Additionally, unanswered calls can create a poor customer service experience, damaging a business’s reputation, even if the customer eventually gets through to a representative. Investing in call management solutions increases customer service by helping small businesses ensure their phone systems are optimized to handle incoming calls.

What Causes Missed Calls for Businesses?

There are many reasons why businesses miss calls, including a lack of availability, busy staff, and inadequate phone systems. Low or no network coverage, an active Do Not Disturb (DND) feature, blocked phone numbers, and malware issues can also cause missed calls. 

Additionally, some businesses may not prioritize customer service, leading to unanswered calls. Poor customer service can harm a business’s reputation by resulting in customer complaints. Employees juggling high call volumes may cut corners resulting in poor customer interactions. 

Companies also miss calls when there are no modern phone features, such as voicemail messages, multiple extensions, call queues, and virtual phone options. If employees do not check their voicemail regularly or provide alternate contact numbers, missed calls lead to missed opportunities and lost revenue.

Voice Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like the Smart Receptionist feature from Onvego can solve many problems by engaging customers using conversational voice intelligence. Instead of a customer going to an employee’s voicemail or not being answered, Smart Receptionist will engage the customer and provide them with predefined solutions based on a business’s operations. 

Benefits of Answered Business Calls

Answering business calls timely helps a business remain profitable. It creates a positive impression and builds customer loyalty. Implementing an answering service can help businesses ensure their customers receive the best possible service.

Better Customer Service

In many industries, customers have their first interaction with a business by phone. As employees answer business calls, they must be consistent in how the calls are answered. A positive greeting such as “Hello” or “Good Morning” should be used, followed by the name of the person answering the call and the name of the business. 

Small businesses may feel conversational voice AI tools cannot capture the type of customer service responsiveness a human can. However, Voice AI tools are equipped to listen and respond to customers and provide real-life resolutions based on the interaction. 

AI reception tools help create a professional impression that makes customers feel valued. Missed calls alienate customers and can cost small companies revenue.  

Higher Sales

Answered business calls are essential for increasing sales and revenue. Customers are more likely to complete a sale with a phone representative than online. A study by SalesForce revealed 92% of all customer interactions occur over the phone. This demonstrates the role phone calls play in driving revenue regardless of industry. 

Businesses can partner with a live answering service to ensure that calls are answer, and leads are not missed. This will ensure that no sales opportunities are missed when staff is unavailable. Additionally, an answering service can filter and prioritize calls in line with business needs, taking unreachable messages, blocking unwanted sales calls, and connecting interested parties only when needed.

Improved Reputation

Answered business calls are an important part of maintaining a good reputation for your small business. By taking the time to answer calls promptly and courteously, you can ensure that customers have a positive experience when they contact your business. This will help build customer trust and loyalty, increasing sales and retention.

Managing Call Volume and Avoiding Missed Calls with Voice AI

Voice AI integration helps businesses provide customers with a more personalized experience while also reducing the amount of time it takes to resolve customer issues. 

Voice AI can be used to identify caller intention and route them more efficiently. This provides them with greater personalization and makes the customer feel that their issue is being addressed. 

Small businesses can customize a Voice AI integration to meet their business objectives such as booking appointments and collecting payments. Some small businesses cannot afford to shuffle multiple employees in a receptionist role. Onvego’s Smart Receptionist AI integration allows offices to put phones on auto-pilot without leading to missed customer calls.

Keeping Up With High Call Volume

A high call volume will lead to miss calls and sales opportunities. Many things can cause a high call volume, such as inadequate staffing and poor management planning for busy seasons.

When clients struggle with a large number of incoming calls, help clients avoid missed calls by offering the Smart Receptionist by Onvego. The AI technology Onvego Smart Receptionist answers calls and conducts intelligent conversions with customers to help assist them with their concern. It also features spam blocking technology so teams won’t return to the office the next day to unwanted contacts that lead to wasted time and lost productivity.

Calls After Business Hours

Businesses can avoid missed opportunities by implementing after-hour receptionist services. A voicemail system won’t be enough to ensure customer calls are returned which also leads to missed sales opportunities.

Onvego Smart Receptionist service is a great solution for small businesses who do not have the staffing to manage after business hours calls. It integrates easily with a business’ existing cloud or VOIP telephone set up. This makes it a great add-on selling feature to offer small businesses.

Resolve the Impact of Missed Calls on Your Business

As businesses grow, business communication increases as well. Customers want to reach businesses on their first try. Small businesses can avoid unanswered calls by using Onvego SRaaS system. 

See what Onvego SRaaS System can do for your small business clients. It has a suite of options that are fully customizable for many industries. Get started by requesting a free demo. 

