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Call Queue

Increase your customer satisfaction with effective call management

inbound-call-center-service-agents.jpeg

Call Queue

Increase your customer satisfaction with effective call management

inbound-call-center-service-agents.jpeg

Call Queue

Increase your customer satisfaction with effective call management

inbound-call-center-service-agents.jpeg

Call Queue

Increase your customer satisfaction with effective call management

inbound-call-center-service-agents.jpeg

As a business grows, its communication system must grow too. The larger you get, the more effectively you need to manage phone calls, improve call queues, and reduce your call abandonment rate to ensure you’re meeting customer expectations.

Today, we’re going to look at:

As a business grows, its communication system must grow too. The larger you get, the more effectively you need to manage phone calls, improve call queues, and reduce your call abandonment rate to ensure you’re meeting customer expectations.

Today, we’re going to look at:

As a business grows, its communication system must grow too. The larger you get, the more effectively you need to manage phone calls, improve call queues, and reduce your call abandonment rate to ensure you’re meeting customer expectations.

Today, we’re going to look at:

As a business grows, its communication system must grow too. The larger you get, the more effectively you need to manage phone calls, improve call queues, and reduce your call abandonment rate to ensure you’re meeting customer expectations.

Today, we’re going to look at:

Why Do I Need to Manage My Calls?

Why Do I Need to Manage My Calls?

Why Do I Need to Manage My Calls?

Why Do I Need to Manage My Calls?

Cold calling script for sales agents

Cold calling script for sales agents

Cold calling script for sales agents

Cold calling script for sales agents

Customer experience is one of the defining factors of a successful business. Several recent studies have shown that customers greatly value a good experience. Many even rate experience above other considerations like costs or quality.

Good call management will form the backbone of your customer experience. A robust call handling service will increase efficiency in your call center by offering the following benefits:

  • Routing calls to the right people to get issues dealt with on the first response
  • Setting expectations with automated messaging for clear communication
  • Integrated customer data cuts down on frustrating repetition for users

There’s so much more you can do with call management software than just sending a call to the next available agent. Let’s talk about some of the core aspects of call management and how they can impact your business.

Call Management Fundamentals

There are many options for call handling software, including integrated platforms that will work with your CRM system. All of these options should have the same fundamental functions, though they’ll also offer more advanced setups such as:

  1. Call queues
  2. Automatic call distribution
  3. Interactive voice response
  4. Intelligent call routing
  5. Call control
  6. Reporting & data collection

These features are the first things you should look for when choosing a call management system. Now, we’ll look at each of these in more detail to show how they can be used to boost your business efficiency.

Customer experience is one of the defining factors of a successful business. Several recent studies have shown that customers greatly value a good experience. Many even rate experience above other considerations like costs or quality.

Good call management will form the backbone of your customer experience. A robust call handling service will increase efficiency in your call center by offering the following benefits:

  • Routing calls to the right people to get issues dealt with on the first response
  • Setting expectations with automated messaging for clear communication
  • Integrated customer data cuts down on frustrating repetition for users

There’s so much more you can do with call management software than just sending a call to the next available agent. Let’s talk about some of the core aspects of call management and how they can impact your business.

Call Management Fundamentals

There are many options for call handling software, including integrated platforms that will work with your CRM system. All of these options should have the same fundamental functions, though they’ll also offer more advanced setups such as:

  1. Call queues
  2. Automatic call distribution
  3. Interactive voice response
  4. Intelligent call routing
  5. Call control
  6. Reporting & data collection

These features are the first things you should look for when choosing a call management system. Now, we’ll look at each of these in more detail to show how they can be used to boost your business efficiency.

Customer experience is one of the defining factors of a successful business. Several recent studies have shown that customers greatly value a good experience. Many even rate experience above other considerations like costs or quality.

Good call management will form the backbone of your customer experience. A robust call handling service will increase efficiency in your call center by offering the following benefits:

  • Routing calls to the right people to get issues dealt with on the first response
  • Setting expectations with automated messaging for clear communication
  • Integrated customer data cuts down on frustrating repetition for users

There’s so much more you can do with call management software than just sending a call to the next available agent. Let’s talk about some of the core aspects of call management and how they can impact your business.

Call Management Fundamentals

There are many options for call handling software, including integrated platforms that will work with your CRM system. All of these options should have the same fundamental functions, though they’ll also offer more advanced setups such as:

  1. Call queues
  2. Automatic call distribution
  3. Interactive voice response
  4. Intelligent call routing
  5. Call control
  6. Reporting & data collection

These features are the first things you should look for when choosing a call management system. Now, we’ll look at each of these in more detail to show how they can be used to boost your business efficiency.

Customer experience is one of the defining factors of a successful business. Several recent studies have shown that customers greatly value a good experience. Many even rate experience above other considerations like costs or quality.

Good call management will form the backbone of your customer experience. A robust call handling service will increase efficiency in your call center by offering the following benefits:

  • Routing calls to the right people to get issues dealt with on the first response
  • Setting expectations with automated messaging for clear communication
  • Integrated customer data cuts down on frustrating repetition for users

There’s so much more you can do with call management software than just sending a call to the next available agent. Let’s talk about some of the core aspects of call management and how they can impact your business.

Call Management Fundamentals

There are many options for call handling software, including integrated platforms that will work with your CRM system. All of these options should have the same fundamental functions, though they’ll also offer more advanced setups such as:

  1. Call queues
  2. Automatic call distribution
  3. Interactive voice response
  4. Intelligent call routing
  5. Call control
  6. Reporting & data collection

These features are the first things you should look for when choosing a call management system. Now, we’ll look at each of these in more detail to show how they can be used to boost your business efficiency.

What Is a Call Queue?

What Is a Call Queue?

What Is a Call Queue?

What Is a Call Queue?

You can think of a call queue as your most basic and important call management feature. This is when you hold a call in a queue rather than diverting it to voicemail, hanging up, or ringing off. This is especially important when you’re dealing with high call volumes.

Customers like to feel valued. Having a simple message in a call queue that lets a caller know how long they have to wait or their position in a queue can make a big difference to call retention statistics.

