In one of our previous articles, we explained the technology behind an Interactive Voice Response System, and its most common uses in modern-day telecommunication services. But why exactly is this solution gaining so much popularity, is it a good option for small businesses, and what are the biggest IVR benefits? Today, we will find out.
IVR system – is it worth it for small businesses? 10 IVR benefits
Interactive Voice Response systems allow for the re-routing of incoming customer calls to the most appropriate agent or department – and because they were initially designed to automate the management of hundreds of calls daily, the general perception is that they are mainly beneficial for bigger businesses.
However, this is not exactly the case. Small businesses can obtain valuable benefits from implementing an IVR solution into their infrastructure, and these are some of them:
1. Reduction of Human Error
Small companies usually have only one receptionist or customer service representative, and not enough time to attend properly hundreds of calls every day. Using an IVR system automates this process and makes it significantly less prone to human error, facilitating the response to a high volume of calls without burdening the receptionist.
The correct segmentation and filtering, eased by the IVR system, will ensure that each call ends up in the right department, and more importantly, in the hands of the right agent – without making the customer wait or be passed between departments.
2. Increase first-contact quality
Getting attended by an employee who doesn’t know how to help you neither who would be the most suitable colleague to solve your issue can be a really frustrating experience. In these cases, an IVR system is an excellent tool for increasing first contact resolution, directing the customer to the most appropriate department. This way, the agent who receives the call will be significantly more qualified to solve the issue, and there will be no need for a call transfer or unnecessary waste of time.
3. More efficient personalization
Interactive Voice Response systems allow for tremendous personalization, helping your small company create much better relationships with its customers. Some advanced IVR solutions can even be programmed to attend users with personalized greetings by using the caller ID information.
And of course, personalization doesn’t end there – apart from addressing the customer by his name, this technology also allows for the collection and identification of specific data to help the company address the customer properly. Language options can also be set up depending on the client and his native language.
4. Time-efficiency for companies and customers
Interactive Voice Response solutions are a great way to save time both for small businesses and their customers. One of the biggest IVR benefits for companies is that it helps them manage better their call volume by automating various otherwise manual processes.
For customers, in addition to being paired with the most qualified agent, selecting their preferred option from a short menu usually happens quickly and easily. Additionally, some IVR solutions give you an approximate calculation of the time you would need to wait in order to speak to an agent, making it easier to decide if you would prefer to wait on the line or just call later. Automated processes such as speed recognition and text-to-speech in various languages make the experience faster, and also reduce the number of dropped calls for companies.
5. Unlimited customer access
Setting up an IVR system provides a great deal of convenience for both companies and their customers, as it performs its task 24/7 without interruption. You can set up pre-recorded messages for cases when a customer calls outside of office hours, on holidays, and even in days of limited employee availability, to let him know that you will get in touch as soon as possible – or directly to let the IVR solve the issue when possible (in occasions like calling to consult your phone bill or account balance.
6. Improved reputation
One of the biggest IVR benefits for small businesses is that it improves you company’s reputation and gives the finishing touch of professionalism when it comes to customer service. An IVR system not only creates the illusion that your businesses is bigger than it actually is, but it also shows that you care about your customers enough to provide a structured and personalized response to their calls.
In the end, it all sums up to a high-quality customer service, helping you establish a better company image.
7. Reduced costs
By providing a systemized way to handle large volume of calls, Interactive Voice Response lets you optimize operational costs and focus your time and human resources on more important things.
Every minute that a caller spends on the phone costs your company money – and even if it doesn’t look like a considerable amount compared to other costs, it quickly adds up to your expenses. The faster your customers get to the right department, the cheaper it’s for you – and an IVR is a great way to achieve that.
8. Abandonment rate decreases
A well-developed and advanced IVR system is a great tool for customers to complete simpler transactions or consult information quickly. If not done well or just missing, this function can stop someone from completing a transaction and spend money with your business.
By implementing an intuitive and robust IVR, you can prevent frustrated customers from hanging up on you and abandoning the transaction.
9. Increased productivity
Another one of the top 10 IVR benefits for small businesses is call routing, which can significantly improve productivity. Instead of wasting time on discussions with colleagues to find the right answer or locate the agent who can provide it, programming an automatic rerouting does that for you. This increases productivity and enables you to manage a higher volume of calls than usual.
10. Can be paired with call recording
Paired with a cloud-based call recording solution like Recordia, IVR becomes a powerful tool for customer support excellency, quick dispute resolution, obtaining instant feedback from users, and quality control – all while complying with security regulations such as MiFID II and the GDPR. Check all the benefits of a call recording solution here.