When a customer calls you for support, they are already in a distressed state of mind. So wow them with an impressive multi-level IVR system.

Our sophisticated IVR menu allows the customer to directly connect to the best-suited agent quickly, eliminating the need for middlemen and saving on time and money.

Here’s how it works:

Boost customer experience with IVR

For your business to provide a quality customer experience, you need a high-quality IVR with user-friendly features and luckily, you need to look no further. Acefone offers a variety of IVR services based on your needs: single-level, multi-level as well as custom dial-plans. With its quick and cheap installation, it really is a steal!

Rule #3: Customer experience 101: Privacy simplified using number masking

Mask on was a thing even before COVID-19 hit us like a storm.

Number masking is a gem you didn’t know you needed. It’s so simple. You can choose one-way or two-way masking, which as the names suggest, hides one or both of the parties’ numbers during the call. This improves the customer’s trust by ensuring the protection of sensitive data.

There are so many times when a customer comes across a lucrative deal or product, but cannot commit to the purchase because it feels shady. Don’t make that mistake!

Making customers feel safe and trusting is—and we can’t stress this enough—absolutely essential. In a survey by Cisco in 2019, 84% of the people reported that they care about their data being used by companies, out of which 80% felt strongly enough to take action for its protection.

Survey by Cisco

 

So if you ever wondered if your Uber driver, who called you 10 times to find you in the parking lot, can call again randomly, you may rest assured knowing he can’t. The customer’s number is masked in services like these to regulate the transactions better.

Rule #4: Customer is God. Invite them in with easy ways to reach you

Patience is a virtue very few people possess. Your average customer will not be pleased with a wait time, or worse, no response. Thankfully, there’s no need to put people on hold incessantly anymore.

Use missed call services to turn unanswered calls to a boon from a bane.

  • With no cost to the customers, they are more likely to drop a call.
  • Use an intelligent routing system to assign the best-suited agent to call them back instantly.
  • In the process of the missed call, your agent also gathers enough data about the customer’ call history to hold an informed conversation.
  • Do Not Disturb options are presented to users so you need not pursue those who are not interested in being contacted.

Using the click to call feature is another way to enhance communication.

Everyone is tempted to press the big red button. It’s so easy! Just place a click to call button or widget on your portal, and one simple click will allow users to feed their number for your agent to call straight away.

Pro tip: When you do have to put callers on hold, have them wait with pleasing music instead of an annoying beep tone to maximize customer satisfaction.

Rule #5: Improve customer experience using CRM integration and analytics

A customer always calls with the hope of resolving their issues on the first call itself. This mighty task becomes achievable using CRM integrations which allow agents to access information about customers on their screen during the call. Better-informed agents can speedily attend to the customer’s specific needs.

survey conducted by Deloitte in 2017 found that the attribute customers value most in a contact center interaction is the accuracy and quality of the information provided. A whopping 66% of surveyed executives gave this aspect a high priority, the highest among all options.

Deloitte Global Contact Center Survey

Acefone offers CRM integrations with popular software like Zoho, HubSpot, Salesforce, Freshdesk and more. This way you can have all your data together in one user-friendly portal to provide the best possible service.

Other features that help give the best customer experience include call recording and call analytics. These allow you to monitor the quality of your agents’ calls—and even whisper or barge in on calls for a quick fix.

The recordings can act as useful reference points for later exchanges. Real-time data analytics on the dashboard help identify weak points in client interactions. Improve future customer experience with the aid of these tools!

Improvise. Adapt. Overcome

Rule #6: The future is here. Enhanced AI can give your business a human touch

Technology is really smart.

Artificial intelligence can eliminate the need for manual effort in a lot of areas. The use of voice API can automate your calls to behave smarter—more human-like.

You can use any programming language to modify or create your own unique APIs. Click to Call, IVR, OTP calls and so many other features allow for pleasing customer experiences.  You’re saving on time as well as manpower by employing AI for basic tasks.

SMS APIs can also be used to ‘train’ your SMSs. Customize features to your liking and needs, and opt for services like OTP verification, auto-responses to messages, automated alerts and other varying solutions.

The best thing about these APIs? You can customize them at any time to cater to your and your customer’s changing needs! Incorporate growing modifications with changing times.

