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Australia presents a compelling landscape for businesses looking to expand. It ranks as the 12th largest economy globally. Its strategic location in the Asia Pacific region makes it a gateway to key markets in the region.

The country boasts a stable and resilient economy with a strong regulatory framework, providing a secure environment to operate business. And it is rich in mining and agricultural resources, offering diverse investment opportunities.

Australia’s growing technology sector and commitment to innovation further create a favorable business climate. You can use this Australia phone number guide to learn about why to get an Australia number and the different types of numbers and plans available.

Guide to Phone Numbers in Australia

Getting an Australia phone number is crucial for businesses expanding there. With a local number, you can establish a local presence and foster stronger relationships with Australian clients. Potential clients are likely to trust a business with familiar local codes and reach out for inquiries and support more freely.

A huge plus—clients can call you for free or at local rates, depending on the type of number you pick.

Local numbers not only enhance brand visibility but also increase recognition, aligning with local advertising to improve customer recall and outreach. You can leverage automated call forwarding systems and Tier-1 telecom networks to seamlessly redirect your Australia calls worldwide.

In fact, Global Call Forwarding offers Australia phone numbers with a flexible forwarding service that allows companies globally to enter the Australian market.

Related: How to Get a Number for Australia?

Australia Phone Number Plan

The government body Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) oversees the management of phone numbers in the country. Through the numbering plan, ACMA governs the allocation, transfer, surrender, portability, and usage rules for several telecom services. Under this numbering system, you’ll find fixed-line numbers, mobile numbers, national numbers, local numbers for different regions, and toll-free numbers.

Different Types of Australia Phone Numbers

If you are in and around Australia, there are a few different types of phone numbers you can get to connect with local clients.

With the help of our Australia phone number guide, you can choose the right number depending on your communication needs and business location.

Typically, this number format has the country code ‘+61’, the area code or toll-free code, and finally, a 6-8-digit long subscriber number.

The standard Australian phone number format looks something like: +61 (xx) xxxx xxx. From in-country, callers should omit the country code, but add a 0 before the area code and subscriber number.

Now let’s understand the different types of Australia phone numbers:

1. Australia Toll-Free Numbers

These numbers start with ‘1800’ and enable your clients to call your business without incurring any charges. It is ideal for companies with existing or potential Australian clients. Australia toll-free numbers can be configured to include voicemail, call forwarding, recording, and routing features.

The flexibility of directing incoming calls to any landline, mobile, or IP adds convenience. Owing to its cost-effectiveness, this number type is particularly beneficial for small businesses and startups.

Each number consists of a toll-free code and a unique 6-digit subscriber number number.

The Australia toll-free number format is 1800 xxx-xxx.

2. Australia Local or Geographic Numbers

Geographic numbers, mostly designated for local or landline services, consist of 10 digits and start with ‘02,’ ‘03,’ ‘07,’ and ‘08’ prefixes. The country is divided into 2,054 areas, as part of geographic numbering called standard zone units. Each region is given a unique area code. For example, the Western and Central region has ‘08’ as the area code followed by a 2-digit city-specific code like ‘62’ for Perth.

Most providers include local numbers for major Australian cities and regions like:

• Alice Springs (889)
• Brisbane (73)
• Canberra (251)
• Melbourne (39)
• Newcastle (240)
• Salisbury (872)
• Sydney (27), and so on.

The structure of an Australian local number includes an area code followed by the local number.

The standard Australia local number format is +61 (08) 62xx-xxxx.*
*where ‘08’ is for the Western region and ‘62’ for Perth

Global Call Forwarding also offers Australia geographic and mobile numbers with local 2-way voice. This means you can make outbound calls to your customers in Australia while displaying this in-country, local caller ID. This guaranteed call connection will help increase response and callback rates.

3. Australia Mobile Numbers

A mobile number allows for easy communication with local customers. They can reach out via phone calls or text messages, enhancing accessibility for inquiries, support, and other communication needs.

Much like local numbers, mobile numbers in Australia may or may not be tied to a particular geographic area. The cost of calls to these numbers varies based on the caller’s location. They start with the national dialing code ‘04’ or ‘05’ followed by eight digits and their allocation depends on different cellular providers.

The Australia mobile number format is +61 (0466) xx-xx-xx.

Related: Mobile vs Local Phone Numbers

4. Australia National Numbers

These numbers are typically 10 digits starting with the ‘1300’ prefix. Callers can dial 1300 numbers from any mobile fixed line across Australia at local call rates. The cost of calling a 1300 number is shared between the caller and the business. The caller pays a local rate, and the business owner pays the remaining cost. Additionally, 1300 numbers can be configured with many calling features, such as routing calls to different locations.

