Today, starting a call center does not necessarily require a physical workspace and servers. You can set up a virtual call center on the cloud, allowing agents to work remotely from anywhere. 

Cloud-based contact centers are on the rise, with the market expected to reach $82.43 billion by 2030. This shift offers businesses cost savings, increased productivity, and better resource management, all while maintaining the core functionality of traditional call centers. 

In this guide, we’ll dive into the benefits of virtual call centers and walk you through the steps to launch your own.

Benefits of a Virtual Call Center

Starting a virtual call center over a traditional call center one can be a good option as it does not require you to have a physical space, IT infrastructure, and a hefty investment. It helps businesses run call center operations on the cloud with the following benefits:

1. Cost Efficient

You won’t need to spend on office space, IT infrastructure, and office furniture. If you opt for a hybrid model, you can use smaller, less expensive office spaces by rotating staff schedules. 

You can scale your contact center with your business easily in a remote setup, without moving to a physically bigger workspace. Instead, you can invest the money in employees’ training, and salaries to keep your best workers.

2. Reduce Carbon Footprint

In a remote setup, the employees don’t need to commute to the office, reducing the overall carbon footprint. Fewer people drive to work means less traffic, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Remote setups also use less energy than traditional offices, which need constant lighting, heating, and cooling.

3. Access to a Wider Talent Pool

In a virtual call center, you can hire the best talents from anywhere. This enables you to hire employees from diverse backgrounds and regions, ensuring they understand local dialects and can engage better with local customers. Hiring agents across time zones can also help you offer 24×7 customer service.

4. Improved Business Continuity

Using remote technology, employees can work from anywhere, so your services can continue without physical office constraints. This adaptability is crucial for dealing with emergencies such as power outages, extreme weather, or other disruptions that typically halt operations in a traditional call center. 

You can offer consistent service delivery and strengthen customer trust and business resilience.

5. Advanced Data Security & Compliance

Virtual call centers incorporate modern features like two-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption, and secure cloud storage, which are important for protecting sensitive information. Depending on your location and market, these technologies help comply with data protection laws such as GDPR and HIPAA. 

These security measures help the business protect their customers’ data against breaches and cyberattacks.

How to Set up a Virtual Call Center?

Here’s how you can set up your virtual call center:

Step 1: Evaluate Your Call Center Needs

Before you start finding a cloud call center solution, it’s essential to evaluate your needs. 

You can do this by asking yourself a few questions, like:

» Does your business require handling incoming or outgoing calls?

» Do you need to integrate the call center with other communication channels like  social media, messaging apps, and live chat?

» How many agents will be handling the calls?

» How do you anticipate the call center operations to expand as your business grows?

Answering these questions will help you understand your needs that can be helpful while evaluating a solution.

Step 2: Set a Business Goal

Depending on your business goal, select the appropriate virtual call center metrics to monitor. They will help you gauge your virtual call center’s effectiveness.

Here are some important center metrics to track:

⇒ First Call Resolution (FCR): It measures your ability to resolve customer issues during the initial interaction, eliminating the need for follow-up calls

⇒ First Response Time (FRT): It indicates how long customers wait before connecting with an agent

⇒ Average Handle Time (AHT): It shows the average duration your team spends managing a call, from when an agent answers until the call ends

⇒ Average Abandonment Rate: It tracks the average rate at which customers disconnect calls, often due to long wait times

⇒ Customer Satisfaction (CSAT): It assesses customer happiness with your services

Step 3: Decide on a Budget

You should analyze the initial investments required to start a virtual call center and plan your budget. 

The cost may include the following:

» Employee salaries and insurance

» High-speed internet service

» A virtual calling system

» Essential hardware like computers and headsets

You should also consider additional costs like employees incentives and  team-building activities that may arise in the future.

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Step 4: Choose a Virtual Call Center Technology

This is the most important step—choose a right call center solution that offers features like call routing, reporting, and CRM integration. It should also scale as your business grows.

You can go with modern contact center solutions like the one offered by Exotel. It includes all the features you need to grow and expand your call center operations, which help you: 

» Offer omnichannel experiences to customers on channels like WhatsApp, SMS, and video conferencing, in addition to voice calls

» Integrate the call center operations with other apps and channels like WhatsApp, CRM, and helpdesk software

» Smoothly direct the customers to the right agent or department with smart IVR

» Save agent’s time with workflow automation options like sending SMS or making calls

The solution is suitable for both inbound and outbound call centers and you can get started.

Step 5: Hire Top Quality Talent

In a call center, the agents represent that business and communicate directly with the customers. Therefore, it’s crucial to hire the most suitable candidates for the job. They should be able to answer questions, solve problems, or sell products and services.

