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Category: Tips

Top Germany Virtual Phone Number Providers in 2024

Posted on by Luke Genoyer

Source: DepositPhotos.com - O#:40115607 ID#27446420

Need Germany virtual numbers to support your business plans to expand to Germany? We’ve got you covered. Here are the top Germany virtual phone number providers along with information about the types of numbers, their costs, and included features.

Types of Germany Virtual Numbers

Before we discuss different Germany virtual phone number providers, we first need to look at the different types of Germany virtual numbers available.

Toll free numbers:
Germany toll free numbers are business numbers that are free for callers. Calls from within Germany incur no charges. Instead, the receiver (that is the business) is charged for these calls.

National numbers:
Germany national numbers are accessible from anywhere within the country and are charged local calling fees.

Geographic numbers:
Local Germany numbers are numbers assigned to specific area codes within the country. For example, you can call Germany geographic numbers for Berlin, Cochem, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, and more. Calls made to these numbers are charged local calling rates.

Top Germany Virtual Phone Number Providers

Now that we have listed the different types of Germany virtual numbers available, let’s look at the top Germany virtual phone number providers and what they offer.

1. United World Telecom

Since 1996, United World Telecom has been offering virtual phone numbers and international call forwarding for businesses across the globe.

Types of virtual numbers offered: United World Telecom provides:

  • Germany toll free numbers as well as mobile-accessible numbers
  • Germany geographic numbers
  • Germany national numbers (32)
  • Universal toll free numbers (UIFN)

Virtual number plans: United World Telecom’s Germany virtual number plans range from $12.95/month (€11.02) and to $608.95/month (€518.10).

Features included:

  • Hosted call recording software
  • Cloud IVR
  • Outbound calling (customizable caller ID)
  • Extensions and DID numbers for different departments and teams
  • Call forwarding
  • Call routing
  • Voicemail and SMS to email, and more

2. Global Call Forwarding

Launched in 2007, Global Call Forwarding has become a reliable outlet for business phone numbers and virtual communication features to enable easy international communication.

Types of virtual numbers offered: Global Call Forwarding offers:

  • Germany toll free numbers as well as mobile-accessible numbers
  • Germany geographic numbers
  • Germany national numbers (32)
  • Universal toll free numbers (UIFN)

Virtual number plans: Global Call Forwarding’s Germany virtual business number plans start at $12.95/month (€11.02) and go up to $628.95/month (€518.10).

Features included:

  • Hosted call recording software
  • Unlimited extensions
  • Advanced cloud IVR
  • Call forwarding options:
    • Time of day routing
    • Select country forwarding
    • Failover forwarding
    • Sequential forwarding
    • Simultaneous ringing
  • Voicemail to email
  • SMS to email
  • Outbound calling
  • Call transfer

3. Telekom

Telekom was formed in 1995 and has since been offering telephone solutions across Germany such as fixed network, mobile, and internet services.

Types of virtual numbers offered: Telekom offers German business phone numbers for landline and mobile networks.

Virtual number plans: Telekom offers different virtual phone numbers plans ranging from $29.30 (€24.95) to $64.53 (€54.95).

Features included:

  • Multiple numbers
  • Multiple channels (language channels included)
  • Call forwarding
  • Call waiting
  • Voicemail, and more

4. Vodafone

Vodafone Germany was founded in 1990 and since then has been providing communication solutions to personal and business users in Germany.

Types of virtual numbers offered:

  • Business phone numbers
  • Landline and mobile numbers

Virtual number plans: Vodafone’s Germany virtual business number plans range from $26.89/month (€22.90) to $281.35/month (€239.60), depending on the number of users needed.

Features included:

  • Multiple voice channels
  • Up to 10 blocks of phone numbers at one location
  • IP connection

5. O2 (Telefonica)

Since 1995, O2 (Telefonica) has supplied Germany with broadband, landline, and mobile telecommunications.

Types of virtual numbers offered: O2 (Telefonica) offers:

  • 0800 toll free numbers
  • 0180 numbers
  • Local phone numbers

Virtual number plans: O2 (Telefonica) voice connection plans range from €40/month to €160/month, depending on the number of voice channels you need.