The post The Impact of Missed Calls on a Small Business appeared first on Jay Tripp Consulting.

The internet has changed how companies do business and how consumers purchase products. Business CRMs organize data about customers in a centralized location, usually accessible through the internet.

It collects and organizes data businesses use to improve customer service, increase sales, and build customer relationships. With the help of CRM, companies can target their current customers more effectively and generate leads more efficiently.

What Is CRM Software & How Does It Work?

Business CRMs manage customer data and interactions. It helps businesses better organize and access customer data, track customer interactions, and share this information with colleagues.

CRM software is becoming increasingly important for companies to build relationships with customers and prospects and help the business to grow.

In 2023, CRM software will be more powerful than ever before. It will be centralized and empowered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and mobile integrations, allowing businesses to provide highly personalized customer experiences.

AI technologies can evaluate customer needs, predict pain points, and analyze customer data, location, interests, and more.

CRM software collects customer data from various sources, such as customer surveys, website visits, and social media interactions. This data is then stored in a central database to create customer profiles.

The profiles then track customer interactions and provide insights into customer behavior. You can use this data to create targeted marketing campaigns, personalize customer service, and improve customer experience.

Why Should You Invest in CRM Software?

Investing in CRM software is a great way to improve customer relationships, increase sales, and better understand customer needs.

CRM software can benefit your small business by organizing contacts into one location and tracking how these contacts interact with the business.

One of the main benefits of CRM software is that it helps manage customer relationships. Customers can communicate with a business through CRM platforms through email or chat. Business CRMs are capable of responding to these interactions using AI technology. 

Another benefit of CRM software is improved customer service and loyalty. It allows companies to track all customer interactions, learn from the data, and adopt a more personalized approach to future conversations and sales opportunities.

This information saves your employees time and streamlines the sales-to-order process.

CRM software can also help increase sales. It helps streamline the sales process, build a sales pipeline, automate key tasks, and analyze your sales data. Process improvement is a key benefit of CRM tools.

Using CRM software can also help you better understand your customer’s needs.

It allows you to track customer interactions and identify sales opportunities, record service issues, manage marketing campaigns in one central location — and make information about every customer interaction available to anyone at your company who might need it.

Anticipating customer needs becomes easier and provides a better customer experience.

How Can You Choose the Right CRM Solution?

Choosing the right CRM solution for your business can be a daunting task. With over 1000 CRM solutions available, it is important to have a list of requirements before you begin and understand what challenges you are looking to solve with the CRM.

Many CRMs come with a free three or four-week trial to ensure the implementation process is quick and easy. This period will help you understand if the CRM system meets your requirements.

Identify Your Goals

When choosing a CRM solution, there are several key steps to consider. Firstly, identify your business goals.

You must clearly define business objectives and understand why your business needs a CRM solution. Your goals include increasing sales, tracking and improving sales productivity, and customer retention.

Evaluate Features

Evaluate key features. Choosing a CRM that understands how they communicate is best. It should also be quickly configured. Data that you use should be easy to import and export without needing extra work or training.

Consider Support and Integrations

Consider support and integrations. One of the most important factors for a CRM solution is customer support. It is common to encounter glitches while using a CRM, so you need to ensure that the vendor has a good customer service team that is quick to respond and provide help.

Research Pricing

CRM software prices are related to how many features and users you need. If you’re a small business, you’ll have plans starting start from $12 to $20 per user per month. If you need advanced packages, you’ll pay between $50 and $150 (per month/per user). The greatest expense is for CRMs that cost $300 or more per month per user.

8 Best CRM Software Programs

Here are the top CRM software programs that best benefit small business owners.

1. Zoho CRM: Best for Startups

Zoho CRM is a CRM system that helps businesses manage their sales, marketing, and customer support activities. It offers many features to help businesses streamline their processes, policies, and people in one platform.

Main Features

• Salesforce automation
• Canvas Design Studio
• Process management
• Journey orchestration
• Omnichannel
• Analytics
• Sales enablement
• Performance management
• Predictive sales
• Customization
• Marketing automation
• Team collaboration
• Remote work
• Mobile apps
• Security
• Developer Platform.

Pros

• Quick and easy setup
• Great analytics and reporting
• User-friendly interface
• Fast and seamless integration options
• End-to-end customer engagement
• Contextual communication
• Effortless team management
• Workflows and custom fields

Cons

• Tutorials needing improvement
• Limited features for low-tier users
• Limited app integration options on lower plans

Pricing Structure

The pricing structure for Zoho CRM depends on the plan chosen. The Professional plan costs $35 per user per month on a monthly plan or $23 per user per month on an annual plan. The Standard plan costs $14 per user per month annually, while the Enterprise plan is $40 annually.

