We have created this IVR software guide to help you tap into the power of call routing and speech recognition and discover the best IVR service providers. The best IVR vendors listed in this guide have been ranked and rated according to the research done by our team. The history of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) goes back to the 1930s.In the past, the IVR solutions were unquestionably infuriating and not designed with customer experience in mind. Thankfully, all that has changed with time, and so has the function of IVR technology. While selecting an ideal IVR system may prove daunting, its benefits and impact on operational efficiency and customer experience are difficult to ignore. Equipped with the right IVR software, wait times are minimised, call routing is fine-tuned, and customer support has been improved. But how do you sift through the numerous possibilities to identify the best IVR service provider actually capable of meeting your company’s needs? The solution lies in finding IVR software with specific features and capabilities, such as powerful analytics, various integrations, and great customer support. Let’s explore what IVR software is, how it works, and its major benefits, and take a closer look at the most detailed comparison review of top-rated IVR companies. What Exactly Is IVR Software? IVR is indeed one of the most valued tools for enterprises, mid-sized companies, or small businesses handling numerous calls. Present-day IVR technology is known for decreasing employee burden, reducing expenses, and minimising wait time. But what is an IVR system, and why would it matter? In simple words, IVR is a menu system that you interact with by selecting via a keypad or responding with your voice. In general, IVRs are pretty common in customer support and call centres. Whenever you call into a business and follow that short menu prompting you to enter information so your call may be routed properly, you have dealt directly with an IVR solution for call centres. Hosted IVRs allow callers to access information through pre-recorded messages, without having to interact with an agent, multiple menus through touch-tone keypad selection, or IVR speech recognition, all the way through to routing through their calls to specific departments and/or call centre agents. How IVR Software Operates IVR software involves callers interacting with pre-recorded voice messages before the call goes through to a live operator. Some IVR services can also identify caller voices and are built on artificial intelligence technologies that allow them to respond appropriately to a given answer. IVR speech recognition also supports DTMF tones, that is, telephone touch tones; besides, phone trees with a cloud-based IVR solution integrated into them make it possible to attend to many more calls by a call centre. Meanwhile, the option for speech recognition allows callers to communicate in their native language by responding to some kind of voice prompt. Artificial intelligence for calls has started making its way into the contact centres, where callers no longer need to juggle long menus. With artificial intelligence in place, IVR vendors can get the callers routed directly to the portion of the calling centre they want information from or even get them routed directly to a live agent. The settings of the IVR software can be modified and customised to fit the brand’s needs. Here is a basic single-level setup where three options are given to the callers: Nowadays, a business that handles high call volume can no longer rely solely on a receptionist or a call centre. Implementing the right marketing automation solutions is the best way to personalise conversations, collect all necessary call data, improve customer experience, and fine-tune sales funnels. Therefore, businesses look for comprehensive solutions that include IVR software. Phonexa offers IVR software as part of Call Logic — its call tracking, distribution, and intelligence platform — making every caller happier and more likely to convert. Why Use Phonexa’s IVR Cloud-Based Solution Here is what Phonexa’s interactive voice response tool gives to brands and affiliate marketers alike: Better Customer Service This is where businesses can be sure each caller is instantly connected to the IVR, where only helpful information is provided, improving the call experience. Increased call capacity With Phonexa’s IVR system, the duration of each call can be shortened, thus enabling more calls to be handled and more potential clients to be converted. Established brand image Using the Phonexa IVR constructor, businesses can gain several IVR voice professionals to customise and represent their brand voice. Refined call flows The hosted IVR software will enable brands to identify call flow issues using surveys and information captured. Using Phonexa’s IVR tool, brands can optimise their call flows, reshape customer experiences, increase support service performance, and track customer satisfaction rates. Optimised sales funnel With Phonexa, businesses can look at the customer journey, find leaks, and work on fine-tuning the sales funnels by optimising the IVRs. Build your plan now to supercharge your