Are you looking for a way to improve your customer service and ensure that your calls are being answered efficiently? An answering service could be the perfect call-handling solution you need. If you’re a small business owner, there’s no better time to invest in an answering service than today. A high-quality answering service can help you save money, improve customer service, and reduce overhead costs.
Here are five reasons why you should consider investing in an answering service in 2023:
Increased Efficiency
Outsourcing an answering services help provide businesses with a more efficient way to handle incoming calls. With the right professional answering service, you can make sure that any important or urgent call is handled quickly and professionally before it goes unanswered or is overlooked. This allows for faster response times which can result in improved customer satisfaction for both existing customers and potential customers.
Round-the-Clock Support
With an answering service taking care of your incoming calls, you won’t have to worry about days when there aren’t enough people at the office to answer phones. An experienced team of professionals is available 24 hours a day so that every single call is answered promptly, no matter what time it comes in or how complex the query might be. Not only does this give customers peace of mind knowing that their concerns will be addressed properly, but it also ensures businesses don’t miss out on any potential leads or business opportunities due to lack of availability.
More Professional Image
Having someone professionally manage incoming calls gives off a much better impression than if people were receiving automatic messages or unheard voicemails when trying to contact a business over the phone. By having an experienced operator answer your phone lines on behalf of your company, potential clients will feel more assured about contacting you as they will have another human being talking them through their enquiries instead of leaving automated messages that won’t get answered unless someone is available during work hours.
Cost-Effective Solution
Using an external answering service such as Abacus Pools means businesses don’t have to take on additional staff members just for the purpose of fielding their incoming calls – this can save businesses lots of money by cutting down their costs for labour, not only in terms of salaries, but also other overhead expenses such as pensions, holiday pay etc… Not only is an answering service cost-effective compared with hiring additional members of staff, but it’s also great value when compared with other call handlings solutions like IVR systems and automated voice responses where you won’t even get any actual human interaction over the phone – something people find hard to trust nowadays!
When comparing answering services, look for a pricing structure that works best for your company. You’ll want to determine whether the provider uses a per-minute or per-call model, or if they offer a flat rate.
In addition to pricing, look for other fees and upcharges that you might be charged. These might include setup fees, recurring or incidental charges, and monthly minimums.
Boosts Productivity Levels
Answering services allow businesses to free up some resources that may otherwise have been tied up in dealing with customer support queries. Instead of managing these queries yourself or outsourcing expensive and complex CRM systems – using an external call centre provides staffing flexibility as well as customer satisfaction levels associated with speaking directly with a member of your own team – whenever needed! This boosts productivity levels within the organisation meaning employees can focus time on other more important tasks rather than communicating directly with customers who have questions about products/services etc…
Choosing the Right Answering Service
Before you choose an answering service, it’s important to understand what your needs are. You should also make sure you’re getting a high-quality service with agents that understand your industry and business. You should also ensure that you’re getting a quality system and technology that can handle the number of calls you receive on a daily basis.
Agent Work Time & Connect/Non-Connect Charges
Some answering services may charge you for their agents’ work time. This includes time spent updating information in your account, working with clients, and responding to questions or requests.
Most answering services provide real-time reports through their client portals. These reports can help you track your billing, the number of calls, and how quickly you’re receiving answers. Some will even provide an end-of-month report.