Most call queues will follow the same pattern;

  1. The customer calling is greeted by a recorded, interactive menu
  2. The menu options route them to the correct queue
  3. The customer hears a recorded message or hold music while waiting
  4. The customer is automatically directed to an agent when one is free to receive calls

However, there are more advanced features available depending on your service provider.

What Is a Call Queue Group?

A call queue group, or a ring group, sends incoming calls to a group rather than an individual line. This means, for example, that any member of your sales or customer service team could answer the call.

This helps distribute inbound calls evenly among employees to balance workloads. It also allows calls to be routed to relevant staff members as quickly as possible. Also, it lets you set up contingency groups for an unusually high number of calls.

Contact centers will approach call groups differently depending on the business. Some will have:

  • Dynamic agent logins
  • Call waiting
  • Call parking
  • Automatic callback

Dynamic logins allow additional agents to join or leave a call group when needed. Other operations prefer to deal with long wait times by offering call-waiting and call-parking features. This is often more appropriate if a user needs expert advice from a specific agent.

What Does Queue Mean in a Call Center?

When you’re operating a call center, all of these call queuing tools become vital. Your queue represents how efficiently you’re servicing your customers. You can use the data you gather from your queue to inform future resource allocation.

Many contact centers use “time to answer” as a key metric. This is the average amount of time a customer spends in a queue before their call is answered. A shorter waiting time is better, but you’re not always going to see consistent times.

If you’ve worked with call center features before, then you know that call volumes vary across times of day and days of the week. Analyzing these times to discover your busy periods is key to resource and workforce management.

How Do I Create a Call Queue?

Creating a call queue will be the job of a call center manager or an administrator. 8x8’s call center software offers free on-demand training courses to ensure that your administrators can get the most from your system.

Setting up a call queue or call group is a relatively simple task with the all-in-one application. Contact center managers can view and configure call groups right from the app.

You can think of a call queue as your most basic and important call management feature. This is when you hold a call in a queue rather than diverting it to voicemail, hanging up, or ringing off. This is especially important when you’re dealing with high call volumes.

Customers like to feel valued. Having a simple message in a call queue that lets a caller know how long they have to wait or their position in a queue can make a big difference to call retention statistics.

Most call queues will follow the same pattern;

  1. The customer calling is greeted by a recorded, interactive menu
  2. The menu options route them to the correct queue
  3. The customer hears a recorded message or hold music while waiting
  4. The customer is automatically directed to an agent when one is free to receive calls

However, there are more advanced features available depending on your service provider.

What Is a Call Queue Group?

A call queue group, or a ring group, sends incoming calls to a group rather than an individual line. This means, for example, that any member of your sales or customer service team could answer the call.

This helps distribute inbound calls evenly among employees to balance workloads. It also allows calls to be routed to relevant staff members as quickly as possible. Also, it lets you set up contingency groups for an unusually high number of calls.

Contact centers will approach call groups differently depending on the business. Some will have:

  • Dynamic agent logins
  • Call waiting
  • Call parking
  • Automatic callback

Dynamic logins allow additional agents to join or leave a call group when needed. Other operations prefer to deal with long wait times by offering call-waiting and call-parking features. This is often more appropriate if a user needs expert advice from a specific agent.

What Does Queue Mean in a Call Center?

When you’re operating a call center, all of these call queuing tools become vital. Your queue represents how efficiently you’re servicing your customers. You can use the data you gather from your queue to inform future resource allocation.

Many contact centers use “time to answer” as a key metric. This is the average amount of time a customer spends in a queue before their call is answered. A shorter waiting time is better, but you’re not always going to see consistent times.

If you’ve worked with call center features before, then you know that call volumes vary across times of day and days of the week. Analyzing these times to discover your busy periods is key to resource and workforce management.

How Do I Create a Call Queue?

Creating a call queue will be the job of a call center manager or an administrator. 8x8’s call center software offers free on-demand training courses to ensure that your administrators can get the most from your system.

Setting up a call queue or call group is a relatively simple task with the all-in-one application. Contact center managers can view and configure call groups right from the app.

You can think of a call queue as your most basic and important call management feature. This is when you hold a call in a queue rather than diverting it to voicemail, hanging up, or ringing off. This is especially important when you’re dealing with high call volumes.

Customers like to feel valued. Having a simple message in a call queue that lets a caller know how long they have to wait or their position in a queue can make a big difference to call retention statistics.

Most call queues will follow the same pattern;

  1. The customer calling is greeted by a recorded, interactive menu
  2. The menu options route them to the correct queue
  3. The customer hears a recorded message or hold music while waiting
  4. The customer is automatically directed to an agent when one is free to receive calls

However, there are more advanced features available depending on your service provider.

What Is a Call Queue Group?

A call queue group, or a ring group, sends incoming calls to a group rather than an individual line. This means, for example, that any member of your sales or customer service team could answer the call.

This helps distribute inbound calls evenly among employees to balance workloads. It also allows calls to be routed to relevant staff members as quickly as possible. Also, it lets you set up contingency groups for an unusually high number of calls.

Contact centers will approach call groups differently depending on the business. Some will have:

  • Dynamic agent logins
  • Call waiting
  • Call parking
  • Automatic callback

Dynamic logins allow additional agents to join or leave a call group when needed. Other operations prefer to deal with long wait times by offering call-waiting and call-parking features. This is often more appropriate if a user needs expert advice from a specific agent.

What Does Queue Mean in a Call Center?

When you’re operating a call center, all of these call queuing tools become vital. Your queue represents how efficiently you’re servicing your customers. You can use the data you gather from your queue to inform future resource allocation.

Many contact centers use “time to answer” as a key metric. This is the average amount of time a customer spends in a queue before their call is answered. A shorter waiting time is better, but you’re not always going to see consistent times.

If you’ve worked with call center features before, then you know that call volumes vary across times of day and days of the week. Analyzing these times to discover your busy periods is key to resource and workforce management.

How Do I Create a Call Queue?

Creating a call queue will be the job of a call center manager or an administrator. 8x8’s call center software offers free on-demand training courses to ensure that your administrators can get the most from your system.

Setting up a call queue or call group is a relatively simple task with the all-in-one application. Contact center managers can view and configure call groups right from the app.

You can think of a call queue as your most basic and important call management feature. This is when you hold a call in a queue rather than diverting it to voicemail, hanging up, or ringing off. This is especially important when you’re dealing with high call volumes.

