When it comes to choosing a phone system for your business, there are several things you should consider. This includes how your employees will use it and what features they need.
A great phone for your business will help you create a better customer and employee experience. Some key features include call waiting, call forwarding, call routing, and more.
Voicemail
Voicemail is a feature that allows callers to leave messages on a phone or device. These messages are recorded and stored for later retrieval.
When used correctly, this service can be very beneficial for businesses. It gives business representatives time to respond to customer requests and questions.
Many of today’s businesses still rely on voicemail systems to communicate with customers. However, some companies have chosen to sidestep this service and move toward texting or email.
Caller ID
Caller ID is a phone feature that shows the caller’s number and sometimes their name when you answer the phone. It’s included in most home and business phones, VOIP lines, and mobile devices.
To enable Caller ID, the phone company equips a telephone with a Caller ID box that contains a modem to decode data bits, a tiny circuit to detect a ring signal, and a simple processor to drive the display.
Call Waiting
If you have Call Waiting enabled, your phone will beep when someone else calls in while you are on a call. It’s a great way to quickly answer another call without ending your current one.
If you don’t have this feature turned on, you won’t hear the beep, and the incoming call will go straight to voicemail. This can annoy your caller, but it’s an easy fix.
Call Forwarding
Call forwarding is a feature of many traditional phone systems and landline phone services that allow businesses to redirect incoming calls to another number.
It can be beneficial when you’re away from your desk or have a busy schedule. This will ensure you get all critical communications.
Virtual Receptionist
When appropriately used, a virtual receptionist gives your business a professional, organized, and caring voice. They can answer questions, schedule appointments, leave messages, or transfer callers to the right person.
They can also provide a valuable service to businesses that need extra support outside of business hours. For example, a medical or psychology clinic may hire a virtual receptionist to provide emergency assistance.
Call Routing
Call routing is the telephony feature that automatically distributes incoming calls according to pre-established rules. This helps ensure customers get connected to the right person or department promptly.
This can improve customer success rates and help increase first-call resolution, as customers get matched to the agent that is best equipped to solve their problem. It also optimizes human resources costs by utilizing agents as efficiently as possible.
Call Recording
Recording calls is a standard business feature, but figuring out how it works can be challenging. It’s essential to understand what call recording means when you use it and how to comply with laws around consent.
The key is to choose a solution that automatically records both inbound and outbound calls. You can also set a greeting message in your call flow to ensure all parties know they are being recorded.
Voicemail to Email
If a caller leaves a voicemail, you must respond promptly. Missed calls can be costly and detract from your customer’s experience.
With voicemail to email, a caller’s message can be forwarded instantly to a designated email account so that your team can quickly read and respond to them. This improves your efficiency and workflow.
Call Analytics
Call Analytics measures, collects, analyzes, and reports phone call data. Marketers and sales teams use it to optimize marketing campaigns and call handling.
When appropriately used, call analytics can reveal which marketing tactics drive quality calls and help marketers pinpoint which ads, keywords, landing pages, and web pages are most effective. This helps marketing teams and sales staff maximize their resources and spend on the strategies that drive ROI.
Mobility
Mobility is more than a simple ability to work from anywhere-it’s about being able to move freely without limitations. It also means being stable and robust and having a healthy body.
As the mobile workforce grows, businesses must consider how to support this growing demand for mobility. This includes establishing a center of excellence that focuses on mobility and integrates it with other business initiatives.
