Quick Summary:
Phone system: Flexibility, no missed leads, fast response times, and always ahead of your competitors.
Business Mobile: Staff stay connected, no broadband dongle no problem utilising the mobile’s data, BTT mobile utilises multiple networks.
Conference calls: Login code, secure conference call meetings, join the call from anywhere. (read more about call recording)
Tablets: easy access to anything you need when selling to a customer, easier than carrying a laptop.
Call reporting: assign KPIs so leads don't go cold. (read more about call reporting)
Unified Communications (UC): bringing together different technologies to run in sync across multiple communication channels, business operations run smoothly and effectively.
So, what technology will make your sales team more effective?
Salespeople typically don’t work well stuck in the office, they want to make their appointments and get out on the road. However, that doesn’t mean deals don’t come through when they are out and about or even enquiries and any salesperson will tell you that you need to jump on those leads before your competitor does.
A sales team needs the ability to make calls, but you need a flexible phone system because a sales team can’t be tied to a desk. An IP Phone system means that if the salesperson is working from home, they can log in (using a softphone on their PC/laptop or using a handset) and receive/ make calls. All they need is internet access. Some great phone system features are ideal for sales teams, such as diverting. One of the best features is its ability to send voicemail recordings via email or even, via email/ text which is ideal for constantly moving Sales Executives. Likewise, if an IP phone system is in place and the salesperson is on the road, they can utilise an app on their phone to make/receive calls while showing the office number. It also records it in the call reporting software. Most phone systems have this feature as standard but do check before purchasing.
Mobiles
A business mobile for each salesperson who is out on the road is a necessity today.
The IP phone system app can be installed on this mobile and as mentioned above, you can make/receive calls on the office number.
If you aren’t going to supply a broadband dongle you can utilise the mobile’s data by tethering their phone to their laptop/tablet.
Another thing that isn’t available to all telecom companies is a product we call BTT Mobile (read more here.)
Traditionally, you would normally have one network like 3 or o2. BTT mobile utilises multiple networks to give you the best network coverage so you can still use your phone even in a remote location – ideal for travelling sales teams.
Conference Call
You may have a team on the road but you always have a weekly sales meeting so a good feature to have is the ability to conduct conference calls. It doesn’t matter where your team are, they can call in and take part in the sales meeting.
All they would need is their login codes, which you as a business can generate so that you have secure conference call meetings.
Tablet
It means a lot more deals can be secured there and then without having to lug around a hefty laptop.
This element is closely linked to the phone system you choose but let’s say you choose an IP phone system; you can get this feature as standard. For those Sales Managers, it’s a great way to assign KPI’s, especially if your salespeople are in charge of getting their own leads which may mean cold calling.
(read more about call reporting)
Call recording
Have you ever had a customer come back to you a few months down the line and said, “I didn’t say that / agree to that”? Out comes the faithful call recording to prove it. Also, let’s not forget that as well as covering your back, it’s a great tool for quality control to identify further training needs. Perhaps someone isn’t closing on the phone or aren’t overcoming the objections effectively.
Unified Communications (UC)
Unified communications are about bringing together different technologies to run in sync across multiple communication channels.
For example, let’s imagine your Sales Executive in a sales meeting. They arrange for their phone to be diverted (using the IP phone system) to the main sales line which is, of course, answered. It’s a prospect who would like to book an appointment. Rather than arranging for someone to call them back, the team member looks at the sales diary. They book it in the diary and update the CRM all of which syncs across multiple devices.
Not only that but the person who booked the appointment can also send an internal IM to notify them rather than emailing.
It is about making all business operations run smoothly and effectively, perfect for sales teams but for whole businesses, too.
What suppliers do we recommend?
- NEC - SL2100, SV9100, Univerge Blue Connect
- Mitel Micollab
- AVAYA
- Wildix
- Unify