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The blog for Global Call Forwarding has articles on the latest customer service trends, telecommunications technologies, and business news.
how to find right toll free provider
26th March 2020 blog, Business Phone Numbers

How to Find the Right Toll Free Number Provider?

coronavirus communicating during isolation
24th March 2020 blog, Business Insights

Coronavirus: How to Keep Communicating During Isolation

5G is coming
20th March 2020 blog, Cloud Telephony

5G is Coming – What Does that Mean for You?

Work from Home with These Virtual Business Options
18th March 2020 blog, Business Insights

Work from Home with These Virtual Business Options

avoid coronavirus
17th March 2020 blog, Business Insights

Avoid Coronavirus: Practical and Useful Information

communication solutions healthcare services
11th March 2020 blog, Cloud Telephony

Extremely Useful Communication Solutions for Healthcare Services

inbound vs outbound sales
11th March 2020 blog, Call Management

Inbound Sales vs Outbound Sales: What Does Your Business Need?

ivr system financial company
11th March 2020 blog, Call Management

Set up the Perfect IVR System for Your Finance Company

Mobile vs Local Phone Numbers
11th March 2020 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Mobile vs Local Phone Numbers

How to Find the Right Toll Free Number Provider?

26th March 2020 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Choosing the right toll-free number provider can be a daunting task. Learn what toll-free numbers are, how businesses can use them, and how to find the right provider for your needs here.

Toll-Free Numbers: How to Choose the Right Provider?

Toll-free numbers offered by phone service providers make for an easy and free way for individuals to call a business. This is because calls made to these numbers charge the receiver instead of the caller. Large corporations and established companies will have a toll-free business number as their contact number to encourage interested and recurring customers to connect with them and, by extension, promote sales. You can get a toll-free number for the country you reside in. Calls made to this number from within the country will be toll-free.

Virtual Toll-Free Numbers

Virtual phone number providers, on the other hand, have more toll-free number options. Such cloud-based providers offer numbers with an international toll-free forwarding service. This enables your business to get a toll-free number for different countries spread across the world. Calls made to these numbers then get forwarded through the international forwarding service over the internet and are routed to a number of your choice.

Global Call Forwarding, for instance, offers virtual toll-free numbers for more than 160 countries across the world. For example, your business enterprise is based in London but you have clients and customers in India, Mexico, Canada, the U.S., and the U.A.E. You can get toll-free numbers for these countries, making it free for callers to call your enterprise. Calls are then forwarded to your London office for a cheaper rate than international calls usually charge.

Find the Ideal Feature Set

When thinking about which provider to go ahead with, consider the additional features and tools they offer. For example, do you have multiple offices working in different time zones? Then, you may take advantage of a time-related call forwarding service. Additionally, can your business benefit from tracking incoming calls to study where they are coming from, etc? Then, call logs and activity reports would be helpful. Furthermore, would you like to record business calls to see how employees are doing or to maintain compliance with regulations? And so on.

Global Call Forwarding offers the following features along with each plan:

  • Advanced IVR: automated voice response
  • Black and White Lists: to organize blocked numbers and accepted numbers
  • Call Transfer: manual transferring of calls between different departments
  • Customer Greeting: personalized greetings with company information
  • Dedicated Account Manager: account support to ensure smooth functioning
  • Failover Forwarding: forwarding calls to a set number of lines to ensure no call goes unanswered
  • Fax to Email: receive faxes in email format
  • Local Ringback Tones: plays the signal tone of the destination the phone is ringing in
  • Simultaneous Calling: calls multiple lines and numbers at a time to ensure no call is missed
  • Time of Day Routing: routes calls to different locations or numbers during certain times of the day
  • Voicemail to Email: receive voicemails as MP3 files in your inbox
  • 24/7 Customer Support: to provide support and customer care

And, you can get these additional features:

  • Call Recording Software: record up to 100% of incoming and outgoing calls
  • Rollover Minutes: accumulate unused minutes to be used the next month
  • Inbound SMS Plan: receive texts from customers
  • Outbound Calling: call local and international customers with customizable caller IDs

Research Providers, Reviews Plans

Once you have an idea of what communication features and tools you want from your international toll-free number provider, research different providers and see what they have to offer. Compare prices alongside the quantity and quality of features offered. Most providers have free trials you can use to test the quality of service before you make a commitment. They will also have different plans based on different business types or sizes. This will give you a better understanding of how much time and money you would need to spend on the service per month.

