Author: Dreamhost Vendor

Recent studies show that 88% of people prefer speaking to a live agent rather than navigating a phone menu. However, when answering incoming customer calls, businesses face a tricky decision.

On the one hand, they need staff on the line quickly and ready to answer customers’ queries and concerns as efficiently as possible. But on the other hand, hiring people for this role requires extra time and money, making it often difficult to find a balance.

This is where automated answering services come in: allowing businesses access to the advantages of both worlds. But what are the pros and cons associated with using an automated service? Let’s look at the key points of using an automated system.

What Is an Automated Answering Service?

An automated answering service is a service that helps businesses answer phone calls even when they are busy or unavailable. This service is provided to help customers, clients, or patients get the information they need by talking to a real person.

At XACT, our automated answering services are available 24/7, 365 days a year. We are staffed by professionally trained call center agents who provide prompt, professional service.

When you sign up for this service, you will be given a personalized, local, or nationwide toll-free number to route your calls to. The agents answering your calls will also answer in your company name or personalized answer phrase. This provides a seamless experience for your callers.

Pros of Automated Answering Services

Automated answering services offer many benefits to businesses of all sizes. Here are some of the main benefits any small business can enjoy.

24/7 Availability

One of the biggest advantages of an automated answering service is that it is available around the clock. This means your customers, clients, or patients can get the information they need, even if you’re closed for the day or after hours.

Professional Image

An automated answering service can help create a more professional image for your business. Our call center agents greet your callers with a prompt and courteous message.

Increased Efficiency

With an automated answering service, you can manage your time more efficiently. We answer every call promptly and direct it to the right person or department. This can help reduce the number of voicemails, callbacks, and missed calls.

Cost Savings

An automated answering service saves you money on staffing, training, and phone-related expenses such as equipment, maintenance, and long-distance charges.

Cons of Automated Answering Services

While automated answering services have many benefits, there are also some potential drawbacks that businesses should consider. Here are two main cons of hiring a business or third-party provider for answering phone calls.

Technical Glitches

It happens to everybody. Automated answering services rely on technology. This means that there is always a risk of technical failures or glitches. If the system goes down, it could result in frustrated customers.

Inconsistent Quality

The quality of service provided by automated answering services can be inconsistent, depending on your chosen provider. Some services may have a higher error rate or lower customer satisfaction levels than others, so choosing a reliable service provider is important.

Hiring an Answering Service

Interested in enjoying the benefits of an automated answering service? We can help.

XACT’s cost-effective answering service plan provides 24/7 coverage. Our trained agents professionally handle interactions. This leaves you free to focus on other areas of your business.

Contact us today to learn more about our services. We look forward to helping your business succeed.

When you have around-the-clock support for your customers, it’ll improve the way you do business. A telephone answering service is one of the best forms of support, which is why it’s a growing industry.

Answering services are growing by nearly 7% and will soon become a $2.7 billion market. Using these services effectively can help your company more than you know.

These tips will help you when you require a telephone answering service and want to get the most out of it.

Understand the Importance of a Telephone Answering Service

First, get to know answering services and why you’re using it in your business. There are a variety of reasons that people might look into an answering service for their business.

For one, it helps you to provide support 24/7. You can cut costs in your business, give your company a more professional presence, and scale this phone service as needed. Knowing how this service works will help you better provide for your customers.

Choose the Right Answering Service

Next, do your due diligence and find the best-answering service for your company. There are many different types of answering services you can hire, including:

• Live chat services
• Virtual receptionist services
• Automated answering services
• Digital response services with e-mail, chat, and SMS
• Customer support call centers

Figure out what you need for your business so that you get the most from your service and implement it into your company in a way that suits you. Make sure to vet some companies to get the best in professionalism, support, and scaling.

Provide Personality and a Human Touch

The last thing you want is for your call center to appear robotic and impersonal. Work with a company that can help you create personable and helpful scripts. Giving your answering service a personal touch will allow you to serve them admirably and engage customers with every call.

Make sure that calls are answered in a way specific to your company so that you build your brand personality. Record calls and always strive to correct mistakes and better serve people. Improving your customer service should always be a priority for your company, and you should include surveys at the end of calls to improve your small business customer support and communication.

Look into the different answering service packages available and scale up to include different services as your company grows. This way, you’ll be better able to serve your public and meet their demands.

Find the Right Answering Service

Choosing a telephone answering service will help you communicate with your customers and improve your brand. When you need solutions that will make a difference, we’re the company to turn to.

XACT can serve you when trying to improve your business to the fullest. In addition to answering services, we offer chat and web services, customer help desk service, and outbound survey responses. Use our site to get in touch or call us at +1-800-670-XACT.

For many people, working as a travel agent seems like a dream come true. After all, where else do you get to make money traveling the world? Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll see many barriers to establishing a travel agent career. Other than industry knowledge, you need interpersonal skills, research skills, and the ability to sell a service.

Still, want to work as a travel agent? If so, here are four time-proven tips that will help you kickstart your career!

1. Expand Your Knowledge

When a potential client comes to you, the first thing they’ll ask is: “Have you been there?” If you can answer “yes,” your value will go up.

In general, you should travel as much as you can without neglecting your clients. Think of yourself as a student of the world. Visit the main markets, spend time with locals, and gather as many experiences as possible.

Whenever possible, travel as part of a FAM trip. Travel operators sponsor these trips to get travel agents more valuable experience. They represent a great opportunity to build long-term relationships in the industry.

2. Stay in Touch With Clients

Client communication is a huge part of managing a travel agency. After all, keeping in touch with clients is the best way to meet their needs.

During the planning phase, be consultative and available at all times. A fast response will make your client feel valued and appreciated. Stay in touch with them during the trip, after the trip—and even between trips!