You’re almost set to go…

While the goal of this article was to equip you with useful tools to improve customer experience, you must remember that a fulfilling experience requires more than the use of such features.

A few ground rules that affect customer service:

  1. Build a rapport and form a meaningful connection with your clientele.
  2. Figure out your target audience and cater to them specifically.
  3. Not all customers prefer the same sales style. Be flexible with the customer’s preference and change your style accordingly.
  4. Always be receptive to feedback and strive to improve.

Recommended read: How to improve call center agent skills

Hopefully, this article has helped you figure out the best strategy to boost customer experience. With the advent of technology, the scope for buyer satisfaction has increased manifold as well. Services such as virtual numbers, IVR, number masking, APIs and CRM integrations can be used in conjunction to transform your digital customer experience.

Become the top-runner in your field using these industry secrets!

Finally, remember that customers and businesses have a mutually dependent relationship that needs to be nurtured. When you integrate these rules for boosting customer experience with our services, you create magic.

If you're interested in improving your business communication solution

call icon big

Give us a call on

or
mail icon big

Write an email to

Reviews

star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2
0(0)

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter
author_36
Acefone provides a broad range of cloud communication services to businesses of all sizes, which includes Hosted Phone Systems, Free Phone Numbers, and Cloud Contact Center Solutions. Being the UK's leading provider of VoIP service provider, we always strive to provide excellent customer service and high-quality custom solutions to our customers.

5 Common Customer Service Complaints and Tips To Handle Them

author_37

Yukti Verma

Author
category Operations calendar July 30, 2020 clock 5 mins read eye Reads: 507

Table of content

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter

When it comes to customer service, complaints come with the territory. It is how you handle complaints that sets you apart from the competition.

A customer complaint is not necessarily the end of the relationship with that customer.

When handled correctly, it could actually strengthen the relationship and encourage them to recommend your brand to other people after you have shown that you truly care about their experience. 

At Acefone, we specialise in communications to help you resolve any customer issues as quickly and effectively as possible.

Here is a list of the five most common customer service complaints and how to handle them. This will help you to strengthen your customer relationships rather than breaking them.

Lack Of Communication

Sometimes, a lack of communication can lead to a customer complaint. For example, if a customer was expecting a follow-up call but did not receive one, then they would be understandably frustrated.

No matter what the follow-up call was about, the way you handle this situation is crucial in determining whether the customer will continue to do business with you.

All customers like to feel that they are valued and important. Thus, your first reaction must be to apologise for the oversight.

Yes, sometimes communication can be hampered, but most customers will not understand or tolerate it if it happens frequently. Or, even worse, if they do not receive a follow-up call the second time around!

A hosted phone system can make all this simple. Agents can assign the call to a colleague who’s available to ensure quick redressal.

If the caller is willing to wait, customer service representatives can even use the notes section to explain the mistake and schedule a callback.

When the next agent becomes aware that there has been a problem, they may strive to deliver better service to keep the customers happy and ensure that they continue to buy from your brand.

Products Not Arriving Or Faulty Products

Sometimes products are lost in the mail, or they arrive damaged or faulty. The key to handling this is to act quickly. 

The customer has already been inconvenienced. So, it is important to solve the issue swiftly and send the customer a replacement as soon as you can.

Despite their frustration, most reasonable buyers will understand that this is out of the seller’s control and will be happy to receive a replacement.

However, the replacement should never be at the customer’s cost. As a goodwill gesture, you could also follow up with them and ensure that the new product is to their satisfaction.

This will impress the customer and prove that you are dedicated to providing great customer service to all.

A Disagreement Between Agent And Customer

No seller wants to fight with their clients. Sometimes, customers can be rude and, therefore, it is important to gain clarity on what has happened and what has been said.

Inevitably, personality clashes can occur between agents and customers. Difficult customers may become a bit rude, and, therefore, it is good to have clarity on exactly what has happened and what has been said.

Acefone’s hosted phone systems come with a voice recording feature. You can record each call and store them safely on your phone system.

If you need to access a call, all it takes a simple search through the history for the right agent and timestamp. Now, you can listen to a full recording and ensure you have all the facts and information before returning to the customer with a resolution.

