Business Phone Systems are the lifeline of most businesses, but due to all of their features they can be a bit confusing. How many of those features does a business use on a daily basis? For example, does your business need to incorporate an auto attendant? If your company has a large volume of inbound callers, it is worth considering.
What is an Auto Attendant?
An auto attendant provides automated call answering, inbound call transfer, and caller messaging. Oftentimes it is used to provided key information to callers such as business hours, your location, or brands carried. It often has separate functions, such as:
- Incoming Call Answer and Message Greetings
- Call Transfer Options
- Business Information Messages
- Automated Company Directory Lookup
Combined, these features assist callers through an effective call flow all the way from the original greeting to whichever employee, department, or voicemail they are trying to reach.
Why You Should Use an Auto Attendant
In some ways, an auto attendant is a requirement if your business has many inbound calls. It is the best way to guarantee a quick and effective way for a caller to reach their intended party as soon as possible. The only other option is a dedicated receptionist that can not only send the caller to the proper recipient but provide information to your customers.
Best Practices for Auto Attendant
While an auto attendant can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you, it is vital that you design it appropriately. When charting out your call flow for the first time, you should make a visual chart so that you don’t miss anything when writing the script for each unique call transfer. It is also a good idea to take advantage of any time that your customers spend on hold. There are on hold messaging features that can relay important information to your customers while they wait.
If you have any questions regarding Business Phone Systems, please contact Advanced Communication Systems today at 800-750-3624. You can also follow us on Facebook.
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