Features included:

  • Voice connections
  • SIP telephony
  • Easy extension management
  • Call management features
  • Conference calls

Get Germany Virtual Numbers Today

Here at United World Telecom, we can help you get Germany virtual numbers for business with quick installation and fast activation. Sign up on our website today or call us to get started.

5 Benefits of International Toll Free Numbers

Posted on by Luke Genoyer

Source: DepositPhotos.com - Lic#39995299 ID#27446420

Are international toll free numbers worth it? What benefits can they bring to your business? In this post, we will explain the top 5 benefits of an international toll free number and how ITFN can improve your company’s sales and customer support efforts.

Why Your Business Needs International Toll Free Numbers

An international toll free number is a phone number that can be dialed for free from within their designated country. These calls are then forwarded to another country where the business is located. You can make and answer calls for this number from any location and any device.

For example, a business located in the United States can get toll free numbers for different countries such as UK toll free numbers or Singapore toll free numbers. Callers from within the UK or Singapore can call this toll free number for free. And incoming calls are routed to the business’ office in the US or your smartphone or home office.

Getting an ITFN can greatly boost your international communications and present you with multiple opportunities for growth and expansion. Here are 5 benefits of international toll free numbers.

Related: What is an International Toll Free Number?

1. Global Expansion

With ITFNs, you can expand internationally to many of the world’s 195 countries. Whether you want to target Asia, the MENA region, the UK, or the Australian continent, you can create a local presence in any of these countries with the help of international toll free numbers.

According to Velocity Global, about 53% of businesses are pursuing global expansion upon receiving investments in 2020. Industries that are entering local markets and making waves are Tech, SaaS, Big Data, and Agtech industries. And the main reason why these businesses look for new markets is to expand their customer base and develop better efficiencies.

2. Reduce Operating Costs

With international numbers, as a business manager or owner, you may even consider outsourcing certain tasks to lower-wage countries. Most businesses outsource customer support, telemarketing and sales needs, IT support, troubleshooting, and more.

Outsourcing is becoming more common thanks to cloud technology. In fact, about 93% of organizations consider or adopt cloud technology to improve outsourcing. In fact, a third of all organizations claimed they were willing to increase operating costs for access to the cloud.

You can get services from these areas without opening field offices in the vicinity. This way, you can reduce operating costs while keeping your business afloat.

3. Branding & Credibility

With international toll free numbers, you can easily and quickly set up global communication and marketing. You can communicate to customers in other countries that your company is large and well-established. Market your business as a global one that offers quick and reliable service. All of this can greatly impact the way potential customers see and interact with your business, increasing sales and growth.

4. Increase Customer Satisfaction

An important aspect of running any type of business is offering excellent customer service that will result in high customer satisfaction rates. With toll free numbers, you can provide a toll free hotline for sales or customer support that customers can call for free from different parts of the world. You may also set-up 24/7 customer support by forwarding calls to offices in different time zones. These tactics can help you offer better service, become more accessible to your customers, and thereby improve customer satisfaction.

5. Measure & Improve Performance

Lastly, you can use phone call tracking to analyze global marketing and sales campaigns. You can purchase multiple ITFNs and track incoming calls from target areas. Where and how are customers interacting with your brand? Which geographic location or demographic group is responding better to your product? Where are sales failing and why? These are a few parameters you can use to improve performance and achieve desired results.

Where Can I Get International Toll Free Numbers?

United World Telecom is a trusted provider of international toll free numbers. We offer numbers from more than 160 countries across the globe. Our international toll free numbers ensure that you receive calls while maintaining call quality and reducing international calling rates. Sign up for a new number today on our homepage or call us to learn more!

8 Proven Ways to Get B2B Customers in 2024

Posted on by Beny Mouen

Source: DepositPhotos.com - Lic#71168237 ID#27446420

Looking for refreshing ways to get B2B customers in 2024? Here we detail 8 ways and methods you can use to increase brand awareness and gain new customers.

Want to Know How to Get B2B Customers in 2024? Try These Tips!

In 2024, getting new business leads during a pandemic may seem like a challenge. However, don’t let that discourage you. Continue to make the right business moves and you will be able to acquire solid leads that will result in reliable relations. Try these 8 ways to get B2B customers:

Get B2B Customers with Marketing

Marketing continues to be an important avenue for gaining B2B clients. The more clients learn or hear about your products and services, the more likely they are to do business with you. After all, no one wants to do business with or invest in an unheard-of brand. So, what are some marketing tools you can use?