Toll-Free Numbers: Making Communication Easier

Toll-free numbers are often associated with big businesses. Having a toll-free business number will further solidify your company’s professional image. To learn more about toll-free numbers and how Global Call Forwarding can help with your company’s communication system, call us at 1 (888) 908 6171.

Coronavirus: How to Keep Communicating During Isolation

24th March 2020 blog, Business Insights

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has slowed our lives down and has practically brought the entire world to lockdown. In these uncertain times, it is easier than ever to lose contact with important people and connections. So, how do you maintain relations and keep communicating during isolation?

Coronavirus: Communicating During Quarantine

Coronavirus has taken the world by surprise, causing many of us to practice social distancing and work from home, if possible. In such times, communication becomes more important than ever. Whether it is checking in on family and friends or completing business tasks, the right tools can help you stay in contact and take care of business.

Keeping Business Communications going

Most non-essential companies have been ordered to shut down in different cities, states, and countries. However, there are still many companies that can conduct operations virtually or remotely. This involves putting faith in employees while also ensuring daily and weekly tasks or projects are completed. If your business is working remotely, here are some tools you and your team can use to make communication easier:

  • Office chat tools such as Slack, Google Chat, WhatsApp groups, etc.
  • Video conferencing tools such as Skype, Google Meet, Zoom, etc.
  • Virtual numbers with call forwarding to forward incoming business calls to personal or home phone lines.
  • Toll free numbers to make it free for customers and clients to reach you.

Most chat and video conferencing tools are available for free. They work over your internet or WiFi connection and offer good quality calls. This will help you be in quick and constant contact with your remote employees. You can create group chats for different departments as well as collaborate by sharing important files and documents.

You can also get virtual numbers such as toll free numbers from Global Call Forwarding, or port your existing number. Virtual numbers work over the internet and through an online account management system. You can set up incoming customer calls to be forwarded to specific employee numbers. For example, you can have calls made to your customer service line directed to your customer service team working remotely. Or, have them sent to your receptionist who then directs them to the right department.

Presently, to keep things even more convenient and cost-effective, you can get $5 off Global Call Forwarding’s Value, Power, Premium, and Enterprise plans with the COVID19 promo code. This will help you maintain essential communications between your business and its valued customers with call forwarding, even during a pandemic like coronavirus. Purchasing and setting up a virtual number is quick and easy.

Personal Communications

Social distancing is much harder for some people over others. But it does not mean that you need to stop all kinds of interaction. With technological advances, it is possible to stay connected even in uncertain times through communication apps such as:

  • Instant messaging over the internet using iMessage, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, etc.
  • Social media: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc.
  • Video chats: Google Hangouts, Skype, Google Duo, WhatsApp, etc.

These apps and tools make it easy to keep in touch with friends and family through texts and video capabilities. You can create and share audio, images, videos, GIFs, etc. In fact, Netflix has an interesting and fun “Netflix Party” feature that even lets you watch shows and movies with your loved ones along with a group chat element. While virtual, this still maintains some degree of social interaction that can be comforting during this time.

Stay Positive and Keep Talking

Everything does not need to come to a halt during the coronavirus pandemic. Thanks to the internet and virtual communication capabilities, you can still stay in touch with the people you care about. Whether it’s grandparents stuck indoors or employees working from home or keeping a sick friend company, stay positive and keep communicating.

5G is Coming – What Does that Mean for You?