Customers like to feel valued. Having a simple message in a call queue that lets a caller know how long they have to wait or their position in a queue can make a big difference to call retention statistics.

Most call queues will follow the same pattern;

  1. The customer calling is greeted by a recorded, interactive menu
  2. The menu options route them to the correct queue
  3. The customer hears a recorded message or hold music while waiting
  4. The customer is automatically directed to an agent when one is free to receive calls

However, there are more advanced features available depending on your service provider.

What Is a Call Queue Group?

A call queue group, or a ring group, sends incoming calls to a group rather than an individual line. This means, for example, that any member of your sales or customer service team could answer the call.

This helps distribute inbound calls evenly among employees to balance workloads. It also allows calls to be routed to relevant staff members as quickly as possible. Also, it lets you set up contingency groups for an unusually high number of calls.

Contact centers will approach call groups differently depending on the business. Some will have:

  • Dynamic agent logins
  • Call waiting
  • Call parking
  • Automatic callback

Dynamic logins allow additional agents to join or leave a call group when needed. Other operations prefer to deal with long wait times by offering call-waiting and call-parking features. This is often more appropriate if a user needs expert advice from a specific agent.

What Does Queue Mean in a Call Center?

When you’re operating a call center, all of these call queuing tools become vital. Your queue represents how efficiently you’re servicing your customers. You can use the data you gather from your queue to inform future resource allocation.

Many contact centers use “time to answer” as a key metric. This is the average amount of time a customer spends in a queue before their call is answered. A shorter waiting time is better, but you’re not always going to see consistent times.

If you’ve worked with call center features before, then you know that call volumes vary across times of day and days of the week. Analyzing these times to discover your busy periods is key to resource and workforce management.

How Do I Create a Call Queue?

Creating a call queue will be the job of a call center manager or an administrator. 8x8’s call center software offers free on-demand training courses to ensure that your administrators can get the most from your system.

Setting up a call queue or call group is a relatively simple task with the all-in-one application. Contact center managers can view and configure call groups right from the app.

What Is Automatic Call Distribution?

What Is Automatic Call Distribution?

What Is Automatic Call Distribution?

What Is Automatic Call Distribution?

Alongside call queueing, there are other features that a call management system needs to effectively serve users. Automatic call distribution handles how calls are distributed between agents.

This can be used to effectively distribute calls in an even manner across a team. This has several benefits:

  • Fair workload distribution
  • Allows time for administrative tasks
  • Removes the competitive aspect of a “first-to-answer” system
  • Allows for effective stat tracking of agents’ performance

Automatic call distribution is used in tandem with call queue features to ensure that waiting customers are sent directly to the right agent.

What Is Interactive Voice Response (IVR)?

This is the menu that greets you when you first call a service. We’ve all heard them at one time or another. These pre-recorded menus will give you options to route your call to the correct team. “Press one for customer service. Press two for accounts.” Does this sound familiar?

Think about how you feel when, instead of an IVR menu, you simply have to wait while the other line plays music on hold. Maybe you’re ringing a small business, and the phone just rings while you wait. Do you feel uncertain? Not sure whether you should hold on or hang up?

An IVR menu helps mitigate these feelings. They don’t just help you route calls to the right people. They let customers know they’re getting the right help.

Small reassurances, like an audio file from an auto-attendant, can make the difference between a customer waiting for an agent or just hanging up and leaving dissatisfied.

You can also use an IVR to get preliminary information on the customer. Through the pre-recorded menus, you’ll be able to determine what the customer’s concern is. This will allow you to distribute calls to appropriate agents more efficiently using intelligent call routing.

Which brings us to…

Types of Intelligent Call Routing

Intelligent call routing is an AI-assisted function of more advanced call queue management systems. This uses your business data to optimize the call routing process and ensure smooth and efficient call flows.

There are a few different types of intelligent call routing that are relevant to different types of business. Here are some of the common ones:

  • Time-based: calls are routed based on agent shift schedules
  • Skills-based: skill matching with the most appropriate free agent
  • Round-robin: distribute all calls equally across a team
  • DNIS number-based: for organizations with multiple different phone numbers
  • ANI-based: calls are routed by caller ID
  • Hunt groups: for giving agile groups access to calls from a single line

Alongside call queueing, there are other features that a call management system needs to effectively serve users. Automatic call distribution handles how calls are distributed between agents.

This can be used to effectively distribute calls in an even manner across a team. This has several benefits:

  • Fair workload distribution
  • Allows time for administrative tasks
  • Removes the competitive aspect of a “first-to-answer” system
  • Allows for effective stat tracking of agents’ performance

Automatic call distribution is used in tandem with call queue features to ensure that waiting customers are sent directly to the right agent.

What Is Interactive Voice Response (IVR)?

This is the menu that greets you when you first call a service. We’ve all heard them at one time or another. These pre-recorded menus will give you options to route your call to the correct team. “Press one for customer service. Press two for accounts.” Does this sound familiar?

Think about how you feel when, instead of an IVR menu, you simply have to wait while the other line plays music on hold. Maybe you’re ringing a small business, and the phone just rings while you wait. Do you feel uncertain? Not sure whether you should hold on or hang up?

An IVR menu helps mitigate these feelings. They don’t just help you route calls to the right people. They let customers know they’re getting the right help.

Small reassurances, like an audio file from an auto-attendant, can make the difference between a customer waiting for an agent or just hanging up and leaving dissatisfied.

You can also use an IVR to get preliminary information on the customer. Through the pre-recorded menus, you’ll be able to determine what the customer’s concern is. This will allow you to distribute calls to appropriate agents more efficiently using intelligent call routing.

Which brings us to…

Types of Intelligent Call Routing

Intelligent call routing is an AI-assisted function of more advanced call queue management systems. This uses your business data to optimize the call routing process and ensure smooth and efficient call flows.

There are a few different types of intelligent call routing that are relevant to different types of business. Here are some of the common ones:

  • Time-based: calls are routed based on agent shift schedules
  • Skills-based: skill matching with the most appropriate free agent
  • Round-robin: distribute all calls equally across a team
  • DNIS number-based: for organizations with multiple different phone numbers
  • ANI-based: calls are routed by caller ID
  • Hunt groups: for giving agile groups access to calls from a single line

Alongside call queueing, there are other features that a call management system needs to effectively serve users. Automatic call distribution handles how calls are distributed between agents.

