subject: Auto Attendants Save Money And Help Your Business Image [print this page] The main goal of a small business is to grow, not only in terms of brick and mortar space, but also in terms of efficiency, capabilities and scope of services that they can provide their clients. To foster this growth, businesses also need to upgrade their telecommunications capabilities to ensure that their employees communicate well with customers, suppliers and prospects -- all relationships that are critical to the success or failure of the business.
Expansion may mean more telephone lines for staff and employees, creating a significant amount of added-on operational costs. Furthermore, you may require a telephone operator or two to handle incoming calls and see to it that the designated recipient is reached. Hiring staff just to answer telephones would not be a cost-effective way to do business; hence, virtual receptionists were developed and packaged with corporate PBX systems.
There is still an even better way to handle calls automatically, without the need for sophisticated telephony or communication systems or an army of telephone operators to do the job. All you need is the auto attendant features that you can get from virtual PBX phone systems that run on VoIP technologies. The auto attendant completely removes the need for a live telephone operator to answer calls but has the capability to transfer incoming calls to their designated recipients via extension dialing. It can do this function -- and much more.
What is an Auto Attendant?
The auto attendant is an integrated feature of a VoIP or hosted PBX system that can be configured to accept incoming calls and route these calls to designated staff either by their assigned extension number or by name. The system can be configured to an automated professional business greeting for incoming calls from customers or prospects. The auto attendant would then provide the incoming caller with various options where they can find and reach the person they need either by extension number, department, or name.
The great thing with auto attendants is that the system can be activated on or outside normal operating hours of business. The system can also be provisioned in a way that the incoming call is forwarded to a cell phone or another telephone line in the instance that an employee is away from their desk. Potential calls from prospects would not be missed.
Why would there be a Need for an Auto Attendant?
For most businesses, image plays a major aspect in how they deal with their costumers and this starts the moment a prospect calls the business' contact number. Typically a busy tone or a lengthy wait to get in touch with a receptionist leaves a sour taste in a customer's mouth.
With an auto attendant, all incoming callers are assured that they will be answered promptly and professionally. This feature guides callers toward a particular person or department to alleviate any bottleneck effect. This is important if you don't want to annoy any potential customers.
Auto attendants can portray your small business as a professional enterprise to impress leads and save you money at the same time.