20th March 2020 blog, Cloud Telephony

4th Generation technology (4G) is what we’ve all become most familiar with as we use our cell phones to send text messages, download information, and search the web. 5G (5th Generation) technology will take 4G to a new level. The infrastructure of 5G is modeled around software, which limits the interruptions that tend to affect 4G connectivity, such as dead zones and wifi interruptions. This is good news for business owners who prefer mobility to a traditional office space. As the number of virtual businesses continues to increase, working on-the-go is becoming the new normal, which means an interruption in mobile connection can negatively impact companies and professional relationships.

Technology excites us because it’s constantly evolving and introducing us to new concepts. Looking back over the past five years, technologies now exist that we would have never thought possible. These innovative systems are changing the way we work and live on a daily basis. 5G is one of those technologies that will make the unimaginable tangible and easily accessible.

So, 5G is coming, what does that mean for you? Most of us are working with mobile technologies as we run businesses and hire team members within our company. We know what 5G can do for the general consumer, but 5G will also change the world of business. With 5G, workers can get more done. 5G will also serve as a competitive tool that increases productivity and opens the door for new employment and business opportunities.

What 5G means for your business

Almost everyone has a cell phone to make phone calls, handle work-related tasks, and also download apps, games, and music. As mobile technology continues to improve and connect more networks, our devices are already operating at a speed that may have seemed impossible in the past.

5g coming soon
Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 – ID#100196235700

Here are some points to consider:

If you download a movie or large files, how long does it take? For many people, the answer to this would be a few minutes or maybe even an hour. 5G technology is 10 times faster than 4G, meaning that data transfers in seconds instead of minutes. With 5G, large downloads could take about 5 seconds.

Unlike 4G technology, 5G has been built around the concept of software instead of hardware. Therefore, 5G is less expensive to use and update. 5G technology pairs perfectly with virtual phone systems because virtual phone numbers are also based on software and online connectivity, instead of hardware that has to be replaced every time changes occur within the system or upgrades are needed.

5G is Coming. What does that mean for your customers?

Consider the fact that we are all consumers living in a world where we are constantly introduced to more technology. These technologies are smart and the response times continue to get shorter. As a business owner, you can’t remain competitive if you don’t offer immediate solutions and customer service.

If you are an entrepreneur using a virtual phone number to provide customer service, the amount of time it takes you or your team members to assist customers will have a direct impact on your number of sales and loyal customers. The amount of time modern consumers are willing to wait continues to shorten, but the instant transfer of information with 5G means information will be available at our fingertips almost instantly.

5G is Coming – What does that mean for your employees?

You can expect customers to call your virtual phone number in need of assistance. To properly assist them, you will need to have their information and product guides readily available when needed. Today, pulling up information during a call means sifting through multiple files and online databases. With the introduction of 5G, software connections will be far more advanced.

5G will allow needed information to be shown instantaneously without the usual delays. This upgrade will help customer service representatives better assist callers because they will be able to diagnose and work on the issue quickly.

Working quickly brings more business because agents can handle more calls. Simultaneously, customers will feel that you are more reliable. With such a powerful increase in speed and reliability, your company can accommodate more sales and incoming calls. As agents work faster, there will also be more time for them to take breaks and handle other important tasks.

5G is Coming – What does that mean for your metrics?

Sharing current information with everyone at the call center is one of the best ways to analyze strategies and create new approaches. One of the main details to track is the reason why callers are exiting phone calls. Were they on hold too long? Did they find the answers they needed?

While some companies receive customer reports and other key metrics on a weekly basis, 5G will allow companies to generate and update reports in real time. This high level of transparency will naturally motivate everyone to do their best. With 5G, you can expect higher levels of productivity and healthy competition as a result.

Work from Home with These Virtual Business Options

18th March 2020 blog, Business Insights

Fears of the coronavirus (COVID-19) have put cities and countries on lockdown and forced businesses to shut down. Fortunately, most businesses and job positions have the opportunity and ability to use virtual business tools and ask employees to work from home. And this is made easy with the advancements in technology. So, what are some options your business can adopt during these uncertain times?