These voice recordings also serve to protect your staff during conflicts, since you can access exactly what has been said in the event of a misunderstanding.

Either way, this type of complaint needs to be dealt with sensitively. If the agent is at fault, you can apologise to the customer and assure that you will provide further training to your staff in order to prevent the recurrence of such a situation.

In case the customer is at fault, you can calmly explain your policies and give them access to the recording so they can review the conversation themselves.

Long Wait On Hold

During busy hours, customers may have to be on hold for a long time, which they may not appreciate. If the long wait complaint is a one-off occurrence, it makes sense to simply apologise and give the customer a list of your less busy hours.

This can be done using the analytics tools from Acefone’s online portal. This way, you can tell them a more convenient time to call back or direct them to online resources for answers to basic queries.

However, if this is a recurring problem for multiple customers, then it may be time to hire remote staff to help you through busy periods.

Acefone’s cloud phone system allows you to hire staff from anywhere in the world who can connect to your phone system as long as they have an internet connection.

Extra lines for these agents can be scaled with just a few clicks as per your requirement. Once you have extra staffing in place, you can let customers know that you have considered their feedback and put extra measures in place to ensure they do not have to suffer through long wait times again.

Customers will be pleased to hear that they are valued enough to have their feedback acted upon and will continue to associate with you in the future.

Repeating Their Issue Each Time They Call

If a customer has to repeat their issue multiple times when they call, it may become a complaint in itself. The more a customer is transferred, the more frustrated they will become. It is important to solve customer queries on the first call.

Acefone’s hosted phone systems have the option to add an IVR to your phone, which means customers can select from a list of personalised options, like for instance, which department they would like to be put through to.

This means less wasted time for your staff—having to transfer calls to find the best-qualified person to help—and less time on the phone for customers, leading to less frustration for all.

IVR systems are highly professional and give a great impression of your business. Hence, they are a worthwhile investment for any company wanting to deliver excellent customer service.

If you would like to find out more about how Acefone can help you handle customer complaints efficiently through your hosted phone system, call us on 1888-859-0450 today.

If you're interested in improving your business communication solution

call icon big

Give us a call on

or
mail icon big

Write an email to

Reviews

star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2
0(0)

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter
author_37
Yukti Verma

Author

Yukti is a content marketing enthusiast with a soft spot for Saas. She loves weaving complicated concepts into simple stories. When not at work, she is found reading books or watching movies.

How IVR System can Empower Telehealth Initiatives Amid The Pandemic

author_36

Acefone Editor

Author
category IVR Service calendar July 25, 2020 clock 5 mins read eye Reads: 436

Table of content

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter

The COVID-19 crisis is exerting tremendous pressure on the healthcare industry. Health workers across the globe are struggling to keep pace with the outbreak and its consequences. Thankfully, telehealth services have come up as a feasible alternative, allowing remote diagnosis and treatment of non-critical patients. There has been a 60-80% spurt in telemedicine appointments since the outbreak of the pandemic, which shows the scope and importance of this service.

Hospitals and health providers are using the latest technology to reduce in-person visits as well as the strain on resources. They are also able to ensure that everyone who needs medical care gets it on time, without any geographic limitations. Moreover, remote consultations are beneficial for patients because fewer outings indicate reduced exposure and risk of infection. Among the cloud technologies that drive telehealth care, IVR emerges as a forerunner.

Before understanding how IVR solutions can empower the medical sector, it is important to comprehend their working.

So how does a typical telehealth IVR system work?

You can access healthcare even beyond the hospital with a simple, yet highly effective IVR solution. This service enables seamless patient interactions around the clock, from delivering messages regarding medication, appointment schedules or behaviour modification to collecting individual patient healthcare data. Organisations can also use IVR for automated greetings, accepting patient inputs or routing individual callers to a specific department or agent.

You can easily install IVR technology and power up your telehealth solutions. Here’s how:

  • First, determine your IVR needs with a comprehensive evaluation and analysis of your practice. Opt for a customised solution to match your specific situation and challenges, as well as the expectations of your target group (say, patients).
  • Enable self-servicing options from the IVR menu. Calls can now be handled quickly, consistently and inexpensively.
  • Tracking and analysis feature allows you to assess the quality and success of your telehealth campaign. Pleasant patient experiences strengthen the foundation of your practice and improve the rate of patient retention.

