The Evolution of Business Answering Service
The practice of using an answering service for business has been around for a long time. For at least 120 years, receptionists and call centers have been a consistent presence in providing customer service for businesses. As the world becomes increasingly globally connected, innovation has allowed this industry to grow and expand to provide services that no one could’ve anticipated decades ago. The evolution of the internet and digital technology has helped answering services grow by leaps and bounds with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
The History of Live Answering Services
Do you remember the Bell Telephone Company? By the early 1900s, there were over 2 million phones in the company system, which grew to over 30 million by the mid 1900s. Imagine your healthcare provider still making housecalls with no one available to take messages when they are out.
Evolution of the Switchboard
In the 1950s, answering machines and services were not as popular as they are today and switchboard operators became the norm just 10 years later. The familiar image of phone operators with pleated skirts and coiffed hair will forever be burned into our memories. We can now be thankful for the development of automated systems that no longer require running messengers or multiple ringing lines to reach important business people in an organization. Many businesses still needed to record messages by hand with added accuracy and detail to ensure the appropriate information was relayed. Eventually, answering machines entered the picture and our lives were forever changed. With this new technology, it was a welcome adjustment but lacked the personal touch of the old way of taking messages. Healthcare professionals still needed someone to man the phones and direct the calls while they were away visiting patients.
Enter the Cell Phone Answering Service for Your Business
Do you remember the rise of pagers in the 80s? These were especially helpful for doctors in knowing what location to report to. They were used to transmit information quicker and easier than phone messaging systems. As computers became more popular and advanced, alphanumeric paging became a frequent delivery service that allowed computer users to send messages directly to pagers. As email messages rose in popularity in the 90s, so did text messages.
We can all agree that the cell phone changed the game completely! With the convenience of cell phones, reaching the right person has become easier and faster than ever. Answering services are still used today to filter large volumes of messages and calls. They provide a personal touch and leave a positive impression with customers who appreciate reaching a live agent. Now, an answering service for business can cater to a wide range of industries and businesses of all sizes. Also referred to as call centers, answering services can be customized to the business needs of the client. They can process orders, schedule appointments, forward messages, and assist bilingual customers in real time.
Ask About Our Phone Answering Service For Your Business Today
All of our trained and live, in-house agents are available 24 / 7 and can assist in helping bilingual customers. Our upfront pricing can be customized to your business needs and preferences with inclusive features like:
- Fax delivery
- Live message relay
- SMS Text Delivery
- Lead capture
- 30 day call analysis
- Full summary report
- Call dispatching
- Call routing and transfer
- Urgent call answering
- Custom web lead forms
What does this mean for your business? With these features included in any plan you chose, you won’t be charged additional fees for using any of these additional services. We don’t charge any set-up fees or require any signed contracts. With our flexible plans, you can be confident that your customers are receiving the service they deserve during holidays, nights, and weekends.
Do you have questions about our answering service for business? Visit our website or give us a call today to find out how we can help!
