Small- and medium-sized businesses have many more tools available to them today than ever before to help keep operations running. One tool that can be especially valuable is a virtual answering service. In a recent Real Business article, contributor Vanessa Zainzinger explored the newly emerging trend of small businesses outsourcing their telephone answering services to providers that answer calls and work to ensure no business inquiry are ever missed.
Zainzinger noted how an often overlooked problem for SMBs is managing phone calls, as organizations can sometimes have to deal with especially high call volumes from clients, suppliers and customers, while the typical SMB is staffed with only a few people that are hard-pressed for time. However, answering all calls and responding to all inquiries is integral to success, since missed calls can result in wasted opportunity or sizable complications when an urgent message goes missed.
"Due to this problem, a trend of outsourcing receptionist services has emerged," Zainzinger wrote. "More and more businesses employ help to be able to deal with calls 24-hours a day. Some go digital and use virtual receptionist services. Most, however, make use of the growing industry of 'live' telephone answering services. The idea is to keep the carpet rolled out permanently for customers or clients by diverting some of all calls to a separate answering service. This service might only come in when the business's lines are engaged, or a person is currently away from the office."
Answering services as a means to maximize resources
One of the major restrictions faced by modern SMBs is typically a lack of financial resources. However, this does not have to inhibit the future growth of communications initiatives, and company decision makers can invest in an affordable, quality small business answering service.
A Direct Receptionist from AccessDirect provides the top features used by Fortune 500 companies for a small business price. When customers call, they will be greeted with a professionally recorded greeting and provided with a menu of options so that the call can directed appropriately. In addition, with the Find Me Follow Me functionality of AccessDirect's virtual PBX system, the service can enable a mobile workforce. All calls will reach the appropriate extension regardless of where an employee is physically located. After the auto attendant receives the call and transfers or forwards it appropriately, the virtual PBX system provides crystal clear call quality.
In addition, a professional answering service can help a business reinforce a consistent, positive image, as recorded greetings make callers think they are communicating with a large company with many resources. AccessDirect partners with its clients to compose and record a customized greeting, making the entire process more simple with easy-to-follow templates.
VoIPReview.org recently released a list of the top ways that businesses can utilize VoIP to save money, noting that IP-based business phone systems can be significantly cheaper than traditional phone service. IP PBX options like AccessDirect's virtual PBX use wire-free technology, making this technology an ideal option for SMBs in part because office calls can be sent to any programmable mobile device. Together, a virtual PBX system and Direct Receptionist can help a company realize greater success early on.