call campaigns, or book a demo to learn more about Phonexa. Comparative Overview of IVR Software We have drawn up a comparison chart to help you analyse what each IVR software provider has to offer, compare features, and ultimately decide upon the best IVR software that will meet your business requirements. So, without any further ado, let’s take a detailed look at the top 10 hosted IVR software providers: IVR Software Providers — Comprehensive Comparison Rating: 5 Avg Rating: 4.5 Rating: 4.9 Avg Rating: 4.8 Speech recognition ⏷ ✅ ✅ The speech recognition technology, part of Phonexa’s IVR software, allows comsumers make voice inquiries and receive assistance from the company representatives. Unlike touch-tone menus, this technology uses the caller’s native language to address specific issues, answer questions, and deliver an unmatched customer experience. 9 out of 9 other hosted IVR systems offer this feature. Score 5 out of 5 4 out of 5 Voice recording ⏷ ✅ ✅ The voice recording feature provides access to pre-recorded voice messages that greet callers while giving them information about your business. Voice recordings can be done internally or by a professional voice recording company. 9 out of 9 other IVR providers offer this feature. Score 3 out of 3 2 out of 3 Call analytics & reporting ⏷ ✅ ✅ Phonexa’s call analytics provides real-time analysis and capturing of specific call information. The IVR software and call analytics work hand-in-hand to provide businesses with data-analyzing resources and streamline the process of creating and optimizing call campaigns. 9 out of 9 other IVR providers offer this basic feature. Score 5 out of 5 3 out of 5 Personalization capability ⏷ ✅ 🧩 Phonexa’s IVR software allows clients to view and personalize the list of IVR Flows. Phonexa’s clients can create new flows, configure settings, and manage them throught the IVR Constructor.On top of that, the IVR software allows to edit the existing IVR schema and/or create a new schema using the description of available IVR blocks. 6 out of 9 other IVR vendors offer this feature. Score 5 out of 5 3 out of 5 Customer identification ⏷ ✅ 🧩 iClear’s Caller Identity service enables you to perform real-time validation of an customer’s first and last name, address, and other information by a provided phone number. The service uses a third-party database for that. 6 out of 9 other IVR vendors offer this feature. Score 4 out of 5 2 out of 5 Outbound calling ⏷ ✅ ✅ Phonexa’s Cloud PBX words hand-in-hand with the IVR software to whitelist phone numbers reserved in the system for outbound dialing and to monitor and maintain a decent reputation for these phone numbers and make sure these numbers are not marked as spam. 9 out of 9 other IVR companies offer this feature. Score 5 out of 5 4 out of 5 Call center scheduling ⏷ ⛔ ✅ Call center scheduling allows to automate the availability of agents by enabling them to set specific dates and times. 3 out of 9 other IVR vendors offer this feature. Score 0 out of 3 2 out of 3 Queue management ⏷ ✅ ✅ The call queuing feature allows to keep customers engaged by using such options as holding music, estimated wait times, specific announcements, etc.Phonexa’s call queue management grants access to real-time data on queue sizes, wait times, and resources available for call handling. 9 out of 9 other IVR vendors offer this feature. Score 4 out of 5 4 out of 5 Customer support ⏷ ✅ ✅ Phonexa offers 24/7 customer support determine to resolve technical issues and access to a dedicated customer success representative. Phonexa offers the following support options: Online chat 24/7 (Live rep) Knowledge Base FAQs/Forum Phone Support Email/Help Desk 9 out of 9 other IVR vendors offer access to dedicated help centers, live chat, etc. Score 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 Time-based routing ⏷ ⛔ 🧩 Phonexa doesn’t offer time-based routing. 7 out of 9 other IVR software providers offer this feature. Score 0 out of 3 2 out of 3 Custom IVR message ⏷ ✅ 🧩 Phonexa’s IVR system allows creating and customizing IVR prompts, greetings, menus, and messages. 5 out of 9 other software providers offer this feature. Score 3 out of 3 2 out of 3 Usability ✅ ✅ Score 4 out of 5 4 out of 5 Call routing builder ⏷ ✅ ✅ Call routing builder allows to create intuitive multi-level IVRs to successfully route callers to the departments and individual agents best suited to address their questions, reducing the call handling times.Phonexa’s IVR software allows clients to actually listen to their customers and seamllessly manage customer and prospect conversations. 9 out of 9 other IVR vendors offer this feature. Score 4 out of 5 3 out of 5 Call recording and transcription ⏷ ✅ 🧩 Phonexa enables clients to record and transcribe phone interactions. This feature helps clients evaluate agent performance, highlight areas for improvement, and gain access to valuable call data. 6 out of 9 other IVR software providers offer this feature.2 providers offer only call recordings. Score 3 out of 3 2 out of 3 Mobile app ⏷ ✅ 🧩 Phonexa offers clients access to its IVR software as part of a single operating solution for partner and performance marketing across iOS, Android, and macOS. 