The Australia national number format is +61 (1300) xxx xxx.

Get an Australia Phone Number with Global Call Forwarding

Use this Australia phone number guide to find your next Australia business number. Global Call Forwarding offers cloud-based local, toll-free, mobile, and national numbers. You can use these numbers from any location worldwide.

Sign up for your Australia number through our Pricing page. Need help deciding which number is apt for your business communication needs? Connect with our global communication specialists today!

While self-service and omnichannel options gain popularity, about 78% of contact centers continue to have high or medium usage of phones. This means that most customers call the business for sales or product assistance. So, what happens when these calls don’t make it through?

Missed calls can contribute to negative caller experiences. They can significantly affect customer satisfaction by signaling unavailability or indifference, hindering issue resolution, and affecting business goals. Each missed call is a lost chance to connect with customers. Tracking and identifying them helps turn missed opportunities into potential sales or client retention chances.

Let’s look at the impact of missed sales calls, their business potential, and how to avoid them.

Why Missed Calls Matter

In a competitive market, unanswered calls imply unavailability, leading to customer frustration. They slow response times, impact sales call metrics, and diminish customer satisfaction. Besides leading to potential revenue loss, they can also affect your brand reputation.

Let’s understand the impact of missed calls on your sales goals, the causes of missed calls, and how to track them.

Impact of Missed Sales Calls

Customers continue to favor phone calls for speedy solutions. Missed calls are missed opportunities where your teams could have provided excellent customer service, improved satisfaction, and increased retention.

And if phone calls are your primary communication channel, then your customers have no other way of connecting with your business and getting their issues resolved. This will only encourage them to seek better service elsewhere.

Moreover, phone calls allow customers to share their thoughts openly, offering valuable feedback for product and service improvement, surpassing online interactions in understanding.

So, failing to respond promptly can make customers unhappy and frustrated, ultimately pushing them away.

What Causes Missed Calls?

Overwhelmed teams, short office hours, lack of off-hours service, and poor call quality are some of the reasons likely to cause missed sales calls. You can address these issues by improving workforce management, call prioritization, and refined call routing systems among other things. Let’s look at each in more detail:

1. High Call Volumes

Fluctuating and high call volumes can overwhelm available staff, leading to more incoming calls than your teams can manage. This imbalance means longer wait times for customers or that calls inevitably go unanswered. Your business may experience this during peak seasons, certain times of day, or when your teams are short-staffed.

2. Short and Incompatible Office Hours

Limited office hours can restrict customer access to the business. If they can’t call within your business hours or their schedules don’t align with your teams, it could lead to missed connections.

For instance, when crucial sales team members have overlapping lunch breaks or your teams don’t cover all time zones, there might be a period when calls go unanswered.

Luke Genoyer, Business Development Manager at Global Call Forwarding, highlights the challenge of covering all hours when having sales offices across different time zones. The most noticeable global gaps occur during West Coast business hours (after 6 PM EST) and EMEA business hours. He adds, “These time slots often fall outside typical US office hours, making it difficult for customers to reach the sales team.”

3. Limited Service Teams

Building on the above point, when catering to a diverse range of time zones, having ample staff available 24/7 is crucial. Staffing shortages or limited service teams, especially when it comes to international calls, lead to challenges in managing call volumes while increasing the number of unanswered calls.

4. No Off-Hours Service

Customers often require assistance beyond regular business hours. This is especially true if you receive calls from international customers in only one or two service centers. So, if you have incompatible business hours and don’t provide after-hours support, you reduce the chance of these customers connecting with a team member.

5. Unreliable Phone Service

Goes without saying that an unreliable phone service poses a barrier to effective communication with customers, causing dropped and missed calls. If you have a low-quality VoIP service and inadequate internet bandwidth, you may experience call quality and routing issues.

Most VoIP providers route calls using the Least Cost Routing (LCR) method. LCR is about finding the cheapest way to route phone calls by choosing paths based on the lowest rates. While this can help reduce communication costs, it can often lead to low-quality audio and lower connection rates. LCR uses outdated technology which causes issues like distorted audio, calls not connecting, and at times, missed calls.

“To maintain high call quality and proper termination, we use multiple locations and work with local carriers even though it needs more work and contracts on our part,” says Luke explaining the Global Call Forwarding network.

6. Low Call Quality

Subpar call quality disrupts your ongoing interactions. Technical problems such as static, dropped calls or unclear audio can make customers hang up without completing a purchase or inquiry. Moreover, if the audio is muddled, important information could get lost, causing misunderstanding or overlooking of details necessary for completing sales transactions. Low call quality, long connection times, and related technical problems can also directly result in abandoned and missed calls.

