Tag: voip

A Complete Guide for Using Automated Answering Systems
As a business owner, improving customer satisfaction is crucial to your success. One way to achieve this is by implementing an automated answering system known as an auto-attendant. This phone-based system can handle a high volume of calls, directing them to the appropriate department or individual, eliminating the need for a live receptionist. This makes it an effective solution for businesses operating outside of traditional hours.

When it comes to improving customer satisfaction, companies often take various steps to achieve this goal. However, when faced with a high volume of customer requests, concerns, and complaints, it can be difficult to keep up. Fortunately, with the help of automation, automated answering systems are now available to act as customer service representatives and handle all customer inquiries on your behalf.

Automated answering systems can complement the role of a receptionist by helping to grow your business, manage customer relationships, and streamline processes. They do not replace the need for a human receptionist. It acts as a digital receptionist that is available 24/7 to handle all customer inquiries. This eliminates the worry of missed calls or missed messages, as the service will take care of everything on your behalf. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know about automated answering services.

What is the process of using automated answering systems and how do they function? This guide will provide a basic understanding for beginners.

What Is an Automated Answering Service?
How Does an Automated Answering Service Work?
What Is Call Deflection?
Benefits of Automated Answering Services
Different Sectors That Use Automated Answering Services

What Is an Automated Answering Service?

Several companies have live operators on board to answer phone calls and take down key customer messages. Such companies generally rely on automated answering services that take care of the phone whenever the live operators are busy with other tasks.

Automated answering services are ideal for individuals who frequently receive important calls but cannot answer each call personally. In short, an automated answering service acts as a replacement for a traditional answering service, handling customer requests and inquiries and providing prompt responses without making customers wait on hold.

An automated answering service is a tool that manages inbound calls, as opposed to an automated calling service which primarily handles outgoing calls. It utilizes advanced AI technology to provide self-service options to customers, allowing them to quickly receive answers to their requests or inquiries without having to wait on hold. This makes it an ideal solution for individuals or businesses that receive a high volume of important calls.

How Does an Automated Answering Service Work?

An automated answering service can be customized to fit your business needs. Whether you need to accept payments, route calls to different teams, or perform other tasks, an automated answering service can handle it for you.

In other words, an automated answering service is a digital receptionist that can answer calls on your behalf, direct customers towards the relevant department, or guide them through a series of menus. An automated answering service generally works in three different ways
- Answer the calls on your behalf using your existing phone number
- Play a pre-recorded greeting message that is tailored to your business requirements
- Guide customers through a series of menus and ask them for their intent and gather all relevant information
Global IVR Service Distribution by Region

An automated answering service can gather a significant amount of information, transfer it to the user, and then direct the caller to the appropriate department. Additionally, an answering service can also use a call deflection feature to manage high-volume calls.

What Is Call Deflection?

Call Deflection, as per the name, is an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) feature that automatically redirects a call from one point to another whenever a particular endpoint is busy. It is one of the many forms of call diversion.

Automated answering services can be tailored and customised to meet your business requirements and the needs of every client. When it comes to answering services, every time you receive a call, it will be directly routed to an operator who will then ask the caller/customer their name and the nature of the call.

Once the operator has obtained the information, they will check if the client has a record in their database. If a match is found, the operator will then route the client to the appropriate party. If no client record is found, the operator will take down the client’s message and then convey it to the client via text message or email.

Benefits of Automated Answering Services

Apart from saving you from high customer service costs, and improving customer services. An automated answering service serves several benefits such as

Professional Imaging

Based on the needs of your business, you can customize your answering service to ensure that all responses are prompt and enhance the company’s professional image.

Tailored Answering Service

An automated answering service can be used for a variety of purposes such as receiving payments, scheduling appointments, recording customer requests/complaints, handling inquiries, and more.

Saves On Operating Costs

An automated answering service acts as a digital receptionist that collects all customer information on your behalf, eliminating the need for a middleman or agent and ultimately reducing customer costs.

Minimum Missed Calls

Not every call requires an agent to be present. An automated answering service can assist by prioritizing important calls and saving time.

Wait Time Expectations/Queue Management

Customers waiting in a queue need to know how long they will be waiting before their request is addressed. An automated answering service can provide wait time expectations for better queue management.

Simplicity And Precision

An automated answering service can connect customers directly to the appropriate agent or department by asking them a few simple questions.

Multiple Routing Options

Many modern answering services have multiple routing options that reduce customer wait times. This allows customers to bypass the queue and speak directly with a designated agent to address their issues.

24/7 Customer Service

An automated answering service allows your business to be available 24/7, providing customers with access to customer service across all time zones.

Added Sales Opportunity

Automated answering machines are beneficial for both small business owners and large enterprises to improve and increase sales. Customized answering messages can be created to provide customers with the latest offers and product updates whenever they call.

Different Sectors That Use Automated Answering Services

As we mentioned earlier in the article, it doesn’t matter whether you are a small business holder or have a large enterprise, having an automated answering service will help your business grow and flourish.

Businesses of every stature and size can avail of the benefits that come with automated answering service to save time and cut down on operator costs. Furthermore, these services are perfect for businesses that run 24/7, have limited resources, and/or have international clients.

Moreover, automated answering services are largely dependent on the type of services businesses offer. Based on the services provided, the following are the places where you can find automated answering services used the most.

MSME: Medium Small and Micro Enterprises (MSME) are some of the best businesses that prefer automated answering services. Although the volume of phone calls might be less, they can still reap the benefits associated with an answering service

HVAC Services: HVAC services, such as plumbers, often receive calls outside of standard business hours. This is where having an active service can come in handy. An automated answering service can take down inquiries and essential messages.

Growing/Transitioning Business: Businesses on the verge of transition or an update too tend to use answering services that are flexible and can adjust to their growing business needs

Real Estate: Real Estate generally happens out of work and on the field. At this time, real estate professionals need someone in the office to attend to client calls and inquiries. This is where a tailored automated answering service comes in handy

Medical And Dental Offices: Thanks to strict HIPAA regulations, medical and dental service providers have to adhere to strictly when taking down customer information over the phone. This is where you can customise an answering service as per HIPAA laws to ensure safe and secure client information

Insurance Companies: Insurance workers, like real estate people, tend to work odd hours to better match their clients’ schedules. Therefore, in such scenarios, even after-hours calls are equally important. Setting up an automated call answering service will help attend to those calls and give potential customers the information they want.