This can be used to effectively distribute calls in an even manner across a team. This has several benefits:

  • Fair workload distribution
  • Allows time for administrative tasks
  • Removes the competitive aspect of a “first-to-answer” system
  • Allows for effective stat tracking of agents’ performance

Automatic call distribution is used in tandem with call queue features to ensure that waiting customers are sent directly to the right agent.

What Is Interactive Voice Response (IVR)?

This is the menu that greets you when you first call a service. We’ve all heard them at one time or another. These pre-recorded menus will give you options to route your call to the correct team. “Press one for customer service. Press two for accounts.” Does this sound familiar?

Think about how you feel when, instead of an IVR menu, you simply have to wait while the other line plays music on hold. Maybe you’re ringing a small business, and the phone just rings while you wait. Do you feel uncertain? Not sure whether you should hold on or hang up?

An IVR menu helps mitigate these feelings. They don’t just help you route calls to the right people. They let customers know they’re getting the right help.

Small reassurances, like an audio file from an auto-attendant, can make the difference between a customer waiting for an agent or just hanging up and leaving dissatisfied.

You can also use an IVR to get preliminary information on the customer. Through the pre-recorded menus, you’ll be able to determine what the customer’s concern is. This will allow you to distribute calls to appropriate agents more efficiently using intelligent call routing.

Which brings us to…

Types of Intelligent Call Routing

Intelligent call routing is an AI-assisted function of more advanced call queue management systems. This uses your business data to optimize the call routing process and ensure smooth and efficient call flows.

There are a few different types of intelligent call routing that are relevant to different types of business. Here are some of the common ones:

  • Time-based: calls are routed based on agent shift schedules
  • Skills-based: skill matching with the most appropriate free agent
  • Round-robin: distribute all calls equally across a team
  • DNIS number-based: for organizations with multiple different phone numbers
  • ANI-based: calls are routed by caller ID
  • Hunt groups: for giving agile groups access to calls from a single line

Alongside call queueing, there are other features that a call management system needs to effectively serve users. Automatic call distribution handles how calls are distributed between agents.

This can be used to effectively distribute calls in an even manner across a team. This has several benefits:

  • Fair workload distribution
  • Allows time for administrative tasks
  • Removes the competitive aspect of a “first-to-answer” system
  • Allows for effective stat tracking of agents’ performance

Automatic call distribution is used in tandem with call queue features to ensure that waiting customers are sent directly to the right agent.

What Is Interactive Voice Response (IVR)?

This is the menu that greets you when you first call a service. We’ve all heard them at one time or another. These pre-recorded menus will give you options to route your call to the correct team. “Press one for customer service. Press two for accounts.” Does this sound familiar?

Think about how you feel when, instead of an IVR menu, you simply have to wait while the other line plays music on hold. Maybe you’re ringing a small business, and the phone just rings while you wait. Do you feel uncertain? Not sure whether you should hold on or hang up?

An IVR menu helps mitigate these feelings. They don’t just help you route calls to the right people. They let customers know they’re getting the right help.

Small reassurances, like an audio file from an auto-attendant, can make the difference between a customer waiting for an agent or just hanging up and leaving dissatisfied.

You can also use an IVR to get preliminary information on the customer. Through the pre-recorded menus, you’ll be able to determine what the customer’s concern is. This will allow you to distribute calls to appropriate agents more efficiently using intelligent call routing.

Which brings us to…

Types of Intelligent Call Routing

Intelligent call routing is an AI-assisted function of more advanced call queue management systems. This uses your business data to optimize the call routing process and ensure smooth and efficient call flows.

There are a few different types of intelligent call routing that are relevant to different types of business. Here are some of the common ones:

  • Time-based: calls are routed based on agent shift schedules
  • Skills-based: skill matching with the most appropriate free agent
  • Round-robin: distribute all calls equally across a team
  • DNIS number-based: for organizations with multiple different phone numbers
  • ANI-based: calls are routed by caller ID
  • Hunt groups: for giving agile groups access to calls from a single line

How Do I Integrate Call Queueing Management With my CRM?

How Do I Integrate Call Queueing Management With my CRM?

How Do I Integrate Call Queueing Management With my CRM?

How Do I Integrate Call Queueing Management With my CRM?

SIP_Trunk_Call_Manager.jpg

SIP_Trunk_Call_Manager.jpg

SIP_Trunk_Call_Manager.jpg

SIP_Trunk_Call_Manager.jpg

Advanced call queueing software will allow you to integrate your customer relationship management (CRM) system with ease.

If your business focuses on customer experience and satisfaction, then you probably already have a CRM in place. If you’re just growing or switching the focus of your business, you may need to invest in CRM software.

A CRM system is an AI-assisted program designed to collect all of your customer data and interactions in one place. All-in-one platforms, like 8x8’s CRM, allow your teams to access all the customer data they need from a single interface.

When you have a CRM system, you can integrate this with your call queuing software and use that customer data to unlock some pretty advanced customer service functions.

Advanced call queueing software will allow you to integrate your customer relationship management (CRM) system with ease.

If your business focuses on customer experience and satisfaction, then you probably already have a CRM in place. If you’re just growing or switching the focus of your business, you may need to invest in CRM software.

A CRM system is an AI-assisted program designed to collect all of your customer data and interactions in one place. All-in-one platforms, like 8x8’s CRM, allow your teams to access all the customer data they need from a single interface.

When you have a CRM system, you can integrate this with your call queuing software and use that customer data to unlock some pretty advanced customer service functions.

Advanced call queueing software will allow you to integrate your customer relationship management (CRM) system with ease.

If your business focuses on customer experience and satisfaction, then you probably already have a CRM in place. If you’re just growing or switching the focus of your business, you may need to invest in CRM software.

A CRM system is an AI-assisted program designed to collect all of your customer data and interactions in one place. All-in-one platforms, like 8x8’s CRM, allow your teams to access all the customer data they need from a single interface.

When you have a CRM system, you can integrate this with your call queuing software and use that customer data to unlock some pretty advanced customer service functions.