7. Ineffective Call Management Strategy

Above all else, an inefficient call management strategy often leads to a significant number of missed calls. The direct consequences of such a strategy may include insufficient or unoptimized staffing, ineffective call routing, and unclear call prioritization methods.

How to Track Missed Sales Calls?

Now that we know call management is vital for improving business communications and operations, we can look at how to track calls. There are several methods that aid in tracking calls. Call activity, custom reports, and analytics provide insights you can use to optimize call routing, staffing, and call handling and increase call answer rates.

1. Call Activity

Call activity helps you track all incoming and outgoing calls made to your business phone number. It displays details of answered and missed calls. You can use this to see call history and understand the chronology and frequency of missed calls over time.

If you are a Global Call Forwarding customer, you can easily access your business call activity through our intuitive online control panel.

2. Custom Reports

Most providers offer call reports or analytics that you can tweak to get custom reporting that meets your needs.

For example, Global Call Forwarding customers can create custom call reports for granular details on their virtual phone number usage. This feature turns raw call data into actionable insights that you can conveniently download and analyze with tools like Excel.

3. Call Analytics

Apart from providing data to help you streamline marketing efforts, call analytics can help in tracking and analyzing missed calls. Using this feature, you can delve into the specifics of each call, including caller details, geographic location, and marketing channel effectiveness. Additionally, Call analytics provides insights into customer behaviors, preferences, and the success of marketing campaigns.

Related: What is Call Analytics?

How to Avoid Missed Calls and Turn Them into Opportunities

When it comes to handling missed calls, prevention is key to seizing opportunities. By setting up rules and strategies proactively, you can prevent missed calls and effectively convert them into avenues for growth.

Here are some practical approaches to improve your communication system and make the most out of every call:

1. Use Advanced Call Routing Strategies

To ensure customers quickly connect with the right people and available resources, you can use call routing and IVR systems. Set custom rules and send calls to different destinations, devices, channels, or self-service options. For instance, the IVR system routing avoids missed calls by quickly guiding callers to the right (or available) department or providing desired information through automated menus.

This way, you can prepare in advance to send calls to teams located globally or to smartphones when people aren’t in the office space.

• Some common routing strategies to ensure better coverage and response customer service include:
• Simultaneous ringing – ring multiple phones simultaneously.
• Sequential forwarding – forward calls sequentially to different agents, one after the other.
• Time-based routing – forward incoming calls based on the time of the day.
• Business hours – Route calls to different locations or numbers during and outside of business hours.
• Find-me-follow-me – route calls to your office phone, if no answer, to your cell phone, then to a voicemail or answering service.
• Voicemail forwarding – if the call just can’t be answered, set up an option to send calls to voicemails as a backup plan. These voicemail messages can be transcribed and emailed to recipients.

By directing calls to the best destination at all times, you can deliver quality customer service even during peak times.

Related: 9 Benefits of Advanced Call Routing

2. Responsive Callback

Responding promptly to missed calls is crucial in converting them into sales opportunities. Several service providers like Global Call Forwarding provide the option to see missed calls in real-time or receive missed call notifications, enabling rapid action. Train your sales teams to keep an eye on call reports and activity. “Basically, you want to be on top of these missed calls and get back to your customers as soon as possible,” explains Luke.

In fact, you can take this a step further by ensuring your salespeople can call customers back from the same numbers the customers originally called. So, instead of returning calls from unknown numbers, sales teams use our outbound calling service to display their business number as the outgoing caller ID.

3. Manage High Call Volume

It is clear that when call volumes surge unexpectedly and your teams are not prepared to handle them, customers might wait too long, abandon calls, and generally have a bad experience. You can work around this challenge by planning ahead for busy times and utilizing routing features like failover forwarding or voicemail-to-email.

Related: 13 Ways to Manage High Call Volume

4. Provide Off-Hours, 24/7 Service

Offering off-hour service ensures round-the-clock accessibility, minimizing missed calls and maximizing customer satisfaction. But how can you make your business available to customers 24×7?

One way to do this is by utilizing the Follow the Sun customer service model. It works by having teams in different locations and time zones and routing calls based on these time zones’ busiest hours. This way, there’s always a team available to quickly answer customer queries, no matter the time of the call.

By providing continuous support you can reduce the chances of calls going unanswered even during your off-hours. And this, in turn, reduces the likelihood of missed opportunities.

5. Prepare with Analytics

Use call handling features like analytics, logs, etc. to identify patterns related to missed calls and make staffing adjustments accordingly. Moreover, study call patterns to gain insights on improving response times, enabling proactive measures to handle missed calls efficiently.