2. Breyta: Best for SaaS Companies

Breyta is a next-generation CRM platform that works for pre- and post-sales teams. The platform features one-click integrations that allow users to get a single view of their customer data. 

Features

• Conversation tracking
• Migration assistance
• Reports and dashboards
• Signal list
• Third-party integrations
• Onboarding assistance

Pros

• Customizations
• Variety in user bandwidth options
• Free Version 

Cons

• The annual pay discount is not competitive
• No in-depth solution offerings
• New startup with limited user reviews

Pricing Structure

Bretya offers an all-free tier for one user that provides limited CRM solutions and access to the Breyta CRM platform.

You can join an annually paid plan beginning with the Starter tier for $22.50/month. The Pro tier is $44.10/month, and the Premium tier is $89.10/month. Each plan is per user. The Premium plan has unlimited user seats, while the next step down, the Pro plan, caps at 25 seats. 

3. Monday.com: Best for Teams

Monday.com is a powerful team management software enabling teams to collaborate, communicate, and track project progress. Its key features make it ideal for project managers to manage sales funnels, new product launches, and customer retention initiatives.

Features

• Project data visualizations and dashboards
• Project Automation
• Deep and extensive integrations
• Customer support
• App Marketplace

Pros

• Ease of use
• Customization
• Time tracking
• Intuitive mobile app
• Integration capabilities

Cons

• Per-user pricing
• Difficulty tracking time and expenses
• The app is not streamlined and is limited
• Integration problems

Pricing Structure

Monday.com’s pricing starts from $0 monthly for two users and goes up based on your chosen plan and team size. The Basic plan is $10 per seat billed annually. They offer Standard and Pro plans priced at $14 and $24/per user, billed annually.

A monthly option is also available but not discounted, so the yearly plan is recommended to save 18%. Students and nonprofits can receive discounts on these plans.

4. Pipedrive: Best for Simplicity

Pipedrive is a CRM tool that helps sales teams keep track of leads. It allows users to create profiles for each prospect and track their interactions throughout the sales funnel. Any call, email, or SMS message gets logged to see each lead’s stage.

Features

• Customizable email campaigns
• Task automation
• Contact data collection
• Webhooks
• Open API
• AI-powered sales assistant
• Customizable pipelines
• Centralized communication
• Lead generation, qualification, and prioritization
• Pipedrive integrates with over 300 tools

Pros

• Simplicity and functionality without losing power
• Ease of setup and use
• Closer communication and customer management
• Chatbot, call, and email solutions

Cons

• Limited open deals and custom fields per company on lower plans
• Customer service and support issues

Pricing Structure

Pipedrive has four tiers of pricing plans: Essential, Advanced, Professional, and Enterprise. The Essential plan is $14.90 per user per month, payable annually, and contains tools that you need to get started with a sales CRM.

The Advanced plan is $24.90 per month per user, payable annually. The Professional plan is $49.90 per month per user, payable annually. The Enterprise plan is $99 per month per user, payable annually.

5. Salesforce CRM: Most Comprehensive CRM Platform

Salesforce CRM is a cloud-based customer relationship management used by several large organizations. It integrates with many well-known accounting systems to help businesses streamline their billing processes from new orders.

Features

• Contact management
• Customer engagement tools
• Workflow creation
• Task management
• Opportunity tracking
• Collaboration tools
• Analytics
• Intuitive, mobile-ready dashboard

Pros

• Customization
• Cloud-based functionality
• Technical and training support
• Overall cost and pricing

Cons

• Affordability
• Hidden fees for third-party tool integrations
• Requires an internet connection to use
• No control over downtowns and periodic maintenance schedules

Pricing Structure

The pricing structure for Salesforce CRM starts at $25 (per month/per user). You’ll pay $100 monthly for using the Salesforce CRM if you have four users. Additionally, Salesforce offers a pricing tool called CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote Software). This tool lets you use accurate prices regardless of your configuration.

6. Zendesk Sell: Best for Customer Support

Zendesk is a well-known cloud-based CRM software businesses use to optimize their sales funnel.

Zendesk is customer-centric as it offers a variety of customer service solutions for businesses to improve their customer experience. It is designed to help sales teams reach their goals and increase productivity.

Features

• Email automation and tracking
• Custom dashboards and lead scoring
• Sales force automation
• Marketing automation
• Customer support
• Mobile and social, reporting and analytics
• Community forums
• Ticketing system

Pros

• All-in-one lead generation and customer service platform
• Chat, phone, email, and social media all in one place
• Customization options
• Reporting and analytics
• Integration with third-party applications and systems
• Supports multiple languages

Cons

• Cost per agent being higher than its top competitor
• Customer service access is limited
• Call quality issues
• No international numbers

Pricing Structure

The pricing structure for Zendesk Sell includes the Sell Team plan, which is $19/month, the Sell Growth plan, which is $49/month, and the Professional plan, which is $99/month. These are billed annually per user. There is also an Enterprise option for $150 per user per month.

7. Insightly: Best for Project Management

Insightly is a customer relationship management (CRM) software designed to help businesses of all sizes manage their contacts, opportunities, projects, and tasks. It provides a comprehensive set of features that enable users to track leads, create reports, and automate processes.

Features

• Contact and account management
• Opportunity and pipeline management
• Task and activity management
• Desktop integration
• Customer contract management
• Integration with email clients such as Outlook or Gmail

Pros

• General Usability
• Mobile support
• Robust mobile app
• File sharing
• MailChimp integration

Cons

• Slow platform
• Limited file storage space

Pricing Structure

Insightly offers three types of account plans. Start with their Plus plan for $29 per user per month annually. Their most popular, Professional plan bills $49 per user per month annually. Businesses with high volume can opt for their Enterprise tier for $99 per user per month, billed annually. 

8. Freshsales: Best for Lead Management

Features

• Salesforce automation
• Contact & account management
• Opportunity & pipeline management
• Task/Activity management
• Dashboards
• Unified customer record
• Workflows
• Sales sequences
• Deal management
• Chat campaigns

Pros

• Ease of use
• Free plan option
• App integration
• Simplified reporting

Cons

• Software taking longer to load with heavily loaded databases
• Fewer third-party integrations
• Reports not available in the free plan version

Pricing Structure

The pricing structure of Freshsales consists of three plans: Growth at $15.00 per user per month, Pro at $39.00 per user per month, and Enterprise at $69.00 per user per month. There is also a forever-free plan with zero limits on the number of users. 

Final Thoughts

The best CRM software for small businesses in 2023 will be the one that best meets the unique needs of your business.

With the ever-changing technology landscape, it is important to research different CRM software options and ensure that your chosen software fits your current plans. When selecting the right CRM software, consider security features, scalability, and integration capabilities.

Business CRMs can help you retain customers and stay in the know about how they interact with the business. They also help you identify areas to improve processes to streamline the sales-to-order process.

The post Best CRM Software for Small Businesses in 2023 appeared first on Jay Tripp Consulting.

The common feature of bulk SMS service providers is a dedicated phone number that customers would text a keyword to engage the business. The service allows two-way texting, which is usually free. 

Some important features include unlimited phone numbers, unlimited keywords, customizable numbers, and automation for sending SMS messages. This comprehensive guide compares these features to determine the top bulk SMS service providers available. 

Expert Advice

When you choose a virtual mailbox, you’re deciding that you’ll have to live with it for a long time. To change providers, you’d have to update your clients, your bank, the IRS, any vendors you have, and more. You must take your time to pick a high-quality service that meets your needs rather than just the cheapest offer available.

1. Eztexting

EZtexting is a bulk SMS service allowing businesses to contact their mobile customer base in one move. Business owners can send up to five marketing SMS messages monthly, and artificial intelligence communicates with customers in a text thread. Eztexting guides customers to take action on deals and coupon notices.

The SMS API platform integration makes EZtexting dynamic for business owners. They can use their existing sales portals and ERP (enterprise resource planning) system to launch campaigns and keep track of conversions. 

Features

• It provides the option to send recurring messages
• It gives you the ability to set up polls
• The app allows you to customize messages based on a customer’s profile
• You can conduct drip campaigns
• The automatic marketing features include replies to customers when they reply, URL shortening, and transactional SMS.

Link: https://www.eztexting.com/ 

2. Podium

Podium is a messaging service that allows businesses to communicate with their customers through SMS text messages. Customers can opt-in to receive messages from businesses, and you as a business can use Podium to send one-way or two-way messages. 

Podium also offers several features that you can use to automate your communication with customers, including automated responses, message templates, and bulk messaging. It also provides access to take payments of all types using the platform. 

Features

• The app offers custom messaging templates, call-to-text, and a chat widget for websites.
• It includes a customer database
• Higher tiers offer integration and automation
• Offers analytics features where teams can manage communication coming in from customers. 
• The SMS marketing features are vast. They include segmentation capabilities and text marketing campaigning. 

Link: https://www.podium.com/ 

3. Simpletexting

Simpletexting is a messaging service that allows you to send and receive text messages to customers or among a team. It ranks among other bulk SMS service providers for integration into CRMs and email applications. 

Simpletexting offers five tiers. Each of them provides a quota for the number of monthly messages. You can get a dedicated account manager with their enterprise service for those sending more than 50,000 messages monthly.