Advanced call queueing software will allow you to integrate your customer relationship management (CRM) system with ease.

If your business focuses on customer experience and satisfaction, then you probably already have a CRM in place. If you’re just growing or switching the focus of your business, you may need to invest in CRM software.

A CRM system is an AI-assisted program designed to collect all of your customer data and interactions in one place. All-in-one platforms, like 8x8’s CRM, allow your teams to access all the customer data they need from a single interface.

When you have a CRM system, you can integrate this with your call queuing software and use that customer data to unlock some pretty advanced customer service functions.

Priority queuesThese let you create “VIP lanes” for your most valuable customers. Some businesses use these as a perk for higher subscription tiers.
Intelligent call routingCalls can be routed automatically based on a variety of parameters, e.g., customer habits or customer account level.
Consistent customer experienceHaving centralized access to customer data means your customers get the same experience quality whether they go online, call, or use your app.

If you really want your company to be at the cutting edge of business technology, you can integrate voice recognition, customer biometric data, and so on. By now, though, you might be wondering, “How exactly do these features benefit my business?”.

Priority queuesThese let you create “VIP lanes” for your most valuable customers. Some businesses use these as a perk for higher subscription tiers.
Intelligent call routingCalls can be routed automatically based on a variety of parameters, e.g., customer habits or customer account level.
Consistent customer experienceHaving centralized access to customer data means your customers get the same experience quality whether they go online, call, or use your app.

If you really want your company to be at the cutting edge of business technology, you can integrate voice recognition, customer biometric data, and so on. By now, though, you might be wondering, “How exactly do these features benefit my business?”.

Priority queuesThese let you create “VIP lanes” for your most valuable customers. Some businesses use these as a perk for higher subscription tiers.
Intelligent call routingCalls can be routed automatically based on a variety of parameters, e.g., customer habits or customer account level.
Consistent customer experienceHaving centralized access to customer data means your customers get the same experience quality whether they go online, call, or use your app.

If you really want your company to be at the cutting edge of business technology, you can integrate voice recognition, customer biometric data, and so on. By now, though, you might be wondering, “How exactly do these features benefit my business?”.

Priority queuesThese let you create “VIP lanes” for your most valuable customers. Some businesses use these as a perk for higher subscription tiers.
Intelligent call routingCalls can be routed automatically based on a variety of parameters, e.g., customer habits or customer account level.
Consistent customer experienceHaving centralized access to customer data means your customers get the same experience quality whether they go online, call, or use your app.

If you really want your company to be at the cutting edge of business technology, you can integrate voice recognition, customer biometric data, and so on. By now, though, you might be wondering, “How exactly do these features benefit my business?”.

The Benefits of Queueing Calls

The Benefits of Queueing Calls

The Benefits of Queueing Calls

The Benefits of Queueing Calls

The benefits of call management go beyond just increased efficiency.

Recording & Monitoring

Traditional business phone systems have long had the ability to record and monitor calls. Today’s technology allows for a more carefully directed approach. The ability to easily categorize call records lets you sort them by performance metrics or other variables, like wait time.

This gives you some significant benefits. For example, you can:

  • Monitor staff performance and team statistics, like call handling times
  • See your best (and worst) call handling examples
  • Produce call transcriptions
  • Use the data and records for training and development

Call Control

Call controls are the features your agents use to manage active calls. These are the functions we take for granted, like hold, mute, and transfer. When these functions are controlled from one centralized platform, they’re easier to access and monitor.

For example, placing customers on hold while an agent confirms information is a common action. If you notice your hold times increasing on average, that might mean that certain information is too difficult to access.

It’s easy to notice when you’re monitoring the data but almost impossible to see without it. This centralized data collection is one of the key benefits of call management software.

Historical Reporting

This data collection method doesn’t just work in real-time. Advanced software options will include tools that allow you to create custom reports on historical call-center data, and using a single, centralized, data source makes reporting a lot easier.

Alternatively, you might want to work with options that can integrate your current reporting tools and “plug in” the data for you. Either way, you’ll be able to analyze trends in your performance metrics across your teams and use this to make more informed business decisions.

Customer Satisfaction, Retention, & Lifetime Value

So, how does all this affect your customers? Increased efficiency means that customer needs are addressed faster, resulting in more satisfied customers. There are other benefits that feed into each other and grow as your effective call management grows.

There are three key areas where customers and your business benefit from these improvements.

The benefits of call management go beyond just increased efficiency.

Recording & Monitoring

Traditional business phone systems have long had the ability to record and monitor calls. Today’s technology allows for a more carefully directed approach. The ability to easily categorize call records lets you sort them by performance metrics or other variables, like wait time.

This gives you some significant benefits. For example, you can:

  • Monitor staff performance and team statistics, like call handling times
  • See your best (and worst) call handling examples
  • Produce call transcriptions
  • Use the data and records for training and development

Call Control

Call controls are the features your agents use to manage active calls. These are the functions we take for granted, like hold, mute, and transfer. When these functions are controlled from one centralized platform, they’re easier to access and monitor.

For example, placing customers on hold while an agent confirms information is a common action. If you notice your hold times increasing on average, that might mean that certain information is too difficult to access.

It’s easy to notice when you’re monitoring the data but almost impossible to see without it. This centralized data collection is one of the key benefits of call management software.

Historical Reporting

This data collection method doesn’t just work in real-time. Advanced software options will include tools that allow you to create custom reports on historical call-center data, and using a single, centralized, data source makes reporting a lot easier.

Alternatively, you might want to work with options that can integrate your current reporting tools and “plug in” the data for you. Either way, you’ll be able to analyze trends in your performance metrics across your teams and use this to make more informed business decisions.

Customer Satisfaction, Retention, & Lifetime Value

So, how does all this affect your customers? Increased efficiency means that customer needs are addressed faster, resulting in more satisfied customers. There are other benefits that feed into each other and grow as your effective call management grows.

There are three key areas where customers and your business benefit from these improvements.

The benefits of call management go beyond just increased efficiency.

Recording & Monitoring

Traditional business phone systems have long had the ability to record and monitor calls. Today’s technology allows for a more carefully directed approach. The ability to easily categorize call records lets you sort them by performance metrics or other variables, like wait time.

