| The main goal of a small business is to grow, not | | | | configured to accept incoming calls and route |
| only in terms of brick and mortar space, but also | | | | these calls to designated staff either by their |
| in terms of efficiency, capabilities and scope of | | | | assigned extension number or by name. The |
| services that they can provide their clients. To | | | | system can be configured to an automated |
| foster this growth, businesses also need to | | | | professional business greeting for incoming calls |
| upgrade their telecommunications capabilities to | | | | from customers or prospects. The auto |
| ensure that their employees communicate well | | | | attendant would then provide the incoming caller |
| with customers, suppliers and prospects -- all | | | | with various options where they can find and |
| relationships that are critical to the success or | | | | reach the person they need either by extension |
| failure of the business. | | | | number, department, or name. |
| Expansion may mean more telephone lines for | | | | The great thing with auto attendants is that the |
| staff and employees, creating a significant amount | | | | system can be activated on or outside normal |
| of added-on operational costs. Furthermore, you | | | | operating hours of business. The system can also |
| may require a telephone operator or two to | | | | be provisioned in a way that the incoming call is |
| handle incoming calls and see to it that the | | | | forwarded to a cell phone or another telephone |
| designated recipient is reached. Hiring staff just to | | | | line in the instance that an employee is away |
| answer telephones would not be a cost-effective | | | | from their desk. Potential calls from prospects |
| way to do business; hence, virtual receptionists | | | | would not be missed. |
| were developed and packaged with corporate | | | | Why would there be a Need for an Auto |
| PBX systems. | | | | Attendant? |
| There is still an even better way to handle calls | | | | For most businesses, image plays a major aspect |
| automatically, without the need for sophisticated | | | | in how they deal with their costumers and this |
| telephony or communication systems or an army | | | | starts the moment a prospect calls the business' |
| of telephone operators to do the job. All you | | | | contact number. Typically a busy tone or a |
| need is the auto attendant features that you can | | | | lengthy wait to get in touch with a receptionist |
| get from virtual PBX phone systems that run on | | | | leaves a sour taste in a customer's mouth. |
| VoIP technologies. The auto attendant completely | | | | With an auto attendant, all incoming callers are |
| removes the need for a live telephone operator | | | | assured that they will be answered promptly and |
| to answer calls but has the capability to transfer | | | | professionally. This feature guides callers toward a |
| incoming calls to their designated recipients via | | | | particular person or department to alleviate any |
| extension dialing. It can do this function -- and | | | | bottleneck effect. This is important if you don't |
| much more. | | | | want to annoy any potential customers. |
| What is an Auto Attendant? | | | | Auto attendants can portray your small business |
| The auto attendant is an integrated feature of a | | | | as a professional enterprise to impress leads and |
| VoIP or hosted PBX system that can be | | | | save you money at the same time. |