If a customer is kept on hold for a long period of time it’s the first thing they’re going to notice about the company. While it may demonstrate that the company is busy, it also suggests that the company cannot handle the influx of calls they are receiving. That is not an image that any company wishes to be portraying.

The services that are offered by telecommunications companies can assist with handling this. For example, all telephones can be forwarded to a mobile phone so that if you have to step out of the office for a period of time, it is possible to still receive calls. This can instantly improve customer satisfaction because if you have customers who you deal with regularly over a period of time, they become accustomed to being able to contact the company at their leisure.

Setting voicemails is also important. It might sound simple, but if a specific telephone number is given out and therefore customers are looking to contact one person in particular then they will appreciate being kept up to date with the status of this person. It is very simple to set voicemail messages and therefore the service should be taken advantage of – even if you are only expecting to be in a meeting for an hour, set the message to request that the caller leaves their name and number for you to contact them.

Communication is key to the success of any business therefore out of office emails, voicemail services and the diversion of phones are equally critical. It is not about being available 24/7, it is about informing customers as to why you are not available at those times. On standard voicemail messages or out of office emails, detail when the company is available to be contacted and the expectation time for your personal response.

The time that you set should be realistic too. Setting a time span that pushes the limits of your company’s abilities will only result in customers’ dissatisfaction so establish how long is reasonable, research other companies’ response times and set yourself a realistic timescale. This will allow customer service advisors enough time to respond in the correct manner. This is even more important when the topic in question has the potential to be sensitive; complaints for instance.

If you and your company are interested in enlisting the services of EuroDigiTel in order to improve your telephone systems so that you can improve customer response times, please use the contact information list on the following page: www.eurodigitel.com

For those who travel around it is the employer’s best interests to include a Smart Phone in any employees’ contract because they allow for instantaneous and regular communication. The invention of the Smart Phone has allowed for workers – and people generally – to be able to send and receive not just phone calls and text messages but also emails and documents without having to be connected to an internet port or indeed on a computer.

While this opens up numerous incredibly useful channels, the Chameleon SIM cards offered by EuroDigiTel allow for another level again. The nature of these SIM cards is to use the service provider with the strongest signal for that area in particular. There are five or six major providers operating in the UK, two of them certainly have joined forces to offer a more extensive range of coverage but none of them can guarantee coverage for every far flung corner of the UK, let alone Europe.

The Chameleon SIM card will evaluate which provider has the strongest signal in that area and then transfer itself to that provider, therefore allowing the user to receive essentially uninterrupted coverage. Something that for those who are working away and travelling is an invaluable tool as it allows them to be in constant contact with either colleagues, their headquarters or of course both.

With regards to the safety aspect this tool is also extremely valuable. For some workers it may not be that they travel nationally but that they work remotely or travel locally, meaning that there is a safety risk. Mobile phones, not necessarily of the Smart variety, have assisted in this already as they have allowed for a person to remain as in-contact with a colleague as possible. But the let-down has always been the signal coverage, there has always been black spots in coverage which deem the mobile phone user isolated, a state that could be very dangerous.

Finally, it may not be a case of remote working as such but flexible working. This is something that is becoming increasingly popular and if companies can offer their employees a SIM card which offers a more extensive and reliable level of coverage, they are more likely to be able to fulfil their work quota. Particularly in the instances of unexpected days away from the office – child’s illness or weather and travel restrictions.

If you are interested in learning more about Smart SIMs, it is advised that you visit the EuroDigiTel website or contact the EuroDigiTel group directly.

Across the EU there are dozens, if not hundreds of internet provider companies, which indicates in itself the extent of the internet’s presence in modern life. OF the findings it was reported that the UK came out on top in terms of internet usage and take-up.

The exact figures show that the UK has the highest broadband take up at 83% of households having an internet connection, as well as the lowest number of people who have never used the internet 8%. This is immediate indication that the internet is something that is inextricably connected to our lives, which means of course it is also used extensively for business.

The simple fact that 77% of people have made purchases online over the period of one year. While that might be angled from the personal perspective, personal purchases, it of course demonstrates that the business aspect of the internet has to be a significant presence too, otherwise these purchases could not be made.