This gives you some significant benefits. For example, you can:

  • Monitor staff performance and team statistics, like call handling times
  • See your best (and worst) call handling examples
  • Produce call transcriptions
  • Use the data and records for training and development

Call Control

Call controls are the features your agents use to manage active calls. These are the functions we take for granted, like hold, mute, and transfer. When these functions are controlled from one centralized platform, they’re easier to access and monitor.

For example, placing customers on hold while an agent confirms information is a common action. If you notice your hold times increasing on average, that might mean that certain information is too difficult to access.

It’s easy to notice when you’re monitoring the data but almost impossible to see without it. This centralized data collection is one of the key benefits of call management software.

Historical Reporting

This data collection method doesn’t just work in real-time. Advanced software options will include tools that allow you to create custom reports on historical call-center data, and using a single, centralized, data source makes reporting a lot easier.

Alternatively, you might want to work with options that can integrate your current reporting tools and “plug in” the data for you. Either way, you’ll be able to analyze trends in your performance metrics across your teams and use this to make more informed business decisions.

Customer Satisfaction, Retention, & Lifetime Value

So, how does all this affect your customers? Increased efficiency means that customer needs are addressed faster, resulting in more satisfied customers. There are other benefits that feed into each other and grow as your effective call management grows.

There are three key areas where customers and your business benefit from these improvements.

The benefits of call management go beyond just increased efficiency.

Recording & Monitoring

Traditional business phone systems have long had the ability to record and monitor calls. Today’s technology allows for a more carefully directed approach. The ability to easily categorize call records lets you sort them by performance metrics or other variables, like wait time.

This gives you some significant benefits. For example, you can:

  • Monitor staff performance and team statistics, like call handling times
  • See your best (and worst) call handling examples
  • Produce call transcriptions
  • Use the data and records for training and development

Call Control

Call controls are the features your agents use to manage active calls. These are the functions we take for granted, like hold, mute, and transfer. When these functions are controlled from one centralized platform, they’re easier to access and monitor.

For example, placing customers on hold while an agent confirms information is a common action. If you notice your hold times increasing on average, that might mean that certain information is too difficult to access.

It’s easy to notice when you’re monitoring the data but almost impossible to see without it. This centralized data collection is one of the key benefits of call management software.

Historical Reporting

This data collection method doesn’t just work in real-time. Advanced software options will include tools that allow you to create custom reports on historical call-center data, and using a single, centralized, data source makes reporting a lot easier.

Alternatively, you might want to work with options that can integrate your current reporting tools and “plug in” the data for you. Either way, you’ll be able to analyze trends in your performance metrics across your teams and use this to make more informed business decisions.

Customer Satisfaction, Retention, & Lifetime Value

So, how does all this affect your customers? Increased efficiency means that customer needs are addressed faster, resulting in more satisfied customers. There are other benefits that feed into each other and grow as your effective call management grows.

There are three key areas where customers and your business benefit from these improvements.

AreaBenefit
Customer satisfactionDealing with queries faster, as well as services like intelligent call routing, will increase customer satisfaction scores. Satisfied customers are more likely to recommend your business. This is especially true when you enable customers to share these positive opinions on social media.
Customer retentionCurrent marketing data from Statista shows an 82% retention rate for customers who have complaints resolved promptly. Most companies agree that quality customer service plays the biggest role in customer retention. Good call management improves customer service.
Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)As customer retention increases, so do lifetime values. Average figures suggest that your likelihood of selling to an existing customer is around 60-70%, compared to 5-20% for new customers. Satisfied customers will return to your business. If you keep meeting their needs, they’ll keep coming back.

AreaBenefit
Customer satisfactionDealing with queries faster, as well as services like intelligent call routing, will increase customer satisfaction scores. Satisfied customers are more likely to recommend your business. This is especially true when you enable customers to share these positive opinions on social media.
Customer retentionCurrent marketing data from Statista shows an 82% retention rate for customers who have complaints resolved promptly. Most companies agree that quality customer service plays the biggest role in customer retention. Good call management improves customer service.
Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)As customer retention increases, so do lifetime values. Average figures suggest that your likelihood of selling to an existing customer is around 60-70%, compared to 5-20% for new customers. Satisfied customers will return to your business. If you keep meeting their needs, they’ll keep coming back.

AreaBenefit
Customer satisfactionDealing with queries faster, as well as services like intelligent call routing, will increase customer satisfaction scores. Satisfied customers are more likely to recommend your business. This is especially true when you enable customers to share these positive opinions on social media.
Customer retentionCurrent marketing data from Statista shows an 82% retention rate for customers who have complaints resolved promptly. Most companies agree that quality customer service plays the biggest role in customer retention. Good call management improves customer service.
Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)As customer retention increases, so do lifetime values. Average figures suggest that your likelihood of selling to an existing customer is around 60-70%, compared to 5-20% for new customers. Satisfied customers will return to your business. If you keep meeting their needs, they’ll keep coming back.

AreaBenefit
Customer satisfactionDealing with queries faster, as well as services like intelligent call routing, will increase customer satisfaction scores. Satisfied customers are more likely to recommend your business. This is especially true when you enable customers to share these positive opinions on social media.
Customer retentionCurrent marketing data from Statista shows an 82% retention rate for customers who have complaints resolved promptly. Most companies agree that quality customer service plays the biggest role in customer retention. Good call management improves customer service.
Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)As customer retention increases, so do lifetime values. Average figures suggest that your likelihood of selling to an existing customer is around 60-70%, compared to 5-20% for new customers. Satisfied customers will return to your business. If you keep meeting their needs, they’ll keep coming back.

Call Management Software

Call Management Software

Call Management Software

Call Management Software

When it comes to call management, the software you choose will make a big difference. There are so many options that it can be difficult to tell where to invest. There are some key factors you should consider before you can accurately assess your choices, including:

  • What are the potential long-term efficiency savings?
  • What are the upfront and ongoing costs?
  • Can I integrate my existing systems?
  • Do I need individual tools or an all-in-one solution?
  • Do I need a domestic or international calling service?
  • Can I access internal or external technical help if I run into software issues?

Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s much easier to narrow down your options. Then you can move on to an individual assessment of each platform or program.

How Do I Choose the Right Software?