Spas And Salons: Unlike the good old days, modern-day spas and salons require you to make a prior appointment. Setting up an answering machine and customising it will help customers make that appointment with ease.

In short, having an automated answering service is a great option for businesses with multiple operations areas. Therefore, if your business operates in different areas, having an answering service is extremely supportive in growing your business.

Conclusion

Automated answering services can complement traditional agents at a call centre and help grow your business in many ways. With an automated answering service, you have a digital receptionist available 24/7 to handle all customer inquiries. This has made it even more important for businesses to have an automated answering service in place to ensure that they don’t miss any important calls, even when they are not physically present to answer the phone. With an automated answering service, businesses can ensure that all calls are answered promptly and efficiently, regardless of the time of day or the location of the caller.

By having an automated answering service, you can improve customer service, increase productivity, and streamline your business communication. It can also help you save on operating costs, time and staff resources, and provide you with a professional digital presence 24/7.

FAQ

What is an IVR dialer?

An IVR Dialer is an automated dialer that dials numbers from a given database and plays IVR (Interactive Voice Response) messages when connected.

What is an automated answering system?

An automated answering system allows your contact centre to answer phone calls without a customer service agent on the line. Instead of your team answering calls, an automated phone answering machine uses self-service and advanced automated AI to answer.

What is the function of an automated voice answering system?

Interactive voice response is an automated telephone system that combines pre-recorded messages or text-to-speech technology with a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) interface to engage callers, allowing them to provide and access information without a live agent.
January 21, 2023
10 Best Automated Answering Systems in 2023
When working outside of normal business hours, your office may receive a large volume of phone calls from clients and potential clients. Even if you have a receptionist on duty, it may be inadequate if the volume of calls exceeds a certain limit. However, not every business requires a receptionist. An automated answering service can effectively route calls to the appropriate operator and can be customized to suit the specific needs and requirements of your business.

In the business world, second chances are rare. Missing a call can cost you a potential lead, client, or significant business opportunity. But with automated answering services at your disposal, you can ensure that you don’t miss any opportunities.

All answering service portals are user-friendly, so you don’t need a technical expert to set them up. To choose the best-answering service for your business, consider your current business needs and align them with your vision. This will help you make the right and most effective decision.

What Is an Automated Answering Service?
Factors to Consider While Choosing an Automated Answering System
Top 10 Best Automated Answering Systems
1. Nextiva
2. Answer First
3. PATlive
4. Voice Nation
5. Grasshopper
6. Ooma
7. Phone.com
8. Vonage
9. 8×8
10. Aircall
What Is an Automated Answering Service?

Some companies use live operators to handle phone calls and take customer messages, but they also use automated answering services to take care of calls when the operators are busy with other tasks. Automated answering services are also useful for individuals who receive important calls but can’t answer every call themselves.

In simple terms, an automated answering service is a type of virtual receptionist that handles customer requests and inquiries without making them wait on hold. It’s important to note that an automated answering service is different from an automated calling service, as it primarily manages incoming calls rather than outgoing calls. Additionally, an automated answering service typically includes a self-service option that uses advanced AI technology to answer customer questions.

An automated answering service generally works in three different ways
- Answer the calls on your behalf using your existing phone number
- Play a pre-recorded greeting message that is tailored to your business requirements
- Guide customers through a series of menus and ask them for their intent and gather all relevant information
An automated answering service collects information from the caller and routes them to the appropriate department. It can also use call deflection to handle the high call volume.

Factors to Consider While Choosing an Automated Answering System

With the information provided about the top 10 automated answering systems for 2023, there are also other considerations to keep in mind when choosing an automated answering system. By taking these factors into account, you can make a more informed and efficient decision.

Multi-Level Call Attending

Automated answering systems route your client’s call directly to the specified operators by guiding the client through a simple menu. However, in case of multi-level call attending, this service goes up a notch by creating custom paths that allow for multiple callers.
For example, one path might be reserved solely for accounting whereas another might go for technical support.

Account and Call Monitoring

When choosing an automated answering service, it is important to consider the call analytics feature. Many businesses use a dashboard to track customer interactions and this feature is activated every time a customer calls. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the dashboard is user-friendly, and up-to-date, and allows for easy management of users, permissions and various aspects of phone calls.

Live Call Answering Feature

While automated answering services can be helpful, having a live person available to answer calls can also be beneficial. Some clients prefer talking to an actual person rather than having a machine answer their query. Having a live person on the line can provide customers with better satisfaction as they have direct access to someone who can assist them with their inquiries or concern.

A live call answering feature is a valuable addition to a phone plan. Therefore, it’s important to check if the automated answering service you are considering has this option available.

VoIP Market Size By Region

Flexible Hours

Many businesses operate 24/7 and require answering services that can work continuously. On the other hand, some businesses only require automated answering services during regular working hours. Therefore, it’s important to select a company that offers flexible operating patterns that align with your business hours and requirements.

In addition to the factors mentioned previously, here are some additional features to consider when choosing an automated answering service:
- Web/Mobile Chat
- Post-Call Surveys
- Conference Calling
- Voicemail Transcription
- Call Recording
- CRM Integration
- IVR
Top 10 Best Automated Answering Systems

Selecting an automated answering system is a significant change for businesses of all sizes. When making this decision, it’s important to consider how the system will improve and streamline operations for your business.

In order to make the best choice, you need to have the most suitable automated answering system. With many options available, it can be challenging to make a decision. That’s why we have compiled a list of the top 10 best automated answering systems for the year.

Nextiva

Rating 4.4/5

Best For Small Businesses

Nextiva is a full-service VOIP phone system designed for businesses, but it can also function effectively as an automated answering service. It comes with several features that enable you to create a personalized greeting and set answering rules based on your business hours.

