4 Reasons Your Retail Store Needs A Hosted Phone Solution

• October 17, 2018
• Author: Keith Young

Retail stores have the ongoing challenge of reducing expenses and maintaining an effective, reliable workforce. A hosted phone solution is an excellent tool to help you accomplish both of those common goals.

Cost-effective and feature-rich, the advanced technology of a hosted phone solution makes it an obvious choice for many retail businesses.

Here are 4 common reasons your retail store may need to switch from a conventional landline phone system to a hosted phone solution:

1. Reduce operating expenses.
2. Increase customer acquisition and value.
3. Expand your workforce without increasing your costs.
4. Effectively manage and optimize your workforce.

1. Reduce Operating Expenses

A hosted phone system does not require costly hardware. Set-up is so quick and easy that no installation fee is necessary, and maintenance or service fees are non-existent. Your entire system is managed by your off-site service provider.

Additionally, there are no long distance costs. Calls between users – even if each user is in a different geographical location – are free, making this ideal for retail businesses with multiple stores.

2. Customer Acquisition & Value

Many retailers today are investing in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software to maximize customer value and optimize customer acquisition. The more data you can capture, the more you can learn about what your customers want and how to provide it for them.

A hosted phone system can integrate with your CRM system. This gives your workforce immediate access to customer data based entirely on their incoming phone number. Purchase history and other details enable you to customize your service to best fit the needs of each individual customer, increasing customer loyalty and the value your store can provide to the customer.

3. Workforce Expansion Without Increased Expense

Handling phone calls is a constant challenge for retail stores. Priority service must naturally focus on in-person customers, leaving incoming calls unanswered or callers being placed on hold. Nobody likes to wait on hold, and most people hang up after merely seconds of waiting.

The solution seems to be adding to your workforce to accommodate the increasing demands. However, that increases your expenses.

A hosted phone system may be the only solution you need. Available features can automatically answer and redirect calls, and give callers a call-back option instead of requiring them to wait on hold. This saves everybody time and effectively and efficiently helps your customers and your staff.

4. Effective Workforce Management & Optimization

A hosted phone solution offers a comprehensive array of calling features and real-time reporting. Monitor and track data such as call volumes, call duration, first-time resolution, and more. This valuable and accurate information enables you to make intelligent decisions about your staff and to effectively manage your workforce performance.

Is A Hosted Phone Solution Right For Your Retail Store?

If you want to reduce operating expenses, increase the value of your service, and optimize your workforce, a hosted phone solution might be right for you. Contact a UnitedCloud specialist for a free consultation.