6. Switch to a Reliable VoIP Phone Service

Finally, to put the above strategies in place, you’ll need a cloud phone service capable of handling your business’ communication needs. A reliable VoIP service provider offers stable call quality and a variety of call management features.

Global Call Forwarding customers can benefit from an array of call routing and international forwarding features as well as IVR, auto-attendant, voicemail to email, and more. This will help you build a strong phone system optimized for call management so your teams can avoid missed calls and respond to customers faster.

Reduce Missed and Abandoned Calls with Global Call Forwarding

The impact missed calls have on customer satisfaction, sales goals, and brand reputation cannot be stressed enough. With advanced call handling tools and features, you can tactfully mitigate missed call occurrences.

Global Call Forwarding empowers businesses to improve customer interactions with advanced call management tools. Leverage our expertise and take proactive steps towards building a modern business communications system.

Visit our website and contact us today to learn more about call handling strategies and maximizing your business potential.

Effective communication is key to business success. And voicemail transcripts are a valuable business tool that help improve communication and operational efficiency. For global businesses providing multilingual support and linguistic diversity, translating voicemail transcripts into multiple languages is essential. By doing so, you can enhance customer experiences, support market expansion, and uphold a positive global brand image.

In this article, we’ll delve into optimizing your voicemail transcripts and the process of translating them into multiple languages.

Making the Most of Your Voicemails

Through voicemails, you can uncover valuable insights into customer preferences and issues as well as receive feedback. And so, cloud telephony providers like Global Call Forwarding make it easy to access your voicemails with voicemail-to-email and voicemail transcription features. This ensures you receive voicemails on devices (smartphone, computer) and channels (email, text format) you use the most.

What is Voicemail Transcription?

The voicemail transcription feature turns spoken voicemails into written text. It involves a voice-to-text translator tool that receives incoming voicemail and converts it into readable text. You can read, store, and share these messages as text, making them more convenient to handle and retrieve. Depending on the provider, transcriptions are delivered through email or text message.

For instance, Global Call Forwarding provides an advanced voicemail solution boasting over 90% accuracy in 55+ languages and accents, including French, German, Spanish, and more. All plans come with free voicemail and voicemail-to-email features. Plus, you can add voicemail transcription to any plan for only $4.95/month and elevate your communication game.

Related: Top 8 Tips to Creating a Multilingual IVR

How to Translate Voicemail in Multiple Languages

Let’s explore two ways to translate voicemail transcriptions into different languages for more effective global communication. Note that to do either of these, you’ll need a VoIP phone service provider that offers voicemail transcription services.

Translate Voicemails with Global Call Forwarding

Global Call Forwarding offers a voicemail translation add-on feature for $3.95 monthly per line to expand your business voicemail functionality. When enabled, this feature will automatically translate your voicemail transcriptions into your desired language. You can then view these translated transcriptions in the control panel or have them automatically forwarded to your desired email inboxes.

Translate Voicemails Manually

Alternatively, you can translate voicemails on your own using translation software alongside our voicemail features.

1. Set Up Voicemail Transcription

To add and activate your voicemail transcription feature in the Global Call Forwarding control panel, follow the below steps.

1. In the Control Panel, go to My Phone Numbers and place your cursor over the phone line you want to select.
2. Click on Settings and then select Call Forwarding and Voicemail under that.
3. Here, you’ll find the Transcription button. Select it to activate the Voicemail Transcription feature.
4. In the Deliver all Voicemails box – enter the email addresses which you want the voicemail transcription to be delivered to.

2. Retrieve Your Voicemail Transcriptions

Global Call Forwarding customers can access voicemail transcriptions in the following two ways:

1. Directly in your Control Panel after activating the transcription feature:

1. Click on My Phone Numbers and hover over your desired phone line.
2. Click on the Voicemail Inbox icon.
3. On this new page, you can listen, view, and download voicemail recordings and transcripts.

2. Refer to your designated emails to find transcription in your inbox.

If you have enabled the Voicemail-to-Email feature, the recipients will receive an email containing both the audio recording and the transcript in text format.

This way, you can easily manage messages efficiently, whether through the Control Panel or your email inbox.

3. Use a Translation Service or Software

Using free translator websites or apps, such as Google Translate, Microsoft Translator, Yandex Translate, iTranslate, etc., you can translate your transcription into any language.

Such tools often provide more accurate and context-aware translations. You can also hire professional human translators who are great at both source and target languages. Learn more about hiring translators and native speakers in our content localization guide.

Get Voicemail Transcription with Global Call Forwarding

Voicemail transcriptions are a pivotal part of modern business communication. They help with training, monitoring customer interactions, and ensuring you never miss important information.

