If you own a plumbing business, you know how frequently you deal with emergencies. When a water heater has a serious issue, or a faulty faucet has flooded the basement, the customer doesn’t want to wait. You may have a front desk to attend calls between 9 am and 6 pm, but beyond that, all calls are either missed or go to the voicemail. Expectedly, that’s a recipe for disaster for any small business. With technological advancements, the customer support scene for plumbers and electricians has changed drastically. Companies like Signpost now offer flexible answering services, which have proved to be a great asset. In this guide, let’s talk about the benefits.
Plumbing emergencies happen anytime
An unfortunate burst pipe or a blocked drain can cause severe water damage and lead to unsanitary conditions. For any homeowner, the ultimate nightmare is to have a plumbing issue and not get a response from a regular service. Conventionally, plumbing businesses have standard business hours. Some might open a tad early, but mostly, it’s between 9 am and 5 pm, and many services are closed for weekends. Even if your plumbing business is ready to offer on-call services 24/7, ensuring availability can be a strain.
Your front desk has a limited scope
Your internal staff is essential. They take care of admin work and ensure all calls are attended to during business hours. However, once they leave the desk, their job is done. As a small business, you don’t have the resources or the budget to hire more people to work throughout the night and weekend. Hiring itself is expensive, and the overheads add up in no time. Also, you want to be sure that your staff and employees feel valued and have a healthy work-life balance.
Answering services for plumbers are changing the game
An answering service works like an extended team, helping plumbing businesses manage calls and handle enquiries. These companies hire experienced and trained receptionists who are available around the clock to ensure 24/7 availability. You don’t have to bother about a caller not getting a response. No matter what the customer wants, the live receptionist will ensure prompt support. If something can be postponed until the next day, they will take the details and forward only those calls that require immediate attention.
The benefits are tangible and real, such as –
- Reduced wait times and missed calls
- Improved customer experience
- Building trust and brand image
- Enhancing communication
- Reduced overheads and expenses
You are still in charge
If you are wondering whether the answering service would do justice to your customers, rest assured that you will still be the one pulling the strings. During the onboarding process, the virtual receptionists will be trained on scripts given by your team to ensure all responses are accurate. You can even use the answering service to handle payment requests, emails, and even marketing automation. The live receptionists can also take down customer reviews and automate many of the admin tasks.
Select the right answering service
Finding the right answering services for plumbers can be confusing. We recommend choosing a company that has a team of virtual receptionists and can simplify the onboarding experience. You may also want to check the add-on features that the service offers. Always select a service that has worked with small businesses in the service industry, such as contractors, plumbers, electricians, and other local companies. You should also check where their remote team is located. If an answering service has its base in North America, you know their receptionists are likely to be more professional.
Transform and redefine how your customers see your business with answering services for plumbers!