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Virtual Receptionist Phone Systems: 5 Benefits of Automated Phone Systems for SMEs

July 19, 2018 - by Rory Whelan
Is a virtual receptionist phone system really going to benefit your business, or is it another piece of technology you don’t really need? Discover the benefits behind the software.

Virtual Receptionist Phone Systems

We are all familiar with virtual receptionist services. Call any major brand and you’ll immediately be put through to an automated phone line that directs you onwards to the most suitable department, individual or system. Popularised because of their efficiency and ease-of-use, virtual receptionist phone systems are everywhere, but should they be part of your business, too?

The Benefits of a Virtual Receptionist Phone System

Improve Your Professional Appearance

In a recent survey run by eReceptionist, we uncovered how brands can make their business seem bigger and more professional. Our data revealed that 33% of British consumers identified virtual receptionist phone systems as being important to a professional appearance.

Professional branding has numerous advantages, including increased trust and credibility, which is why many businesses strive to achieve a profile that gives the perception of being bigger than in fact they are. The goal is to show customers that they can compete with major brands and larger competition.

Automated phone services offer businesses a way of moving towards that target and displaying to their customers that they are capable of offering the same level of service of a larger corporation.

Boost Customer Retention Rates

For many brands, customer retention is key to business success. Keeping your most valuable clients onboard is essential for company development. As a result, any strategy you can adopt that helps retain your core customer-base should be carefully considered.

The incorporation of virtual receptionist phone systems is one such strategy.

Phone calls are an important part of customer retention. Despite the evolution of different communication platforms, from email to social media, people still opt for the humble telephone in the majority of important cases.

People want to speak to somebody when they have a question or concern. Our digital world has made people more impatient and keener for instant gratification, which means they often want instant answers that emails or online messages just can’t offer.

But what happens if you don’t pick up the phone? Most people will not leave a voicemail. With their need for instant answers, and their desire to talk to another person in mind, they’ll be more likely to go to a competitor for information.

In order to retain customers, you need to be answering calls.

Automated systems can help you succeed in customer retention. When a customer calls, you can set up redirects to the right departments or people to ensure they’re always talking to the right person.

If you use a service like eReceptionist, you can also actively change your systems through our accompanying mobile app. This means, for example, that if you go into a meeting and are unable to take calls, you can set up automated call forwarding. Customers will then be directed elsewhere while you cannot answer, so a call is never missed and customers are successfully retained.

24 Hour Accessibility

You are not able to answer calls or meet customer demands 24/7 — not unless you have a large roster of employees and offer night shifts. However, you may have customers that operate internationally or those that are unable to contact you during the day.

How do you get them the information they need?

Virtual receptionist phone services are 24 hour systems. No matter what the time, your customer can have their call answered and directed to the right place. They might not be able to talk to somebody, but they can be given important information through pre-recorded messages or sent to the right place to leave their own voicemail.

Want to make sure your customers can contact a representative of your business at all hours but are unable offer a 24/7 service? Sign up to eReceptionist’s call answering service. Our experienced handlers can offer customer support to your clients when you can't!

It’s Low-Commitment Investment

Establishing a virtual receptionist phone system sounds complicated, but it is actually incredibly easy. All our systems are designed by eReceptionist's software experts. They’ve been specifically built to be easy to set up.

It only takes a few minutes to get your virtual phone number. After that, all your business calls with be automatically forwarded to your new automated system. Messages and call directives are all handled through our mobile app (or on the website), making it easy for you to direct customers to where you want them — and customising as you go. We’ll also record your messages and customer information for your convenience. Send us a script and we’ll ensure your automated phone service sounds as professional as any major brand.

With everything taken care of for you, moving to a virtual receptionist phone system really is a low-commitment investment that can make a huge difference to your business.

Time to invest in a business phone service? eReceptionist is the provider for you! Enjoy the benefits of a virtual receptionist phone system today.

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