1. Customer pools and networks
One way to gain new clients and contacts is to build reliable networks with businesses similar to yours. Business networking refers to creating valuable relationships with business contacts and prospects. This can be done through small business exhibitions, networking sites such as LinkedIn, conferences, and so on.

2. Referrals
Once you’ve entered the relevant business networks, the next step is to use business referrals from someone within the network to recommend and/or review your service. Referrals happen organically in conversation or are a result of specific marketing strategies. The most effective way to get referrals is to identify important business influencers, build strong relationships, and request a referral. Another interesting way of generating referral traffic is through Q&A and educational websites that seek to educate and assist users while recommending your services.

3. Search engine optimization (SEO)
SEO has grown increasingly important in this day and age. Search engine optimization refers to optimizing your website to help it rank better in search engine results for relevant keywords. The higher your website ranks, the more visibility and credibility it acquires. Common SEO strategies include:

  • Keyword optimization
  • Writing quality and informative content
  • Writing original content
  • Building relevant links
  • Entering your company in online business directories such as Google My Business, LinkedIn, Bing, etc.

4. Email marketing
Another common digital marketing tool, email marketing, has been used for years and continues to prove effective. Based on your market research and network connections, you can send out customized emails informing clients of your products and services and offering “limited-time-only” discounts that encourage them to take action. Personalized emails — that is content that is relevant to the recipient — are 75% more likely to be opened.

5. Social media advertising
Social media marketing is another essential and successful digital marketing tool. Social media allows for a more specific and targeted approach. It is a live platform where your company can engage actively with customers. You can use your social media platforms not only for advertising but for educating potential clients of your products/services, discounts, customer reviews, etc.

Social media advertising includes placing targeted ads based on demographics such as location, gender, and interests. This can easily be done on common platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. As most individuals are on at least one of the three platforms a few times per day, this is a successful way of targeting your ideal clientele.

6. Paid advertising
Lastly, paid advertising such as using Google Ads is a good way to get on target customers’ radar. You can create ads by including relevant keywords and your ideal customer profile. Customers looking for keywords or services similar to yours will come across your Google ad. Good and relevant ad copy can help you acquire customers that come under your ideal audience.

Another online advertising tool is pay-per-call marketing. This mobile-friendly type of ad allows you to include a call now button on your website. This way mobile users that come across your ad while searching for similar services can click the call button and instantly place a call to your business.

Get B2B Customers Through Sales

The next method of gaining new B2B customers is through sales tactics. Sales include inbound and outbound calls where your business interacts directly with prospects and attempts to sell successfully.

7. Inbound sales
Inbound sales are sales made to prospects that have already interacted with your business or made a purchase. This includes upselling or cross-selling to existing customers. Or, reaching out to prospects who demonstrated interest in your service via contact forms, query emails, or phone calls. Here are some inbound sales tactics to get B2B customers:

  • Inside sales
  • Upselling and cross-selling to existing customers
  • Contact forms
  • Lead follow-ups

8. Outbound calling
Outbound calling refers to a business connecting with potential prospects, informing them of the brand and its products, and making a sales pitch. This includes cold and warm calling to a predetermined list of potential customers developed through extensive market research. Or, reaching out to past customers that canceled or abandoned their interest. Some outbound calling strategies include:

  1. Cold-calling and prospecting
  2. Warm-calling
  3. Follow-up with past leads that did not convert
  4. Connecting with customers that canceled their service
  5. Reaching out to abandoned carts
  6. Cold targets that fit the ideal customer profile (ICP)

Related: 5 Tips for Improving Your Outbound Calling Strategy

Start Acquiring New B2B Clients!

While all of these tools and methods may not seem relevant to your specific business, try the ones that do and stick with them. Results are not instantaneous which is why you should give at least 6-8 months to see new changes and find tactics that work best for your business. And before you know it, you will have new B2B contacts and clients!

Local Numbers vs Toll Free Numbers: Which Does Your Business Need?

