October 16, 2012
Looking for Your First IVR System? Look No Further!
By Susan J. Campbell, TMCnet Contributing Editor
Interactive voice response (IVR) systems have grown significantly since their introduction decades ago. Despite advancements made in the technology, without the proper setup, the IVR can be counterproductive. Picking the right system (and there are many on the market) is a process that undoubtedly takes some planning and research.IVR systems that make the final list for most companies include the ability to function as advertised whenever they are needed. The vendor should also be able to prove that its testing methods are exacting and capable of turning out quality products. Most companies should also be looking for an IVR system that is capable of more than the old and simple logarithm of the antiquated IVR systems.
In other words, you want something that’s going to blow you away, not something that will push your customers away.
As highlighted in this eZine article, IVR systems require some type of backup in case of power outages. Quality IVR vendors will have redundancies in place so that the server containing the IVR software will always be online and ready for the client to use.
In the interest of saving money, the IVR system should also be able to integrate easily into existing infrastructure. Outage software must be compatible, or the budget for installing a new system will have to include a new outage system as well.
PlumVoice, an automated telephony solutions company that delivers unprecedented IVR service, offers IVR hosting for 24-hour, seven days a week operations with disaster recovery tools and fault tolerance. Not only this, but the company offers scalable IVR systems that are reliable, pre-configured and connect to plum IVR servers stocked with the newest software and hardware.
Perhaps most impressive is that Plum realizes that the needs of one company won’t likely be the needs of the next, so full customization of the IVR solution is also available. The IVR systems are built on reliable carrier-grade servers, which can be configured with spare drives as well as spare power supplies and fans.
If something fails, there are backups available to ensure that the show goes on. In terms of scalability, server deployments are virtually limitless as users can take advantage of four ports or thousands of ports. As the business grows, Plum allows the IVR system to grow along with it.
Many companies are going with hosted solutions today, and PlumVoice has an option for those who want to be in the cloud. To ensure quality, the IVR is housed in world-class data center in the U.S. and in Europe. The world-class status of the data centers put Plum’s IVR solution in the highest of standards for reliability.
In a market where consumers have little patience for systems that don’t work well and demand expediency in their transactions, organizations hoping to compete for their attention and their dollars will have to make quality systems a priority. Plum Voice works constantly to make sure that you will be equipped with and enjoy using a best-of-breed, fully customized IVR solution for your unique business needs.
To learn more about Plum Voice, visit www.plumvoice.com or follow the company on Twitter (News - Alert) @PlumVoice.
Edited by Allison Boccamazzo
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