From a business perspective, this means that those who reside in the UK are the ones most likely to be exposed to your business opportunities. In terms of the fact that all of this data is in relation to the five biggest economies in the EU this is extremely good news for the UK. Ed Richards, Chief Executive of Ofcom has agreed with this sentiment and said “this is excellent progress for the UK, but there is more to be done”.

While the report lists 8% of people as having never used the internet and 17% as not having an internet connection in their home, this will change over time and presumably this is what Mr Richards is referring to. There will ultimately be a 100% take up rate as the way businesses operate as well as the necessity to use the channels of communication develop and concrete themselves in everyday life. Mr Richards went on to say that he would like the availability of superfast broadband to expand so that as many people as possible can experience the fastest service possible.

In terms of superfast broadband, 9% of UK residents have access to the service and when this is compared to the UK’s nearest rivals Spain at 6% it is clear that there is still a long way to go.

If you are interested in learning more about how the internet can assist with your business contact EuroDigiTel, they have a series of different services which may work for you and your business.

As of the middle of January, Ofcom announced that any consumer could be confident in their acquisition of a telephone or broadband contract when it comes to price changes. The changes made to the guidelines detail that the consumer will be able to exit the contract without suffering a penalty charge if the company increases the monthly charge for the contract.

This is applicable to all respective contracts – landline, broadband or mobile phone – and should act as a way of protecting customers from suffering price increases that, arguably, is unexpected. Many contracts are thought to be a fixed rate for the term of the contract, therefore many people wish to remove themselves from the contract. However the implications of this usually manifests itself financially.

Ofcom’s decision to prevent this from happening in the future is one which should please consumers, and it seems only fair that the consumer does not find themselves in the state of a financial hit regardless of whether they stay in the contract or not. The other benefit of this change also incorporates small businesses.

The new guidelines state that should the provider wish to change the monthly charges from the amount agreed at the contract creation point, the customer must be given one month’s notice. In addition to this they will be allowed to exit the contract without facing a financial penalty – this is the only way they are able to remove themselves from the terms of the contract without penalty, should they wish to leave for any other reason there may well be a financial implication.

The changes also come in light of these changes being made and the consumer being unclear as to what precisely these changes mean. Now, the guidelines will state that the company has to offer comprehensive and transparent information of what will be changed.

In order to ensure that these are not empty threats, Ofcom will be monitoring how the providers put these changes into action as well as the complaints that the companies receive so that they are able to evaluate the effectiveness of the new system. They will also carry out a series of research tasks, including mystery shopping, to assess just how transparent the information is.

There are many different forms of contract in the telecommunications world, EuroDigiTel are just one company who looks to offer the products. This includes mobile SIM cards and premium rate numbers, for more information contact EuroDigiTel directly.

This is of great benefit for a number of reasons – security largely because callers are able to screen calls and therefore if they are not interested in speaking with the person who is calling, they don’t have. As with anything though, there is a minority population out there who wish to jeopardise the safety and manipulate the increased level of information to their benefit.

There are groups of scam artists who cold-call people in the same way they always have done, but this time they list a telephone number similar to that of a major company so that the customer thinks they are on the receiving end of a genuine call. The scammers then request information such as credit card details and bank account numbers or other sensitive information if they choose to pose as government representatives.

Most of the time the way these scammers manage to obtain this information is through the use of voice over IP systems. These allow the caller to manipulate their number in order to appear as a company they are not, hence the ability to glean information illegally. Voice over IP systems use the internet to make telephone calls which keep the costs down as well as allowing for a level of manipulation. They also allow for multiple calls to be made simultaneously so multiple callers can try to scam multiple innocent people at the same time.

If you find that you have been the victim of this type of scam, there is advice out there for what action you can take. Firstly, do not give out any information if you are in doubt of the legitimacy of the call. Hang up the phone and call the number on a piece of correspondence you have from the company so that you can check its legitimacy. Remember though, do not make a call for at least five minutes to make sure the phone line is no longer connected.

If possible, make a note of the phone number which called you. This can be published across a series of media – including the internet – so that other people are made aware of the threat posed to them. It could also be advisable to alert those local to you, neighbours and friends who live in the same area as it could be an area-related target.

