The rise of cellular telephones and the smartphone revolution have been two of the most dramatic technological revolutions in recent modern history. In 2014, according to some of the most recent data available from the Pew Research Center, more than 64% of Americans owned a smartphone (not counting basic cell phones) and used it on a daily basis for tasks ranging from healthcare research, to job hunting, to examining product reviews and shopping for major purchases. In the two years since that number has only increased. http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/01/us-smartphone-use-in-2015/
For countless companies in the San Francisco Bay Area, however, the spread of this technology has presented some growing pains—specifically in the area of incoming call handling. While smartphones provide a number of different ways for consumers to interact with businesses, including email, text messaging, and IM chat, the increase in the number of consumers with internet-equipped (click-to-call) cell phones has nevertheless triggered an increase not only in the number of calls companies face, but in the expectations of those callers when they dial in.
Because modern callers have so many different ways to collect information about a company (websites, review sites, forums etc.) when they do take the time to call in it is predominantly because they have an urgent need to speak to a real person ASAP. They do NOT expect or have the time to end up speaking to a machine, whether that machine is a basic answering machine or a more sophisticated auto attendant.
However, small to medium sized businesses may not have the manpower to cover the phones effectively during daylight hours and consistently deal with a steady flow of inbound calls, which can result in missed calls, frustrated staff, and ultimately lost income. For this reason an increasingly large contingent of San Francisco companies are turning to a local solution that provides the automated reliability and convenience of an auto attendant system with the personal touch, professionalism, and flexibility of an in-house receptionist. They are turning to virtual receptionist services available from local company Reliable Receptionist.
Reliable Receptionist, based in nearby Walnut Creek, has been providing high quality, affordable virtual receptionist service for small and medium sized businesses since 2007. By providing small teams of dedicated receptionists for each account they guarantee that each and every call to a client company during their work hours is answered quickly and professionally and transferred to the right department. With a host of additional services like appointment scheduling, message taking, and courtesy calling, Reliable Receptionist can give a company a much more efficient way to manage their phone lines without damaging their reputation due to an automated system, or taking on the extra expense of a full time in-house receptionist.
If you would like to get started with Reliable Receptionist and learn about customized virtual receptionist service available at a fraction of the cost of adding a new employee, please request a live tour or schedule a meeting today at (925) 627-4200.