Posted on by Miguel Isabal

Source: DepositPhotos.com - Lic#86973682 #27446420

A company’s business phone number is an important element of running a business. This is usually the first mode of contact between a customer or prospect and the company. Therefore, it is in your best interest to make it easy and convenient for them to reach your customer service or sales teams. When choosing a new business number, the most common choices are local numbers or toll free numbers. Here, we will help you decide which is better for your specific needs.

Local Phone Numbers vs. Toll Free Numbers

Virtual phone service providers like United World Telecom offer a variety of telephone numbers to choose from. We offer toll free, international, local, vanity, and universal toll free numbers. Each of these number types has a distinct use and purpose. But which type of business number is more suited for your company depends on what you are trying to achieve with this number. Read on for the differences and how they can benefit your business.

What is a Local Number?

Local numbers are phone numbers assigned to specific areas such as a state, city, or region. These numbers are unique to these areas and have area codes to distinguish them. For example, one New Jersey area code is 201, Orlando in Florida is 407, and so on. Individuals calling these numbers pay local calling charges as issued by their providers.

Having a local number as your contact number makes your company accessible in a different location. For example, even if your business is based in Seattle, you could get a Texas virtual local number and provide an inexpensive way for individuals in Texas to call you. Virtual local numbers make it possible for your business to be virtually present in multiple locations without having to relocate. This way, you can provide customer service and support to more customers beyond your immediate location.

What are Toll Free Numbers?

Toll free numbers are not assigned to specific local areas such as cities or states. And so, receivers are not aware of the exact location of the business they are calling. However, the reason why these numbers are so popular is that they are free to call. Instead of charging the caller, toll free calls are charged to the receiver (the business).

These numbers have a distinct three-digit code at the beginning to separate them from other phone numbers. For example, the US has 800, 888, 877, and so on, while the UK has 0800 and 0808. Medium-sized businesses and large corporations generally have a toll free number to encourage customers to call by providing them a free calling method.

In fact, many companies get international toll free numbers (ITFN) for different countries where they want to provide customer service. Individuals from these locations will be able to call your company for free. And incoming calls are routed through an international call forwarding service to any number of your choice. Your business will appear as closer in proximity than it actually is.

Choosing Between Local Numbers and Toll Free Numbers

Local numbers will help you establish and maintain a local presence in multiple locations. Local numbers can receive calls from outside their origination country and some mobile networks. However, callers will be charged a local calling fee, as determined by their provider. On the other hand, toll free numbers create a free way for interested individuals to connect with your business. Unfortunately, toll free numbers cannot be reached from outside of their origination country.

However, with both local and toll free numbers, your business can:

  • Forward incoming calls to numbers or lines of your choice
  • Expand your business internationally
  • Extend customer service and support to customers across the globe
  • Use advanced virtual calling features such as call recording, SMS forwarding, and more

So the question remains, what do you want to achieve with your business phone number? Consider these questions:

  1. Do you want to set up multiple “virtual offices” in various locations?
  2. Are you a local, national, or international company? In other words, do you want to cater to all states and regions within one country or expand services to other countries?

Toll free numbers are more suitable for medium-large sized businesses while local numbers can help start-ups and small business scale as needed. You may even consider experimenting with both by purchasing a few of each and studying the results.

Get Local and Toll Free Numbers from United World Telecom

Get a local phone number for any region or state you want to target by signing up on our homepage. If toll free numbers seem a more suitable option, you can purchase one through our homepage by selecting the country and prefix you want.

5 Innovative Ways for a Call Center to Use Interactive Voice Response

Posted on by Luke Genoyer

Source: DepositPhotos.com - Lic#25723807 ID#27446420

Does your call center business use IVR to communicate with customers? A well-designed system offers incredible versatility, which can help your business in a variety of ways. Check out these five innovative ways for call centers to use interactive voice response technology.

How Can IVR Be Used in a Call Center?

Most inbound call centers use IVR systems to provide callers with pre-recorded greeting messages and sets of menu options. Menu options will often be for self-service, sales, and customer support. Callers provide input to a call center IVR system by pressing a key.

After gathering caller inputs, the IVR can help your call center route inbound callers to the right agent or department.

So, what are some ways to get the most out of your IVR system?

1. Skills-Based Routing

It is important to choose the right routing strategy for your contact center.

Effective call routing can boost first call resolution rates as customers are able to speak to the right agents right away. IVR can also help call centers automatically route inbound callers to the right department in less than twenty seconds.