Nextiva

With these features, you can route calls based on factors such as area code, time zone, and other factors that dictate your call-handling process. Nextiva acts as a virtual receptionist, eliminating the need for a physical receptionist to answer calls before, during or after business hours.

Nextiva’s user-friendly administrative portal makes it ideal for small businesses and can be accessed from a computer or the company’s mobile app, allowing you to manage the entire admin portal. Additionally, Nextiva offers scalable features as your business grows, including advanced customer contact features, VoIP, video chat services, virtual voicemail, and more. It also has plans available that include a multi-level auto-attendant for more complex call routing.

AnswerFirst

Rating 4.2/5

Best For 24/7 Customer Handling

Answer First provides businesses with a professional digital presence 24/7 by giving access to features such as message taking and response, appointment scheduling, and assistance with purchasing and ordering. The company has a certified and dedicated customer service team, made up of professionals who have been connecting people with answers since 1998.

AnswerFirst

Here are some of the services that are available to you when you sign up with Answer First: 24/7 Dispatching, Systems and Security Management, Live Transfer, Message Taking, Scheduling and Reservations, Virtual Receptionist, and Voice Mail Services.

Answer First is an advanced automated answering service that offers exceptional customer service to all clients. It offers a wide range of third-party integrations and customizable pricing plans tailored to your specific needs and requirements. With Answer First, you can ensure that you never miss a potential lead, client, or business opportunity, and can always make a positive impression on your customers. The service’s 24/7 availability, live transfer, and message taking feature, scheduling and reservations, virtual receptionist, and voicemail service ensure that you are always reachable and able to provide professional and efficient customer service.

PATlive

Rating 3.9/5

Best For All types of businesses and Customer Experience Management

As a business owner, you are constantly seeking out solutions that can meet all of your business needs, including 24/7 coverage. PATlive’s digital receptionists provide professional customer service around the clock, which can significantly improve your customer relations and strengthen your relationships with current clients. With their help, you can make sure that your customers have a positive experience with your company at all times, even when you are unavailable.

PATlive

Additionally, the digital receptionist service guarantees that you never miss a potential lead or business opportunity, which can help you grow your business. PATlive offers a 14-day free trial feature that allows you to gain a comprehensive understanding of the product before making a decision. Additionally, the bilingual service feature enables you to communicate effectively with people speaking a language different from yours.

With PATlive’s digital agents, you can easily book, manage, and keep track of your appointments using the software’s web-based calendaring service. This feature allows you to schedule, reschedule, and cancel appointments, as well as view upcoming appointments in a calendar format. This functionality can help you to manage your time more efficiently and productively.

Voice Nation

Rating 4.3/5

Best For Live Call and Chat Answering

Voice Nation offers top-quality automated answering services that are available 24/7 for your convenience. By signing up with Voice Nation, you gain access to a bilingual virtual receptionist that will answer your calls and respond to texts on your behalf. This feature ensures that you never miss an important call or message and can provide professional and efficient customer service to your clients.

VoiceNation

Additionally, when you sign up with Voice Nation, you also gain access to additional services such as order processing, message delivery, detailed reports, and a dedicated account manager that is included in each plan. With this automated answering service, you never have to send your customers to voicemail again, as you can personally attend to each customer at any time of the day. This can help you improve customer service and strengthen your relationships with your clients.

With Voice Nation, you can customize your call script to match the type of business and clients you have. The service also offers a mobile application that is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, providing you with flexibility and convenience.

Grasshopper

Rating 4.5/5

Best For Solo Enterpreneurs

Every business has a unique selling proposition (USP) that sets it apart from the competition, and it’s important to effectively communicate that USP to customers. Grasshopper’s software includes an auto-attendant feature that allows you to use pre-recorded scripts from the software’s database.

Grasshopper

You can assign different scripts for different client paths to help answer your incoming calls more professionally. For an additional fee, the software also offers a professional voice studio. Grasshopper’s software allows you to switch between live operators and digital receptionists depending on your preference, giving you the flexibility to choose who handles your calls. Grasshopper offers an easy 4-step process to add a business number and integrate your smartphone with a virtual phone system, allowing you to never miss a call and present a professional image to your customers.

Ooma

Rating 4/5

Best For Small Businesses without IT Departments

Ooma is specifically designed for small businesses and includes an auto-attendant feature when setting up an account. It has a text-to-speech enabled feature and callers are greeted by a virtual assistant every time they call. You can select and assign a customized greeting which will be read out by a computer-generated voice to the caller. Additionally, the software’s dashboard includes a control panel that enables you to record audio files, which is a useful option if you are considering a virtual receptionist.

Ooma

Ooma is loaded with numerous features such as HD Audio, low international calling rates, a virtual fax system, mobile app integration, a complimentary toll-free number and free local phone numbers. These features are intended to enhance customer service, boost productivity, and improve overall business communication.

This automated answering service also offers a mobile application compatible with both Android and iOS, allowing you to check voicemails on your phone anytime and anywhere. As a small business owner, cost-effectiveness is a priority, and Ooma offers smart plans for every user. As your business grows, Ooma will ensure that your phone bill remains low. Therefore, not only does your business advance, but you also have the opportunity to make significant savings on your phone bill.

Phone.com

Rating 3.9/5

Best For Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

If you are looking for a solution to manage your metered subscriptions, phone.com is an automated answering service specifically designed for businesses with lower or fluctuating call volume. The software offers both metered and non-metered subscription plans. This allows you to customize and integrate your plans based on your specific needs and requirements. Additionally, phone.com provides access to various additional features such as live receptionist, international numbering and dialling.

Phone.com

The global numbers and international calling feature will be particularly beneficial for businesses with multiple marketing campaigns. Additionally, phone.com offers a wide range of features such as voice, video, text, call management, and other collaboration features commonly found in enterprise phone systems.

Furthermore, this answering service is highly versatile and can seamlessly switch between computer and phone. It offers a variety of options such as local, toll-free, and vanity numbers.

