What is a dial plan?
Dial plans are a feature of modern VOIP (voice over internet protocol) phone systems.
A dial plan describes what callers hear when they dial your business phone number, and the options available. It can greet your callers, offer information about your business, and direct people to specific departments.
Think of it as a friendly receptionist who gets callers to the right people quickly.
What are the available options?
There are various building blocks in a dial plan, for example:
- Welcome your callers with a unique message.
- Providing the option to speak with different departments or people.
- If one person doesn’t pick up, route the call to someone else.
- Let some call types ring multiple phones at once.
- Know how long a caller has been waiting.
- Play music or recorded messages when callers are on hold.
- After hours? Let the caller know your business hours and provide the option to leave a message.
Why is a dial plan important?
If you want to make a professional impression when someone calls your business, you want to have a phone system that supports dial plans.
They route your callers to various extensions or departments, saving you and your staff time and money.
Or they can be setup in “call center” mode. In this mode, the caller is given options periodically, for example to continue waiting or to leave a voicemail. They can also be setup in a “find me” fashion, for example ring my home phone, then my cell, etc.
A dial plan really does a lot for the image, organization, and efficiency that you really want for your business.
Want to learn more?
All of our Business Phone Systems come with a custom dial plan. You tell us about your business, and we’ll build a plan to match.
If you’re thinking of upgrading your current phone system or installing a new phone system for your small business, we’re here to make it easy, and get it done right.
Contact our sales department today.