The most effective IVR routing strategies are often based on:

  • Agents’ skills such as language preferences or experience.
  • The origination of the inbound call.
  • The time the call is coming through.
  • Equal distribution of calls among a group of agents, and more.

These are real strategies that call centers have used over the years. We have helped businesses implement such strategies to improve efficiency.

2. Create Personalized Messages

A customized greeting and menu options provide a great branding opportunity. Studies show that callers are more comfortable when they hear a welcoming greeting message. IVR can be used to personalize your entire caller experience.

The best technique is to welcome callers with a customized greeting message and pre-recorded menu options. These should have relevant information about your business to help callers easily navigate menu options.

3. Provide Self-Service and After-Hours Support

IVR can be used to offer after-hours customer support by adding information about your company, its product and services, and upcoming promotions.

You can forward incoming calls after-hours or during the weekend to remote offices, agents, or voicemail. You can even have the IVR assist callers in completing certain tasks such as making a payment or scheduling an appointment.

4. Call Center Agent Automation

Automation will certainly boost call center productivity. Luckily, artificial intelligence offers a simple way to automate complex business tasks. This will help your business gain greater performance abilities and utilize the talents of your team more effectively.

A contact center IVR operates right along these lines. The main point of having IVR is so your business can speed up processes. Some of the automation advantages it offers include:

  • Verification and service activation
  • Payment and renewal processes
  • Providing product information
  • Troubleshooting services
  • Providing answers to frequently asked questions, and so on.

If the IVR can help customers with these tasks, then they are less likely going to need to speak with an agent. This leaves trained representatives with more time to handle more high-value customers.

5. Manage Calls During High-Traffic Periods

By adopting the right strategy that helps organize your calls, your team can effectively handle calls during high-traffic periods. By automating services, most calls can be handled by the IVR system alone, giving your agents and reps more breathing space during such periods.

Learn More About IVR

United World Telecom offers a highly customizable IVR system with tips to help your business leverage its voice communications. To learn more about interactive voice response, please contact us today!

What is Lead Tracking?

Posted on by Luke Genoyer

Source: DepositPhotos.com - Lic#14231173 #27446420

In this post, we will define lead tracking and demonstrate why it is important for every business to track where their leads are coming from. Learn how and where to gain leads and the essential role call tracking plays.

Lead Tracking: Definition

Lead tracking is the process of tracking, documenting, and organizing prospects based on certain factors. These factors may include individual actions, the number of times a sales rep has connected with a prospect, the number of times a lead interacts with your brand, and so on. In other words, you are tracking leads from initial contact to close, whether it was successful or not.

The main reason why lead tracking is important is that it can give you a better understanding of your campaigns, your prospects, funnel, and sales and marketing efforts. This way, you can improve lead generation and increase sales.

Lead Tracking for Sales and Marketing Teams

Tracking leads in sales and marketing is a collaborative effort. These teams work together to identify qualified leads and close more sales. By studying your leads, you can create better user and caller experiences for your target audience.

By tracking leads, your marketing department can understand where leads come from, what advertising platforms are they engaging on, how they are interacting with your brand, and more. This information can help marketing teams create better campaigns and marketing strategies that will appeal more to your target audience.

Once good and promising leads are gathered, marketing departments can share these with the sales team. They can also provide all the necessary information that can help close these deals. Now the sales department works their magic and uses this information to approach each client and individualize the sale. All of this greatly increases the chance of making a sale or conversion.

Where and How to Gain Leads

In order to track leads effectively, your team needs to know where and how they can best get leads. A few different ways to capture leads are:

  • Trade shows and exhibitions
  • Email sign-ups and online subscribers
  • Social media
  • Market research
  • Call tracking where incoming calls inquiring about services and products are tracked, etc.

Next, your team may need an organized system to input, consolidate, and store lead information. Customer relations management systems (CRMs) such as HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho, etc., can help you store and track information effectively.

So, what information should you collect from leads? Name, contact information, and how they came across your business, expectations, and so on.

How to Qualify Leads?

Determining whether your leads qualify or not means evaluating the value of a lead and how they can be useful to your business. You want to find leads that are promising and ideal for your brand.

