5 Phone System Features Every Business Would Benefit From

In today’s fast-paced business environment, small businesses need to stay agile and innovative. Adopting a modern, automated phone system (PBX) is an excellent way to gain a competitive edge.

These phone systems help streamline operations, enhance customer service, and boost the bottom line. In this easy-to-read blog post, we’ll dive deeper into some of the automation features and how PBX providers like in2tel can help.

The Benefits of Call Forwarding and Routing

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Call forwarding and routing are crucial features in automated phone systems. They ensure incoming calls reach the right agent or department quickly and efficiently. These features can be customised based on various rules, like time of day, staff availability, or caller input.

  • Staying connected on the go: Employees can receive calls on mobile devices, staying connected even when they’re away from the office.
  • Improved customer service: Directing callers to the appropriate person or department ensures inquiries are addressed efficiently, increasing customer satisfaction.
  • Customisable rules: Businesses can create custom rules for call forwarding and routing based on their unique needs, ensuring effective call management.
  • Fewer missed calls: Call routing can direct calls to multiple recipients or departments simultaneously, minimising the chances of missed calls or lengthy hold times.

System Integrations: Unleashing the Power of Automation

Connecting your phone system with other business tools, such as CRM, helpdesk software, and marketing platforms, creates a powerhouse of efficiency. Integration streamlines workflows and improves overall productivity.

  • Personalised service: When a customer calls, their details can be automatically pulled from the CRM, enabling your team to provide tailored service and resolve issues more effectively.
  • Click-to-call functionality: Sales and support teams can initiate calls directly from their CRM or helpdesk interface, making it easier to reach out to customers.
  • Data tracking for marketing strategies: Linking your phone system with marketing automation tools allows you to track call data, measure campaign success, and optimise strategies based on real-time insights.
  • Time-saving and reduced manual tasks: Integration eliminates the need for manual data entry and streamlines processes, saving valuable time for employees.

Voicemail-to-Email: Turning Voicemails into Easy-to-Read Messages

Voicemail-to-email transcribes voicemail messages into text and sends them to the agent’s email, allowing agents to stay updated on their messages and respond more quickly.

  • Accessibility: Agents can access their voicemail messages from any device with email access, like smartphones or laptops, without needing to dial into their voicemail system.
  • Improved efficiency: Text transcripts of voicemails allow agents to quickly skim through the content and prioritise messages based on urgency, saving time for busy employees.
  • Easy organisation: Voicemail-to-email messages are stored in the agent’s email inbox, making it simple to organise, search, and archive messages.
  • Faster response times: Email access to voicemail messages allows recipients to respond to urgent matters more quickly, improving customer service and overall communication.

Call Recording: Capturing Valuable Business Insights

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Automated call recording records inbound and outbound calls, providing small businesses with valuable insights for quality assurance, training, and legal compliance.

  • Improved customer service: Analysing recorded calls helps monitor and evaluate the quality of customer interactions, identifying areas for improvement.
  • Employee training materials: Recorded calls serve as valuable training resources, helping staff learn best practices and develop problem-solving and communication skills.
  • Legal compliance and dispute resolution: Call recordings provide essential documentation for regulatory purposes and can protect the business and its employees in case of customer disputes or legal issues.
  • Performance evaluation and feedback: Analysing call recordings can identify top performers and areas where additional training or support may be needed, enabling managers to provide targeted feedback and coaching to improve overall team performance.

Call Monitoring and Analytics: Making Data-Driven Decisions

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Phone system analytics offer valuable insights into call-related data, such as call volume, duration, and response times. These metrics can be used to identify trends, optimise resources, and improve overall business performance.

Wallboards are visual displays that showcase real-time call centre metrics, such as the number of active calls, waiting calls, and average call handling time. These displays can be placed in strategic locations within the office or call centre, allowing managers and agents to monitor performance and make data-driven decisions.

  • Optimised resource allocation: Analysing call data helps businesses identify peak call times and adjust staffing levels accordingly, ensuring customer enquiries are handled promptly and efficiently.
  • Performance evaluation and improvement: Call analytics can help managers assess employee performance, identify top performers, and pinpoint areas where additional training or support may be needed.
  • Customer insights: Analysing call data can reveal patterns and trends that provide valuable insights into customer behaviour, preferences, and pain points, enabling businesses to make more informed decisions and improve their products or services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, modern PBXs with automation features are a valuable investment for small businesses looking to streamline operations and enhance customer service. With features like call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, and call recording, businesses can save time and resources while maintaining a high level of professionalism.

in2pbx is a modern PBX designed specifically for small and medium businesses within Ireland and the UK and contains all of the mentioned features. As a company and phone network, we offer fantastic customer service and excellent and reliable call quality.

You can get in touch by using live chat, emailing sales@in2tel.ie or calling our freephone number 1800 91 1800. We’d love to help.

For more information on phone systems, please find the following articles: