Setting up DID Numbers: Do it Right the First Time

Due to the surge of people working remotely, your traditional business communications system may no longer cut it. However, there’s a simple and more cost-effective way for your business to establish a local presence and save on long-distance calling. International virtual phone numbers allow your customers to communicate with you from across the world at any time with the flexibility of a cloud-hosted, mobile VoIP system.

As 64% of call center representatives operated remotely in 2021, call center leaders anticipate a long-term hybrid work environment where 47% of agents will continue working from home. These statistics highlight the necessity of DID services that let you manage call forwarding, ring groups, callbacks, blacklist/whitelist, business hours, and more.

Let’s see how DID numbers differ from regular ones and how to set them up for your business.

How Are DID Numbers Different from Regular Ones?

Apart from portability and synced communication across multiple devices, DID services differ from traditional phone lines in many ways. For instance, companies with multiple office locations can benefit from incoming call distribution features that allow you to ring multiple phones simultaneously or sequentially based on your preferences. You can make a ring group or group extension as your virtual number’s destination.

Unlike regular phone lines, you can assign a local area code to your international virtual phone number if your customer base is in a different area than your office. It lowers the cost of incoming calls and gives your business a professional brand image. You can also assign a unique number to your marketing campaigns to track key performance metrics via CRM integrations.

How to Get DID Numbers for Your Company?

Consider the Type of DID Services You Want

Different direct inward dialing service providers offer different levels of access and usage. It’s often critical for a business to keep tabs on whether business numbers are used properly and by the correct personnel. For this purpose, many DID service providers offer add-ons that help you with interactive 24/7 performance monitoring and reporting to ensure everything runs smoothly.

You also need to decide the type of DID number you would like to get for your business. Following are the four main types of virtual phone numbers:

•   Local numbers: Gives businesses a local presence with local area codes and number prefixes.
• Toll-free numbers: National phone numbers that charge calling costs to businesses, so customers can reach you without incurring long-distance fees.
• Vanity numbers: Toll-free numbers ending with catchy alphanumeric phrases or memorable numbers.
• International numbers: Local international numbers to make your business appear established and local to foreign markets.

Pick a VoIP or Direct Inward Dialing Service Provider

While evaluating and selecting the right DID number provider for your business, consider factors like add-on features, security, return on investment, user-friendliness of the app, support, integrations, etc. Picking the right provider can be a critical decision for your business because changing the provider can be a daunting task. Besides, it can affect your business negatively.

There are many affordable options for getting DID services, but you must go with the service provider that gives you the most bang for your buck. Although there are many free virtual number providers for small businesses, they may not offer unlimited calling or the ability to connect multiple users. Larger companies must purchase services that comprise the best integrations and supportive features.

Compare Pricing and Purchase the Right Plan

Once you have selected the providers that suit your needs, the next logical step is to pick the right plan by comparing the pricing structures. It would help if you kept the expected call volume and your planned workflow in mind. For instance, if you are anticipating high call volumes, picking a plan that offers unlimited calling facilities will save you a significant sum in the long run. You may also want to compare pricing for the services relevant to your business, such as extensions, international calling, call parking, and three-way calling.

Configure Your DID Numbers

• Select a Business Number with Preferred Area Code

After signing up for the plan, you can select the type of virtual phone number you want with your preferred area code using the provider’s web or mobile app. You can easily port your existing business number to your new DID account. Add Your Devices

After setting up your DID number, you can start utilizing your calling and messaging services from your private devices. You can assign the same number to your team members by adding their devices as extensions. You can also set up an inbox where you will receive voicemail transcriptions.

• Set Hours, Business Voicemail, and Greetings

You can automate call workflow to handle all your incoming business calls. The online portal will allow you to configure welcome greetings, voicemail, customized call menu options, business hours, virtual receptionist, and more. You can leverage the call forwarding feature to route calls to any phone, colleague, or team.

Kickstart Your Business with Surefire Way of Connecting with Customers

Businesses of all sizes at some point need to expand their market, add more employees, and manage a higher volume of customer service requests. Here, a direct inward dialing service provider can help you with virtual telephone numbers that let users make or receive calls via the internet, adding a layer of HD call quality, privacy, mobility, and conveniences. Besides, you can be assured a huge array of benefits, from elevating the caller experience to scaling up your business in no time.

BridgeVoice Pluto offers a wide range of international virtual phone numbers (a.k.a. DID numbers) with various pay-as-you-go and unlimited packages, ensuring you’re always connected no matter where you are.