Sales departments qualify their leads through different sales models. Some businesses use the BANT model. This model qualifies leads based on:

  • Budget: can the lead afford your product?
  • Authority: can they make a purchasing decision?
  • Need: do they have a need for your product/service?
  • Timeline: is there a specific timeline when they desire or plan to make the purchase?

Generally accepted types of lead qualification include:

  • Inquiry: the user who demonstrates interest
  • Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL): a user who interacted with marketing materials and has the potential to become a closed opportunity
  • Sales Accepted Lead (SAL): an MQL that is converted and accepted as a potential lead
  • Sales Qualified Lead (SQL): teams would use a sales model such as BANT to determine qualification
  • Closed: the user or lead made a purchase.

Call Tracking and Virtual Phone Numbers: A Dream Team

About 90% of customer interactions happen over the phone. This is when interested prospects learn about your business and its products, calling to inquire or get more information. Therefore, call tracking is essential to collect data on these leads, specifically:

  • Where they come from
  • Where they interacted with your product
  • What campaigns or ads encouraged them to call
  • How are they connecting with your business
  • How they are searching for services like yours (keywords, etc.)
  • Where are they calling from, and so on

You can use virtual phone numbers to track where incoming calls are coming from. For instance, you can purchase a toll free number and various local numbers and advertise them on different platforms. When calls come in, you can easily identify where customers are interacting with your brand or which locations are more responsive to your advertising campaigns. You can then use this information to improve lead tracking and lead generation efforts.

Start Tracking Leads Today!

You can create an in-house tracking software, enter data manually, purchase an online application, or use virtual phone numbers. Whichever way you choose, lead tracking is important to create effective marketing and sales processes. Use this marketing technique to find better ways to serve your customers and improve your business’ sales rate!

What is a Dynamic Caller ID for VoIP?

Posted on by Luke Genoyer

Source: DepositPhotos.com - Lic#65365283 ID#27446420

Is it possible to change an outgoing caller ID? Yes, with the VoIP feature, dynamic caller ID, your business can display a local or toll free number instead of a long-distance or international number. But how do customizable caller IDs work and how can they benefit your business? Here we discuss dynamic caller IDs and their benefits.

What is a Caller ID?

Voice over IP or VoIP phone systems use the internet to place and receive calls. With a VoIP system, you can make calls from any location and through any device as long as it is connected to a reliable internet source. Such systems are also referred to as cloud phone systems. Because of their flexibility and use of the internet, these systems provide users with virtual communication features such as call forwarding, call recording, video conferencing, and more.

One of these features is a customizable and dynamic caller ID. The caller ID was first introduced in the 1980s. This allowed users to screen calls by being able to see who was calling. It provided an opportunity to miss calls from unknown numbers or numbers that were from different area codes.

However, this became a problem for sales and telemarketing businesses. Customers could now reject calls before answering them. Furthermore, it inhibited the activity of scammers and hackers as well. But in the middle of all of that, it negatively impacted legitimate businesses that were reaching out.

What is a Dynamic Caller ID for VoIP?

As a solution to this problem, the dynamic caller ID was invented. With the old, traditional caller ID systems, users were unable to change their outgoing caller ID. That is, the number that was displayed on the recipient’s device.

A dynamic caller ID, however, allows users to customize the number that is displayed. This way, you can show different numbers for different calls based on the purpose of the call. VoIP phone service providers can help you get and use this feature in different ways. Some providers will let you switch between different numbers that you purchase from them. You can purchase toll free, international, and local numbers. While others will give you a list of numbers to use with this feature.

The most common way is to get an outbound calling service with customizable caller ID capabilities from your provider. This way, you can use the outbound web dialer to place calls and display different virtual numbers. For example, even if your business is located in Texas, you can display a Florida area code number or a US toll free number as your outgoing caller ID. You can even get international toll free numbers and display them when calling international customers.

dynamic caller id for voip
Source: DepositPhotos.com – Lic#37006057 ID#27446420

Why Does Your Business Need a Dynamic Caller ID?

The main reason why businesses use or should consider using a dynamic caller ID is so they can increase the chances of calls being answered. Individuals are less likely to answer calls from “unknown” numbers or numbers they do not recognize as toll free or local.