It is also important to contact the authorities: report the caller to the police on 101 or your local number (it is not an emergency so it would be ill-advised to dial 999) as well as Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

More information on the problems caused by calls such as this can be found here: http://www.eurodigitel.com/news/

This can be a laborious process in itself, but EuroDigiTel is here to assist with every step of the process, including providing an easy to follow list of all of this information and the reasoning behind this information.

• Photo Identification
• VAT Registration
• Financial Statement
• Phone Pay Plus (PPP) Registration Information and Proof of Payment
• Due Diligence Form
• Information on your business
• Non-PRN Contact Number

We request that you provide the first three items on the list as a simple identity check. As the telecom company and the provider of the PRN you are requesting, it is important that we carry out a series of checks that ensure you are who you say you are. It also allows for us to tailor your service to your requirements; there are different rates for different levels of business.

Every applicant for a PRN has to be registered with the company PPP. They are the regulators and set the rules and regulations for usage, which is why we have to make sure you are registered with them. This also ties in with the financial statement which we require, if you do not read and understand and therefore comply with the regulations set by PPP then your company may be subjected to a fine. By supplying a financial statement you make it clear that you are able to pay this fine should the need arise.

The ‘Due Diligence’ form which we require you to fill out essentially incorporates all of this information. It request basic details including the postal address for your company, a non-PRN which is also not the number that the PRN is routed too so that should the worst happen and something go wrong with the service, we are able to contact you. The ‘Due Diligence’ form also ensures that your company is clear with regards to the regulations set out by PPP which keeps both you and us in line.

None of the information that we require will ever be used for any reason other than to ensure your company receives the best service possible and to corroborate all of the information. If you are interested in establishing a service which would benefit from a PRN, call a member of our team and they will be happy to discuss your company and the services we offer. Click here for all contact information.

Whenever companies are contacted over the phone, the caller will very rarely be connected to a human being initially. The first thing they are most likely to hear is an automated menu which asks you to cooperate with it. While some people find this frustrating, it assists the company with managing the phone calls that come through to them.

Most companies will organise their customer service departments into the different sections that customers call about. For example: sales; complaints; problems etc. This means they can train the different departments to make sure they are able to handle all of the enquiries that come through. The idea is that each section focusses on one aspect of the service and excels in that field and as well as being able to excel, it is pre-set who takes the phone call for each enquiry.

One of the biggest problems faced by call centres when they were first established was passing customers around between the advisors until someone was able to help. This was frustrating for the caller and resulted in complaints for the company. Now, the IVR is able to delegate calls to the most appropriate advisor.

They are also used to gather information about the reasons customers call the company. When the interactive part comes into play the company is able to evaluate which departments are in demand and which are not. This means they can make sure the departments are populated by enough advisors in order to manage the workload.

However, there is yet another benefit. With companies’ websites playing a leading role in customer service these days, the data collected through the IVR can also allow for the company to put the desired information on the website therefore allowing the customer to answer their enquiry without necessarily having to contact the company.

IVRs can also be manipulated to greet the customer with an answer to an enquiry – if for example the company offers utilities like water or electricity and there is a problem with one of these services a large volume of customers will call the company in order to report the problem. If the IVR is in place to explain that the company is aware of the problem, the phone lines are freed up for other customers to call.

Everything that a company does with IVRs is to ensure that their customers receive the best customer service possible. Speak with EuroDigiTel using the following link for more information regarding IVRs: http://www.eurodigitel.com/

While telephones and their intricate workings are intrinsic to the operations of all of the other services telecommunications companies offer, they are considered in the general world to be out-dated. The future channels of communication revolve around the internet and this means that those companies cannot limit themselves to only offering telephone services they need to also offer internet services.

The latter of these two covers a wide range of possibilities as the internet has developed very quickly over a very short space of time and now the internet is not limited to being received in one place, but there is also roaming internet.

This has forced telecommunications companies into two divisions: one which caters for those who wish to use the internet and telephone services in one location, i.e. at home or place of business and one which caters for those who need these services on the move. Most commonly you will find that any business which offers both, does so under different operating names therefore ensuring there is limited domination of the market.