8 out of 9 other IVR vendors offer this feature. Score 3 out of 3 2 out of 3 Integrations ⏷ From 40 to ∞ 30+ Phonexa’s software offers a flexible Ping URL integration, supporting authorization, headers, and a twig engine that allows customers to build literally any integration they require.The integration list includes but is not limited to the following integration options: Google Ads VICIdial Add to DNPL Five9 Claim Lead Export To Cloud PBX Facebook Conversion Google Sheets Ping Url Pixel SMTP Send Slack Message Add contact to E-Delivery Add contact to Opt-intel Trusted Form Claim Twilio Acqualify Address Validation Anura Basic Phone Number Validation Phone Number Analysis Do Not Call check Email Hygiene Geo By Phone iClaim iClear: Caller Identity ImpressionWise Email Lookup IP Analysis IP Lookup IP Analysis with Client Credentials Jornaya Authentication API Jornaya Lead Age Jornaya TCPA Guardian Litigant Alert Litigator Database Lookup Phone Number Analysis iClear: Phone Number Analysis with Client Credentials The Blacklist Alliance Trusted Form Trusted Form Ping Trusted Form Retrieve Insights TrustedForm v4.0 US ZIP Code validation XVerify Email Lookup 9 out of 9 other IVR companies offer multiple integration options. Score 5 out of 5 4 out of 5 AI ⏷ ✅ ✅ Phonexa combines specific AI technologies to provide a single operating solution for partner and performance marketing that ties revenue to channels, networks, campaigns, and publishers. 9 out of 9 other IVR software providers offer this feature. Score 5 out of 5 4 out of 5 Voicemail ⏷ ✅ ✅ Phonexa offers users a Voicemail Summary report. This report provides an overview of voicemail activities within the Cloud PBX that works hand-in-hand with the IVR system. It allows to track key metrics such as the number of voicemails received, their duration, and status, 4 out of 9 other IVR service providers offer this feature. Score 5 out of 5 3 out of 5 Additional features Customization and a variety of features Value for price Overall Score (out of 93) 83 67.5 Eight solutions, one ecosystem, total visibility. Book a demo and get a personalized consultation right away! Why Use the IVR Software From Phonexa? A business often requires an advanced IVR system that could employ both keypads and voice to keep things seamless. Some marketers have had experience with the ineffective IVRs of the past; the earlier technologies did not understand the caller’s instructions and created a poor caller experience. IVR technology has advanced significantly recently and has greatly improved these systems for consumers and enterprises. Even though installing IVR software is the sure-shot method of optimising call centre efficiency, some customers still believe IVR could worsen interaction with the business. Let’s explore the pros and cons of using an interactive voice response. Advantages of IVR The following are some key benefits of utilising an interactive voice response system: Resolution time IVR accelerates the resolution of issues. Your clients call, inform the system what they need, and receive the information immediately. You can set up your IVR system to split the calls into various groups or categories and have multiple agents for each category if you handle an exceptionally large number of calls. IVR reduces hold times and increases the speed at which the issues are resolved. Efficiency Most individuals are familiar with the situation when they call the business and are switched from one operator to another. It is a loss of precious time for the caller and the company. An effectively functioning IVR system automatically redirects the client to the required specialist. Self-service Customers don’t wait for an operator: problems are solved without getting in touch with one. Sometimes, a person only wishes to inquire about the scope of services or payment options. Thus, there’s no reason for an agent to attend to the customer as the automated system can address their questions. Non-stop Operational Hours of Service Achieving excellent customer service is largely dependent on assistance being available 24/7. However, only some companies have the staffing levels to provide such constant support. With the configured unique FAQs, the IVR can assist customers in resolving problems outside business hours. That’s a plus for businesses: less phone time lost to unneeded calls and shorter wait times in business hours. Measures of the customer experience IVR software prompts callers to respond to a quality of service (QoS) question after a call, which enhances the overall quality of the customer service. Team effectiveness Employee mental pressure from high call volumes may result in longer wait times for misrouted consumers, which might negatively affect customer care services. With the automatic routing offered by the IVR system, the likelihood of making a mistake while guiding a customer to their destination is greatly reduced. Typical Mistakes When Setting the IVR IVR systems can be an excellent means of routing customer calls appropriately to the right operators. However, when utilising such systems, it is very easy to make a mistake and end up losing customers. Monotony: Endlessly long menus that lead to