With a customizable caller ID, you can choose which number to display. When calling specific local areas, you can display that area’s local number or toll free number. In fact, this even increases the chances of receiving a call back because callers will be dialing a local or toll free number which does not incur high calling rates.

Contact centers, customer service teams, as well as sales and marketing teams can use this feature to reach more customers locally and internationally. The logic here is the customer will assume your business is local and will feel more comfortable doing business with you due to your location.

How to Get a Dynamic Caller ID?

United World Telecom offers a customizable caller ID with our outbound calling service. You can purchase outbound calling by adding it to your virtual phone number plan. Then, choose additional virtual numbers you would like to have. These are numbers for markets and areas where you want to expand your business or customer service. Then, start calling locally and internationally and give your team greater opportunities to make sales!

10 Benefits of Using an IVR System

Posted on by Meryl D'Sa-Wilson

Source: DepositPhotos.com - Lic#355937164 #27446420

Almost every business now has an IVR system that answers calls on its behalf and then routes callers to the appropriate department. So, why are more and more companies using this automated communication tool?

IVR System: Top 10 Benefits

An interactive voice response, or IVR system, is an automated voice response system that answers incoming calls, identifies the purpose of the calls, and assists the caller. It transfers calls to the appropriate department or provides self-serving options that customers can complete themselves. IVR phone systems cut down on time and money while improving the way a caller interacts with a company. Here are 10 ways a business can benefit from IVR service.

1. Prioritizes Calls Based on Value

IVR systems can be predetermined with rules to prioritize and route calls based on the caller and their needs. This way, you can route high-value customer calls to the most appropriate or qualified agent. If agents are unavailable, the caller will be first in the queue. Doing so ensures that your team does not lose an important caller’s business due to long wait times.

2. Reduces Costs

An effective and well-designed IVR service can run without the need of an agent. It can help callers by providing self-serving options and only when these options fail, is an agent required. Therefore, an IVR system can help businesses save on the costs of hiring large customer service teams by allowing the automated system to do more. Your team can then focus on more important issues and interacting with high-profile clients.

3. Reduces Time Spent on Mundane Tasks

Customers calling a business need answers fast. Customer service teams are constantly on the phone resolving issues. An interactive voice response system saves time for everyone by interacting with the customer, identifying their needs, and offering support either through pre-recorded messages or by transferring them to the right department. They can expedite calls, accurately transfer callers, help them complete certain actions, and schedule callbacks. These calls never go unanswered. Callers receive support in some form or the other, without time wasted.

4. Supports and Improves Lead Conversion

Recent advancements in IVR technology have made it possible to use this tool for sales and lead generation. IVR systems, depending on the provider, are capable of reaching out to prospects on predetermined lists to check if they pre-qualify. They will ask prospects a few questions, after which qualified prospects will be routed to live representatives.

5. Enhances Caller Experience

Most providers offer IVR phone systems that can be customized on your end. Customize to improve caller experience through custom greetings, easy-to-understand prompts, and so on. This interaction should reflect an ideal interaction with your company. Callers who can easily navigate the system and get their concerns resolved quickly will only appreciate your brand even more.

6. A Marketing and Feedback Tool

Marketing teams have used IVR to study customer behavior and preferences using phone surveys and conducting marketing research. You can gain insights into your audience’s likes and dislikes, their demographics, communication preferences, and more. This information can be used to serve them better.

7. Scalability

IVR systems can adapt to an organization and its customers’ changing needs and expectations. Cloud-based systems are highly customizable and have virtual communication features such as intelligent routing, multilingual capabilities, and more. As your business grows, you can add more to your IVR phone system to support your needs.

8. Provide 24/7 Customer Support

IVR technology makes it possible to provide 24/7 customer support as it answers calls even during off or after hours. During these times, calls can be routed to a different office (in a different time zone), remote agents, or even your mobile phone. It can also provide answers to simple questions, provide company and product information, verify accounts, process payments, schedule callbacks, route to voicemail, and more. This way, even if caller concerns are not resolved, they know that they will receive a callback.

9. Personalized Self-Service

Automation is the future of customer service. An advanced IVR system can help callers verify new accounts, check account information, make payments, request renewals, and much more. You can even program the system to provide trouble-shooting support. This is helpful during high traffic periods when agents are busy, during off-hours, or for customers who prefer to solve the problem themselves.