Vonage

Rating 3.5/5

Best For All Businesses including Micro Businesses

Irrespective of the type and size of your business, it is important to have a flexible and cost-effective business plan that can help your business to grow without incurring high phone bills. An ideal plan would provide you with the necessary communication tools while keeping costs low.

Vonage

This can include features such as virtual phone numbers, call forwarding, voicemail, and auto-attendant, all of which can help to improve your customer service and increase your productivity. Additionally, many business communication solutions offer affordable pricing plans with different features, so you can choose the one that best fits your business needs and budget.

Vonage offers a variety of flexible options, including over 50 phone features with the ability to add advanced features at an additional cost. The basic plan includes 18 standard features such as call recording, internet fax, conference bridge, virtual numbers and more.

Additionally, a self-service mobile application that is compatible with both Android and iOS is available, enabling you to deploy third-party apps without needing professional services. Vonage offers a wide range of services such as contact centres, customer engagement, mobility, remote work, and more.

8×8

Rating 4.1/5

Best For Unified Business Communication

8×8 is an automated phone attendant service that operates in over 48 countries and is ideal for companies with a large number of international clients. Additionally, the software has an economical subscription plan that allows you to save money on international calls.

8×8

The auto-attendant software has phone number support flexibility in over 100 countries, allowing your business to expand virtually in areas where you do not have a physical presence. However, the software’s collaboration features are currently limited to file sharing and video meetings.

Furthermore, the software utilizes AI to assist you in monitoring and managing your voice interactions, helping your team leaders and managers. The software also has an app that is compatible with both Android and iOS, allowing you to access all your business communication such as chat, video messages, voice calls, and more.

Aircall

Rating 4.3/5

Best For Integration with CRM and Helpdesk Tools

Aircall is a cloud-based auto-attendant software that is perfect for e-commerce companies, enabling them to make their call centre more remote and efficient. It is an IT-approved, cloud-based solution that is ideal for sales and marketing teams.

aircall

This software is also easy to set up and enables you to communicate with anyone, anywhere in the world. Aircall also comes equipped with CRM features, helpdesk solutions, and other essential apps that provide all the necessary information to clients when they call.

Aircall allows you to manage and monitor your work, analyze calls, and measure your call metrics to make measurable improvements. It also includes features such as a cloud-based IVR menu, skill-based routing options, and more.

Conclusion

Regardless of the type of business you run, an automated answering service can greatly benefit your business and contribute to its growth. An automated answering service allows you to customize it to provide all necessary information to your callers. By doing so, you can greatly reduce operating costs, time and staff resources. High-quality customer service is heavily dependent on your telephone system, and customer satisfaction improves when exceptional customer service is provided.

FAQ

What is the best phone system for business?

The best Business Phone Systems are as follows
- PATlive
- Nextiva
- VoiceNation
- Grasshopper
- 8×8
- Vonage
- Aircall
What is the automated phone answering system called?

Interactive voice response (IVR) is an automated telephony system that interacts with callers, gathers information and routes calls to the appropriate recipients.

What is an IVR dialer?

An IVR Dialer is an automated dialer that dials numbers from a given database and plays IVR (Interactive Voice Response) messages when connected.

What are the limitations of telephone answering machines?

The Disadvantages of Using an Automated Phone Answering System
- Automated Phone Systems Can Alienate Customers.
- Automated Phone Systems Can Confuse Customers.
- Automated Phone Systems can Malfunction
- Automated Phone Systems can be Inefficient
January 20, 2023
How to Record VoIP Calls Effectively?
As per the report published by Persistence market research, the global VoIP market is estimated to achieve the mark of $194.5 billion in revenue by the end of 2024. Almost every small business to the big giant company is using VoIP for communication and at the same time using VoIP call recording to ensure accountability.

Since VoIP is an advanced technology that comes with amazing features at a low price compared to traditional ones, the recording of calls is also different. Some VoIP service providers offer a call recording feature in their plans, but some offer this feature as an add-on at additional costs.

Here in this article, you will get to know the procedure to record a VoIP call.

What Is VoIP?
Why Do Companies Need to Record VoIP Calls?
Steps to Record VoIP Calls
What Is VoIP?

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that enables seamless transmission of audio and video conversation over the internet. Using this technology one can easily avail the benefit of communicating with people using the internet connection. The audio or video data is converted into digital data in small data packets, then it is transmitted to the destination using the Internet network. The receiver receives this data packet combined to listen to the conversation.

It provides the ability to make business calls from any location from any device through an internet connection. Unlike the traditional phone system, it saves a lot of money on normal calls and also on Long distance International calls.

Not only voice calls but other mediums like video, chats, sending or receiving images, videos, and documents everything is possible because of VoIP technology. There is no boundation to stick with only one tool for communications but one can easily switch to their smartphone and make or receive a business call on it.

Why Do Companies Need to Record VoIP Calls?

VoIP is widely used by today’s businesses because of its flexibility and low-cost infrastructure. But while running business communication on VoIP, companies strongly need to record their every call. There are certain reasons companies do record the calls and some of the most prominent reasons are the following.
- To prevent the business from future misunderstandings with clients. Sometimes when clients refuse their words, your call recording works as strong evidence.
- Businesses also use call recordings for quality assurance. As a business owner, you always want your customers to be happy with your service. So it helps to ensure, no of your employees misbehaves with your customer.
- Call recordings are also used by the companies for the training of the recruit. You might have heard the voice ” your call may be recorded for quality and training purposes” while communicating with any company.
- It helps to reduce the legal risk if you have proof of any verbal commitment as a recording.
- While working on a project for a client, sometimes you might require clarification from the previous conversation, and automatic call recording acts as a miracle at that time.
Mobile VoIP Market size by Region

Steps to Record VoIP Calls

Coming back to the topic, below is the step-by-step process to help you to record VoIP calls. Since you can choose different software for your VoIP call recording but more or less the procedure is the same.

Step 1: Choose the Right Software

Choosing the right software to record calls is the first and most prominent step in our list. There could be many VoIP service providers available that are offering VoIP call recording features. Some include it in their plan while some offer it as an add-on. Here is a list of a few software providers who provide the call-recording feature.
- RingCentral
- 8×8
- Nextiva
- Vonage
Choose any of the providers which suit your needs the best.