Global Call Forwarding understands the importance of clear customer communication and offers a convenient and accurate solution. All our services come with voicemail and with the option to avail transcription for a small fee.

Contact us now and speak to our experts about how you can upgrade your business communications!

Virtual numbers have emerged as a potent instrument for those seeking to broaden their business horizons and establish a global footprint. These numbers harness the power of cloud communications technology to empower businesses to operate worldwide without a physical office. This ability to communicate without being location-bound makes expansion easier and more affordable. It’s a flexible way to connect with customers, partners, and prospects around the world.

How Do Virtual Phone Numbers Work?

Virtual phone numbers or VoIP numbers use the internet to route calls. They are not tied to a physical phone line or device, instead are hosted in the cloud. This means that you can make and receive calls from any location and from any device; all you need is an internet connection.

With this location-flexibility, businesses can extend their operations beyond their immediate location, giving them the chance to grow globally without digging a hole in their budget.

Learn more about virtual phone numbers and how they work in this video:

Benefits of Using Cloud-Based Numbers

There are several benefits of using virtual numbers that enable you to expand your business reach and operations with ease. Let’s look at how these phone numbers can support your business goals:

a) Diversify Team and Customer Base: Tap into global talent for your business, while ensuring seamless communication. You can obtain virtual numbers with different country-specific area codes, allowing you to establish yourself as a local business in multiple locations. Additionally, customers are more likely to engage with a local number. So using a virtual local number, you can increase your global footprint and inclusivity, fostering both diversity and a broader customer base.

b) Local Calling Rates and Cost-Efficiency: Since these calls travel over the internet, they are typically more cost-effective than traditional landlines, especially for international calls. You can also reduce long-distance charges for customers by getting a toll-free or local number and forwarding incoming calls. This makes it affordable for customers to contact your business, irrespective of its location.

c) Reliable Communication Channel: With cloud telephony, you can establish a reliable and uninterrupted voice channel. This is especially useful for businesses that want to operate in multiple countries without opening offices in these regions. You can create this local communication channel virtually and forward calls internationally to your main office or service center.

d) Advanced Features: Cloud phone numbers often come with a range of advanced features like call forwarding, advanced routing, call recording, voicemail transcription, and more. Use these to streamline communication and workflow.

e) Integration: Seamlessly connect your communication systems with various tools and platforms, improving efficiency, customer service, and overall productivity. For example, when a potential client calls, their information and previous interactions can automatically pop up on your screen. This makes it easier to provide personalized service.

5 Ways to Establish a Local Presence Globally with Virtual Numbers

As you can see, virtual phone numbers present a convenient way to expand your business internationally. You can create a local presence in multiple locations without the need for physical offices in every location. Here are some ways to do so:

1. Test New Potential Markets

Virtual numbers can help you conduct comprehensive market research and tests. They allow businesses to efficiently gather data and insights before making expansions. By purchasing multiple virtual numbers for different countries, you can simultaneously assess demand, connect with local vendors, and gauge competition. You can measure brand awareness, conduct presale surveys, and research new markets using local numbers.

2. Enter New Countries

You can acquire local numbers for specific target regions and create a local presence, establishing trust and accessibility. International virtual numbers often come with call analytics and tracking features. This means you can gather data on call volume, duration, and engagement.

Check out our Country Coverage to see if we cover your target countries.

3. Offer Round-the-Clock Service

Create multiple remote customer service teams or service hubs, each with its own phone lines for specific regions. Most virtual number providers offer location and time-based call routing features, which can be used to forward calls to different locations and time zones. Another option is to have calls from different countries routed to the main customer service hub, with employees working in shifts to provide round-the-clock service.

Related: What is a Follow the Sun Model?

4. Provide International Support

Advanced routing strategies also help your teams provide support where your customers are located. Use and advertise your local numbers in country-specific marketing campaigns so customers know exactly how to reach your business for support. Here’s an example of how you can display international numbers on your website:

Another highly effective approach to offering international support is implementing multilingual support. Recruit local agents who understand the local culture and the way people buy in that area. These agents can assist customers in the local language of the target market region. Another option is to hire multilingual agents in your main service center who can speak the local language of the region.

Related: Top 8 Tips to Creating a Multilingual IVR

5. Outsource Support and Reduce Costs

Outsourcing support using call forwarding can help your business stay profitable while saving money. Forwarding calls internationally makes it easy to communicate globally and helps remote teams handle calls, taking the load off the main service center. That aside, you can also comfortably enter new markets, access different types of workers, and use competitive tools.

Successful and Cost-Effective Business Expansion

Virtual numbers have become the catalyst for expanding businesses on a global scale. These numbers, driven by the power of VoIP technology, break down geographical barriers, allowing you to establish a global presence without the need for a physical office.

