Monday, July 13, 2009

Use Web Based Order Taking Services

One misconception about order taking is that “if you want a job done right, you’ve got to do it yourself”! Order taking can easily be outsourced, freeing your valuable staff for more essential functions. This cost saving measure is easy to implement and can be done quickly.

Make sure you choose an order taking service that works on a 24/7/365 basis, with the capacity and capability to handle any call volume and any size of product catalog - from a single product to large catalog orders. You will probably want an order taking service which will work through your existing e-commerce website or using your own proprietary system so that there is no duplication of data entry or possibility of errors.

You can train call center agents on all your products to ensure that every order is complete, including shipping/handling, credit card verification and validation, cross-selling, up-selling, state taxes and billing information. The idea is to increase the percentage of calls that convert into actual sales, so you can also explain the use of cross-sells and up sells to these call center agents.

Messages can be delivered to different departments within your company, depending on the nature of the call (i.e., place an order, check on the status of an order, customer returns and callback requests) thus streamlining sales and fulfillment channels.

With some input from you and a scripted frequently asked questions document, call center agents can answer questions related to your business both easily and thoroughly, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of your customers’ calls, and saving you money!

No comments:

Subscribe in a reader