In today’s economy, customer service is paramount. The Internet has done a lot of things for businesses and consumers alike, including putting the consumers in control. While there’s a growing market of competition for your business, there’s also the potential to reach a growing audience of customers if you use the right tools and solutions.
VoIP phone systems are the new business communication tool. These systems are changing the way that people communicate with businesses, and with each other. Today, of course, the focus is on the business VoIP side of things, and the seven providers that have the customer service that your company deserves.
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a means of communicating over data lines instead of traditional phone lines. Voice and text data is sent as packets of information and transmitted from one device to another. Today, thanks to mobile technology, many of these interactions occur wirelessly and in a matter of seconds. Having the right support there at the right time matters.
If you’re new to VoIP, there’s a lot to be said for taking the time to find a reputable service provider that focuses on helping you get the most out of your VoIP system. Some companies just offer a free platform, a simple system, or some other perk that makes up for the severely lacking customer service department. Others focus on customer service and support exclusively, ensuring that you’ll never be left alone when it counts.
The latter are the ones that you’ll want to work with, and the ones we’ll be talking about below. Today, your business needs the most efficient, cost-effective ways to communicate with your customers and leads. Thanks to the Internet, it’s a lot more affordable than ever before—providers like Google even have free VoIP solutions for businesses on a tight budget. Of course, free isn’t the only good deal; you can find a lot of providers with premium plans that are less than $50 per user, per month.
That means you can get the service that you need to allow you to deliver better customer service to your own audience. Let’s talk a little about the numbers behind the service industry and then we’ll look at the VoIP providers that should be on your list.
We all know that customer service is important—we hear about it all the time. But just how important is it? According to Nextiva, one of the leading providers listed below, customer service can do a lot for a business:
And perhaps most importantly, let’s take a look at the dangers of not paying attention to customer service:
Although customer service issues are down, the inclination to be vocal about the issues that do exist is higher than ever. In simple words, people are talking. Customer service means making sure that they’re talking about the right things.
Today, it’s easier than ever to take advantage of customer service resources, including self-service tools when they’re offered. After all, 90% of today’s consumers expect some type of online service portal—it’s only natural that you expect it from your VoIP providers, too. What does “good customer service” mean, though? It means you should have easy access to contact people for assistance. You should also have self-service resources like articles, FAQs, and blogs to help you learn what you can on your own. Most importantly, you should have the guarantee of the provider that your satisfaction will always be a priority.
If you’re not getting the best customer service, after all, how are you going to give it? Let’s look at seven providers that can help you when it comes to VoIP solutions.
RingCentral is one of the oldest data providers available and they have always been focused on delivering a better level of service for a better experience. Although they started with Internet faxing, they now provide a full-service VoIP solution that you can scale and customize to the needs of your business, thanks to several different plans and pricing options.
RingCentral also offers a free trial so that you can check out the platform before you commit to spending any money, and there are discounts when you pay annually, as well. You’ll find standard auto attendant and call routing features, along with plenty of other automation and AI.
Check out features like:
Nextiva is another leader in VoIP service. They have a 30-day trial, which is one of the best that you’ll find available today, along with plenty of feature-rich solutions for VoIP. Their cloud-hosted solution offers award-winning customer service and support that includes live help and a knowledge base to help you learn as you go. You can customize plans to suit your needs and unlimited faxing comes standard.
Nextiva also offers free automated greetings and other AI to help streamline your communications. You can upgrade for unlimited audio, and although that doesn’t come standard, this company still makes our list for one of the best. After all, smaller companies might not need unlimited talk and text features, so this is an option for anyone who wants better service.
Key highlights include:
Ooma is a unique service that’s changing the way people see (and use) VoIP services. They allow you to pick and choose from a variety of service plans and use your own devices, or you can buy an Ooma device and get basic access totally free. The bonus with the latter is that you’ll also get a 60-day trial of the Premier plan, which allows you to check it out before you have to spend anything.
Ooma integrates with Amazon Echo and Google Nest, too, and the company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, promising that you’ll love their service, or they’ll refund anything that you do pay. Customized reporting, transcription, intelligent call routing, and other features are plentiful, as well.
Highlights to consider include:
8x8 is a top platform for customizable solutions and that’s also what makes it a big hit in the customer service arena—they’re all about helping you create your VoIP solution. They have tons of plans available with features like contact importing, intelligent call routing, and automated greetings, plus more. You can even upgrade to an all-in-one package for even more success with your VoIP service.
With 8x8, you’ll be able to customize features, choose a plan that suits your needs, and get discounts for paying for your subscription annually. Premium features are available for an upgrade, but integrations with your existing apps are standard. Plus, 8x8 boasts an impressive 99.999% uptime, so you can ensure that you’ll never miss a thing.
Key features include:
Bitrix24 is one of the leading VoIP solutions today because it has such a dynamic, robust offering at the free price point. If you’ve got 12 users or less, you can have access to the basic plan, with intelligent call routing, syncing and file sharing, and even a group chat included. And if you need something a little more, paid plans start at less than $20 per month for each user. Plus, it has its own CRM for those who don’t already have one in place.
Bitrix24 makes it easy to communicate and keep conversations organized. It also allows you to get people to the right place faster with automated intelligence in routing, greetings, and other areas. Mobile applications ensure that you can communicate seamlessly on any device, too, and you’ll be able to share screens and conference in HD video.
Plus, you’ll love features like:
GoToConnect starts by offering unlimited calls and texts with all of its plans, along with a 14-day trial to test things out. They have plans for every size business and the features and options ensure that everyone gets the VoIP solution that they need. Unlimited attendants are available with upgraded plans, and you can also choose advanced analytics if you desire.
Every plan from GoToConnect includes intelligent call routing, automated queues and an auto attendant for your main line, along with other features. You can create meetings with as many as 250 participants on audio and video calls, and more. The customization options are plentiful, and the company does a great job of helping new clients get setup.
Check out key features like:
Vonage has been around since the early days of VoIP, and they are notorious for their service and support. In addition to providing an array of customizable solutions that fit just about any business need. They have award-winning customer service and offer a lot of different features on basic plans, along with plenty of upgrades and add-ons that you will love. There’s even an App Center where you can find apps and integrations to use with the platform.
Vonage offers unlimited calls and messages with every plan and their AI-enabled workflows ensure that everything is seamless when it comes to communications. Plus, you’ll get two weeks to try it out and see how you like it before you have to commit. You can also request a demo and get a customized quote, which is a great way to do VoIP.
Consider highlights like:
We’re in the business of customer service and we know how valuable it can be to your business. When you have a business to manage, it can be hard to keep up with everything and give it all the attention that it deserves. Fortunately, you’re not on your own anymore. Partner with the dedicated virtual receptionists at Smith.ai for 24/7 phone answering, SMS and Facebook message answering, and so much more.
Our team of live agents will be available for whatever you need, whenever you need it. Plus, we’ll even take the time to work with you to come up with a dynamic strategy to manage everything. It doesn’t matter how good your VoIP provider is if you’re not able to keep up with the calls, after all.
To learn more, schedule a consultation to discuss how the virtual receptionists at Smith.ai can deliver 24/7 communication solutions for phone answering, SMS message answering, live chat, and so much more. You’ll also find us at hello@smith.ai or (650) 727-6484.
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