Our online call booking comes in two flavours, one for call centre use and the far more commonly used repairer or contractor use.

Here we’re looking at the more common application of it where a repair or maintenance company wants to capture customer details online but, doesn’t really want enquiries fro products that they do not work with or in areas that they do not operate in.

The problem with traditional contacts be it from email or a simple online contact form is that they cannot discern the finer points and many companies get enquiries from people that cannot help. Obviously that’s not too good for the customer getting in touch and it adds to the workload of the business in having to answer queries you can’t help with.

Solution #1

Beko washing machine service call made to look goodWe solve that problem using the online booking form by allowing you complete control over what products you work with or services you provide as well as the postcode areas that you cover so that you only get enquiries that meet the criteria that you set.

How that works is that, let’s say a customer goes to your website and has a Bush washing machine that needs repaired.

You don’t repair Bush machines.

Then the option to enquire is removed as Bush will not be shown as a brand that you cover.

The same applies with postcodes.

But if the machine is a Bosch and you select that you repair Bosch washing machines then the call can be sent to you, so long as it’s also in your area of cover of course.

This saves you chasing your tail answering queries that really don’t apply to you. Sure it may be good PR but, not a good or profitable use of your time.

Solution #2

This problem many companies likely aren’t even aware that they have.

A busy phone.

Well okay so you’ll know the phone is busy but what you probably won’t know is how many people go elsewhere when it is engaged or nobody picks up, even on a weekend or in the evenings.

One solution to this would simply to direct people to your website to book online. It’s faster and easier for customers as it saves them time and effort and, you don’t miss out on that call to a competitor. Because with this, you’re available to take call details 24/7/365, even if you don’t work those hours.

Similarly if you’re busy on the job, a simple prompt on your call answering service to go online and book there may save you from losing business. Oh and it also means you don’t have to try to grab the phone and scribble down details on a napkin or whatever you happen to have to hand, if you can find a pen.

It’s just easier.

Most of all though, it looks way more professional to your customers, even if they do choose to hold or keep trying to call you back however, you gave a choice that others might not have.

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Solution #3

Not so much of a solution, unless you don’t much care for typing or writing out details, then it’s a solution.

If you use Rapport (if not you really should) then all those lovely details get spirited across the internet and plonked right onto your system, you don’t need to type a thing.

All you need to do is confirm the details, book the call and that’s it!

The idea was to make it easy, make it simple, save time and effort and, this does.

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Bonus!

One of the benefits of this system we use is that it is linked into the main engineer search on UK Whitegoods and, if you’re a WTA member it’s hooked into that as well.

Any enquiries that meet the criteria you set from either, you get those enquires too for nothing, totally free.

The Best Bit

For small independent appliance repair companies this is a free service.

No cost, nothing.

If you want SMS notifications from your search results sure, you need to pay for that bit but it’s hardly expensive but aside from that, it’s totally and utterly free.

Even if you don’t use Rapport, you can still have this on your website and get notifications by email and/or SMS if you wish.

Just create an engineer account then ask us for a bit of drop in code for your website and, you’re good to go.