The Virtual Company – Using an 800 Number and PBX System
Many businesses keep making a profit because they find better ways to do things with fewer resources. In current economic conditions, if you are able to create a loose group of like-minded entrepreneurs who work well together, then you will be able to make money without excessive overhead. The truth in this lies in being resourceful. One resource that you should consider and implement is an 800 number and PBX system.
The question is: what do you do if you have business ‘partners’ who all need to remain connected but live in different time zones? How can your organization appear to be of one mind and location? The use of an 800 number and PBX system will provide this for you.
Uneven work schedules across multiple time zones alone can be a nightmare. There is nothing more frustrating and time-consuming that trying to reach others and having to resort to playing phone tag. This makes project timelines and deadlines grow longer and longer.
Answer the call. The same 800 number and PBX system that you implement for your customers can be used for business colleagues as well. Each location can have their own extension on the PBX system. Customers and prospects who call do not even know that the company is not run from one common location. It provides you with the ability to pull together resources to help customers get the information they need and work with those who deliver support.
Keep costs low. While creating this wonderful structure for your business, you will find that the costs are low. The 800 numbers are very cost effective and can be made to call into an existing business number. The PBX system has growth built in as you can add and delete extensions at any time. Also, phone calls that arrive on the 800 number and are routed to the PBX system give the callers the ability to choose the department or ‘live’ person that they are trying to reach.
The ‘follow me’ feature automatically dials a pre-selected set of numbers before sending a caller to a voice mailbox. This usually follows a programmed list of an office extension, a cell phone, a home number, and finally the voice mailbox. The effort to find a ‘real’ person to handle important issues is appreciated by your customers.
Be flexible. Once your 800 number and PBX system is set up, you can program several information and Q&A extension to deliver pre-sales and simple support information to callers before they choose to try to reach a live person. This helps the callers obtain their own answers to questions and solve issues quickly with no intervention on your part.
In the scheme of your business, you can implement the old, difficult way of doing business by having individual phone numbers and long distance charges. Messages can be moved from person to person via email. All of this is unnecessary, however, as a well-designed and implemented PBX system will do it all for you. Look into one today. You will be glad that you did.
Lee Percival is a small business owner who uses Get800Today.com toll free number service. He recommends getting a toll free phone number for business use to improve your professional image and customer service.