submenus are frustrating customers. That would normally signify that the customer wants to switch to a live operator as soon as possible, bypassing the self-service. To avoid that, try hard to make the menu simple. Updates: Your company’s needs change, and so should the IVR. A simple error to make is that the company expands and matures, but the IVR menu does not. The consequence is that the menu is outdated: it lacks suitable options or, worse yet, contains options that no longer exist. No customer experience metrics: Put surveys at the end of the call where customers can leave feedback on service quality and grade service quality. That will allow your business to improve the service quality. Complete automation: Some companies try to automate operators entirely using artificial intelligence. A very complex IVR system like this will not work without rigorous testing. It is advisable to create a basic design that can answer some questions first and then enhance the complexity level step by step. Long waits: The more the customers are pleased with the self-service system, the better. That means operators must deal with fewer customers, which will reduce the average wait time. Overwhelming menu: Companies must avoid adding extra unnecessary options to the menu. Eliminate the redundant routes if more than one option or branch takes one to the same place. Locking customers in IVR with no callback option: No necessity to transform an IVR into a locked box with no door. You still won’t take all the calls, so it’s always better to offer customers the possibility of reaching a live operator or asking for a callback. Redirecting the clients to the website: It is never a good plan to send customers back to whence they came. But if that has to be done to redirect them, marketing messages must be well-considered and correctly positioned. Voice Recognition in Interactive Voice Response Software Voice recognition is a relatively new IVR option. This type of IVR technology enables one to respond to particular questions based on voice response, and such is simpler compared to menu navigation. With correct implementation, voice recognition can inform callers about zones where their inquiries will be thoroughly answered. What’s the result? Reduced disappointments. Answering using the native language to respond to callers’ queries provides an unbelievable customer experience relative to touch tones. Advantages of Voice Recognition IVR System Speech-to-text: Any voice that is recognised can be decoded as text and stored. From there, a lot of new things can be accomplished with this text storage. A caller can use normal conversation to instruct the system, and then receive it saved back as text into a variable to search databases and other data storage. Text-to-speech: With this technology, a computer can use text to produce a human-like voice. It can be used to create prompts that callers will hear in real-time rather than recording them beforehand, which is helpful and part of a translation method. In addition, it highly improves the flexibility, ease of use, and simplicity of contact centre modification. Disadvantages of IVR System With Voice Recognition The advanced interactive voice recognition software, phone line connection on the caller’s part, and the caller’s diction affect how accurately the system can identify the speaker. An interactive voice recognition system has its work cut out if your target audience is likely to use various accents. Recognition will generally fail if your customers are phoning from mobile phones with questionable connectivity. If the system continues to fail to recognise your callers, you can find that significantly more calls than previously existed before the implementation of this technology will be routed to a human agent to be answered. Integration of IVR Speech Recognition and Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence is the latest upgrade to Interactive Voice Response. The IVR technology introduces native language comprehension into the call centre to streamline and increase the customer experience. AI combines speech recognition technology with advanced processing and call history or account status. AI and IVR can accurately identify a caller’s intent and respond appropriately. At the end of the day, it’s worth knowing that not all IVRs are created equal. Personalise Your IVR Using Phonexa Why would a company bother to create a personalised greeting via its IVR? What’s the point if you just want to transfer the call quickly? You can have this done as a branding and identity move. Significant branding benefits result from the consumer calling in and hearing a custom message. This one small thing can deliver a lot of value to your callers so they don’t think they are receiving information from a machine. Here are some benefits that result from implementing personalised IVRs as part of an end-to-end marketing automation solution: Effective call distribution: IVRs enable call prioritisation. IVRs assist brands in handling the process and offer their customers customised IVRs, allowing to speak with a live agent or bypass to self-service. With a customised IVR, a company can immediately split calls into