What is meant by the term “digital receptionist”?

2020 was an extremely unusual year. The COVID-19 pandemic swept over the world, forcing millions of individuals to work from home. Despite the concerns about security and productivity, this forced experiment in remote working has been unexpectedly effective. So successful that international firms like Twitter have announced that they will enable many of their workers to work remotely for as long as they like.

First impressions are important, whether you work for a huge organisation or a small firm. As a result, as remote working has grown in popularity over the last 18 months, so has interest in digital receptionists, often known as “virtual receptionist” or a “telephone answering service”.

What is the Definition of a Digital Receptionist?

A Digital Receptionist, or virtual receptionist service, acts similarly to an in-house receptionist, except the service is outsourced to another company and operated from that company’s location or premise. A digital receptionist will typically answer all of your business calls, route them to the appropriate people, and filter out any unwanted spam or sales calls. They will also take messages from callers and deliver them to the relevant parties, usually via SMS, email, or an internet portal. The digital receptionist may also assist callers with simple and frequently asked questions, as well as automating the scheduling of appointments.

What are the Benefits of Digital Receptionist?

Whether you work remotely or in an office, there are several benefits to hiring a digital receptionist. Using a digital receptionist instead of an in-house full-time hire saves the need to spend time finding and training a receptionist. You will not have to deal with a lot of legal paperwork, permanent contracts, and employee benefit packages.

A digital receptionist can help you develop your firm while reducing financial risk. There are no long-term agreements when using professional digital receptionist software or a telephone answering service, such as Onwards Answering. This flexibility is perfect for seasonal businesses or those facing a sudden increase in phone calls that may be temporary. In addition, Onwards Answering offers a digital receptionist service for as little as £5 a day. According to totaljobs.com, the average full-time receptionist pay in the UK is slightly less than £19,000 (at the time of writing). Onwards Answering provides the benefits of an in-house receptionist at a fraction of the expense.

In addition to contract flexibility, digital receptionist software removes the need to invest in expensive office equipment and computer software. You will normally pay a flat monthly charge with no startup fees. Furthermore, Onwards Answering offers a seven-day free trial, allowing you to test and assess the benefits of a digital receptionist before committing to an ongoing contract.

Minimise distractions and disruptions

The impact of distractions and disruptions can often be overlooked or understated. According to numerous studies, remote working has enhanced productivity, which is assumed to be due to a considerable minimised workplace interruptions.

Interruptions such as unwanted scam calls or sales phone calls are not only inconvenient and irritating, but research shows that they can reduce the quantity and quality of work performed within a given time limit.

Interruptions, such as unwelcome phone calls, not only reduce productivity, but scientific study has shown that they also increase the amount of errors and the level of tension and anxiety that you are likely to experience. In one study, for example, interruptions caused mistake rates to quadruple.

With an Onwards Answering digital receptionist or telephone answering service, the system allows that you can set your status on the Onwards Answering mobile app to “Do not disturb”, and your digital receptionist will ensure that only emergency calls are directed to your phone.

With the frequency of unwanted sales and spam calls increasing in recent years, this can significantly boost your productivity. Furthermore, you will not have to constantly listen for your phone while focusing on the task at hand, which might help you reach a “flow state” with your work, making it more fun and productive.

Make a strong first impression

We understand how important your business is to you, and how essential it is to make a strong first impression. When you employ a professional digital receptionist provider like Onwards Answering, you can be confident that your receptionist will “wow!” all of your callers with their professional demeanour and tone. We are confident that Onwards Answering will deliver exceptional customer service and in turn improve customer experience and improve customer satisfaction.

Each Onwards Answering receptionist is highly trained, and we assign every company to a specific receptionist based on their expertise and skill set. Your receptionist will also take the time to learn about your company, as well as you and your colleagues, so that he or she can respond to your business calls in the same way as a full-time in-house receptionist would.

Even if you operate from home, a highly professional UK-based digital receptionist will treat your business as if it were located in an office. Even though remote work has become a viable business practice since the epidemic, working from an office may still be viewed as more professional. You also don’t have to worry about answering the phone when your next-door neighbour’s dog barks or they mow the grass! Even if you only have a mobile phone, Onwards Answering allows you to choose a local or toll-free number.

Never miss any business calls

With Onwards Answering, all of your business calls are answered quickly, and with an after-hours, 24/7 answering service, you will never miss a business call, day or night.

With the amount of individuals working shifts increasing in many parts of the country, using a 24/7 answering service is an excellent way to go above and beyond while providing excellent customer service.

In addition to shift workers, many people prefer to contact businesses outside of regular working hours. For example, a busy parent may choose to contact a company in the evening, after work and after the children have gone to bed.

If a potential client or customer calls and is not answered, they are unlikely to leave a voice message and are more probably to contact a direct competitor.

Ensure that all of your calls are answered quickly, regardless of time, to make your callers feel valued and important, resulting in a positive first impression. An unanswered call will leave your potential consumer frustrated and annoyed.

Peace of mind and stress relief

As previously stated, disruptions can greatly increase levels of stress. Not only that, but constantly listening for your business or mobile phone throughout the day and night can keep you from enjoying whatever else you’re doing. You can never entirely disconnect from work.

With a digital receptionist service, you can relax knowing that all of your calls are being handled. This allows you to focus on the task at hand, and with a 24-hour service, you can unwind and enjoy your free time after a long day at work. With an after-hours answering service, you may take calls and create leads even while you sleep!

Convert your mobile into a business phone system

One of the costs associated with launching a business is the set up of a phone system. In some cases, this can cost several thousand pounds. Onwards Answering’s telephone answering/digital receptionist service allows you to effortlessly convert your mobile phone into a business phone system.

You might choose a reputable business number, such as a local or toll-free number, to deliver the best first impression. 

When a local landline or toll-free number is listed on your website, business cards, and corporate literature, it can help to improve your company’s image.

The Onwards Answering app also makes it simple to route calls to specified phone numbers in a predetermined order. You can review your call history for future reference and select specific numbers as VIP callers. 

You may also use the Onwards Answering online portal to view a variety of information, such as the number of calls and the busiest periods of the day and week.

Why choose Onwards Answering’s Receptionist Service?

Onwards Answering chooses a receptionist that will work seamlessly with your staff.

A digital receptionist service also provides you with a great degree of flexibility. You can have an Onwards Answering receptionist answer your business calls at all times, while you are busy, or as part of an overflow service. You can also choose a 24/7 service that will answer all of your calls regardless of the day or hour. Onwards Answering can make your call answering process more efficient. 

Onwards Answering’s receptionist service also offers a seven-day free trial with no commitment to sign up or provide any financial information. During the free trial, you will be able to personally experience the service and its benefits. You will also be able to chat with your Onwards Answering receptionist and brief him or her on your company and your specific needs for answering calls.

To learn more and join up for a free trial, please call us at 0141 286 4220.