Virtual Business Tools

Whether you’re a small business or a large company, you may choose to allow your employees to work from home. At least, for the next few weeks as everyone keeps an eye on the growth and spread of the coronavirus. Virtual business tools can help your business stay on track even as employees work from home. These tools include virtual numbers with call forwarding abilities, management systems, chat tools, video conferencing, and more. The following article will include some options to consider:

Get a Virtual Phone Number

You can easily get a virtual number from a service provider like Global Call Forwarding or port your existing number to us today. Doing this will allow you to take advantage of other virtual communication tools that can help immediately. You can use call forwarding, call transfer, outbound calling, customized greetings, and more. This will help your business maintain communication with its customers and clients.

Getting or porting your number with us is quick and easy. You can have the number ready to use in a few minutes. And you can then have business calls forwarded to your home office or personal line, or have it directed to your customer support team members’ phone lines. In fact, our Simultaneous Ringing feature enables you to have all incoming calls ring on multiple phone lines. This could be your number, your sales team’s home or personal lines, and so on. This ensures that someone will answer the phone and business can still continue. And so, sales and customer support teams can continue to serve existing customers thereby not degrading the quality and standard of your service.

You can set up interactive voice response (IVR), an automated system, to answer calls and greet customers by offering them company updates revolving around the coronavirus. Or, simply add a custom greeting that lets callers know your business is still running and you can still provide them the service they need. Additionally, you can transfer calls to other team members or have calls forwarded to them during specific times of the day. There are many cloud communication tools available, but which ones your business needs depends on what services you want to offer.

Video Conferencing and Chat Tools

Video chatting and conferencing is another virtual business tool that can be used for remote working. You can stay connected with your employees and track their progress or conduct online meetings with video conferencing apps such as Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts, and so on. You can schedule meetings, share screens to demonstrate the material, share important files, and documents, and more.

Online Content and Project Management Systems

Take your tasks online. Use online project management systems or apps to remain connected with employees as well as track tasks and projects that need to be completed. You can have different team members work and collaborate on a task and watch its progress. Set deadlines, due dates, and log time for important and prioritized projects. Some popular systems are Teamwork, Slack, Monday, Trello, etc.

Be Productive and Efficient Even When Working Remotely

Most businesses worry that remote working will decrease productivity and slow down the overall success rate. This can be countered with virtual options which ensure that employees can stay on task even outside the office location. For more information on how our cloud communication tools can support your work-from-home days, call us at 1 (888) 908 6171 to talk to an expert.

Avoid Coronavirus: Practical and Useful Information

17th March 2020 blog, Business Insights

It’s no secret, everyone has the coronavirus on their mind. And while a global pandemic can be overwhelming and terrifying, it is important to focus on the things that we can control. So, what are some things you and your family can do to avoid the coronavirus?

How to Avoid Coronavirus?

News outlets are flooded with information (and misinformation) about the virus, its spread, and how one can avoid contracting it. In such a time, where there is an abundance of information and data available, it becomes necessary to go to the right sources. Governmental websites and global health websites are the best places to get news about the virus on a local and global level. You can track COVID-19’s movement globally and locally with data provided by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) here. Make sure you have the right information and do as recommended by health professionals.

Keep a Watch on Symptoms

First and foremost, keep an eye on possible symptoms. According to the CDC, the main symptoms relating to COVID-19 are:

  • Fever,
  • Cough,
  • and Shortness of breath.

Emergency symptoms include:

  • Difficulty breathing,
  • Pain or pressure in the chest,
  • Disorientation, and
  • Bluish lips or face.

At the first sign of these symptoms, you must contact your healthcare provider for advice and next steps.

Work from Home and Setting Up Virtual Communications

Thanks to advancements in technology, it is quite possible to switch to virtual business mode and work from outside of your office. You can set up virtual communications for your business by buying or porting your virtual business number to a virtual phone service provider like Global Call Forwarding and forward incoming calls to your and your employees’ personal or home phones temporarily. Right now, you can get $5 off our Value, Power, Premium, and Enterprise plans with the COVID19 promo code so you can maintain important communications even during this time. You can quickly purchase and set up a toll free number and forward incoming calls to our personal or home phone. This way, customers in need of your service can still contact you free of cost and no matter where you work.