certain categories and redistribute customers between IVR sections of an automated version and live over-the-phone customer support. From a company’s perspective, you can ensure your top agents receive the appropriate calls, giving priority to the top agents. Call prioritisation: Companies can rank their incoming daily calls using tailored IVRs. Every incoming call offers companies an opportunity to convert and maximise the value of leads. Personalised IVR can identify individual customers and give priority to their service requests. Companies can divide customers into levels, say repeat customers or club members, consumers with past brand experience, or even strategic value customers. Satisfied customers: IVRs’ best advantage is enhanced customer service. Satisfied customers tend to give repeat business to a company when they need a similar thing again after buying from them once. Customers will get an improved calling experience if companies implement custom IVRs, which properly sort and prioritise calls based on different standards. Callers receive assistance if they do, without delay, and save time, thereby staying content. Collecting vital data: IVR software collects data about your customers. They also forward the calls to the most appropriate agent or department. If your IVR is not transferring that information collected to the agent handling the call, and the caller needs to re-utter it to them, that can be extremely annoying. Ultimately, your aim should be to offer a beautiful experience to the caller. Begin Leveraging the IVR Software Capability The most valuable feature of any phone system is its IVR functionality. Comprehensive and dynamic IVR technology allows bigger businesses to no longer have to forward their calls manually. Here are the eight proprietary solutions you can get at a single price: LMS Sync Lead tracking & distribution software Call Logic Call tracking & distribution software E-Delivery Email & SMS marketing software Cloud PBX Cloud phone system Lynx Click tracking software Opt-Intel Suppression list management solution HitMetrix User behaviour recording & CRO software Books360 Automated accounting software Build your plan now, or book a free demo to learn more about Phonexa.
Phone calls bring more profit than web leads, but getting pay-per-call traffic is more challenging, requiring the availability of the right sales rep on the other end and a system that keeps it all together: a VoIP system. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems have long been the preferred choice for call-intensive businesses, providing unparalleled flexibility, scalability, safety, and speed. Whether an advertiser driving traffic to your sales department or an affiliate selling callers to merchants, the right VoIP system can help you grow your business exponentially by connecting the right client to the right live operator. Without a doubt, VoIP systems can take your pay-per-call campaigns to the next level. Read on to learn how VoIP systems work and how an effective VoIP system can grow your call business. Source: GIPHY What Is VoIP, and How Does it Work? VoIP systems enable phone calls over the Internet, transforming voice into digital signals or data packets transmitted over a local area network (LAN) or any other network that supports VoIP. For the recipient to hear the voice, the VoIP system on the other end reassembles these data packets back into the analogue signal. Here’s how an IP telephony system can be used: Here are some of the VoIP basics: VoIP lets you turn any internet-connected device into a phone, so you can have many different VoIP systems: computer-to-computer VoIP, computer-to-phone VoIP, enterprise-level VoIP, and more. Source: HeadphonesAddict VoIP technologies allow anyone running pay-per-call campaigns to answer calls while on the go, guaranteeing your clients’ continuous availability. The agent on the other end can swiftly redirect the call to a colleague, even if it is a misrouted call. The VoIP Terms You Need To Know Bandwidth The greatest quantity of data transmitted via a VoIP network in a given period Throughput The amount of data that reaches its destination after accounting for factors such as network delay, transfer rate, packet loss, etc. Codecs Tools for compressing audio or video for transmission over the internet to reduce call delay and improve audio quality DSL A high-speed data connection that connects to your home or company using ordinary telephone lines, ensuring higher throughput and fault isolation IP The protocol that governs the data structure transmitted via the internet or a local area network, identifying a device on the internet or a private network. IVR An automated phone system that allows callers to go through menu options using a touch-tone keypad or speech recognition to transfer calls to certain departments or operators. Latency The time it takes for the other party to receive your transmission after you have spoken. High latency hinders meaningful conversations and leads to frustration. PBX A business phone system that connects phones to the public telephone network while managing call forwarding and switching. RTP A network protocol that enables voice calls to be