To battle the pandemic panic, you need to implement these services as quickly as possible. A practice that does not do so risks losing patients. Conversely, if you are quick to make the shift, you can avail the benefits of early adoption of the technology.

Empowering telehealth with IVR system

A time of crisis is not just a time of anxiety and worry. It gives a chance, an opportunity, to choose well or to choose badly.” – Desmond Tutu, Human rights activists, Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Fortunately, many healthcare organisations have achieved innovation overnight by investing in telehealth solutions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are relying on technology they have never used before. Although IVR system has been around for quite some time, the outbreak has led to an exponential growth in its use. Here are a few ways this technology is helping the healthcare providers:

  • Dial for self-service

Hospitals are increasingly using IVR systems to empower patients with numerous self-service benefits. These include scheduling telehealth visits, requesting prescription refills, getting frequently asked questions resolved, and more.

  • Send pre-programmed reminders

IVR system that provides outbound broadcasting features allows automated reminders for patients. These can be used for timely medications, refilling prescriptions, appointment notifications, and so much more.

  • Instant notifications during emergencies

Organisations can take things one step further with the integration of IVR technology with remote patient monitoring systems. You can share emergency notifications via call or SMS in case of fluctuations in the patient’s stats.

Benefits of IVR system for the healthcare provider

Now you know how to leverage an IVR system to deliver top-notch telehealth services to patients. Next, you need to understand the merits of employing this technology. The idea here is to understand the value of your investment, which is all the more important in a crisis situation. Here are the benefits that the telehealth system can offer your practice:

Improve patient access

With IVR-based appointment scheduling in place, patients get better access to your services. They need not queue up or visit the clinic personally anymore to book appointments. Rather, give them the option to call any time to book an appointment on the fly.

Optimise patient-provider matching

The smart AI can instantly match patients with the best-suited medical staff. This is done based on the needs of the patients and the availability of providers.

Reduce office staff workload

With the need for human intervention minimised, dependency on the staff is reduced and they have more time for critical tasks. This is truly a blessing for the workers who are already swamped during this pandemic.

Scalability and flexibility

Another undisputed benefit of IVR telehealth solutions is their immense scalability. Whether your practice has a few dozen patients or thousands, these systems are capable of handling them all efficiently. Moreover, you have the option to scale the solution to reach a wider audience or even send across vernacular messages to a local audience.

Going Ahead

The pandemic has taught many lessons to the healthcare industry. It has strengthened their commitment towards delivering the best patient care. The booming growth of telehealth services illustrates this commitment, showing the providers’ intention to always be there for patients.

Digital IVR technology systems have emerged as a key component of telehealth solutions. The best way to go ahead is to look for an IVR service provider that you can trust for their service quality and reliability. Additionally, you would want to collaborate with one that offers best-in-class prices for their services.

Check Acefone’s IVR solutions to empower your healthcare practice with the best telehealth solutions!

If you're interested in improving your business communication solution

call icon big

Give us a call on

or
mail icon big

Write an email to

Reviews

star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2
0(0)

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter
author_36
Acefone provides a broad range of cloud communication services to businesses of all sizes, which includes Hosted Phone Systems, Free Phone Numbers, and Cloud Contact Center Solutions. Being the UK's leading provider of VoIP service provider, we always strive to provide excellent customer service and high-quality custom solutions to our customers.

Why Every Construction Business Should Have A Hosted Phone System

author_36

Acefone Editor

Author
category Contact Center calendar July 15, 2020 clock 5 mins read eye Reads: 522

Table of content

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter

A cloud phone system is a must-have for every type of business, but particularly for construction businesses.

Construction businesses by nature are mainly not office based – sometimes you will need to set up offices on sites, sometimes you will need to be out meeting clients and suppliers; but what you do not need it to be chained to your desk by your office phone.

A hosted phone system has many features that can make life so much easier for Construction businesses, so, here are our top reasons why every Construction business should have a hosted phone system.

Hosted Phone Systems Are Completely Portable

With a hosted phone system, as long as you have an internet connection you can take your phone system with you anywhere.