Features

• It includes a web-based interface and a mobile app and offers group messaging, contact management, and analytics features. 
• Users get unlimited incoming SMS messages and a free dedicated phone number.
• Keywords can be used to create SMS marketing campaigns. Shortcodes are included in each plan. 
• Higher plans feature advanced integration capabilities with over 400 apps. 
• Customers can opt-in to texting online. Simpletexting uses a sliding scale to determine the pricing based on the client’s required credits. 

Link: https://simpletexting.com/ 

4. Twilio

Twilio offers a cloud communications platform for bulk SMS services. It allows software developers to make and receive phone calls with ease and perform other communication duties using its web tools.

Twilio is highly customizable and is an ideal solution for web developers and businesses who wish to have seamless integration with their existing website and CRM program.

Features

• Developers can build one or two-way messaging campaigns
• It has a unique pricing structure is at a per-message rate according to volume. Users can also select a volume plan that provides an allotment of messages per month at a flat rate.
• You can create shortcodes for customers.
• Customers can be supported through other channels outside of SMS, such as voice, video, and email. 

Link: https://www.twilio.com/ 

5. Text Magic

Text Magic is a bulk SMS service provider focusing solely on managing mass SMS text messages for businesses. This platform allows you to send and receive customer text messages in a one-way or two-way campaign setup.

This tool is known for its setup. You can begin sending messages within minutes of setup. It offers a prepaid pricing structure that gives you control of all the costs. The platform is simple and allows you to communicate with customers online or in the app.

Features

• It integrates with over 5000 apps and is a dynamic bulk SMS service provider. 
• You can upload existing contact lists through their app or online.
• It provides free toll-free numbers. 
• Businesses can reply to customers at no charge. The app sends notifications to customer service teams to promote timely customer engagement.

Link: https://www.textmagic.com/ 

6. Slick Text

Slick Text has the best of both words of simplicity and capability. You can set up accounts easily using Slick Text’s online guides. Slick Text is popular with large organizations such as FedEx and Lyft.

This bulk SMS service provider has several pricing tiers that begin with a 14-day free trial. Tier pricing is based on the volume of texts to be sent monthly. All plans come with unlimited contacts and free incoming messaging.

Features

• It allows users to build campaigns to send text messages to contacts.
• You can specialize in campaigns such as birthdays or collecting survey answers. These can also be automated with automation tools.
• You can embed Slick Text on your website to pop up questions and capture customer information. 
• It offers MMS messaging, text-to-landline, and opt-in services.
• It has an autoresponder feature, which keeps customers in the know. 

Link: https://www.slicktext.com/ 

7. Textedly

Textedly bulk SMS platform is simple and a good choice for small businesses. You can manage message campaigns and user analytics from its clean web interface. Textedly is used by well-known businesses such as Walmart and Godaddy.

It has a simple platform can be managed on the web or through an app. You can initiate campaigns conveniently from your phone. Campaigns can capture an unlimited number of new subscribers.

Features

• It offers a variety of pricing tiers based on volume needs
• Businesses using Textedly benefit from free incoming messages and up to 300 characters in a message. 
• It offers a dedicated toll-free phone number.
• As customers reply to text messages, the platform’s AI intuitively creates a conversation with them.

Link: https://www.textedly.com/ 

8. Sendinblue

Sendinblue is a digital marketing platform that not only has bulk SMS messaging but it also has other mass marketing features. They specialize as an all-in-one location for businesses to manage digital marketing. 

The expansive services from Sendinblue include CRM integration, email marketing, and chat integration. Sendinblue is all-encompassing. It also manages email and social media marketing campaigns. 

Features

• It offers automation, targeted messaging, and the ability to capture customer information.
• Additional features beyond bulk SMS messaging include integration into other apps and CRMs. 
• You can run reports using real-time reporting. Reports can also be scheduled and sent to you by email.
• You can test multiple campaign versions to determine which is more effective.

Link: https://www.sendinblue.com/ 

9. Messagebird

Messagebird is a cloud-based customer communication platform that enables businesses to send and receive SMS, chat, and voice messages. This platform provides tools for managing customer interactions, including a visual flow builder, contact management, and analytics. 

Messagebird also offers several integrations with third-party applications like Salesforce, Zendesk, and Twilio. The set up is simple. It has online tutorials and quick reference guides. 

Features

• It features automated bulk SMS texting that categories can segment
• You can also set up messaging workflows to manage communications with customers. 
• The email-to-SMS setup allows you to create and send customers messages via text easily. Y
• It organizes messages in a single inbox where customer service representatives can manage communications from customers. 