In addition to industry experience and familiarity with call center tools, here are some other skills to consider:

» Good listening and communication, both written and verbal

» Fluency in the local language of the end customers

» Empathy and emotional intelligence

» Logical reasoning and problem-solving capabilities

» Ability to multi-task

Step 6: Invest in Proper Onboarding and Regular Training

An effective onboarding leads to better engagement, higher agent efficiency, and lower turnover rates. Establish a continuous learning environment in the call center through regular training and coaching programs. 

Here are some elements that you can include:

» An extensive internal knowledge base with frequently asked questions

» Live or recorded training webinars for agents

» A repository of scripts and standard responses for different call scenarios

» Procedures for handling calls, managing call flow, and protocols for escalating calls

» Hands-on training during actual calls through techniques like call whispering

Step 7: Establish Effective Workflows

Prepare company policies for the team to follow, keeping everyone aligned. 

You can set rules for how different aspects of your call center will operate, like:

» How will you distribute calls?

» What will agents say when they answer calls?

» Will the agents use call scripts?

» What will be the escalation protocol?

» How often will you review performance?

Here, you can also consider automation through technology. For example, sales team can automate emails when callers express interest.

Step 8: Nurture a Good Culture

Creating a positive work environment is crucial, especially when working in a remote setup. In addition to good pay and bonuses, the agents should feel valued for the work they do.

Here are some ways to strengthen your culture and motivate your team:

» Display gratitude and recognize individual efforts of the agents

» Plan regular training sessions for the agents to make them feel more confident

» Allow agents to work on their own, from anywhere, using tools of their choice

» Offer incentives to top-performing agents to appreciate their efforts

These steps will help you build a culture where team members feel truly part of the company’s success.

Step 9: Market Your Call Center Everywhere

It’s important that you customers can easily find an option to contact your call center. Ensure your contact information is available on your website, especially on the homepage and support page. You can also highlight this information on social media, email signatures, etc.

Transform the way you engage with your customers

Set up Your Omnichannel Virtual Call Center Solution with Exotel

Why should you start with Exotel? Whether you are setting up a new call center or upgrading your current one, Exotel’s cloud contact center solutions could be ideal for both customer support and sales teams. They provide the necessary tools to support clients across multiple communication channels and to sell more efficiently. 

You can seamlessly integrate your contact center with your CRM or other business tools to keep all data synchronized and enhance team productivity.

Book a demo call now for a personalized walkthrough of the features and to get started.

FAQs

What is a Virtual Call Center?

Virtual call centers are customer service operations where agents work remotely using cloud-based technology.

How do Virtual Call Centers Work?

Virtual call centers are cloud-based and communicate using voice-over IP (VoIP). They typically use a call-center-capable PBX phone system and headsets, eliminating the need for traditional phone lines.

What is the Difference Between Traditional Call Centers and Virtual Call Centers?

Virtual call centers operate in the cloud, allowing agents to work remotely from anywhere through a browser-based platform. On the other hand, traditional call centers operate in physical offices and require significant upfront investments.

How can Virtual Call Centers Enhance Customer Experience?

Virtual call centers ensure faster and more efficient call handling through features like IVR and automatic call distribution (ACD). These features route customers to the most suitable agent based on their needs, reducing wait times and improving satisfaction.

How can I Manage Remote Call Center Agents Effectively?

Managing remote agents requires clear communication, regular check-ins, and the use of performance tracking tools. Implementing collaboration software and ensuring consistent training can help maintain productivity and engagement among remote agents.

What are the common challenges in running a virtual call center?

Common challenges include managing remote teams, ensuring data security, maintaining consistent communication, and dealing with varying internet connectivity issues. Implementing robust cloud-based tools and establishing clear protocols can help overcome these challenges.

How do I Ensure Data Privacy in a Virtual Call Center?

Data privacy in a virtual call center solution can be ensured by using secure cloud services with end-to-end encryption, implementing strong access controls, and regularly updating security protocols to comply with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA.

What is the Role of AI in Virtual Call Centers?

AI can enhance virtual call center operations by providing automated responses, chatbots, and predictive analytics. AI tools can help in routing calls, analyzing customer interactions, and offering real-time assistance to agents, improving overall efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Shambhavi Sinha

Shambhavi Sinha is an SEO expert at Exotel with a passion for writing about technology. With a keen interest in the latest trends in contact centers and artificial intelligence, Shambhavi aims to empower users by sharing insightful and up-to-date knowledge. Her expertise in SEO and her dedication to educating her audience make her a valuable resource for anyone looking to stay informed about the evolving landscape of tech in customer service and beyond.

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