Hosted phone systems work on any compatible device, so your construction workers can stay connected with you as a manager or with each other simply and easily through their mobile phones, laptops, or tablets. 

This means that your business will never miss a call from a potential customer as at least one of your workers will always be connected wherever you are.

It is important for Construction Businesses to be easily reachable, to both potential customers and suppliers too and a hosted phone system gives you the flexibility to be on hand to answer important calls, even when you are working on a site.

For sole proprietors, a hosted phone system is key to ensuring that you can go where you are needed and still remain connected to your business line.

When the whole operation is relying on you, it is important to be confident in your telephone system to bring in leads to your business.

Never Miss A Call Again

Sometimes, Construction Business work in such a way that it is inevitable that you might miss a few calls – particularly if you are a sole proprietor of a business without a team around you.

This is not a problem with a hosted phone system, as you can add a voicemail to email feature which sends all missed calls and voicemail messages directly to your email address as a sound file. 

This handy feature means that you do not need to stop what you are doing to answer a call, you can let the call go to voicemail and then review the voicemail when you are finished.

With all the details you need to call the customer back with an answer to their query, you will still impress customers with your communications even if you do not answer on their first call.

This also gives you the opportunity to free up your own time and direct customers to the most relevant person.

If you review a voicemail and have a colleague who can answer the query more effectively or a colleague who is not working on a job, you can simply forward the email to a colleague and reply to the customer promptly – saving both you and the customer valuable time.

Virtual Assistants Take Messages for You

Another option for Construction businesses is to enable the Virtual Assistant feature. This feature answers your calls for you and can take messages from customers – giving a very professional impression to any customer calling your business. 

Virtual Assistants can stop you from missing a call and make customers more confident that their message has been received and passed on, meaning they will be happier with the customer service they have received.

Virtual Assistants also make your business look larger and more professional, which will impress any shareholders or clients who may be looking to do business with you.

Choose Your Own Phone Number

Many Construction businesses, particularly smaller businesses, list a mobile phone number on their website and marketing collateral.

While this may be convenient for them to direct calls straight to a mobile, it does not give the most professional impression. 

Customers may be put off by calling a mobile number and may think that your business is less established than those with a landline phone number and office location.

So, by using a hosted phone system you can make it appear that they are calling a landline number and have calls directed to your mobile phone.

This is simple to do with a hosted phone system, and in a few clicks, you can choose your own phone number.

You could have a local number to increase trust and local community ties, or a free phone number to appear as a bigger and more professional company while removing any barriers to customers calling you.

Alternatively, you can create a custom number which is memorable and matches with your marketing collateral. The choice is yours with a hosted phone system and you can choose how you want your business to come across.

You do not need to worry about directing your new number with a hosted phone system, customers will see no difference when they call your number and will enjoy the same crystal clear communications whatever device you pick up on.

Hire Remote Staff

If your business is growing, you may need to hire staff away from your physical office location. This is not a problem with a hosted phone system.

If staff have an internet connection it does not matter where they are based, so you can confidently hire staff from anywhere in the world to help run your business.

If you have a new project and would like a team based in the area to help monitor its progress, then you can add this team to your hosted phone system in just a few clicks. You could even set up a hosted contact center with a full sales team – the choice really is yours.

Staff calls and call costs can be monitored with Acefone’s easy to use online portal and you can access a range of analytics from call waiting time to call recordings.

Everything can be accessed in just a few clicks and can be accessed wherever you might be and on whatever device you choose.

A hosted phone system gives you the power to expand your business without geographical limits – something which can be highly beneficial to Construction businesses. 

If you would like to find out more about how a hosted phone system can help your Construction business grow, call our team on 1888-859-0450  for a consultation.

If you're interested in improving your business communication solution

call icon big

Give us a call on

or
mail icon big

Write an email to

Reviews

star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2 star_normal_2
0(0)

Share this post

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • whatsup
  • twitter
author_36
Acefone provides a broad range of cloud communication services to businesses of all sizes, which includes Hosted Phone Systems, Free Phone Numbers, and Cloud Contact Center Solutions. Being the UK's leading provider of VoIP service provider, we always strive to provide excellent customer service and high-quality custom solutions to our customers.