With international local presence, you can receive incoming calls and make outbound calls through your dedicated business phone number. Learn more about our Local Two-Way Voice offering and how your business can establish a local stronghold in target markets.

Global Call Forwarding offers cost-effective and reliable virtual phone numbers from over 160 countries around the world. With our reliable voice communication and array of advanced features and integration capabilities, you can build a solid global phone system.

Ready to take your business to the next level? Reach out to Global Call Forwarding and chat with our global communication experts today!

In the ever-evolving business world, sales managers are key to a company’s success. And if you want to optimize your teams’ performance, then it’s vital to track sales call metrics. These metrics offer valuable insights into how well the sales teams are doing, how they interact with customers, and the overall sales strategy. Call metrics matter because they provide a direct and measurable link between agent activities and outcomes.

In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of tracking sales call metrics and outline 5 essential call metrics for sales managers.

Why Sales Managers Should Track Key Call Metrics

In sales management, having data is essential for success. It helps your managers make informed decisions, ensure sales teams achieve targets, and drive revenue growth in a competitive business environment. One great way to get this data is by tracking key sales call metrics.

When you know how calls affect B2B sales, managers can optimize strategies, allocate resources efficiently, and increase overall revenue.

How to Track Call Metrics

Before we dive into the specifics of call metrics for sales managers, let’s discuss how to track these metrics effectively. Most businesses use call center software or call analytics tools to maintain a reliable record of incoming and outgoing calls. While there are a few different ways your business can do this, here are some of the key strategies:

1. Implement Reporting Tools – Use specialized tools to get useful or actionable insights from your CDRs. These tools help you understand call volume, outcomes, and call quality, so you can make informed decisions.
2. Invest in Call Logging Software – Review call logs through software that organizes and stores call data systematically. This ensures easy access to historical information and helps with compliance and audits.
3. Use Call Detail Records (CDRs) – Review CDRs to understand important and recurring details like call duration, timestamps, and caller details. This information is vital for comprehensive call analysis.
4. Track Incoming Calls – Use call tracking technology to identify what leads to a certain customer call. You can determine which marketing campaigns, platforms, countries, etc., are generating more calls.
5. Integrate with CRMs – Connect your CRM system and customer data to your call tracking software. This makes it easier to manage leads and provide personalized customer service.

Modern call center software offers features such as CDRs, call reporting, CRM integrations, and call logging, which can provide comprehensive data related to your team’s calling activities. A data-driven approach can help you use sales call metrics to improve communications and make customers happier.

Looking for a communication solution that supports your sales team? Check out our Phone System for Sales Teams!

5 Call Metrics for Sales Managers

When it comes to measuring the effectiveness of your calls, there are 5 key metrics that can provide performance-related data. These metrics help you assess the quantity of calls but also the quality and impact of each interaction. We’re going to look at these 5 sales call metrics:

1. Call Activity
2. Call Connection Rates
3. Call Response Time
4. Call Outcome Analysis
5. Average Call Duration

Let’s delve into these metrics and their significance.

1. Call Activity

Call activity is the total number of calls made by your sales agents within a set period of time. It’s an important parameter that allows you to gauge your team’s productivity.

Why to track: By setting activity-based quotas, you can ensure that your reps are consistently reaching out to potential leads and customers. Monitoring call activity helps maintain the momentum necessary for successful sales campaigns.

How to track: To track call activity, you can utilize call center software or CRM systems that provide call logs and activity reports. Set clear activity targets for your team and monitor their progress regularly.

2. Call Connection Rates

This sales call metric represents the number of calls that were answered by prospects or customers, rather than going to voicemail or being ignored.

Why to track: While call activity is important, what truly matters are the outcomes. Agents should focus on making meaningful connections and having conversations that lead to positive results.

Miguel Isabal, Sr. Director of Global Business Development, Global Call Forwarding, explains that many businesses approach UWT because their calls to international prospective customers often go unanswered.

How to track: “You can calculate call connection rates by dividing the number of calls answered by the total number of calls made. If the ratio is low, consider strategies like local presence dialing and optimizing call timing,” shares Luke Genoyer, Business Development Manager, Global Call Forwarding.

Related: Understanding Cold Calling vs Warm Calling

3. Call Response Time

Another common sales call metric, Call Response Time measures how quickly sales representatives respond to incoming calls or leads from potential customers. It directly impacts the customer experience and likelihood of converting leads into customers.

Why to track: A fast response time is critical in engaging customers while their interest is high. Delayed responses can result in missed opportunities and lost leads.

How to track: Use call tracking software or CRM systems to record the time it takes for a rep to respond to an incoming call or lead. Aim to keep this time as short as possible.