Step 2: Configuration of Basic Settings

Once you are done selecting the provider, the next step is configuring the basic call recording setting. To provide you with the context of how to use the call recording feature, we have taken the example of Nextiva.‌ Let us discuss how to record a call on Nextiva.

Homepage

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌Once you are on the homepage dashboard of the software, you need to click on the manage option under the user’s tab.‌

User Overview Page

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌After clicking on the user’s tab you’ll enter the user’s dashboard. Here you’ll see all your users and various options to configure. Just select the desired user for whom you want to record the call.‌‌

Click here to get Nextiva

User Manager Page

‌‌‌‌Once you click on any user, you’ll find the monitoring section, under this section there is an option for call recording. Just enable this call recording option for the user.

You’ll find this option in different places based on your service provider.

Step 3: Configure Call Recording Policies

After completing all of the above steps, you need to choose your desired call recording policy from the dropdown menu. Below I’ve explained these policies in brief.

Call Recording Options

Always On

When this option is selected, every call for that user will automatically start recording. The user will have no control over the recordings to start, stop, pause or resume. You can select this option if you want to record all the calls without giving control to the user.

Always on With Pause and Resume

This option also records all the calls automatically as soon as the calls start, but this option empowers the user to pause and resume the call recording whenever he/she wants. You can select this option if you want to give some control to the user.

Users can pause the call recording by dialling *48 and resume the paused call recording by dialling *49.

On-demand

As the name suggests On-demand, which means VoIP call recording will start as soon as the user initiates the call but it will automatically get deleted if the user does not place the call on hold and dial *44.

It means if the user wants to save this call recording, then he/she needs to put the call on hold and has to dial the feature code *44. This option will give much more flexibility to users.

On-Demand With User-Initiated Call

When this option is enabled, calls will not start recording automatically. In order to start the call recording, the user has to put the call on hold and dial *44. Another alternative is also available, user can dial this code before making the outbound Call to record the call.

Never

This option doesn’t allow the user to record any of the calls. Even the user can’t record any call using any of the feature codes like*44.

Step 4: Good to Go

After selecting your recording policy for the user, you can select the other option which is easy to configure. Like if you want to make the announcement that the call recording is being started or stopped, then you can check the option. Similarly, you can easily configure other basic settings.‌‌

Now you are good to go to record all your business calls. Keep in mind that I’ve taken the example of Nextiva but you can choose any provider, settings and features might be up or down but the functionality is the same.

Conclusion

Call recording is a widely used feature in the business. empower your business by leveraging the feature of call recording. Call recording, even today, is quite challenging if you don’t have the right tools. Follow our step-by-step guide to record your VoIP calls and run your business with full accountability. It helps individuals and companies maintain accountability for verbal commitments. Automatic call recording using your VoIP phone system helps you run a more successful business.

FAQ

Can VoIP phone calls be recorded?

VoIP calls can be recorded via streaming audio recording applications. Streaming audio recorders can be useful for home-based recording.

How do I record a VoIP call on Windows 10?

The keyboard shortcut Windows+Alt+R allows you to record VoIP calls on your PC quickly.

What is the best free app for recording phone calls?

The List of some of the best software is
- RingCentral
- 8×8
- Nextiva
- Vonage
Can we automatically record all calls?

Some VoIP call recording software allows you to manually select which phone conversations you want to record, while others support automatic audio recordings of all phone calls.
January 9, 2023
Top 8 Cloud Telephony Service Providers in India
The Internet has been a big blessing for everyone. It has made everything easy and reachable. Apart from this, it has made us dependent on it. We simply cannot imagine a day without it.

One great thing that the internet has gifted us is calls, both voice, and video. You are missing someone, need to connect with your business partner, video calls are here.

Cloud telephony, is something that has brought us closer and made our lives easier. This has been of great help for businesses. It enables you to move your businesses’ phone services to the cloud.

There are many cloud telephony service providers in India to help you with your business. These include- Skycalls, Exotel, WebXion, MyOperator, etc.

What is Cloud Telephony?
Benefits of Cloud Telephony in a Business
Best Cloud Telephony Service Providers in India
1. Skycalls
2. Pulse
3. MyOperator
4. Exotel
5. CloudConnect
6. CallHippo
7. Servetel
8. Ozonetel
What is Cloud Telephony?

In simple words, it is a phone system that works with the help of an internet connection. This helps to make and take internet-oriented calls from smartphones or desktops. This technology has replaced the conventional systems of PBX, EPBAX with the cloud.

Every call that a business receives gets routed through the cloud servers. This enables the features of IVR (Interactive Voice Response) and calls recordings without any extra equipment. Thus, saves the businesses from any added investment.

Cloud telephony is the communications hosted by a third party. This party is a service provider that is outside the organizations using them. Here the communications happen with the help of the public internet.

Hence, cloud telephony makes the businesses’ communication process easier and more efficient.

How does Cloud Telephony work?

Benefits of Cloud Telephony in a Business

Cloud telephony shifts an organization’s phone system to the cloud. The use of the internet makes the communication process more efficient and wider. Here are certain benefits of using cloud telephony in a business:

Improved Access and Control:

Moving phone systems to cloud telephony provides improved control and access to data. One can access the business information anytime and anywhere when it’s on the cloud. Your data stays with you all the time so, there is a lesser risk of loss.

Always Updated

With cloud telephony, you do not have to worry about your business communication getting outdated. The technology keeps your business’s communication updated all the time. In this way, you don’t have to make any manual adjustments in your process. This saves time and improves efficiency.

Cost-Effective

Nowadays many cloud telephony service providers are available. This saves you from making any extra investment on hardware or telephone lines. You can opt for simple monthly plans that are less costly than the traditional process. Thus, cloud telephony makes the business communication system cost-effective.

Best Cloud Telephony Service Providers in India

Cloud telephony has made business communications easier than before. Modern businesses today like to rely on technology than traditional methods. Here are some of the top cloud telephony service providers in India:

Skycalls

SkyCalls – Best Cloud Telephony Service Providers in India

Skycalls offers EPBX telephone solutions based on the cloud. One can move their business communications to the cloud within an hour with this. This enables remote work and is cost-effective. Skycalls also ensure more productivity and a better experience for the customers.

