First impressions matter, and often, for new clients or consumers of goods and services, these perceptions are formed over the phone. If your current telephone answering service is falling short of its promise and unable to meet your call answering needs, it’s time to weigh up your options!

Let’s start by unpacking when and how to switch your call answering service. We then explore why you should choose The Answering Service to boost the way you run your business and understand what’s involved in making the move.

When to Switch Your Answering Service

Knowing when to make the switch starts with recognising what’s not working for you. If any of the following scenarios apply to your experience with your current provider, it might be time for a change:

You’re Missing Calls… and Business!

If the feedback you’re receiving is that people often can’t get through or don’t receive callbacks, your current call answering solution isn’t working for you how it needs to. Missing opportunities to engage directly with your clients and suppliers can quickly stack up and hurt your business financially and reputationally. That’s why a live call answering service that ensures every single call is captured and managed with professionalism is essential.

Team answering calls at call answering service

You’ve Outgrown the Service

As businesses grow and the industries in which they evolve, so too do their needs. If your company has expanded to new markets or operates across different time zones, you may require more sophisticated complex call scripting to route and resolve enquiries. If you’re still relying on a provider that can’t scale with you or deliver a customised solution that meets your needs, they’re holding you back.

Your Service Lacks a Personal Touch

The value of authentic human connection is undeniable, and choosing a call answering service that prioritises real interactions is beneficial to your business for many reasons. When your callers are met with over-scripted, impersonal conversations, or worse – automated answering with a limited selection of automated menu options – it’s time to switch to live call handling!

You Need More Than Just Call Answering

Does your team need help managing diary appointments, qualifying leads, or ensuring sufficient out-of-hours and overflow call capacity? If staff productivity is dwindling because too much time is being spent on menial tasks, our virtual assistant services can make a difference. With The Answering Service, we go beyond live call handling to assist your business more practically and holistically.

How to Switch Your Answering Service

Changing your answering provider may be daunting, but with the right approach, the transition can be one that’s smooth and stress-free.

1. Do a Deep Dive into Your Current Setup

Before you switch, assess what’s working well for you and what’s not. Identify your peak call times, call volumes, and any nuanced needs like industry-specific compliance or multilingual support. This helps you frame your needs and gives your new provider a guideline on how to package a service that’s tailored to your business.

2. Create a Plan of Action

Do you want a live call answering service to increase productivity, or do you need a comprehensive customer experience strategy? Taking the time to identify your objectives means you’ll find a call answering provider with the right features you actually need, including complex call scripting, lead capture, or message escalation.

3. Choose a Provider with Strong Onboarding Game

A great answering service will walk through every step of your setup with you. At The Answering Service, our dedicated onboarding team works closely with you to ensure your call flow processes and messaging preferences are absolutely on point and that each of your FAQs is woven into your script from the outset with zero disruption to your operation.

Woman working at answering call service

4. Test and Refine

A good answering service isn’t just plug-and-play – it’s the culmination of numerous collaborative efforts and solid infrastructure. At The Answering Service, you get real-time performance feedback and insights to improve your service over time, ensuring your business communications go from strength to strength and evolve alongside your needs.

Why Switch to The Answering Service?

At The Answering Service, we have a flair for brand representation. With almost 30 years of experience providing an exceptional telephone answering service in the UK, our reputation is founded on excellence, flexibility and trust.

Here are just some reasons why businesses choose to switch to us – and stay:

We’re Real People, Driving Real Results

Our live call answering services ensure every caller speaks to a native English-speaking professional who is trained as an extension of your team. No bots. No cringe scripts that feel forced. Just friendly, 1:1 conversations that build trust from the get-go.

We’re Geared for Granular Detail

Need custom workflows? Our complex call scripting is designed on systems that are able to handle everything from simple customer queries and troubleshooting to secure PCI-compliant payments and emergency callouts. Regardless of the type of call, we manage them all with accuracy and efficiency.

We Grow With You

From agile solopreneurs to multinational companies, we support small and large teams from a broad range of industries with scalable solutions that include virtual assistant services and integrated appointment scheduling. We aim to provide your business with outstanding levels of service all while helping you manage your overheads.

We Value Transparency and Partnership

Switching call answering providers might seem like a sizeable undertaking, which is why we go the extra mile to equip you with everything you need to know with onboarding, reporting and insights, and ongoing performance reviews. We work with you as your partner, and our commitment to you is to consistently exceed your expectations!

Time to Switch?

Your customers deserve a first-class experience every time they call. If your current call answering service isn’t living up to its word, it’s time to consider making the switch.

At The Answering Service, we’re passionate about helping businesses thrive by delivering personalised interactions that are pleasant and professional every time. Whether you need 24/7 coverage, advanced live call handling, or smart virtual assistant services, we’re here to welcome you to zero downtime and full support.

Get in touch today to learn how we can tailor a solution that does everything it’s supposed to for your business. Call 0333 5555 247 or email support@theansweringserviceltd.com.