Link: https://www.messagebird.com/en/ 

10. Sakari 

Sakari is a cloud-based messaging service that helps you manage customer interactions across SMS, chat, and email. It offers features that help you automate customer interactions, including message templates, auto-responses, and contact management.

The service includes features that allow businesses to send and receive bulk SMS messages, track customer engagement, and manage lists. SMS marketing services are designed to keep track of customer engagement.

Features

• Includes a drag-and-drop interface for creating and sending messages and templates for common message types such as appointment reminders, shipping notifications, etc.
• You can create your message or select from a library of pre-approved message content.
• It supports integrations with popular CRM and eCommerce platforms
• It gives users an easy-to-use campaign management platform for scheduling campaigns.

Link: https://sakari.io/ 

11. Trumpia

Trumpia allows you to send text, email, and voice messages to large groups of people at once. You can schedule texting campaigns to send reminders. It also offers several features for managing contacts and tracking results.

Its different pricing tiers are based on usage. There is an enterprise plan for high-volume users, which also includes direct technical support. You can also get pre-pay plans if you want to control costs.

Features

• It features unlimited contacts, groups, and messages.
• You can customize messages with pictures or send mass text messaging with a survey attached.
• It includes drip campaigns with the ability to automate and set schedules. 
• You can measure the effectiveness of campaigns with Trumpia’s analytics reports. The tool will track and categorize customer information based on their responses. 

Link: https://www.trumpia.com/ 

FAQs

If you are still unsure which service to choose, here are the most commonly asked questions regarding bulk SMS service providers.

1. What are the best bulk SMS service providers?

There are many bulk SMS service providers, but the best ones offer a reliable service with a user-friendly interface. Some of the best text message providers include those that are easy to use. Many are also compatible with various apps, so you can easily fully manage your marketing campaign. 

These are the best five bulk SMS tools:

1. Eztexting
2. Podium
3. Simpletexting
4. Twilio
5. Text Magic

2. How to send mass text messages from a computer?

A bulk SMS service is a way to send mass text messages from a computer. Bulk SMS services allow one to send text messages to large groups of people at once. Some of these services even allow scheduling text messages to be sent.

3. How to select the best bulk SMS provider?

Easy to Use: A good bulk SMS provider has a simple interface that makes it easy to use and set up campaigns. 

Pricing: Pricing is hard to pinpoint. You want it to be fair, but there are so many different models (monthly subscriptions vs. per-text rates) that comparison is challenging.

Customer Support: Support has to be fast and reliable. The more available the support, the better and more competitive the tool is.

Features and Functionality: Not all mass-texting software is made equal. You want one with the most features, like WebSMS, email-to-SMS, global reach, and inbound SMS. 

Additionally, the best tools have integrated customer support if you encounter any problems or have questions about the service.

Some features are more essential or beneficial than others (and this will partly depend on your marketing needs). Free two-way messaging is ideal for keeping customers engaged. An added feature for the best bulk SMS service provider is an app alongside a web portal to run analytics quickly. Integration with other apps is crucial for some businesses.

Of course, the pricing is also important to consider.

The post Which Is the Best Bulk SMS Service Provider? appeared first on Jay Tripp Consulting.

There is nothing worse than a spotty internet signal. This makes it difficult to get tasks done when running a business. Your business does not have to suffer from a bad internet connection. Improve it by setting up a small business network.

One of the main issues I see when I help businesses with their networks is the absence of the right equipment that supports a robust small business network.

This article explains the components of a network. We will review how to set up a small business network and how it can be expanded in the future.

Why Is a Small Business Network Important?

A small business network is about more than sharing data and making the internet more accessible. A network can reduce costs, increase productivity, and link devices to machinery. 

Companies that use manual methods of sharing information across teams without a network increase mistakes and slow productivity. A network connects multiple devices through hardware called switches and routers using ethernet cables.

What Is Network Mapping?

Network mapping tools show connectivity between physical device locations and collect real-time data used in developing a report. It can analyze performance to determine efficiencies, identify bottlenecks and discover hidden things.

What Are the Components of a Network?

A new network is made of various networking devices. Some are a switch, hub, modem, and router. Switches and hubs are connectors devices that connect every device on the network. Without a switch or hub, there is no network.

These components are connected through ethernet cables, which transfer data at predetermined speeds. They connect modems to routers and routers to hubs and switches along the network map. Switches work better than hubs because they deliver data to intended devices, whereas a hub will send data to all connected devices.

A modem is used to receive internet data from an internet service provider (ISP). A modem cannot connect devices in a network. Different ISPs use different modems. If you have cable internet, a cable modem is required. If you have fiber optic internet, your ISP will provide the modem. 