It offers many services. For example- IVR, Bulk message solutions, missed call service, toll-free numbers, call centre solutions, etc.

Pulse

Pulse – Best Cloud Telephony Service Providers in India

Pulse is one of India’s leading cloud telephony service providers. This offers a new promising business communication, powered by cloud IVR. It makes the communication model simple and strong. It ensures great quality and a more guarded process without any huge investment.

It offers call conferencing, call monitoring, call management, IVR voicemail, and dashboard accessibility.

MyOperator

MyOperator – Best Cloud Telephony Service Providers in India

The cloud telephony service provider was founded in 2013 in Delhi. This enables automated call handling based on the cloud. This makes business-customer communication more advanced and secure.

MyOperator offers many features. These include call tracking, call reports, call recording, IVR solutions, and more.

Exotel

Exotel – Best Cloud Telephony Service Providers in India

Exotel is another popular cloud telephony service provider in India. It was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Bengaluru. It offers cloud-based communications to Indian and Southeast Asian startups and enterprises. Its services enable the companies to keep up with the latest technology and deal with real-world problems.

Exotel offers services like number masking, automated calls, IVR solutions, and more.

CloudConnect

CloudConnect- Best Cloud Telephony Service Providers in India

The cloud telephony service provider was founded in the year 2018. It has its headquarter in Delhi. It helps to make the business communication process more efficient. This in turn contributes to sales empowerment.

CloudConnect comes with many features. These include call monitoring, conference dial-in, guest management, IVR, instant messaging, and more.

CallHippo

CallHippo- Best Cloud Telephony Service Providers in India

CallHippo is a popular Indian VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) based on the cloud. It was founded in the year 2013. This uses cloud computing to offer internet-based telephony networks for companies. It contributes to better sales and increased productivity. The best thing about CallHippo is that it is easy to use and cost-effective.

It analyzes calls through recordings, employee productivity, and customer acquisition cost. Its features include contact management, recording, third-party integrations, reporting and statistics, and more.

Servetel

Servetel – Best Cloud Telephony Service Providers in India

Servetel, an Indian cloud-based telephonic solution was founded in 2017. It is another popular and easy-to-use cloud telephony service provider. It offers innovative, convenient, and money-saving cloud solutions to the business communications model.

Servetel Communications Private Limited offers various solutions. These include IVR, virtual number, toll-free number, bulk messaging, and more.

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Ozonetel

Ozonetel – Best Cloud Telephony Service Providers in India

Ozonetel was founded in the year 2007 by a great team of technologists. Its cloud-based telephony solutions support various agents around the world. It was one of the earliest platforms to provide cloud telephony services. It has all the tools that ensure agent productivity and improved customer experience.

Ozonetel comes with many modern solutions. These include auto-dialers, dashboards with live call monitoring, AI-enabled omnichannel solutions, complete call centre solutions, and more.

Conclusion

Whether big or small, every company needs a strong and efficient communication model. Hiring people to handle phone calls 24/7 can be difficult. So, indulging in cloud telephony services is important for any business. This not only makes the process cost-efficient but also increases productivity and reliability.

Now more businesses are looking for Interactive Voice Providers for their communications. In India, we have many cloud telephony service providers like Exotel, Pulse, and more. Thus, these help businesses with automated and updated communication solutions.

FAQs

What is Cloud Telephony services?

Cloud telephony is a phone system that runs over an internet connection.

How does Cloud Telephony work?

Cloud telephony works through a Voice Over Internet Protocol. The communication devices are hosted over the service provider’s premises and are made accessible to the customers through the cloud.

Which are the best cloud telephony services in India?

Top Cloud Telephony service providers in India are:
- Skycalls
- Pulse
- MyOperator
- Exotel
- CloudConnect
- CallHippo
- Servetel
- Ozonetel
February 22, 2022
CallHippo Virtual Phone System – A Review
Are you looking for a new phone service provider for your group or industry? Sorting through the many accessible suppliers to find one that can assist your company is a challenging feat.

When shopping for a new supplier, usability, and support are all significant considerations. Is the business profitable? Do they provide features and services that are relevant to increasing profits? Are you able to readily contact them for information and assistance? Here we’ll look at CallHippo’s features, pricing, review and more

What is CallHippo?
CallHippo – Features
CallHippo – Pricing
CallHippo – Pros and Cons

What is CallHippo?

Well, the VoIP company CallHippo is a newcomer to the market. CallHippo, which was founded in 2016, allows you to purchase local assistance numbers in more than 50 countries. You’ll be able to set up a call center in minutes thanks to the simple sign-up procedure and system interface.

CallHippo ensures that it can satisfy small startups, huge corporations, and everything in between by charging just for the service and delivering very competitive prices. Furthermore, if you’re a budding entrepreneur, you might want to test CallHippo’s free plan, which only charges you for calls.

CallHippo Setting

Try CallHippo Now!

CallHippo – Features

CallHippo is a VoIP service with all of the features you’d expect. Even while it doesn’t support faxing and only allows for three-person conferences, it’s still a great way to upgrade your business’s call handling at a low cost.

Unlike other competitors in the business, CallHippo tries to have everything included in its plans rather than charging more for additional capabilities. This implies that some functionality will be unavailable in the lower-cost packages, but the most essential functions will be available in the free plan.

Aside from the standard call-handling functionality, CallHippo goes above and beyond with several additional functions. One of these is the multi-level IVR, which makes it simple to set up and administer a system that will take your clients through multiple departments and ensure that they receive the assistance they want from the first person they speak with.

A powerful tool, especially if you have international consumers, is GlobalConnect, which allows users to quickly determine the time zone of any country. You may also rely on barge call and intelligent call distribution, among other things. Even better, all of the capabilities are accessible via the user-friendly web platform or mobile app.

Features of the CallHipoo are:

Managing Calls

It’s hard to take your company to the next level without a comprehensive set of call-handling tools. CallHippo is aware of this and has ensured that it has integrated all of the necessary features for a company.

