Where are they, really? Be sure you know exactly where your calls will be handled. Even though headquarters and a large call center are in your city, the vendor may have satellite call centers in other states, countries, or even continents. Ask if your calls will be sent to multiple locations.
Get the service you deserve. Choose a call center where your call volume will make up 5 to 50% of the total volume. Less than that and the agents will not have a chance to get familiar with your services; more than that and you may be pushing the limits of what the center can handle.
Own your own phone number. Some call centers will offer to buy and set up a phone number for you. Just say no. Buying an 800 number and assigning it to the provider is fairly straightforward. If you ever need to switch providers, it is much easier if you own the phone number. Same goes for email addresses - you create them and have them point to the vendor.
Keep communications open. Over time, both industry conditions and your business will change. Staying in close touch with your call center provider allows you to have them adjust with you, and also ensures that you can discuss and resolve small problems before they become larger problems.
Sign an NDA. A non-disclosure agreement makes sure that the provider doesn't take the lessons they learn with your business to one of your competitors. This is especially important if your choose a provider who specializes in your industry.
Live Answering Services: It may seem like an obvious business decision to hire an answering service if your business needs to field calls 24 hours a day and voice mail is not a sufficient answer. However, choosing the right live answering service can be tricky.
Call Center Software: If you run a call center, finding a call center software solution for your business can be a critical step towards a more effecient operation.
Instant Vendor Comparison
Select the vendors that you would like to compare
Featured Suppliers
About BuyerZone
BuyerZone is the leading online marketplace for business purchasing.
This site is a partnership between BusinessWeek and BuyerZone.com. BusinessWeek, the world’s most widely read business magazine, reaches over eight million readers each week, including online and television viewers. BusinessWeek offers insight on how to harness innovation in an increasingly competitive business landscape. Read BusinessWeek online.
BuyerZone is the leading online marketplace for buyers and sellers of business products and services. Using an intelligent matching process, BuyerZone brings buyers together with the most appropriate suppliers to meet their needs in over 100 purchasing categories, from copiers and POS systems to forklifts and steel buildings. Request a free quote now to see how it works.
In addition to streamlining the purchasing process, BuyerZone provides original research and buying advice to help buyers make the right purchasing decisions. From in-depth Buyer’s Guides to quick tips, BuyerZone experts offer advice that can help any business save money and get the best equipment and services for their needs. Browse our library of purchasing content.
