Your phone may not seem like a cornerstone piece of hardware, but a good phone system (that’s properly set up) will answer customer questions and build trust, reduce the amount of time your employees spend on the phone and increase the volume of your business.

That might sound like a lot. The truth, though, is that the right phone system can do all of that and more, and if it’s really good it’ll do it all for a lesser expense.

Here’s how:

1. GUIDE PEOPLE TO THEIR ANSWER

An auto attendant allows your customer to navigate themselves to the answer they’re looking for, whether that’s an immediate answer or the person they need to speak with.

Many restaurants believe that auto-attendants put up walls, but reality shows that providing a systematic method for getting your customers to the right person or the right information builds trust and goodwill.

2. NO MORE UNANSWERED CALLS OR BUSY SIGNALS

Is it just us or is a busy signal basically like a company saying, “I don’t have time to talk to you”? When someone comes in to dine at your restaurant during your dinner rush, they’re put on a waitlist and a host lets them know when they can expect to be served. Why shouldn’t your phone system do the same?

With many systems during periods of high call volumes, callers can be informed of their estimated waiting times and place in line, or even receive a callback rather than wait on hold. During the few moments where a customer is in-line waiting to speak to an employee, music or on-hold messaging can be enabled to further enhance the customer experience.

If you’ve ever contracted for telephone service, one point of discussion is always the number of “lines” you will need. With most Cloud-based Voice-Over IP (VoIP) telephone systems, the concept of “lines” becomes irrelevant – an unlimited number of callers can ring into your business without ever an utterance of a busy signal.

Not convinced your customers care about being left on hold? Consider this USA Business Telephone survey of 30,000 people which concluded that a messaging and music on hold program can reduce the call abandonment rate from over 50% to less than 2%.

3. VOICEMAIL to SMS NOTIFICATION

There are many advantages to getting voicemail text messages. Businesses use this voicemail service to:

• Reply quickly. Respond with your mobile phone when you are away.
• Be informed. Never miss important voice messages such as catering orders, suppliers and more...
• Save time. Read voicemails from the simplicity of text messaging.
• Share messages. Forward voicemail messages to colleagues for quick answers.

4. MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Running a restaurant often involves just that - running! With Nextiva, your phones can ring right to your cell so you never miss a call from a customer, employee, or vendor. Need a shift covered last-minute? Use broadcast texting to get the word out to everyone in seconds.

5. CROSS-LOCATION COLLABORATION

Conducting pre-shift or training meetings across locations is easy with video conferencing and screen-sharing.

6. SCALABILITY

Setting up service for new hires and locations is super easy with cloud communications. Small Biz Communication Services VoIP telephone systems are designed to go where you go, and grow as you grow.

7. SECURITY & RELIABILITY

With secure data centers across North America, Small Biz Communication Services takes your business communications seriously. Small Biz Communication Services protects against fraudulent activity, natural disasters and other continuity issues. Keep your restaurant powered and secure, even through power outages in your area.

8. REAL-TIME ANALYTICS

Analytics can help you better understand your staffing needs, evaluate the performance of marketing campaigns, and give you the insight you need to make better decisions for your business.

9. SAVE MONEY

Our customers save between 15-40% compared to the traditional phone system they had before working with us.

VoIP from most providers allows you to place unlimited long-distance and local calls anywhere in the US and Canada plus international capabilities, if needed. Each carrier sets their specific call allowances, but with Small Biz Communication Services, all of the United States and Canada is included in each service plan. That means you don’t get hit with unexpected fees, and your invoice is as transparent as you expect it to be.

The right phone system will naturally fit into your day-to-day operations and remove pain points for your customers. Our cloud based (Hosted) telephone system can be catered to your needs to do just that. Think it might be a good fit for your restaurant? Schedule a meeting with us to go over your options.

It’s been a long time since we expected our personal phones to only facilitate voice calls and nothing more, so why accept anything less from your restaurant phone system? Contact us today for your Hosted Voice Solution!