Technology has taken over. It has affected the way we communicate, how we retrieve information, how we view entertainment, how we purchase things, and what type of jobs are available. It has made us more busy at all hours of the day. Everything is instant and easily accessible. It may have taken away some jobs, but it has made life much easier for business owners. Who needs to wait ten minutes for a taxi? Call a Lyft or an Uber. Why call for delivery when there are applications to track your order? Why wait in line at the movie theater when Fandango has an app? Why go all the way to the bank when you can take a photo to deposit your check through your bank's app? Gone are the days of printing out directions from Mapquest, and gone are the days of trips to Blockbuster. In the midst of all this, human interaction is still important. Customer service is still important. Perhaps as a business owner, or even as a staff member at a start up, you do not have the time to answer all incoming calls. You are worrying about overseeing endless factors as a business owner. And, if you work for a start up, you're most definitely wearing multiple hats. Live receptionist services are available to save the day.

One huge reason a live receptionist may be helpful is it improves productivity. There are days when calls keep coming in. It takes away from your day and interrupts your train of thought. Usually calls require follow-up emails or contacting another person. Everything is completed for that phone call but that interruption took you out of your zone.. You're back at your computer thinking, “Where was I?” Hours can be spent on taking phone calls alone. Opportunities may be missed too if someone is not manning the phone every second of the day. Unfortunately, not everyone leaves voicemails. Having a live receptionist saves you so much time and maintains a sense of peace.

What does your voice mailbox machine sounds like? Even if you do have a nice, clear message, it is unsatisfactory as a customer to be sent to voicemail. With everyone communicating online, calls are usually for more demanding topics. Having all calls answered makes the person on the other end feel cared for. It also gives you a more professional image. Many opt out of getting a receptionist at the business location simply because of the cost. However, D.C. Denison provided an interesting take in his article, “Some start-ups forgo receptionists.” In the article, he mentioned Vince Pan, an architect for Analogue Studio in South Boston, explains that start-ups do not want to look like they are wasting money. Paul English, Kayak's chief technology officer and cofounder, believes receptionists make the organization seem too formal. An interesting statistic also mentioned in the article: “According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment for receptionists will increase 24 percent between 2010 and 2020.”

Today there are numerous live receptionist services to choose from, such as DaVinci, Cloud VO, VoiceNation, eVoice, and Call Ruby, to name a few. In past blogs I have mentioned the continuous growth of new features of SphereMail and this is a testament to that. Now not only are you able to receive mail services and phone numbers through SphereMail, but you may also purchase a live receptionist plan too! Enjoy the peace of mind of having a professional answer your phone calls with your customized greeting, forward calls for you, and answer standard questions regarding your company. They can even make outbound calls and schedule appointments for you. It is a great addition to the many services SphereMail provides.