Additionally, you will want to set up video conferencing and chat opportunities to schedule and conduct online meetings and discussions. Video conferencing apps and software like Zoom or Skype can enable video conversations. Furthermore, your teams can also use online content management tools like G Suite, Microsoft Projects, etc. These systems help keep track of important tasks and projects and ensure that work continues on.

As with the threat of any disease or illness, the recommendation is to always use preventative measures. The same goes for the coronavirus. Part of social distancing includes staying and working from home. This will reduce the risk of being exposed to others who may have the virus at your workplace or ride-shares, and so on.

Social Distancing, Self Isolation, and Quarantine

You’ll notice the overuse of terms such as “social distancing,” “self-isolation,” “quarantine,” and “flattening the curve” in the media regarding COVID-19. But what do these terms mean and how do you know what needs to be done? John Hopkins Medicine defines these terms for us.

Social Distancing: Means to avoid large crowds such as social events, sporting events, festivals, concerts, and more. The general recommendation is to avoid places and groups with more than 50 people. Social distancing means deliberately increasing physical space between you and other people. Maintain at least six feet of distance. Cancel plans, switch to video meetings, work from home, and so on.

Quarantine: Individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19 will be asked to self-quarantine. The recommendation for this quarantine is to stay at home for at least 14 days to ensure you do not have the virus and do not spread it to others. If you have recently returned from traveling to a place where the virus is currently active or have been in close contact with someone who has the virus, then self-quarantine is the next step for you.

Self Isolation: People who have confirmed they have Covid-19 will be asked to self-isolate, which basically means keeping those infected away from those who are not. You can self isolate at home or the hospital or at a care facility. Protective equipment may be used to keep the germs at bay.

Flattening the Curve: Refers to using protective measures to slow the rate of the virus’ spread. The motive behind these measures is to ensure that doctors, hospitals, and clinics have rooms and supplies for infected individuals and patients.

Be Aware and Stay Safe

Coronavirus is a fast-spreading virus affecting individuals, businesses, and economies across the world. It has been a hard few months and it may continue for a few more. Do what you need to do, to keep yourself and your family members safe.

Keep in mind, you can get $5 off our Value, Power, Premium, and Enterprise plans right now with our COVID19 promo code. So, if your business is looking to transition to entirely virtual/ working from home, there is no better time to get a virtual number. For more information about cloud communication tools offered by Global Call Forwarding, call us at 1 (888) 908 6171.

Extremely Useful Communication Solutions for Healthcare Services

11th March 2020 blog, Cloud Telephony

Maintaining strong internal and external communication is important for businesses of every kind. Whether to schedule appointments, answer queries, or collaborate between different departments, having a strong communication system is essential to the successful running of healthcare services. Global Call Forwarding offers resourceful communication solutions that can help increase sales and enhance customer relations.

Communication Solutions: Why Healthcare Services Must Pay Attention to Their Communication System

Callers—patients, users, doctors, nurse practitioners, and more—often connect with a healthcare service for a variety of reasons. Healthcare services such as clinics, hospitals, therapy and rehabilitation, online and virtual patient care, medical insurance businesses, and pharmaceutical companies need a well-built communication system to:

  • Handle and store patient information
  • Schedule appointments
  • Maintain communication between doctors, patients, and pharmacies
  • Provide caller switch drug information to users and medical professionals
  • Screen for clinical trial
  • Fill and refill prescriptions
  • Register complaints and concerns
  • Provide recall hotlines
  • File insurance claims
  • Collect feedback, and more.

Let’s have a look at four core communication solutions—toll free numbers, call recording software, outbound calling, and IVR—that can reinvent how your healthcare service communicates.

1) Toll Free Business Numbers

Toll free business numbers are one of the most popular communication solutions available. They help further solidify a reliable means of communication and support incoming call volumes. Calls made to such numbers are free for the caller as they charge the receiver instead. This makes it easy and free for callers to quickly get in touch with your business and not have to worry about paying high long-distance fees.

