Virtual phone attendant software

Typically, IVR systems are used in dedicated call centers, while auto attendants are used by local businesses and businesses that just need directory routing, e. IVR systems are both expensive and complex to program—they will be overkill for most small businesses, except small businesses that deal with unusually heavy inbound call volume.

A PBX system is the interface between extensions in a business directory and broader telecommunications networks e. The basic purpose of a PBX system is to enable routing control over both inbound and outbound calls.

Most business phone systems are suites of PBX applications that include auto attendants alongside other applications, such as voicemail and call recording. While most auto attendants are packaged in these PBX suites, some vendors offer them as stand-alone applications. Many of these standalone solutions also offer IVR functionality. If you operate a call center, want to enable self-service options for inbound callers or want to place incoming calls into a queue, then you should consider a call center system.

Smaller businesses can generally get by with PBX suites designed for their needs —many of which include auto attendants. Unlike IVR systems, auto attendants are straightforward, easy-to-program applications. Auto attendants include the following standard functionality:. By using hunt groups with an auto attendant, small businesses that have multiple employees dedicated to answering the phones can set up a very basic call center solution.

Our design report on IVR systems can be found here , and our auto attendant report can be found here.

We interacted with hundreds of IVR systems and auto attendants to determine the benchmarking standards detailed in these reports. Get Advice. More VoIP Software. Other Software. Sort by:. GoToConnect GoToConnect formerly Jive delivers a cloud-based unified communication solution to organizations of all sizes across the U.

Price Watch Demo Learn More. Nextiva Nextiva is a platform that brings communications together with business applications, intelligence, and automation.

Vonix Vonix flex is a business VoIP solution that provides hands-on support and reliable service with all business phone plans for small and medium businesses across the U. Price Demo Learn More. Vonage Business Communications Vonage Business Solutions is a cloud-based communications solution suitable for small and midsize companies. PanTerra Streams Business Plus is a cloud-based VoiP solution created by PanTerra, which allows users to take or make calls from their office phone number, communicate with their team, and have file access, all from any device with an internet con BroadVoice Cloud PBX BroadVoice b-Hive helps call and collaborate from anywhere with a single cloud communication solution that unifies business phones, video conferencing, texting and collaboration under a single phone number.

Twilio Twilio is the worlds leading cloud communication platform that enables you to engage customers across channels - SMS, voice, video, email, WhatsApp and more. Talkdesk Talkdesk is a cloud-based call center solution that helps businesses improve customer satisfaction while simultaneously reducing customer support costs. NICE CXone With the highest reliability ratings in the call center software market, inContact helps its customers optimally process over one billion calls per year.

Dialpad For quickly growing businesses looking to efficiently scale their support teams, Dialpad provides a cloud-based call center with access to real-time customer insights. Five9 Five9 is a hosted call center system that can be used across call centers of all sizes. CallHippo CallHippo is a cloud-based call center solution that helps mid to large size businesses with workflow automation and virtual telephony.

Aircall Aircall provides a web-based phone system that includes call recording, computer telephony integration, workforce scheduling and more. MiCloud Connect MiCloud Connect formerly ShoreTel is a cloud-based VoIP phone system that offers collaboration and conferencing tools to enable information flow within the organization.

CloudTalk CloudTalk is a contact center management solution that enables businesses to streamline communications with teams and customers using virtual call systems.

View all products. Popular Comparisons. Buyers guide Last Updated: January 11, Virtual attendants replace live operators and allow for call routing. Small businesses looking for ways to save money without sacrificing service can reap big benefits through virtual phone attendants.

They provide an easy, affordable way to route incoming calls without sacrificing the personal touch that your customers rely on. Plus, they provide your business with a Fortune professional sound that lends authenticity and professionalism to your caller.

Small businesses typically operate on very small budgets and have minimal staff on site to deal personally with calls that may come in. In many cases the business owner or sole proprietor may be engaging with other customers—a plumber, for example—and physically unable to take a phone call. Virtual attendants take the worry out of missing those important calls while business owners are engaged in other activities.

Our customers span a wide range of industries and business settings—from restaurants to law firms to service providers, and more. Even businesses with multiple employees can benefit from a call attendant. Suppose you have a single number associated with your brand.

Virtual phone attendants make transferring calls into that single number to the appropriate person easy and nearly seamless. They can be spread around the city, the state, the country—or even the globe. As virtual technology has evolved, the need to purchase a hardware PBX system is no longer necessary. With the advent of VoIP and cloud-hosted technology, even small companies can afford a professional virtual attendant system with multiple extensions, call transfer, find-me follow-me, simultaneous ring, voicemail-to-email, voicemail transcription, and fax-to-email.

A customized menu of options can be set up to help customers get to the person or department they need to speak with, no matter where they are located, allowing remote employees or contractors to seamlessly blend as a team. A cloud-based virtual phone attendant system allows a small company to have one central number that can route calls to employees, across town or across the country.

Check out all of our amazing phone system features here. Customer service continues to be our number one differentiator. At the end of the day, virtual phone systems, auto attendants, and business phone service, in general, has become a bit of a commodity. While our completion focuses on automation and outsourcing to call centers in the Philippians, our focus is simple. Make customers happy. The short answer is yes.

Even if you have a live receptionist, it still makes sense to have a phone system with auto attendant capabilities so when you are closed or on a holiday, your phone system has the ability to professionally greet callers and route them to the appropriate phone, extension or voicemail. Sometimes these terms can be confusing because a virtual auto attendant like what we have been discussing is sometimes referred to as a virtual auto receptionist. For example, here at UniTel Voice , we have customers that use our virtual auto attendant during the day and forward their calls to a virtual receptionist at night.

Interactive voice response IVR is a bit fancier than a simple virtual auto attendant. Typically, an IVR is overkill for most startups and small businesses but it all depends on your needs. Professionally welcome callers with a custom recording.