Companies today operate very differently than they have in the past. Many processes have shifted away from telephone or in-person to online access. With an ever-more demanding clientele, it’s critical to offer customer service that leverages all available channels.

However, if you have assumed the telephone is no longer essential to your business continuity, you would be sorely mistaken. Roughly 80 percent of all business communications still take place over the phone. Failing to recognize this could be costing your business a lot of money.

How Much Money is Your Company Losing as a Result of Missed Calls?

Today’s customer has certain expectations of the companies they choose patronize. The reality is, if your company does not meet their needs, they will take their business somewhere else.

For example, if a person was looking for a hotel room and did not get a response to their phone call, they will simply go to the next venue on the list. If you miss too many such calls, you’re essentially leaving money on the table, handing your competitors business that should rightfully have been yours.

Though we conduct many activities online, the telephone is still an integral part of your customer service. If you are a small company or an entrepreneur, and can’t justify the cost of a receptionist, outsourcing your call answering might be the solution.

Advantages and Benefits of a Call Answering Service

There are undeniable advantages of having a call answering service. Here’s just a few:

• You’ll Never Miss a Call. If you miss a call, you risk handing your business over to your competitor or upsetting a valued customer. When a real human is answering your calls and forwarding them per your instructions, you stand a better chance of capturing that revenue and ensuring customer satisfaction.

• It Saves You Money. The cost of a live receptionist is significant. Along with the payroll costs, taxes, and benefits you will have to provide, there is equipment to purchase, a training period, and you run the risk of losing them at some point. At that point, you’re back at square one. The cost of hiring and training can be as high as $5,000, and there’s no guarantee they will stay. An answering service, on the other hand, has a predictable, low monthly fee, helping you budget more accurately.

• An Answering Service Is Always On. Live receptionists take breaks, vacations, and days off. A live answering service is always available to answer your incoming calls and will redirect them according to your instructions. This ensures you never miss an urgent call ever again.

• Scaling Up Made Easy. In a world where things tend to happen quickly, the ability to respond is essential. If you find yourself in a situation where you are experiencing a rapid scale, your answering service can be adjusted to support the additional volume.

So, how much money is your business losing from missed calls? While you might not want to know the answer to that question, there is a solution. Reach out today to learn more about our professional call answering services and find out how easy it is to get started.