4. Call Outcome Analysis

Call outcome measures how many calls result in positive outcomes, such as lead generation, conversions, closed deals, or further interest from the prospect. If the number of positive outcomes is low, you should evaluate your pipeline and who you’re calling.

Why to track: This metric helps managers understand the quality of leads, identify objections or challenges in the sales process, and tailor coaching and training to address specific issues.

How to track: Utilize call center software to categorize and track the outcomes of each call. Regularly review and analyze these outcomes to ensure that positive outcomes are a key focus.

5. Average Call Duration

This metric indicates the average time your sales reps spend on each call. According to Beny Mouen, Regional Sales Manager – APAC, Global Call Forwarding, it’s better to avoid many short calls. Instead, encourage your agents to have conversations that build rapport and address prospect needs.

Why to track: Monitoring call duration helps you assess how engaged your teams are. Longer calls may mean they are having deep discussions, while shorter ones could suggest they need to work on their communication skills.

How to track: Invest in call recording software, a critical quality assurance tool. You can learn a lot from listening to your best agents’ phone calls. Audit recordings to identify potential issues and integrate these into your training.

Related: Call Center KPIs: 12 Metrics to Track for Customer Success

Call Analytics for Business Improvement

Tracking and analyzing call activity is powerful in optimizing sales performance, whether for in-house or call center sales. And sales call metrics offer a holistic view of your sales efforts.

Need call reporting tools to up your sales management game? Every Global Call Forwarding phone service plan comes with call detail records (CDRs), custom call reports, and other analytic tools.

Contact us to explore how we can boost your sales. Chat with us online or request a demo today!

If you don’t already know, voice over internet protocol (VoIP) is a game changer for international calling. Why? Because VoIP technology lets you make cost-effective long-distance calls to any corner of the world.

All you need to make calls is a stable internet connection, a device like smartphone, tablet, or computer, and a VoIP phone service. The best VoIP providers for international calling offer local and international VoIP number plans and a softphone to make and receive calls over the internet.

VoIP typically allows you to make voice calls, and in some cases, video calls too. With this communication solution, your employees and teams can collaborate and work from anywhere in the world using cloud telephony.

In this article, we throw the spotlight on the 11 best VoIP providers for international calling to help you kickstart your search.

• Choosing a VoIP Provider
• Best VoIP Providers for International Calling
  1. Global Call Forwarding
  2. United World Telecom
  3. Skype
  4. RebTel
  5. Boss Revolution
  6. Google Voice
  7. 8×8
  8. RingCentral
  9. Ooma
  10. GoTo
  11. magicJack

But before we get started, let’s go over what to look for when choosing the best VoIP provider for international calling.

Choosing the Best VoIP Provider

Selecting the right VoIP international calling service provider will depend on your specific needs, budget, and geographical requirements. There are several factors that can greatly impact your experience. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision.

What to Look for While Choosing VoIP Providers for International Calling

1. International Coverage

Check your VoIP service providers’ international presence and coverage to ensure that they cover countries you frequently call, without any pesky limitations or higher costs. A robust global network guarantees you enjoy crystal-clear call quality and also score big on savings with competitive rates and tailored plans. Also check for region-specific features and coverage maps. Here’s our global country coverage.

2. Call Quality

Find a provider that offers impeccable voice transmissions and reliable connections for your international calls. Dive into user reviews and ratings to find out about providers’ call quality performance. Ask how they enhance and guarantee call quality through optimized routing and interconnections with local telecom carriers in different countries.

3. Average Cost

A basic VoIP subscription is likely to cost you $10–$300 per month. Compare pricing plans and pay attention to hidden charges (such as per-month vs per-user fees). Some of the best VoIP providers offer flat-rate plans for specific regions, which can be cost-effective if you make frequent calls to those regions.

4. Customer Support

Get a provider that offers responsive assistance round the clock through multiple channels, such as phone, email, or instant messaging. Take a peek at client reviews or testimonials specifically about their customer support.

5. Compatibility

Before making a decision, make sure the VoIP platform is compatible with your existing hardware and software. Check if they support common devices, operating systems, and software platforms. Consider providers that seamlessly integrate with popular business and communication tools.

6. Security

Maintaining encryption and security during VoIP calls is vital to protect your conversations from unauthorized access. Choose a provider with a strong track record of safeguarding customer data and prioritizing security measures.

7. Features and Flexibility

Opt for a provider that offers flexible plans that accommodate your specific calling needs. Ask for their feature set and any premium services.

11 Best VoIP Providers for International Calling

Whether you’re an individual or a business, we’ve curated the list of best providers based on three factors—international coverage, key features, and pricing plans. Say hello to seamless global communication! Let’s have a closer look:

Related: Which International Phone Number Type is Right for My Business?

