Any company in the course of its expansion increases the number of customers and is faced with the need to organize communication. The number of both incoming and outgoing calls is constantly growing. At the same time, the risk of losing a potential buyer also increases due to the fact that instead of answering, he will hear short beeps, signaling that the number is busy. Just for such situations are multichannel phone numbers. They make it possible to simultaneously answer a large number of calls.
Benefits
Surely every person at least once in his life called the customer support service and has an idea of how this service works. First, the company number is dialed, after which the voice menu is launched. When you select the desired command, the operator himself is connected to the conversation. Such a system is created using multi-channel communication with the participation of an automatic telephone exchange. The principle of operation is very simple: all calls to one number are redirected to the phones of free operators.at the current time. If all lines are busy, then the subscriber is queued, and the first free operator answers him.
Companies very quickly realize that there is a need for such a solution. After all, at first the telephone line supports only one channel for communication. And if there are more customers, and they call at the same time? Often faced with a busy number, the buyer may irrevocably go to the company whose telephone connection is organized better. To prevent this, you just need to create more channels for receiving calls.
Analogue connection
A multichannel phone number can be connected using both a regular PBX and a virtual one. The first case entails significant costs for equipment, configuration and its further maintenance. The limit number of lines can also become a big problem, since PBXs have their own set limit of devices. Connecting an additional phone within the capabilities of the station costs a lot. Another disadvantage of analog communications is the limited territory.
Virtual connection
Virtual station makes everything much easier. And it also allows you to save money, since all the equipment is on the side of the provider. The customer firm receives all its capabilities and uses it to suit its needs. You don't need to have any special knowledge. You just need to select the phones to which calls will be distributed. Operators can be located in the same room or in different places on the planet, and calls will be received fromthe same number. The number of simultaneously processed calls can be up to several hundred. The costs here are quite small: payment for the multichannel number itself and a monthly subscription fee.
Which number to choose
There are three types of multi-line phone numbers that are convenient and popular: direct city and federal codes 8-800 and 8-804. Each of them has its own characteristics:
- Direct city number is connected by those companies that want to gain the trust of customers. Even when the company has just appeared, and it still does not have an office, and there are only a couple of people on the staff, such a number will help create the image of a good company. The main plus is cost-effectiveness, since connecting a phone with such a code is cheaper than with a federal one, and incoming calls for the company are completely free. This is also a drawback: customers from another region, as well as those who call from mobile phones, may shun firms with city numbers due to their unwillingness to pay for the call.
- The number with the code 8-800 is the most popular option for all inter-regional firms and call-centers, as well as for organizing hotlines. Just a couple of years ago, such a number was considered something new for buyers. But today they are already perceived as well as city numbers. This has been proven by practice. The main advantage is the convenience for the client, since he does not need to pay for calls to such numbers. And it does not depend on which region these calls are made from. To disadvantagethe higher price for connection and maintenance should be attributed. But if you use a virtual station, then the costs are significantly reduced.
- Multichannel number with code 8-804 is mostly similar to the previous option. There is only one difference: when a call comes in, the number of the subscriber is displayed. This is a plus for a large number of organizations. But some still want to remain anonymous. Connect this number is cheaper than 8-800.
Connecting a multichannel virtual number
In order to organize a multichannel communication line, you need:
- Select a provider. This is necessary, since the quality of communication and comfort when using a virtual station will depend on it.
- Determine equipment. As mentioned, complex technical means are not needed here. A computer or mobile device with Internet access at an average speed (512 kilobits per second is enough), an ordinary phone or a SIP device, as well as a VoIP adapter will do.
- Select a tariff and a single multichannel number. This is done with an eye to the size of the company and its needs. A provider can often provide a range of options for both small and large firms.
- Register with your service provider.
- Set up the equipment, as well as the cloud telephone exchange. Here, too, you do not need to possess specific skills. An application is installed on the computer, and an extension number is created on the provider's website orseveral numbers. Then the rules for forwarding and other necessary parameters are configured.
Results
After all this, a virtual multichannel phone number is available to the company. Customers are now not going anywhere because of a busy phone line.
In the event that a company already has a number that you don’t want to give up, but you still want to connect a virtual PBX due to its advantages, you just need to connect your line to the VoIP adapter, and then sign an agreement with the company- provider. After that, the already familiar number will turn into a multi-channel one. In Russia, all major mobile operators provide such a service. Therefore, you can easily contact them and connect a multichannel number. "Megafon", "MTS", "Beeline" allow you to serve many customers with one phone number.