delivered over the Internet using real-time audio and video streams. SIP Trunking Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking allows users to communicate voice and data across the Internet. SIP trunking enables you to make international and domestic phone calls over the Internet via virtual phone lines (“trunks”). Softphone A virtual phone that enables users to make phone calls over the Internet using any device (desktop or mobile) with the software. In other words, softphones allow users to make and receive calls without a physical handset. How Does a VoIP Call Happen? Just a couple of simple actions initiate a VoIP call: A user dials a number, and a router routes the call. After a router directs the call, a VoIP phone service server will receive the call over the Internet. The call passes via the local internet and the recipient’s network. The call connects to the IP phone or another gadget owned by the recipient. VoIP vs. Landline Phones While traditional landlines do not rely on the Internet, voice-over-IP depends on it with all the consequent effects. Also, unlike a landline, VoIP allows you to use multiple devices. VoIP calls are also safer than traditional home phone calls since they are routed via the internet rather than the public switched telephone network (PSTN). This reduces the likelihood of eavesdropping or interception while shortening the delay experienced by callers utilising Wi-Fi or mobile data. What Is the Price of a VoIP System? The cost is one of the major factors when it comes to choosing a VoIP service provider. Besides price, other considerations include the provider’s reputation, functions, customer support, etc. Let’s consider the main factors affecting the price of a VoIP phone system: Setup Cost The setup price should be low because VoIP already uses internet infrastructure. Still, you might have to pay activation and integration fees to sync the system with your other products. Cost per Customer A VoIP line typically costs $10 to $40 per user monthly, depending on the package type. A corporate phone system has various standard features, including toll-free minutes, call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, call recording, and personalised caller ID. Your PBX provider would likely allow you to pick between yearly and monthly billing periods. Connected Devices Each new VoIP user may incur additional fees. Similarly, the quantity of external lines (or “call paths”) can be considered. Likewise, a VoIP provider can include some no-cost phone time – toll-free minutes in your package – and VoIP hardware (such as a new phone or an analogue phone adapter needed to set up your VoIP system). Is a VoIP Phone System Cheaper Than a Landline? The average savings that a business may expect following the installation of a VoIP system range from 35 to 75 per cent, depending on the size of the company and the type of system that was previously in use. VoIP is a better choice for group and conference calls and offers many other advantages for pay-per-call marketing. Its only weakness is a need for a consistent internet connection and power supply. VoIP Tools And Components VoIP systems require less equipment than a traditional phone line setup, but you should still have the fundamentals covered and consider investing in a few extras for functionality and convenience. Modem and Router A modem and a router are the only must-have components of a VoIP system. The modem connects to an ISP, while the router allows communication between network nodes by routing data packets. VoIP Gateway A gateway may simultaneously process dozens or even hundreds of calls by converting analogue signals into data packets. Additionally, it facilitates easy communication between the Internet and PSTN, the traditional landline telephone infrastructure, enabling a synchronised operation of the two systems. Desktop VoIP Phones The traditional design of a VoIP desktop phone can help users who are not familiar with VoIP technology feel more comfortable. They also learn how to use its advanced functions, which include buttons for conference calls, transfers, and holds, as well as an integrated display for quick dialling and caller identification. Headset jacks, microphone jacks, wireless headset adapter jacks, camera jacks, and other connectors may be found on VoIP devices. Wireless VoIP Headsets VoIP headsets are wireless headphones that link to a computer or other compatible device, eliminating the need for a separate desktop VoIP phone. VoIP Configurations Hosted PBX Hosted locally, providing wide capabilities on top of a reliable server and security system. Cloud PBX Allows you access to VoIP capabilities while on the go and is hosted on the cloud by a third-party provider based on the principles of cloud computing. All-in-one Include multiple corporate communication tools like video conferencing, IM, screen sharing, call forwarding, and other similar functions. CPaaS Offers enhanced technological connections and capabilities to meet enterprise-level communication requirements. How To Use VoIP for Pay-Per-Call Moving from a traditional phone service to a VoIP system is a big change that can significantly increase your profitability