Furthermore, you can use extensions to demonstrate professionalism. Callers can then instantly connect with the right department or professional for their needs. You can have extensions for different activities such as scheduling appointments, drug information, complaints and suggestions, prescriptions renewal requests, etc.

2) Call Recording Software

A call recording software, offered by virtual phone service providers, enables you to record and review calls. You can choose to record all incoming and outgoing calls or only certain types of calls. In fact, businesses offering phone therapy prefer recording calls for documentation purposes.

Call recording for healthcare services ensures your service is HIPPA and MIPPA compliant while also keeping records of important transactions and payments. Additionally, it lets you collect customer data quickly and with fewer errors, as opposed to manual note-taking. This data can then be used to review patient files, clinical trial screening, and collection of feedback. Another reason why a call recording software is beneficial to healthcare service is that it helps reduce liabilities based on false claims and misunderstandings by acting as evidence.

An additional benefit is that you can review recorded calls for quality assurance purposes and to study consumer behavior and preferences. This can give you insights into better ways to serve your customers.

3) Outbound Calling

An outbound calling service is generally used by sales and customer support teams. This service encourages and supports outbound sales and enhances customer support efforts. Your healthcare service can use outbound calling to connect with customers regarding recent visits, renewal and payment reminders, recalls, or to inform them of company updates and promotions.

What outbound calling does best is it gives you a means to building strong relationships with callers by letting you follow up with them and increase satisfaction. Such interaction can go a long way in increasing confidence and trust in your business.

Global Call Forwarding also offers outbound call recording software that lets you review and study outgoing calls to identify areas of strength and weakness.

4) Interactive Voice Response (IVR)

An interactive voice response (IVR) is an automated response that answers incoming calls and presents callers with a set of menus. A common example of IVR is a prerecorded voice asking callers to “Press 1 for [insert language preference], 2 for [insert language preference].” The next level can target more specific categories or departments. For example, “to make an appointment, Press 1. For billing and payments, Press 2. To renew your prescription, Press 3,” and so on.

Having an IVR system integrated within your communication system can help your employees handle incoming call volumes by distributing them. Callers are able to complete simple tasks by interacting with the automated voice and prerecorded messages. And if their case or concern is too complex, they can be transferred to an employee or agent. Having your system set up this way only strengthens the image of your service as an established one that takes customer care seriously. Learn more about how to create a perfect IVR system for your business.

Consider Investing in These Communication Solutions

The best way to know what works for you and your business is to research and give the service or product a chance to work. You can get these communication solutions from the world’s most trusted provider, Global Call Forwarding for a reasonable price. Sign up or call us at 1 (888) 908 6171 to learn more.

Inbound Sales vs Outbound Sales: What Does Your Business Need?

11th March 2020 blog, Call Management

One of the early choices a new start-up or small business needs to make is whether to adopt an inbound sales or outbound sales model. And in order to make the right decision, business owners need to understand what the difference is between the two sales approaches.

Inbound Sales vs Outbound Sales

Businesses vary in the type of products and services they offer as well as how they make sales. Some rely on interested prospects or website visitors who reach out to the company to make a purchase. While others rely on reaching out to potential target customers to sell the product to them. This, essentially, is the key difference between inbound sales and outbound sales.

Inbound sales and outbound sales—or inbound and outbound calling—differ based on the origination of the lead. Inbound sales refer to sales made when interested customers take the first step. On the other hand, outbound sales refer to selling attempts made by the company where they reach out to potential customers.

Inbound Sales

Often referred to as “warm leads,” inbound sales occur when an interested party initiates the selling process. That is, they’ve come across your product or service through ads or your website, and have now contacted you to make an inquiry or a purchase. Sales representatives have an advantage with inbound sales because they have a general idea of the customer’s need as well as their interest. And so, inbound sales have a better conversion rate.

At the same time, it should not be assumed that every inquiry or call will convert immediately. Interested individuals want more information or are in the market to research and compare products, and may not move forward in the buying process. The way to increase inbound sales is by making it easier and convenient for interested customers to call you. Toll free business numbers give callers a free way to call while click-to-call widgets on websites let callers connect with you with fewer steps.

