The Surprising Versatility Of Call Contact Centers

When people hear the words 'call center' or 'contact center', they don't necessarily think past the purposes they serve besides being able to answer the phone at 3 a.m. While call contact centers are available 24/7, some business owners are unaware of their versatile capabilities which can come as surprise because contact centers can be utilized in almost any industry. Knowing that the business world is constantly evolving and growing, owners must stay competitive to keep up with the dynamic landscape to continue success. By using a call contact center to complete customer service duties, business owners can improve their customer relations and their business strategy.

Here are some of the surprising and versatile industries where call contact centers can be beneficial:

Educational Institutions

As high school seniors approach graduation for 2015, you can imagine that colleges and universities across the country will be getting plenty of phone calls from these prospective college freshmen. It's vital for these higher education institutions to handle the influx of phone calls because they want to ensure each new student gets the information they need for their fall semester entrance. Things like application requirements, financial aid information and directions will be among the many topics that will be discussed over the phone – putting the pressure on educational institutions to provide this info. Call contact centers can help alleviate the volume of calls and satisfy the new students.

Hospitality

It's without a doubt that the vacation season is about to begin as the summer is right around the corner. This means that those in the tourism and hospitality industries will need to make customers happy in order to conduct business. And it's extremely important to satisfy the needs of vacationers because a happy customer will more likely spread the positive word about the business. In order to capture this kind of positivity, businesses may need to increase their calling capacity and even set up a virtual receptionist to answer questions and spur-of-the-moment concerns that can be accessed whenever. This is where a call contact center can improve customer relations and support any inquiries from a guest.  

Property Management

Running a residential property like an apartment complex can take a lot of work because as a landlord, you're typically responsible for any maintenance issues that arise. But the thing about residential properties is that a problem can happen at any given time like a water heater leaking at 4 a.m. or the AC unit failing during the evening. When these events happen, they can occur after the management office closes and this puts the resident in a position where they want their problems fixed immediately. If they can't a property manager or maintenance personnel, you can bet they will be extremely unhappy.

To avoid these kinds of situations, property managers can use a call contact center to provide 24/7 support to residents for maintenance requests. This cuts down on the amount of frustration a resident can feel because they will be able to contact someone immediately. From that point, the call center agent can coordinate with the maintenance worker to fix the problem, making them the main point of dispatch.

Business Startup Tips

Hopeful entrepreneurs and business owners always dream of opening up their own business and the truth of the matter is that it is costly. But for those who are in the process of opening up their first brick-and-motor location, regardless if it's a retail store, office, body shop, or anything else, there are some ways you can save your business money from the get go. Here is a list of tips that can let you keep more cash in your pocket!

Lease Property

When it comes to opening your doors, consider leasing a commercial space when first starting out. This typically allows you to save money upfront compared to putting down a large amount of money for a mortgage. It also gives you the opportunity to move if your business continues to grow.

Help Desk Services

Instead of hiring full-time receptionists or secretaries, immediately start your business with help desk services outside of your business. This will cut your costs big time because you won't be paying for health benefits or pay them during slow times. It also gives you the flexibility of having calls taken 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – even if your business isn't open. You'll be able to capture potential business at all times of the day and year, making the idea even better.

Immediately Go Green

From CFL light bulbs to low-flow faucets to eco-friendly paper products, immediately turn your business green. Others who try to transition to green practices part way through their existing operations tend to waste time and money because the transition will cause work disruptions and affect their bottom line. Additionally, going green allows you to save money on energy bills and might even allow you to benefit from a tax break.

Find Partners

Last but not lease, try to find investors or partners that are willing to help your business grow. Look for reputable and well-established prospects because they may be more likely to join force with you. When you do present the opportunity, make sure you've done your homework by having financial projections ready, a clear and concise business plan and other documents that represent a good deal.

Startups don't have to be expensive - they just take some common sense and cost-cutting strategies to hit the ground running. From help desk services to going green to leasing, being a savvy entrepreneur now will pay off later.