by improving your call routing, response time, and resolution rates. As more data enters the system, you can handle call volumes safely, better understand your pay-per-call leads, and convert more callers. Advanced Call Routing A well-designed call routing system, driven by an Interactive Voice Response system, can assist you in routing the right phone call to the right sales representative depending on the predetermined criteria for this particular call. For example, you can prioritise high-value calls originating from exclusive phone leads and route them to your top-performing agents. Here are the common distribution criteria for pay-per-call campaigns: Performance Directing profitable callers to the top-performing operators Availability Connecting callers to the first available agent Location Connecting callers to sales representatives from their location Language Connecting callers to native speakers of their language Cherry-pick Allowing agents to choose the calls they want to process Most pay-per-call campaigns have mixed distribution criteria because you’d prefer to factor in multiple parameters to get a balanced call-routing system. For example, enabling agents to cherry-pick calls without limitation may result in certain leads being processed too late, resulting in a fall in conversion rates. On the other side, connecting leads to the first available agent may not be a good idea because not all agents have the same knowledge and capacity to convert a given conversation into a sale. However, with today’s pay-per-call affiliate software packages, you can customise your call routing tree for every potential circumstance using the simple “if-then” approach. You can prioritise the distribution criteria that you believe are most valuable while supporting them with less valuable characteristics that may come into play in certain scenarios. Here’s a simplified journey of a call: In reality, numerous (overlapping) elements will influence the journey of your call leads. At the same time, pay-per-call campaigns are simpler than traditional marketing campaigns because you know the callers you buy – at least their demographics and exclusivity – and can thus use this information in your call routing scheme. Around-the-Clock Availability Obviously, you must handle the calls you buy immediately as most callers will not recall after the first unsuccessful attempt, even if the primary line is busy, unavailable, or the lead is calling during off-hours. In such cases, you need a well-thought-out call forwarding technology that distributes calls equally around offices, departments, and agents, ensuring that no one is overloaded. Generally, call forwarding works similarly to call routing: first, you define the forwarding criteria for your VoIP system – agent availability, time of day, call volume, and so on – and the system automatically redirects calls that meet these criteria while providing the best possible experience to the caller. Delivering the Best Call Experience An IVR not only takes the position of a human receptionist but also provides the live operator with important caller information before the call. The call is more efficient overall when the live operator knows the caller’s age, call goal (such as obtaining a life insurance policy), and ZIP code. This gives the operator an advantage in the conversation and saves the caller time. Source: GIPHY This benefit increases with pay-per-call traffic. You can also train your live operators to handle particular call types because you can manually choose the purchase criteria for your calls. Irrelevant calls shouldn’t even surpass your first filters at the system or affiliate network where you purchase them in a well-planned pay-per-call campaign. Scalability Despite certain limitations, VoIP systems allow you to process much more calls at a far cheaper cost than traditional telephony systems. With a cloud-based VoIP system, increasing the number of simultaneous calls is as simple as switching subscription plans; your VoIP software provider handles the rest. In terms of numbers, an entry-level VoIP system may handle dozens of concurrent calls – up to roughly 50 calls – which is sufficient for small and medium-sized organisations. Switching to an advanced subscription package can allow you to handle hundreds of incoming calls at once Real-Time and Post-Call Analytics VoIP software doesn’t provide call analytics itself. However, it can integrate with phone systems like Phonexa’s Cloud PBX, allowing detailed call evaluation. ➥ Where the call originated, how long it lasted, whether the routing was optimal, whether the caller converted, bounced, or requested additional assistance – all of these and other details will be revealed when Cloud PBX is integrated into an all-encompassing performance marketing & conversation intelligence ecosystem that brings eight proprietary solutions together under one roof. Call intelligence software and any Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a softphone, can be used to make and receive calls and text messages, allowing data from phone conversations to follow you. Extra Features for Pay-Per-Call Campaigns Thanks to VoIP technology, organisations can