The newest addition to the services offered by these telecommunications companies is a product called data SIMs. These are devices that allow for the transfer of data from one place to another –they work in the same way as the SIM cards used by telecommunications companies who provide mobile phone service. They are used less for data transfer in terms of making telephone calls or sending an SMS but for keeping track of locations and progress of vehicles or an amount of energy used. They are commonly used by utility supply companies to monitor usage and create accurate billing.

Theses SIM cards can be used for more traditional mobile forms of communication though and they offer the additional perk of being able to move between service providers to make sure the user has the best coverage possible. One of the main reasons these are offered by those companies who cover the larger scale service areas such as business internet is because these services are designed for the business person. The SIM cards allow for extensive coverage across the UK and even into Europe, meaning the person using them are less likely to lose signal and therefore are more able to conduct business on the move.

For more information about the services telecommunications companies offer, contact EuroDigiTel.

The online software offers the management of all of the SIM cards separately so if the company you run has the need for all workers to have a mobile phone with a Smart SIM in, but they do not all wish to have the same voicemail message this can be arranged. Each SIM can be tailored to each employee’s needs so customers can be confident that they are calling the right number – especially if they have to leave a message.

There is also an element of trust enlisted here, often companies will offer the SIM card and phone as part of the package and allow for the employee to use this as their personal phone as well. There are of course expectations from the company that the employee does not take advantage but by personalising all of the voicemail’s, the company is dictating that the caller not give their number to anyone who could provide a conflict of interest for the company.

Personal phone usage also demands that the employee use the allowance within reason, they are not expected to incur excessive call costs but this is something that all companies have faced from time to time as not everyone can be trusted. Smart SIM cards however allow the company to keep track of what their employees are using their phones for and therefore put a stop to any unwanted activity as soon as possible, if necessary.

In addition to this, if the company feels that strict boundaries need to be set in place, they can do this too, still through the online software. There is the option to set high user alerts for those that begin to use more than their allocated allowance, or even spending caps so the employee is unable to use the phone for any more than their allocation.

Finally, there is of course the ability to activate and suspend the Smart SIMs so that this sort of management can be carried out efficiently – for example all SIM cards for those who are not working the weekend could be suspended on a Friday night and activated again on Monday morning, but all of those on call might have their SIM cards remain active for the weekend.

The control is unique, diverse and extensive. For more information, visit the EuroDigiTel website.

While the introduction of mobile technology has in many ways led to a bizarre mixture of perpetual communication and isolation, which can be less than desirable for many customers, the fact of the matter is though that these inventions have come into existence and established themselves due to a demand for people to communicate with each other and stay safe.

Mobile coverage has improved exponentially over the last decade, but this does not mean that it is perfect and offers customers uninterrupted coverage: no company claims to offer this and therefore there is room and demand, for improvement.

This is where Smart SIMs come into play. The way these little creations work is to jump from network to network so that they genuinely do offer the best coverage possible, and this is not solely applicable to the UK either. For many businesses it is necessary to travel, even if that’s just onto the continent, but this can mean that they are suddenly unable to use their mobile phone and that could prove a real problem when they are establishing business deals.

This is by no stretch of the imagination the only reason that an increase in communication channels is useful and necessary, there is also the safety aspect that has to be taken into account. For those who work alone or companies with a mobile workforce, Smart SIMs allow for headquarters to stay in contact with and monitor the progress of their employees.

For lone-workers there is nothing more important than safety and while mobile phones made headway with regards to them remaining in contact with employers, they are not 100% effective and there is still room for error. With Smart SIMs and their web-based management programme, companies can monitor where their employees are and what activity there is on their phone.

Of course there is also the benefit of the roaming coverage, there is a higher chance of the employee having mobile signal if they use a Smart SIM which roams networks, so if something were to happen and they needed to contact the company base or, worst case scenario, the emergency services, they are more likely to be able to.

To be able to track and trace employees is also a major benefit – tracking allows for the company to monitor the progression of a mobile workforce around their day’s or week’s quote of tasks. This will allow for the company to evaluate the current efficiency of their workforce and therefore show where they have the potential to improve. This can only please the company and the customer.

Contact EuroDigiTel for more information.