10. Improve the Business’ Image

A business that provides 24/7 service and is able to resolve issues on the first call itself is a company that can be trusted and relied upon. And an IVR service can build that image for your company by making it more accessible and helping customers resolve their concerns quickly and efficiently.

Ready to Get IVR for Your Business?

United World Telecom offers an IVR system that can be easily customized and designed to meet your needs and requirements. Our IVR service comes along with each of our virtual number plans. To get the service, simply sign up for a new number or port your existing number on our homepage. Have more questions? Speak to an expert today!

UIFN or ITFS: Which is Best for Your Business?

Posted on by Meryl D'Sa-Wilson

Source: DepositPhotos.com - Lic#374849482 #27446420

When you consider expanding your business to other countries, one of the biggest concerns to think about is: how will you maintain reliable communication with people in distant parts of the world. Many businesses choose either ITFS numbers or UIFN service.

UIFN Versus ITFS: Defining the Differences

United World Telecom has been a trusted international telecommunications provider since 1996. We provide UIFN service and ITFS numbers.

UIFN

A Universal International Freephone Number — also known as a UIFN Number — is a type of toll free number that works as a single phone number in multiple countries. With UIFN service, your organization can support callers through a universal toll free number in up to 62 different countries.

ITFS Numbers

ITFS can also support global voice communications. Businesses use ITFS numbers to provide a free method for customers to call them in up to 160 countries. Both UIFN and ITFS numbers can help you expand your global voice coverage.

Which Is a Better Number for Your Business?

While UIFN numbers sound good in theory, when deciding what number type works best for your business, one must consider the advantages and disadvantages. You first need to know how these numbers work and how they differ from each other.

UIFN Advantages

UIFN has coverage as a single phone number for multiple countries, including major global economies such as Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, etc. Having a single number makes it easier to manage communications instead of displaying a variety of numbers.

How Does UIFN Work?

Here is a list of the countries where UIFN numbers are available, including information about mobile accessibility:

Country Mobile Country Mobile
Argentina No Latvia No
Australia Yes Luxembourg No
Austria Yes Macau Yes
Belarus Partial Malaysia Partial
Belgium No Netherlands Partial
Brazil Yes New Zealand Yes
Bulgaria Partial Norway Yes
Canada Yes Philippines No
China No Poland Yes
Colombia Yes Portugal Yes
Costa Rica No Russia Partial
Cyprus Yes Singapore Partial
Czech Rep No Slovenia No
Denmark Yes South Africa Yes
Finland Yes South Korea Yes
France Yes Spain No
Germany Yes Sweden No
Hong Kong Yes Switzerland Yes
Hungary Yes Taiwan Partial
Ireland Yes Thailand Yes
Israel No U.K Yes
Italy No Uruguay Partial
Japan Partial
UIFN for business
Source: DepositPhotos.com – Lic#204677724 ID#27446420

The Downside of UIFN

UIFN is accessible from only 62 countries around the world and not all UIFN participating countries have mobile access. Prefixes vary based on the country. This can lead to confusion and misdialing.

It can also take a few weeks to activate UIFN service and registration fees apply.

ITFS Advantages

ITFS numbers are free to dial from within their country. They are only reachable from within their own country and generally cannot be dialed from other countries.

International toll free numbers are available from more than 160 countries worldwide and are the most cost-effective option for any company wanting to expand globally.

How to Choose the Right Type of Number

Which is better for your business depends on your business’ international reach. If you have customers in only a few select countries, then getting separate ITFS numbers for those regions will be more useful. However, if you have extensive global coverage, you may find UIFN more beneficial. This decision also depends on your budget limits and how much getting multiple ITFNs or one single expensive UIFN will cost you.

You can also inquire about our Toll Free FlexDial solution which can offer global toll-free access to callers in multiple countries through a single phone number. This solution works as an alternative to UIFN since it can cover more countries than UIFN. Chat with us to learn more or browse FlexDial prices.

Get UIFN from United World Telecom

United World Telecom offers both ITFN and UIFN numbers. If you know what you want, sign up for your new number on our homepage today. Or, call us at 1 (877) 898 8646 to discuss your business needs so we can help you make a well-informed decision.

Sign Up For UIFN