now text for professional purposes. It means you won’t have to switch applications if the case requires texting rather than calling. For example, text transcription of voicemails allows you to transcribe and send voicemails via text messages. Video conferencing is built into most hosted VoIP phone systems, enabling more productive and efficient business collaboration with clients and coworkers. How Good Is VoIP Call Quality? VoIP calls’ sound quality has been raised as a concern several times. Even though this technology has been around for decades, people continue to ask this question. And if your primary experience with VoIP technology has been through free consumer services like Skype, it is natural to be cautious of commercial VoIP. Free services are delivered as promised, allowing users to make low-cost or free phone calls to loved ones. They are not required to provide clients with the greatest level of service. Because you are not contributing to the cost of operation, they lack motivation to deliver improvements or new features. Because home internet connections are sometimes slower than those found in organisations, calls may be often interrupted, and sound quality may require improvement. However, VoIP services built for enterprises are of significantly superior quality. Several of their proposals include upgrades to high-definition voice quality. Overall, VoIP call quality is superior to traditional telephone service calls. Revolutionising Pay-Per-Call with Cloud PBX Phonexa’s Cloud PBX is an excellent solution if you need to manage a high volume of calls while maintaining a secure communication line for your company’s clients and staff. You won’t have to do much on your end; the system is ready to use right away when the support team completes the basic setup and integrations. Here are some basic features you’ll get with Cloud PBX: Reasons To Rely on Cloud PBX Description Dynamic Capabilities Displays caller journeys, allowing organisations to complete the loop and capitalise on growth opportunities Smart Call Routing Directs leads to the best-suited agent based on agent scoring and queue availability Integrated Solution Compatible with Phonexa platforms for call tracking, lead distribution, and more Scalability Meets increasing demand without the need to install bulky equipment. Increased Agent Productivity Uses call recording and agent scoring to track keyword usage and conversions Flexibility Businesses can connect to their phone system from anywhere without buying or upgrading hardware. Enhanced Call and Web Lead Management with Phonexa Corporate VoIP phone systems are a powerful tool for increasing the efficiency of your pay-per-call campaigns, but they work much better as part of a holistic system that tracks the lead’s journey between channels and touchpoints. This is why Phonexa is the best choice for comprehensive marketing coverage: Phonexa provides a unique tool suite that synchronises online performance and phone calls, allowing free data flows throughout campaigns. With Phonexa, you don’t have to limit yourself to data received during or before a call; you can go far deeper into the caller’s journey, possibly back to the initial touchpoint. Here are the basic Phonexa products you need for selling or buying pay-per-call traffic: Call Logic Underlying software for processing pay-per-call leads Cloud PBX Dedicated VoIP phone system for inbound and outbound calls Lynx Click tracking software to measure leads’ clicks and conversions Now check the full toolkit you’ll get at one price (use this online calculator): LMS Sync Lead tracking & distribution software E-Delivery Bulk email & SMS automation Opt-Intel Suppression list management software HitMetrix Use behaviour recording & analytics software Books360 Automated accounting software Get your all-in-one suite now, or book a demo to learn more about Phonexa. Frequently Asked Questions What is a virtual number in VoIP? A virtual number is a phone number not assigned to a specific company or individual. You can also use virtual phone numbers to track the progress of various advertising initiatives and exact campaigns. Can VoIP handle multiple calls? The results will rely on the PBX server configuration and the available bandwidth. Conference calls with hundreds of participants are possible with enough bandwidth. Your PBX, the server to which your VoIP phone is most directly connected, must be configured to handle a high volume of incoming calls simultaneously. Can I use a standard phone with VoIP? Yes. VoIP allows you to make and receive calls from any device, including regular landlines, without incurring additional charges. Can I transfer my phone number to VoIP? Yes! The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandated that VoIP companies allow customers to move their phone numbers a few years ago if it is technically viable. VoIP service providers can assist with this transition. Is VoIP cheaper than traditional phone services? Yes! VoIP uses the internet to make phone calls, which saves you a lot of money on long-distance expenses. It’s especially beneficial for international calls that are significantly cheaper with VoIP than with a traditional landline.