A router is a type of hub. However, it is more sophisticated and can have both a modem and an ethernet switch built-in. It is more common for routers to have a four-port ethernet switch included. A business with a lot of devices will need a separate ethernet switch in the network.

The Difference Between a Router and a Switch

Unlike a router, a switch does not transmit internet signals. A router brings internet signals and serves as a network gateway. The router will join two networks, the internet to the business network through a modem or two separate networks in the building.

A switch is installed within the network to allow multiple devices to share the signal coming from the router. The switch is essential for businesses that need computers to communicate with other computers, servers, and printers on the same network without compromising speed.

Should a Small Business Have a Wireless Network or a LAN?

It may be difficult to know which network type to set up. A business’s needs and the number of devices will determine the best type of network to establish. 

Local Area Network

A LAN (Local Area Network) is a network that covers a small geographic area, like a home, office, or building. A business would use a LAN to connect all their office computers to share files and printers in a smaller setting. A pro of a LAN connection is that it is fast and secure. The con of a LAN connection is that it is expensive to set up and maintain.

LAN connections offer faster speeds and better security because data faces less risk of compromise. A wireless connection is less secure. LAN setups can be large or small, but they are expensive to install. 

Wireless Network

A wireless network allows devices to share data and wirelessly connects devices to the internet. Wireless networks are called WiFi. The most significant benefit of a wireless network is its flexibility and cost savings. The cost to install a wireless network is less because of the absence of wires.

Wireless networks benefit businesses that cannot alter a historic building. A LAN installation may require drilling holes or disrupting existing wall structures. Users on a wireless network can easily connect devices and are free to move around the office.

Wireless networks are not without disadvantages. Unauthorized users may gain access to a wireless network which places your business at risk for cyber attacks. Wireless routers use radio signals that other devices also use. If other tenants in a building have a wireless network, their signals could interfere with your wireless network.

How to Setup a Small Business Network

A network can have the internet or not. Determine if you want your network to be connected to the web. If so, you’ll need to start with an ISP. You will receive a modem or buy a compatible one from the ISP or elsewhere.

Get a router to connect to the modem. The router is the gateway of the network. Some routers come with apps to manage the network. Connect devices to the router using an ethernet cable or another cable type based on the speed and type of data you will share. If an internet connection is involved, consider a router that has high-speed capabilities.

Additional devices can be plugged into the router using ethernet cables, or you can add an ethernet switch to expand a network for more device capacity. All computers plug into the ethernet switch to access the network.

A wireless network will follow a similar process, except no separate ethernet switch is involved. Wireless networks communicate to all devices connected at the gateway where the router is connected. The wireless router will have an ethernet switch built in for a small local area connection of devices near the router. All other devices would connect wirelessly.

Expand a wireless signal using mesh routers. Mesh routers can amplify a network’s signal from the main router throughout a space. Devices permitted to the network will remain connected throughout the building. 

Networks Improve Business Performance

A network for your business devices is an investment you should not skip. Networks allow multiple devices to communicate with each other. 

Small businesses can benefit from a local area network or a wireless network. They each have benefits based on your business’s needs. Find the best modem and router for your small business network.

The post How to Set Up a Small Business Network appeared first on Jay Tripp Consulting.

Many businesses rely on workflow tools to address any deficiencies in the accounts receivable process. Along with effective software for managing accounts receivable, companies must have a robust process for managing accounts receivable that comprehensively covers all aspects of the AR cycle.

Common Accounts Receivable Management Issues

The AR process is a component of the order-to-cash process (OTC). AR management includes many moving parts that all work together to achieve good cash flow. While this list is not all-encompassing, these critical issues affect how well a business manages its AR.

1. Inefficient Workflows

After a sale, an order team member finalizes and enters it into an accounting system. Then a biller creates an invoice. An invoice is necessary to ensure a customer will pay. Invoicing typically occurs after the delivery of an order, and any disruptions in the flow of this part of the OTC process affect the accuracy of the invoice.

Some customers require specific documentation alongside invoices, such as evidence of delivery or a purchase order number. Failure to provide such crucial information may lead to delayed orders and late payments. AR automation tools are especially useful in high-volume settings. AR software can automate the order-to-cash process to minimize errors and improve cash flow.

The general order-to-cash process includes these areas:

• Order Management
• Billing
• Cash Applications
• Collections
• Customer Service

Businesses should consider where to include customer success teams in their hierarchy. All employees in every department of an AR team should be prepared to facilitate customer service requests. In addition, AR managers must work with other departments to ensure there are no breaks in the OTC that could cause AR issues later in the cycle. All workflows should follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

2. Weak Credit and Collection Policies

Poor collections strategy can cause cash flow shortages by leaving unpaid invoices unattended. The longer an invoice remains unpaid, the greater the risk of it remaining unpaid. AR Managers monitor collections by establishing a collections process. This involves credit evaluation, aging management, and cash applications.