When a customer calls, you can respond via the browser platform, Chrome extension, mobile app, or, if the call forward option is enabled, your cell phone. Calls can be made to ring to everyone on a team, go through a predetermined order of users, or go round-robin. This ensures that everyone receives the same amount of calls.

There are a variety of alternatives available to you when on call. You can conduct both warm and cold transfers, or you may add another person to the call and make it a three-person conference call.

Supervisors can also access the conference bridge anytime they wish to add someone to the meeting. This function is useful for onboarding new agents, assisting in crises, and eliminating endless call transfers.

You don’t have to be concerned if someone calls while no one is at work. For each number, CallHippo provides limitless and customizable voicemail inboxes. The voicemails are subsequently sent to the subscribers’ email addresses, where they may be retrieved immediately.

Control Of The Phone System

The dashboard on CallHippo is simple and easy to use. Everything is managed without leaving the system, from call logs to adding new numbers.

The dashboard provides you with a quick snapshot of the company’s performance. The overall number of calls, as well as their types, best performance, and live activity, can all be seen right away.

Apart from the ability to add new numbers, the numbers page also allows you to customize the number you already have. You may use this section to enable/disable call recordings, add welcome greetings and voicemail, and establish your business’s operating hours, among other things.

Incorporations

Anything CallHippo lacks, you’ll very certainly be able to add using the many integrations it offers. You may add 10 different third-party services to CallHippo in total.

When a call is connected, CallHippo automatically shows the customers’ Pipedrive contact history and information. CallHippo also works with Freshdesk and Freshworks, allowing you to call anyone on the Freshdesk panel right away.

Services like Zoho CRM Plus, Hubspot, Zendesk, Intercom, Groove, and Zapier provide comparable assistance. Last but not least, Slack allows you to make individual and group calls.

Numbers To Dial

When it comes to phone numbers, CallHippo is highly accommodating. It is possible to set up a local number in more than 58 countries throughout the world, albeit each has its unique pricing. A local phone number in the United States, on the other hand, costs $8 per month. It is also feasible to obtain a toll-free number in addition to a local number.

CallHippo does not confine you to the United States alone, and toll-free numbers for other countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada are just a few of the numerous options. The cost varies depending on whatever nation you choose, but in the United States, it costs $9 per month.

CallHippo Dashboard

Mobile Phones

Because it is not viable to access CallHippo’s website from a mobile browser, users must instead download and utilize the Android or iOS app. Fortunately, the smartphone app is well-designed and provides a sufficient quantity of data.

The dial pad is the first thing you’ll see when you open the programme. The current hour for the nation you wish to contact is displayed below, ensuring that you always reach out to your consumers at the appropriate moment.

Try CallHippo Now!

CallHippo – Pricing

CallHippo Pricing

CallHippo’s pricing is transparent, in contrast to other corporate stakeholders. First, there’s a free plan, which is ideal for small businesses because it already has a lot of useful features including a free softphone, forward-to-device, and interaction with third-party services.

CallHippo then offers a Bronze plan, which unlocks features such as call recording, country blocking, and more. Silver, on the other hand, adds call transfer and call queuing to the mix, as well as a free standard number, 800 free minutes for incoming calls, and a $2 credit for each user.

You’ll want to sign up for the Platinum plan if you want to go all out. You’ll get custom integration, premium support, 3-way calling, bespoke reports, $5 credit and 1,500 free minutes of inbound calls, as well as everything included in the silver system.

In addition to the free plan, the lowest amount that can be gotten for CallHippo is $8 a month, for each user. Given that the Silver plans cost only $15 per user each month (with annual fees) and include free, standard numbers, it is apparent why CallHippo is the most popular Silver package. Last but not least, the annual billing cycle for Platinum is $35 per month per user.

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CallHippo – Pros and Cons

Pros
- It is straightforward and sturdy once you learn to use it.
- It is simple to operate.
- Customer support is excellent
Cons
- The ios app of CallHippo lacks some features.
- Integration with Zoho is not simple.
Try CallHippo Now!

Conclusion

Without a doubt, CallHippo is a VoIP service to keep in mind. It includes all of the standard functions that any company requires, as well as some advanced capabilities like multi-level IVR. Of course, being able to integrate numerous third-party services is always a plus, especially when it comes to CRM platforms like Pipedrive.

Furthermore, CallHippo considers both small and large businesses, ensuring that there is a plan that suits everyone. If you’re a new entrepreneur, it’s better to start with the free plan, but if you work for a large corporation, contacting the sales staff for the best deal is the way to go.

The Silver plan, which costs as little as $15 per month per user and includes a free standard phone line for each additional user, is ideal for businesses in the middle.

FAQs

What is CallHippo?

CallHippo is a new VoIP software that provides a next-generation business phone system.

How much does CallHippo cost?

The Bronze Plan of CallHippo starts from $16/month, the Silver Plan from $24/month and the premium Platinum Plan from $40/month.

What is the use of CallHippo?

CallHippo allows you to purchase local assistance numbers in more than 50 countries and help you set up a call center in minutes.
June 19, 2021
Best Telephony Software
Business communication has evolved over the years. Today, companies are replacing their conventional phone systems with modern communication technology known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). A VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone system is an internet-based telephony system that delivers voice calls, video calls, and multimedia using internet connectivity.

Unlike analog phone systems, VoIP phone systems do not require any dedicated phone hardware. It allows the user to call any landline, mobile or even computer-to-computer with an internet-connected laptop, PC, mobile or tablet. Being a cloud-based technology, VoIP has revolutionized the communication infrastructure across all business sectors. It easily integrates chats, syncs applications, and provides real-time call data and analytics; thus enhancing organizational productivity. In short, the emergence of VoIP has changed the name and face of business communication.

Top Telephony Service Providers

Here, we have covered some of the top telephony service providers that can help your business. So, let’s dive in.

AVOXI Genius

Telephony software, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) uses internet-enabled devices to make and receive phone calls. With AVOXI, your VoIP number setup is fast and easy. There are no setup fees or minimum contracts. Every VoIP number includes 20+ features at no additional cost. Get your virtual phone number today for as low as $4.49 per month.