Even when you’ve narrowed down your options, you’ll still find several businesses offering solutions that meet some or all of your needs. Software as a service is a wide market. This means you’ll need to make a decision based on three crucial areas:

  1. Reputation
  2. Reliability
  3. Service

To get this information, you’ll need to look at the history of a business and look up the opinions of other users. Let’s look at each of these factors in more detail.

Reputation

Reputation can tell you a lot about a business. Is your supplier known for its top-notch service? Are they known as the best value for money? You’ll often get a sense of this just by networking with others in your industry.

More and more tools and trackers appear all the time and let you get a wider view of a company's reputation. Think of consumer-focused sites like Trustpilot for retail or Feefo for logistics.

With information from both end-users and B2B customers, you can make more informed decisions and find the best business partner for you.

Reliability

How reliable your service will be is difficult to determine until you’ve used a product. Your supplier will be in control of maintenance if you use an external service. This is important as any downtime will negatively affect your customers.

Most reputable suppliers will acknowledge this. That’s why you’ll find most services come with a service level agreement (SLA) that guarantees a certain level of service. This is essentially a contract clause that guarantees your business will be compensated if service targets aren’t met.

For example, a confident platform like 8x8 boasts a 99.999% uptime and call quality, platform-wide, for all customers in their SLA.

Service

Even the best systems have issues from time to time. That’s why you need to consider your supplier’s customer service and technical help options. If you have 24/7 business hours, you’ll need 24/7 support. You still need someone on hand to help if your phone system goes down at 3 a.m.

There are other aspects to think about, too. How quickly your issues can be resolved will impact your customer satisfaction. Good communication and customer support are also a bonus, as this will help maintain good working relationships between your staff and supplier.

Secondary Deciding Factors

Depending on your industry and operations, there may be other functions you’ll need to look for. Consider these questions:

  • Do I need mobile integration, e.g., call manager mobile apps, SMS communications features, etc.?
  • How will the system affect internal communication?
  • Will the software integrate with Android phones or iOS?
  • Do I need AI-assisted functions, like intelligent call routing options?

If cost is a deciding factor for your business, there will be budget-related choices to make, too.

When it comes to call management, the software you choose will make a big difference. There are so many options that it can be difficult to tell where to invest. There are some key factors you should consider before you can accurately assess your choices, including:

  • What are the potential long-term efficiency savings?
  • What are the upfront and ongoing costs?
  • Can I integrate my existing systems?
  • Do I need individual tools or an all-in-one solution?
  • Do I need a domestic or international calling service?
  • Can I access internal or external technical help if I run into software issues?

Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s much easier to narrow down your options. Then you can move on to an individual assessment of each platform or program.

How Do I Choose the Right Software?

Even when you’ve narrowed down your options, you’ll still find several businesses offering solutions that meet some or all of your needs. Software as a service is a wide market. This means you’ll need to make a decision based on three crucial areas:

  1. Reputation
  2. Reliability
  3. Service

To get this information, you’ll need to look at the history of a business and look up the opinions of other users. Let’s look at each of these factors in more detail.

Reputation

Reputation can tell you a lot about a business. Is your supplier known for its top-notch service? Are they known as the best value for money? You’ll often get a sense of this just by networking with others in your industry.

More and more tools and trackers appear all the time and let you get a wider view of a company's reputation. Think of consumer-focused sites like Trustpilot for retail or Feefo for logistics.

With information from both end-users and B2B customers, you can make more informed decisions and find the best business partner for you.

Reliability

How reliable your service will be is difficult to determine until you’ve used a product. Your supplier will be in control of maintenance if you use an external service. This is important as any downtime will negatively affect your customers.

Most reputable suppliers will acknowledge this. That’s why you’ll find most services come with a service level agreement (SLA) that guarantees a certain level of service. This is essentially a contract clause that guarantees your business will be compensated if service targets aren’t met.

For example, a confident platform like 8x8 boasts a 99.999% uptime and call quality, platform-wide, for all customers in their SLA.

Service

Even the best systems have issues from time to time. That’s why you need to consider your supplier’s customer service and technical help options. If you have 24/7 business hours, you’ll need 24/7 support. You still need someone on hand to help if your phone system goes down at 3 a.m.

There are other aspects to think about, too. How quickly your issues can be resolved will impact your customer satisfaction. Good communication and customer support are also a bonus, as this will help maintain good working relationships between your staff and supplier.

Secondary Deciding Factors

Depending on your industry and operations, there may be other functions you’ll need to look for. Consider these questions:

  • Do I need mobile integration, e.g., call manager mobile apps, SMS communications features, etc.?
  • How will the system affect internal communication?
  • Will the software integrate with Android phones or iOS?
  • Do I need AI-assisted functions, like intelligent call routing options?

If cost is a deciding factor for your business, there will be budget-related choices to make, too.

When it comes to call management, the software you choose will make a big difference. There are so many options that it can be difficult to tell where to invest. There are some key factors you should consider before you can accurately assess your choices, including:

  • What are the potential long-term efficiency savings?
  • What are the upfront and ongoing costs?
  • Can I integrate my existing systems?
  • Do I need individual tools or an all-in-one solution?
  • Do I need a domestic or international calling service?
  • Can I access internal or external technical help if I run into software issues?

Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s much easier to narrow down your options. Then you can move on to an individual assessment of each platform or program.

How Do I Choose the Right Software?

Even when you’ve narrowed down your options, you’ll still find several businesses offering solutions that meet some or all of your needs. Software as a service is a wide market. This means you’ll need to make a decision based on three crucial areas:

  1. Reputation
  2. Reliability
  3. Service

To get this information, you’ll need to look at the history of a business and look up the opinions of other users. Let’s look at each of these factors in more detail.

Reputation

Reputation can tell you a lot about a business. Is your supplier known for its top-notch service? Are they known as the best value for money? You’ll often get a sense of this just by networking with others in your industry.

More and more tools and trackers appear all the time and let you get a wider view of a company's reputation. Think of consumer-focused sites like Trustpilot for retail or Feefo for logistics.

With information from both end-users and B2B customers, you can make more informed decisions and find the best business partner for you.

