In today’s competitive business world, more companies are turning to call centers and answering services to minimize costs, without compromising customer service quality and reliability. First-rate customer service is essential to retaining customers and earning new ones. Small to medium size businesses shouldn’t overlook the advantages of partnering with a 24/7 call center for their company’s customer service needs during the day, after-hours and high traffic call times.
This chart compares the typical capabilities and cost(s) associated with hiring an internal receptionist versus working with Appletree Answers – a call center and answering service provider.
| Answering Service | Internal Receptionist | |
| AVAILABILITY | 24/7/365 (even holidays) | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday |
| COST | $440 per month (on average)$5,280 per year (on average) ***Based on a 500 min, per month plan | According to payscale.com, the median cost of hiring a receptionist in 2011 is $29,088; plus benefits, vacation, bonuses, etc. |
| EXPERIENCE | Appletree Answers has 15 years experience in the call center and answering service industry | May vary according to employee |
| LANGUAGE | Bilingual support | Typically English |
| TECHNOLOGY | Fully customizable software to track call statistics and provide real-time call data and recordings. Appletree Answers also offers:
|
Limited to office resources |
| RELIABILITY | Never experience sick days, vacation or medical/personal leave with a team of qualified agents readily available to answer customer needs. | Sick days, vacation, paid holidays, medical/personal leave, weather related events |
| OVERHEAD/ MAINTENACE COSTS | None | Office space, computer, fax, printer, office supplies, etc. |
*costs and capabilities may vary
Appletree is a full service answering service and call center with 22 locations across the United States and Puerto Rico. They house a team of 545 qualified customer service representatives who are available 24/7/365 to answer customer’s questions. For more info on Appletree Answers, visit www.appletreeanswers.com.
Lost calls mean lost business.It’s very important to have the most effective receptionist.When a customer or partner calls, you want to give them a live and warm voice human than a voice mail system.Nowaday’s a lot of company’s reputation and new business is on the line, how quickly and professionally you answer and respond to inbound calls is extremely important.Having an alert communications’ virtual office answering service helps you capture new-client opportunities and provides best-in-class service to all your customers.
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