Base your form of communication around the client. If they prefer to talk over the phone rather than send texts, oblige them. Consider investing in phone answering services for more efficient customer support.

3. Maintain Supplier Relations

For a travel agency manager, finding suppliers is as important as finding clients. Having the right partners makes your business look better.

Look at it this way: even if you travel 24/7, you can’t know everything. You can, however, know the right suppliers in each destination. And if you do, it will be much easier to offer a personalized service to your clients.

Also, the more you work with a supplier, the more likely you are to become friends. Not only is working with a friend more fun, but it allows you to use that relationship to fix any issues that may come up.

4. Offer a Tailor-Made Experience

These days, booking a trip online has never been easier. If a client comes to you, they’re likely looking for a more curated experience.

Oftentimes, it’s enough to listen to the client’s needs. Then, try to make their trip unique by offering things they haven’t thought of. Think of each trip as a chance to tailor accommodations in line with the client’s interests.

Of course, nothing’s stopping you from getting a bit more creative! Offer a themed lunch, room upgrade, or guided city tour. These are the things that can separate you from websites and other travel agencies.

Make Your Travel Agent Career Work For You

A travel agent career comes with many benefits, but it’s not for everyone. It requires effort, knowledge, connections, and experience. If you’re ready to take on the challenge, the above tips will help you get started!

Want to ensure your clients can reach you at all times? Consider investing in a specialized customer support solution! Contact us here to learn more.

Can you believe that the outsourcing services industry in the United States is worth over $71 billion? While outsourcing can benefit any industry, it’s especially useful in healthcare. With so many moving parts to juggle, having some help can allow your facility to reach its potential. Have you been thinking about getting back-office support? It’s essential nowadays.

Read on so you can understand the top perks of back-office support so your healthcare business won’t be left behind.

Healthcare Outsourcing Makes Everyone More Productive

When you know that everything in the back office is taken care of by professionals, every employee can spend their time on other important business tasks. Everyone will have access to the information they need to perform at their best.

Productive employees reflect well on your entire business, and patients will take notice.

Back Office Outsourcing Gives You Access to the Best Technology

Even though it’s great to see technology improve at a rapid pace to improve our quality of life, this can also be frustrating for business owners. It’s expensive trying to keep up with every new update.

A huge benefit of outsourcing in healthcare is that you’ll always have access to the best technology without having to spend an extra cent. These workers are equipped with the finest tools in the industry.

Maintaining an Outsourced Back Office Costs Much Less

In addition to avoiding paying for new technology each year, you’ll also save money on employment. Hiring full-time employees with benefits can bog down your expenses fast.

Outsourcing lets you get customized care whenever you need it. You can even save office space with fewer employees.

Your Facility Will Always Remain Compliant

Protecting patients’ sensitive information is crucial for maintaining a successful healthcare facility. Even with a lot of training, simple mistakes can happen at any time that jeopardizes your business.

Outsourcing your back office comes with a guarantee that any professional who’s handling your information will always maintain compliance. This will save you lots of headaches.

Outsourcing Healthcare Encourages Patients to Come Back

As you can see, all of these other factors can help your business be as streamlined as possible. With these freed-up resources available, you can invest them in patient care instead.

Patients want to feel like they’re a top priority. When all your in-house employees take excellent care of the patients, they’ll be eager to come back whenever they need care.

Are You Ready to Invest in Back Office Support?

Having back-office support may seem like a relatively new concept in the business world, but so many healthcare facilities have already adopted this practice. Outsourcing your back office will help your facility keep up with demand, and you can reap all kinds of fabulous benefits.

Would you like to learn more about back-office support? Our team at XACT would love to help. Contact us to hear about our services.

Did you know that four out of five Americans have some degree of brand loyalty? Even though people like to develop relationships with businesses, you still need to offer incredible goods or services to earn their loyalty. Keeping up with the latest customer service strategies will help you come up with the best game plan for your unique business.

Do you feel like your customer service is lacking? Keep reading to discover eight tips for customer service that will increase loyalty.

1. Increase Your Back Office Support

One of the most important customer service tips is to always make sure that someone is around to answer questions and discuss any concerns. If your customer service department is lacking, you can outsource it to get affordable 24/7 support.

2. Consider Starting a Loyalty Program

A simple way that you can get repeat business is to give customers an incentive to return. Loyalty programs give customers awesome perks once they’ve shopped with you enough times and your business will fall behind without one.

3. Create a Newsletter

Repeat customers keep coming back because they like your products or services and they feel connected to your brand. Sending out an informative newsletter at least once a month will remind customers that your business still exists.

4. Offer Customer Surveys

Customers want to feel like their opinion matters and you can carry out this by giving them the opportunity to talk about their experiences in a survey. Not only will they appreciate having the opportunity to express themselves, but their feedback will also give you some ideas on how you can continue to improve your business.

5. Make Sure You’re Active on Social Media

The average American spends around 2 hours and 30 minutes on social media platforms every day. You can increase brand recognition by making fun and informative posts on various social media accounts. You can also engage with customers in comments and direct messages.

6. Personalize Your Marketing

Any time you interact with your customers, it’s helpful to refer to them by their names. This shows that your business cares about who your customers are rather than just getting their money.

7. Offer Discounts

With so many competitors out there, an enticing deal can close a sale effectively. Customers will remember even small acts of kindness.

8. Look After Your Community

Consumers want to support brands that support their communities. This means that you should think about different ways that you can get your business more involved, such as donating or participating in community events.

Your Business Will Thrive With These Customer Service Strategies

Some customer service strategies aren’t as strong as others. If you adopt any of these practices, you can expect your sales to grow due to repeat customers.

Are you ready to provide the best customer service possible? XACT is here to help! Check out our services to see how we can take your customer service game to the next level.