After Hours Answering Service Reduces Business Interruption Events

We’ve talked before in this blog about how engaging an after hours answering service can help  restart business growth in a tough  marketplace, but did you know these services are also excellent for managing business interruption events?  This week, several states in the nation are being blanketed with deep snow.  I’m guessing many of you have fond memories of snow days from your childhood.  However, as adults, we now have clients or patients or other work relationships that really depend on us; thus snow days are a bit less enjoyable because it can interrupt your ability to serve your clients, and typically means lost revenue as well.

It’s Not Just Weather

Whether it is a man-made event, or weather related, many businesses experience some form of unanticipated business interruption multiple times each year.  These interruptions are especially onerous for medical providers, property managers, trade professionals (HVAC, plumbers, electricians, etc.) and other service businesses where there is a high amount of customer interaction on daily basis.  Yes, a canceled appointment is often a hassle, but if the appointment was for a major health related operation, or for a client’s home furnace that is not working and she has an infant at home, a canceled appointment can be down-right scary.  In those situations, the last thing you want your clients or patients to hear is an automated voice-prompt asking them to leave a message.  If you utilize an after hours answering service that also provides certified 24/7 operations, this would not be an issue for your callers.

Putting the Plans in Place

Here at Main Line TeleCommunications, we work with each organization to have a customized calling program in place so our clients can better manage their own customers’ expectations for when the unexpected happens.  By simply getting through to a live and helpful person, the caller’s anxiety is reduced and we can provide the specific instructions as directed by our clients, to relay to those callers.  This process greatly reduces or eliminates the frustrations and client service issues that can arise from unexpected business interruptions; and often reduces the amount of revenue that would have been lost as a result of the interruption event.

An Ounce of Prevention…

If you are one of the many affected by the weather this week, we wish you a speedy a return to normal operations.  If you are not affected, be sure to dust off your business continuity plan and go through it in detail to make sure it is current.  If you are still a kid – stop reading and get out there and play!

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