Reliability

How reliable your service will be is difficult to determine until you’ve used a product. Your supplier will be in control of maintenance if you use an external service. This is important as any downtime will negatively affect your customers.

Most reputable suppliers will acknowledge this. That’s why you’ll find most services come with a service level agreement (SLA) that guarantees a certain level of service. This is essentially a contract clause that guarantees your business will be compensated if service targets aren’t met.

For example, a confident platform like 8x8 boasts a 99.999% uptime and call quality, platform-wide, for all customers in their SLA.

Service

Even the best systems have issues from time to time. That’s why you need to consider your supplier’s customer service and technical help options. If you have 24/7 business hours, you’ll need 24/7 support. You still need someone on hand to help if your phone system goes down at 3 a.m.

There are other aspects to think about, too. How quickly your issues can be resolved will impact your customer satisfaction. Good communication and customer support are also a bonus, as this will help maintain good working relationships between your staff and supplier.

Secondary Deciding Factors

Depending on your industry and operations, there may be other functions you’ll need to look for. Consider these questions:

  • Do I need mobile integration, e.g., call manager mobile apps, SMS communications features, etc.?
  • How will the system affect internal communication?
  • Will the software integrate with Android phones or iOS?
  • Do I need AI-assisted functions, like intelligent call routing options?

If cost is a deciding factor for your business, there will be budget-related choices to make, too.

When it comes to call management, the software you choose will make a big difference. There are so many options that it can be difficult to tell where to invest. There are some key factors you should consider before you can accurately assess your choices, including:

  • What are the potential long-term efficiency savings?
  • What are the upfront and ongoing costs?
  • Can I integrate my existing systems?
  • Do I need individual tools or an all-in-one solution?
  • Do I need a domestic or international calling service?
  • Can I access internal or external technical help if I run into software issues?

Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s much easier to narrow down your options. Then you can move on to an individual assessment of each platform or program.

How Do I Choose the Right Software?

Even when you’ve narrowed down your options, you’ll still find several businesses offering solutions that meet some or all of your needs. Software as a service is a wide market. This means you’ll need to make a decision based on three crucial areas:

  1. Reputation
  2. Reliability
  3. Service

To get this information, you’ll need to look at the history of a business and look up the opinions of other users. Let’s look at each of these factors in more detail.

Reputation

Reputation can tell you a lot about a business. Is your supplier known for its top-notch service? Are they known as the best value for money? You’ll often get a sense of this just by networking with others in your industry.

More and more tools and trackers appear all the time and let you get a wider view of a company's reputation. Think of consumer-focused sites like Trustpilot for retail or Feefo for logistics.

With information from both end-users and B2B customers, you can make more informed decisions and find the best business partner for you.

Reliability

How reliable your service will be is difficult to determine until you’ve used a product. Your supplier will be in control of maintenance if you use an external service. This is important as any downtime will negatively affect your customers.

Most reputable suppliers will acknowledge this. That’s why you’ll find most services come with a service level agreement (SLA) that guarantees a certain level of service. This is essentially a contract clause that guarantees your business will be compensated if service targets aren’t met.

For example, a confident platform like 8x8 boasts a 99.999% uptime and call quality, platform-wide, for all customers in their SLA.

Service

Even the best systems have issues from time to time. That’s why you need to consider your supplier’s customer service and technical help options. If you have 24/7 business hours, you’ll need 24/7 support. You still need someone on hand to help if your phone system goes down at 3 a.m.

There are other aspects to think about, too. How quickly your issues can be resolved will impact your customer satisfaction. Good communication and customer support are also a bonus, as this will help maintain good working relationships between your staff and supplier.

Secondary Deciding Factors

Depending on your industry and operations, there may be other functions you’ll need to look for. Consider these questions:

  • Do I need mobile integration, e.g., call manager mobile apps, SMS communications features, etc.?
  • How will the system affect internal communication?
  • Will the software integrate with Android phones or iOS?
  • Do I need AI-assisted functions, like intelligent call routing options?

If cost is a deciding factor for your business, there will be budget-related choices to make, too.

Final Thoughts: Call Queues and Satisfied Customers

Final Thoughts: Call Queues and Satisfied Customers

Final Thoughts: Call Queues and Satisfied Customers

Final Thoughts: Call Queues and Satisfied Customers

Call queues and call management options are vital if you want to build a top-class customer experience. The reasons why are:

  1. Integrated data
  2. Efficient customer service
  3. Faster complaint resolution
  4. Optimized decision-making through AI-assisted reporting
  5. Service level consistency

Satisfied customers are more likely to return. A good call management system won’t automatically give you more satisfied customers, but it will give you the necessary foundation for building an effective customer service model across your business.

If you’re ready to incorporate call queues into your customer support strategy, request a quote or schedule a demo with our 8x8 agents today.

Call queues and call management options are vital if you want to build a top-class customer experience. The reasons why are:

  1. Integrated data
  2. Efficient customer service
  3. Faster complaint resolution
  4. Optimized decision-making through AI-assisted reporting
  5. Service level consistency

Satisfied customers are more likely to return. A good call management system won’t automatically give you more satisfied customers, but it will give you the necessary foundation for building an effective customer service model across your business.

If you’re ready to incorporate call queues into your customer support strategy, request a quote or schedule a demo with our 8x8 agents today.

Call queues and call management options are vital if you want to build a top-class customer experience. The reasons why are:

  1. Integrated data
  2. Efficient customer service
  3. Faster complaint resolution
  4. Optimized decision-making through AI-assisted reporting
  5. Service level consistency

Satisfied customers are more likely to return. A good call management system won’t automatically give you more satisfied customers, but it will give you the necessary foundation for building an effective customer service model across your business.

If you’re ready to incorporate call queues into your customer support strategy, request a quote or schedule a demo with our 8x8 agents today.

Call queues and call management options are vital if you want to build a top-class customer experience. The reasons why are:

  1. Integrated data
  2. Efficient customer service
  3. Faster complaint resolution
  4. Optimized decision-making through AI-assisted reporting
  5. Service level consistency

Satisfied customers are more likely to return. A good call management system won’t automatically give you more satisfied customers, but it will give you the necessary foundation for building an effective customer service model across your business.

If you’re ready to incorporate call queues into your customer support strategy, request a quote or schedule a demo with our 8x8 agents today.