Avoxi Genius

Avoxi Core Cloud PBX is a voice technology system that enables use of legacy systems while decreasing hardware investment and maintenance. The cloud-based system serves the following industries: energy, finance, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing, media and entertainment, nonprofit, retail and transportation. Multiple gateways can accommodate an increase in the number of phone lines as businesses grow. Customer features include a 24/7 support team and password protected access to a secure web where users can view all call detail records.

Also read:
CloudTalk

CloudTalk is a telephony system built for modern companies. CloudTalk simplifies the lives of your sales and customer support teams with 70+ advanced calling features. Improve communication with prospects thanks to the integration with your existing helpdesk, CRM and eCommerce systems as Helpscout, Pipedrive or Shopify.

Cloud Talk

CloudTalk is a fully featured Call Center Software designed to serve Agencies, SMEs. CloudTalk provides end-to-end solutions designed for Macintosh. This online Call Center system offers Queue Management, Predictive Dialer, Call Recording, Contact Management, VoIP at one place.
Price: CloudTalk pricing starts at $15.00 per month, per user. There is not a free version of CloudTalk.

Aircall

Aircall is the cloud-based phone system of choice for modern brands of 3+ users. By seamlessly integrating with the most popular CRM and Helpdesk tools, they help sales and support teams communicate clearly and efficiently. Admins can instantly add numbers from 100+ countries, scale their teams according to seasonality, and gain deep insights through real time analytics. Accessible by desktop and mobile app, Aircall is trusted by over 3000 companies worldwide. Aircall is the modern phone solution for sales and support teams.

Aircall

It is very user friendly and easy to use and setup and integrate with other software, web apps and services when building and testing a UC – Unified Communications Contact Center or OmniChannel.
Price: Essentials Plan – $30/user per month, billed annually and Professional Plan – $50/user per month, billed annually. Free Trial available.

Freshcaller

Freshcaller is a cloud PBX system that enables you to purchase local and toll-free phone numbers in 90+ countries. Engage in contextual conversations with your callers without any hardware nor maintenance costs. Freshcaller is the ideal call center and business phone system for startups and small teams. With Freshcaller businesses can choose to record all their phone conversations and allow supervisors access to live dashboards and even listen and speak to customers in real-time.

freshcaller

As a phone system designed for teams with little/no IT support, Freshcaller allows users to create a new account in minutes and configure rules, business hours, and routing processes that are executed in real-time. Freshcaller enables businesses to scale their usage effortlessly by adding agent licenses, purchasing additional numbers or phone credits, and changing their pricing plan at any time.
Price: Freshcaller pricing starts at $19.00 per month, per user. There is a free version of Freshcaller available.

Must read:
Jive Voice

Jive voice

Give your business a professional boost with Jive Voice. A cloud-based, feature-rich business phone system, Jive helps thousands of organizations across all industries and sizes to streamline their communications and achieve greater success. Jive Hosted VoIP offers a wide array of features designed to replace legacy landline phones, including unlimited voicemail boxes, auto attendants, and local and long-distance phone numbers.
Starting Price: $19.95/month/user (Free Trial available).

MyOperator

MyOperator is a cloud-based business phone system providing solutions like virtual phone numbers (toll free/non-tollfree), IVR, call management features like call tracking, call recording, live call transfer, callers’ database, virtual receptionist and more. It extends the reach of your business 24*7 and routes calls to the right departments for a faster point resolution. It doesn’t require any hardware or software installation. This thereby helps save installation and additional infrastructural costs required while scaling up.

MyOperator

Also, it allows you to work anywhere and anytime. All your phone calls, be it the ones you made, received or missed are tracked. This not only helps you upgrade your customers’ experience but also ensures that no prospect is lost. Facebook and SMS remarketing are the ways that MyOperator offers to help you reconnect with your callers and repeat purchase.
Price: There are 3 plans available – Office IVR System (Rs. 2,300/month), Cloud Call Center – Desk (Rs. 5,000/month), and Cloud Call Center – Prime (Rs. 20,000/month).

Flowroute

Flowroute, the first software-centric carrier, provides communication services and technology for cloud-based platforms. By providing businesses with programmatic access to communications infrastructure services, Flowroute removes the complexity of introducing new communications solutions to the market.

Flowroute

The patented nationwide Flowroute HyperNetwork delivers leading carrier-quality calling and messaging services with unparalleled reliability, reach, and simplicity. Flowroute is a fully featured VOIP Software designed to serve Agencies, Startups. Flowroute provides end-to-end solutions designed for Web App. This online VOIP system offers SIP Trunking at one place.
Price: Flowroute is a pay as you go SIP Trunking service. There is not a free version of Flowroute. Flowroute does not offer a free trial.

Relevant read:
JustCall

JustCall is a cloud-based phone system that allows businesses to collect phone numbers from 58 countries and make them appear as local digits to their clients. JustCall gives you the platform you need to manage your international customers in a unified location, communicate with them with a simple and straightforward solution.

JustCall

JustCall is a cloud phone system that integrates with your CRM or Helpdesk. Make, receive and log all your phone calls and texts directly from your CRM/Helpdesk dashboard. Using different call distribution settings, you will never miss a customer support call ever. Give easy ways to your customers to reach relevant departments, allow them to remain in queue while waiting for an agent to come on the call or even give them an option to leave voicemails. Apart from basic contact center software solution, JustCall also provides other useful tools like Bulk SMS Campaigns, SMS Bots, Auto Dialer, Predictive Dialer, Dynamic Number Insertion etc.
Price: There are two plans – Standard ($25/user/month) and Premium ($50/user/month).

Conclusion

Telephony Software includes many telecommunication features, from recording calls to creating a complete call center environment. Selecting the best software depends on your needs but the above list can serve as a reference. The software works as a fully featured telephone switch connecting to phone lines and extensions using state-of-the-art virtual PBX and VoIP technology. If you know about any other tool, please let us know in the comments section below.
March 29, 2020