Celebrate the Telephone
The TAS Industry Centers on a Readily Understood, Universal, and Reliable Technology
By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD
Telephone answering services handle thousands of telephone calls every day. The majority are incoming calls that come from clients’ customers and prospects. The rest are outgoing calls made for clients. With the continual use of the telephone at work, it’s easy to dismiss it as commonplace, even boring. But let’s not overlook the all-critical role the telephone plays in our every-day work.
In fact, let’s take a moment to celebrate the telephone as the essential star that it is. Let’s pause to applaud the telephone:
It’s Understood: Everyone knows how to use a telephone. Even those who prefer not to call someone and seek alternative means whenever possible still possess the knowledge of how to call a telephone number to talk to someone.
The telephone is the best understood communication option, used by more people than any other alternative. The phone is also the easiest to use and requires little technical expertise and minimal training.
It’s Universal: The telephone is also ubiquitous. Though not all residences have a hard-wired telephone sitting in their homes, as they once did, virtually all businesses do.
And most everyone carries around a telephone in their pocket. They may even have two.
Reliable: Email make get blocked, end up in spam, or be accidentally deleted. Text messages can suffer from delay or non-delivery.
Not so with a telephone. A phone call goes through most every time. And in those rare cases when it doesn’t, the caller immediately knows by receiving a busy signal or a recording alerting them of a problem.
Conclusion: It may seem silly to celebrate the telephone, but without it we wouldn’t be in business. Though it’s easy to overlook the telephone for its always-available, always-working nature, let’s take a moment to appreciate it is the essential element and central icon that it is.
We exist because of the telephone.
Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is the publisher and editor-in-chief of TAS Trader. Check out his latest book, Sticky Customer Service.
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Classified Ads:
Call Center Manager Wanted: Erlanger Health System, a nationally-acclaimed, multi-hospital health system, based in beautiful Chattanooga, TN, is looking for a Call Center Manager for the Medical Call Center. The Call Center Manager will provide leadership and oversight for the Medical Call Center. Please view job description at www.erlangercareers.org (Job ID33102) to submit application.
System for Sale: Complete Amtelco Infinity 1st link special edition rackmount system, 4 years old with new spares. Great as a super assortment of spare components, main system, or redundant fail-safe system with $12k in new spare components included. Plus, all cables and odds & ends from original install. Let’s talk: 330-307-4721 or jjsh211@aol.com.
Professional Liability Insurance: The member-exclusive, ATSI-endorsed professional liability insurance program protects you against claims-related errors and omissions arising from your professional services. This comprehensive solution commonly known as errors and omissions liability insurance (E&O) covers defense costs and settlements and provides a valuable layer of additional coverage. Contact: ATSI-questions@alliant.com or 855-393–ATSI.
Seeking Acquisitions: Reputable TAS, in business since 1967 and still owned by the founding family, seeks a small TAS acquisition in the USA. Ideally, you’re billing under $50k per month. Smaller is better. We’ll treat you right, and your employees and customers. Let’s talk. Contact Doug at 888-693-7935 or douganswerphone@gmail.com.
Established TAS looking to rent seats on a hosted Amtelco System, preferably Genesis. Contact Rob at rob@americastas.com.
Looking to Sell Your TAS? I have personal connections with buyers ready to act. Completely confidential to ensure trustworthy, private transactions. Competitive fees put more money in your pocket. And professional services provide the best results. Contact Ron Violante to learn more: ronaldviolante1@gmail.com or 330-565–8364.
Selling Your Business? If you are considering selling your business, you owe it to yourself and your employees to consider selling to MAP Communications’ Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Dozens of past sellers to MAP include Stericycle Communications Solutions, Answer Center VA Beach, and A-Courteous Communications in Orlando. Call Grant Sibley 800-955-9888 or email gsibley@mapcommunications.com for a confidential conversation.
Seeking Acquisitions: Nexa Receptionists is seeking acquisitions. Past deals include Answer 1, Keener Communications, Alert Communications, and MainLine Telecommunications. We have the capital to get deals done and are committed to fairness and transparency throughout the process. We pay great prices for great companies and treat sellers/owners well. Contact: Ryan.Keener@Nexa.com or 804-527-2687.
Industry News
New miSecureMessages.com Server Version 6.8: Amtelco announced the release of new server version 6.8 for their secure messaging app called miSecureMessages. This new server release contains many anticipated new features such as high availability configuration, genesis protected dialing, shared device licenses, single sign-on identity provider, and dark mode. “We are excited to release this highly anticipated version of miSecureMessages,” said Tom Curtin, CEO of Amtelco. “I would like to specifically thank our group of customers who enthusiastically volunteered their time to test the app update.”
Amtelco Announces Intelligent Series 5.5: Amtelco announced the release of version 5.5 for their Intelligent Series (IS) suite of call center applications. Some of the new features include artificial intelligence, Genesis conference bridge, speech analytics, call tracker charting, expiring licenses (for web agent connections), and additional spell check languages. “The latest version enhancements make call processing easier by speeding up the call process,” stated Tom Curtin, Amtelco president. “They improve the caller experience and help increase accuracy.”
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Quotes for the Month
“Flattery won’t hurt you if you don’t swallow it.” –Kin Hubbard
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” –George Washington
“Frustration is trying to find your glasses without your glasses.” –unknown