The accounts receivables process covers these areas while incorporating appropriate accounting controls to ensure effectiveness. Accounting controls are systemic checks and balances to ensure a company’s accounting processes prevent fraud. The process should specify who performs each action and how it is executed and audited to ensure accuracy. Collections processes should be reviewed periodically for improved efficiency and outcomes.

If a business manages collections without software tools, they risk overlooking key accounts, leaving invoices unpaid, and potentially missing opportunities to identify misapplied cash receipts. Implementing workflow automation streamlines the collections process and prioritizes accounts that require immediate attention. Accounts receivable software provides dashboards with a high-level overview of your AR.

AR processes must include tasks to perform credit analysis on new and existing customers to verify their ability to pay. Credit limits and holds should also be implemented on customer accounts to control bad debt. Customers who fail to pay on time may lose their buying privileges. These controls can be automated using AR software.

Manual collections management causes missed opportunities to inform customers of past-due billing. This approach typically involves collectors making active calls, which may be time-consuming and less efficient. However, by adopting a workflow solution, email notifications can be automated and sent to customers with past-due balances. This strengthens results from collections activity and allows collectors to focus on aged accounts. 

3. Disorganized Accounts Receivable Data

An accounting system can generate reporting known as the aging of accounts, which shows the outstanding balances owed by customers and their respective ages. Failure to monitor this data results in a rise in bad debt exposure. Manage accounts receivable data using basic computer tools such as spreadsheets or sophisticated AR software to identify potential collection risks. AR software allows AR managers to customize reports to show past due customers by business or product line, sales volume, or customer profile type, such as premier accounts.

The more organized accounting data is, the better it is to analyze. Accounts receivable data must also be accurate. Inaccurate data leads to customer service issues. For example, if your AR data has incorrect balances, your collections team could contact a customer and demand payment for an invoice that is not past due. Automation tools prevent these problems with automated reporting.

Managing bad debt, also known as “allowance for doubtful accounts” or “write-offs,” is one of the more important reasons to organize accounts receivable data. Many companies create bad-debt reserves, funded by taking cash from net income to offset potential financial risk. Companies must expense the invoice as a write-off when a customer fails to pay an invoice. Write-offs affect a company’s bottom line. Organizing accounts receivable data for proper analysis mitigates bad debt exposure. 

4. Poor Cash Applications

The cash applications stage of the accounts receivable cycle directly impacts cash flow. Improper management can hinder the effectiveness of the AR process and increase a business’ average days-to-pay record. Cash receipts decrease the accounts receivable balance and increase the cash account. AR managers can control outstanding AR by tightening cash application processes. 

Improve cash applications in these key ways:

• Bank Deposit Reconciliation – AR departments improve cash flow by quickly monitoring incoming receipts and recording them to the accounting ledger.
• Consistent Resolution of Unapplied Cash Reports – Unapplied cash reports show AR Managers the cash receipts recorded to the ledger but not applied to an invoice.
• Increasing ACH and Credit Card Payment Methods – This deters customers from sending paper checks through the mail, which can prolong cash receiving and increase invoice aging.
• Setting Up Banking Lockbox Services – Banking lockbox services allows your cash team to focus on pertinent issues affecting cash applications. Lockbox services include receiving, scanning, and auto-applying payments in some cases.

Large businesses become overwhelmed with high volumes of incoming cash receipts. These volumes increase the likelihood of cash receipts being misapplied to the wrong customer. Overcome this challenge with accounting automation which can automate many components of cash applications. 

5. Inadequate Staffing

The effectiveness of an accounts receivable management process relies on qualified personnel. Effective accounting specialists for billing and collection roles possess customer service, negotiation, resourcefulness, and account management skills.

On the other hand, basic accounting knowledge, attention to detail, and follow-through skills are essential for cash application roles. Moreover, AR managers require data analysis, auditing, analytical, and technical skills. Every part of the OTC should be adequately staffed. When there is insufficient staffing, the AR workload will bottleneck, leading to poor customer service and frustrated employees. 

Systemic automation relieves lean accounting departments by automating simple tasks such as mass emailing collection notices, billing recurring charges, and enforcing accounting controls to prevent an accounting worker from processing transactions against GAAP standards.

Wrap up

A successful AR team has members with specialized skills. While skills are crucial, automation tools for AR can help maximize their effectiveness. Accounts receivable software increases productivity, allowing the AR team to focus on reducing AR balances, preventing a backlog of customer orders, and ensuring timely payment of invoices.

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