Outbound Sales

Inhouse and outsourced sales teams use outbound sales to reach out to a predetermined list of individuals, in an attempt to sell your product to them. This list is usually created based on market research and in collaboration with marketing and sales teams. Individuals included in the list represent the ideal customer or buyer persona for your product. And so, it prevents your employees from connecting with weak leads.

Outbound sales take longer. Reps have to engage with clients over and over again, educate them about your services and present your business as the solution they need. Outbound sales are much harder to achieve than inbound sales and so are often underrated. Outbound sales do, however, help your business and sales teams expand their network and tap into new markets. Most businesses use an outbound calling solution to boost their sales calls. Outbound calling is a cloud-based communication service that lets an organization call local and international contacts in an inexpensive way.

Which is More Suitable for Your Business?

While one may seem better than the other, the general consensus is that having both inbound and outbound sales proves more beneficial. But which do you need and when do you need to implement it? The structure of your sales approach depends on your business’ growth stage. Have you promoted your business enough? Do customers know it exists and can easily understand the products and services offered? Could they use a guiding hand?

It helps to have a variety of communication channels that support both inbound and outbound sales. To encourage inbound sales, use social media, content and email marketing, and paid ads to attract viewer attention. For outbound sales, purchase local numbers in the cities and states you plan to target. Individuals are more likely to answer calls from numbers that are familiar, as opposed to unknown, random numbers.

Communication Features with Global Call Forwarding

Boost your business’ communications with business numbers and advanced features like Outbound Calling, Call Recording, IVR, and more. For more information and to learn more about what we offer, contact us at 1 (888) 908 6171.

Set up the Perfect IVR System for Your Finance Company

11th March 2020 blog, Call Management

Improve sales, manage call volume, help customers self-assist by integrating an interactive voice response or IVR system within your office communication system. Enhance customer relations by choosing the right tools and services for your finance company.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR): A Financial Communication Solution

First, what is an IVR system? Interactive Voice Response is an automated response system that answers incoming calls and directs callers. It does so by presenting callers with pre-recorded menus and options to assist them in completing a task or reaching the right employee.

Most businesses incorporate IVR into their office phone system to maintain a professional image and they use automation to manage call volumes. Customers are always calling businesses to access information or resolve concerns. (Read about important facts regarding business phone calls here.) If used effectively and creatively, this service may fulfill most of the simple and mundane tasks callers may present. This allows agents and employees to focus on more complex calls and interactions.

Cloud-based phone service providers, like Global Call Forwarding, offer this service along with other virtual communication tools like call forwarding, call recording, unlimited extensions, outbound calling, etc. And so, you can easily integrate IVR into your business phone service by choosing a reliable provider.

Setting Up Your Company’s IVR System?

Setting up your IVR system depends on what you want to provide your callers and what your cloud-based phone service provider offers. You can either have a one-level or multi-level IVR system, depending on the different tasks you want your callers to be able to complete. For example, do you want to provide self-service options such as complete payments, review active accounts or credit/debit cards, purchase histories, etc.? Additionally, international finance banks may want to distribute calls based on geographic location.

You can start by distributing calls based on language preferences where the IVR system asks callers to input 1 for English and 2 for Spanish, and so on. Then, you can set up other activities, based on the categories. For example, to:

  • Learn more about our products and services, press 1.
  • To get information about your account (payment history, account balances), press 2.
  • To verify and activate a new account or card, press 3.
  • To register a concern or complaint, press 4.
  • If your call doesn’t fall under any of the previously-mentioned reasons and you want to speak with a representative, press 5.

Then, once callers move to the next level, you can offer more specific options. For instance, if a caller presses 2, then they may encounter a menu as the following:

  • Verify your account by entering the last 5 digits of your account number.
  • Thank you for that information. Now, for account balance information, press 1, for payment history, press 2, etc.

This way, customers move along a map of menus to complete the tasks they called for. And, for the most part, they are able to complete such simple tasks like this without the help of an agent or representative. This frees your employees to take calls that present as more complicated. And furthermore, they provide your clients with refined customer service.