Upgrade with Global Call Forwarding VoIP Solutions

Choosing among the best VoIP providers for international calling can prove challenging. But you need to find the right one for your business communication needs.

Leverage VoIP technology and expand your business’s reach, improve collaboration, and establish a global brand image. In today’s interconnected world, you can drive business growth globally with VoIP.

When it comes to international outbound calling, Global Call Forwarding has a wide coverage of countries and competitive pricing plans. GCF offers reliable and cost-effective solutions for businesses and individuals alike.

Unlock the power of seamless international communication with Global Call Forwarding. Talk to our experts today!

In the past few years, we’ve had disruptions, inflation, looming recessions, and more. And businesses are questioning short-term and long-term goals and, more direly, budgets. In the middle of all the chaos and opportunities, you want sustainable solutions that promise business continuity.

After all, keeping the business running and making profits can prove challenging, every now and then.

Let’s look at how to reduce costs without sacrificing service quality by outsourcing business operations with cloud telephony solutions like call forwarding solutions.

Businesses Want to Reduce Costs

Growing burdens on tech startups and software companies and, by extension, IT teams have led to drastic cost-cutting measures.

Venture funding continues to slow down; in fact, VC funding almost halved in the first half of 2023. This means that VC-funded companies need to extend their runway by adopting other measures.

And so, businesses are trying to reduce costs and achieve (or maintain) profitability by:

• Consolidating services and technology,
• Changing providers,
• Switching to hybrid, remote models,
• Finding cost-effective solutions and technology,
• Laying off employees, etc.

And while this may come easy to certain businesses, not all are able to sacrifice their workforce and core business applications.

So, what realistic options are left? Outsourcing your operations.

Why Consider Outsourcing Business Processes?

There are numerous benefits to outsourcing. You can choose IT outsourcing (cloud computing, security) or business process outsourcing (sales, customer and tech support, accounting).

And through these services, you can enter new countries and establish a local presence in multiple target regions. By entering these spaces, you can benefit from new labor markets, diverse workforces, and access to new customer bases.

Furthermore, you can even find new providers that can offer you better tools and solutions at competitive rates. In fact, consolidation of communication, IT management, and support tools is a goal for about 83% of employees.

But the biggest benefit of outsourcing business processes is cost-savings. About two-thirds of businesses choose outsourcing primarily to save costs. These savings come from various sources:

• Lower labor costs
• Lower operational costs
• No need for full-fledged local offices; remote teams, and so on.

This makes outsourcing a prime opportunity for businesses wanting to cut down on operational costs without sacrificing quality and business continuity.

Outsourcing with International Call Forwarding

One way to save money is to outsource sales and support services. You can take advantage of a international call forwarding service to centralize and manage business communication globally.

How do you outsource customer communication?

1) Hire sales and support staff in different countries:

This staff can work remotely or in smaller offices. As for equipment, all they’ll need to operate a cloud phone system is an IP-enabled device (computer, laptop) and reliable internet. They simply connect to your phone network and start making and receiving calls.

You can then route incoming calls to overseas people based on advanced routing rules. For example, forward calls during off-hours to staff located in different time zones. Or, route incoming calls from certain locations to remote teams closer to those callers.

This frees up your main service center to focus on other queries, hence reducing their burden. It also means you don’t need to hire and train seasonal staff to manage fluctuating call volumes or holiday spikes.

Additionally, you can have your overseas people make outbound calls with your business phone number. So, instead of placing outbound calls on their own devices and having their personal phone numbers displayed as outgoing caller IDs, they can change it to display your business number. This maintains business uniformity making your company appear as a wholesome entity even when spread out.

2) Use call center outsourcing or BPOs:

These services take on your extra burden for relatively lower costs. This is especially true when compared to hiring new members in-house or a BPO in your own country. Plus, you don’t have to worry about hiring and onboarding sales and support staff; the BPO takes care of it.

And they come with key cloud communication features to ensure your customers are assisted efficiently and accurately.

Related: Top Countries for Call Center Outsourcing

How Global Call Forwarding Can Help

A call forwarding service can ensure your customers reach your teams wherever they are located. And with a cloud-based service, you don’t have to worry about high calling fees, even with international calls.

Our teams can set you up with the right solutions to keep all your local and distributed teams connected. We’ve helped countless businesses reduce communication-related costs with reliable voice solutions.

Plus, our global network of local telecom operators helps us provide global phone services without interruptions or exorbitant rates.

Want to find out more about our call forwarding service? Call us or chat with our experts today. We’re here to help!

Related: Increase Healthcare Accessibility with Cloud Telephony