While it may well feel like there are so many other ways of getting in touch that a phone system is now obsolete, there are also a great number of direct advantages involved in having one of these in place. So, if you have been weighing up whether or not the advantages are there, the following blog post will check out a little closer to why a business phone system could benefit your company in one way or another. Let’s take a closer look at a few of these key factors right here and now.
Give your business a human touch
While many of the online touchpoints are highly convenient, there is also a sense that they are directly taking away from the human element of your business. As such, people simply may not feel like they are getting that clear sense of connection that they would otherwise be able to obtain. When people call up a phone line, this gives them the opportunity to speak to a human directly and get the specific queries that they want answered. This does not mean that every single inquiry needs to be dealt with in this way, but it can be useful to have many of them sorted in this manner.
Modern phone systems
Phone systems have come on a long way in the past few years, and they can now be more integrated and connected with the rest of your business than was ever possible in days gone by. With this in mind, it is going to be more than worth checking out such areas as SIP trunking providers. This way, your business phone system does not have to feel like it is at odds with the rest of your company. Instead, it can be seen as clearly supporting what you are doing and offering yet another means of collecting customer data and ensuring that they have the very best service from your business.
Better for certain customers
There are many customers out there who still prefer to phone up. They may not have the same level of internet access as others. Also, they could be older and find it trickier to navigate an online customer support system. Therefore, if you are still offering this phone-based means of getting in touch, this shows that you are running an accessible and inclusive business. If you have more customers who would fall into the category of preferring a phone call, there is no doubt that you are offering them something that competitors may simply be neglecting, which can certainly set you apart from the crowd.
Offer a greater sense of legitimacy
With more and more businesses out there, it can certainly be tricky for people to feel like they have a sense of trust in the companies that they are dealing with. You need to be able to point them in the direction that yours is a company that can be relied upon. A big part of this comes down to simply having a phone number on the page and showing that yours is a company that can be contacted over the phone and not just online. At the same time, being able to actually speak to someone on the other end of the line can prove to be invaluable as it means that people can gain that greater sense of trust whenever they would like. Of course, you need to make sure that whoever is speaking on the phone has been provided with plenty of training and is fully comfortable in interacting with customers.
Encourage collaboration
If you are running a business in certain industries, it can also be highly useful to have a phone line as there is bound to be a greater sense of collaboration between colleagues. While there are plenty of live chat and email systems out there, if you are working in an industry that requires a greater sense of immediacy, there is no doubt that the collaboration that can be achieved and attained through speaking on the phone can be invaluable.
Give a direct line for clients
There are many businesses out there that will provide phones for all of their workers, but this may not be a practical solution for your own business. It may also be the case that people are only contactable during office hours. With this in mind, it could be worth offering this direct line as then it still provides the means for customers to get in touch directly with the person that they are looking for rather than having to go through the main receptionist to speak with someone.
Helps to boost conversion rates
Making sure that you do all you can to boost conversion rates should be at the heart of any great business. While your phone line is not going to be the be-all and end-all here, it does offer the direct advantage of ensuring that your customers are able to have their queries answered in an instant manner. As such, they are more likely to then come on board and make a purchase if you have been able to answer all of the questions in the most satisfactory way possible.
As you can see from this short list of reasons alone, there are still many direct advantages involved in having a business phone system in place. To begin with, it provides the instant level of response that many people are looking for. It also presents a clear signal that you are running an accessible enterprise and you are not only restricting it to the people who can get in touch online. Ultimately, a business phone system can act as a means of support for colleagues, too, as well as allowing them a method that they can quickly interact with each other as and when this is at all required. Beyond this, it is all about helping your business to seem like it is a trustworthy and legitimate enterprise that people are going to be more than happy spending their money with.