Why Your Finance Company Needs an IVR System

So, what are some different ways you can use IVR for financial services? Your finance company can use such a system to:

  • Greet callers and assist them while an employee is busy
  • Transfer callers to the appropriate department
  • Provide basic information about products and services
  • Help them make payments
  • Verify/authenticate account information
  • Get account balance information
  • Check payment history
  • Activate accounts
  • Allow logging of complaints
  • Offer customer service, etc.

Besides the benefits of automating certain processes and handling call volumes, an IVR system can also boost your finance company’s professional image. It helps establish your company as one that cares about its customers and offers different ways for callers to resolve their concerns or issues.

 Get IVR with Global Call Forwarding

Global Call Forwarding offers IVR with each of its plans. And so, whether you are a small business or an established finance company, you can enjoy the benefits of having an IVR system. To get this service, simply sign up for a plan on our website, globalcallforwarding.com. To learn more, feel free to call us at 1 (888) 908 6171.

Mobile vs Local Phone Numbers

11th March 2020 blog, Business Phone Numbers

So, you’re in the market for a new business number and your service provider is throwing terms like “local access number,” “SMS-enabled mobile number” and whatnot at you. How do you decide what is the best option for your company when you do not even understand the different options available? Let us help. Here we will look at the differences between mobile and local phone numbers, in words you will understand.

Mobile vs Local Phone Numbers

So, what is being referred to when virtual phone service providers mention mobile or local phone numbers? Providers offer a variety of phone number types that can be used by different businesses, based on what they need. For example, a local business that just wants to connect with clients and customers within their immediate area can use a regular phone number. On the other hand, companies that want to give their callers a free way to connect with them may choose to buy a toll free phone number. Furthermore, an enterprise with customers all over the world will find that having multiple local numbers for different regions is ideal.

So, what exactly is the difference between local phone numbers and mobile numbers?

Local Phone Numbers: Target Locally and Geographically

Local phone numbers correspond to a particular city or state in a country of your choosing. Local virtual numbers work similarly to regular local numbers and have an area code at the beginning. These numbers are most popular because they are reachable from anywhere in the world and from most mobile networks as well. For example, say, you want to connect with clients in specific cities or states such as New York in the United States, Sydney in Australia, and Dublin in Ireland. All you need to do is purchase local numbers for these areas which come with local area codes.

Global Call Forwarding offers local numbers for many different countries across the world. Corporations that have offices or clients spread across different cities and states prefer buying multiple local phone numbers. This way, they always have a quick method of connecting with business contacts and clients, when needed.

Additionally, customers connecting with these businesses do not need to pay high international charges for their calls. Instead, they pay the regular, local calling charges because the call is going to a local number. That call then gets routed through a forwarding service to reach your business, no matter where it is located.
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Mobile Numbers: To Mobile, or Not to Mobile?

Mobile virtual numbers function similarly to local numbers, that is, they may or may not be bound to a specific geographical location. Calls made to these numbers are not free and depend on where the call is coming from. And these numbers, too, can accept calls from outside the country, making them reachable from anywhere in the world. They begin with a specific number range such as 06 or 07 in France, 07 for the UK, 04 for Australia. The United States, however, does not have a number range.

More importantly, what separates mobile numbers from local phone numbers is that they can be SMS-enabled. For example, Global Call Forwarding offers inbound SMS forwarding. This enables customers to connect with your business through SMS (instant messaging). Your business will receive these incoming texts as emails with the sender’s caller ID. This is yet another easy and convenient way for customers to reach out to a business.

So, Which Does Your Business Need?

Texting and calling are personal and quick ways to connect with a business. As a business that depends highly on customer interaction, you may want to provide as many ways of connecting as possible. SMS, international call routing, callback widgets on your website, live chats, and more can be utilized. The easier you make it for prospects to contact you, the more connections your business will make. Additionally, remaining accessible is key to building confidence and trust in a company. Want to learn more? Call 1 (561) 908-6171