How a Bilingual Answering Service Can Benefit Your Business

woman with headset

Today’s modern businesses need to not only know who their customers are but also be able to meet their needs. The United States has the second-largest Spanish-speaking community in the world. If estimates by experts are true, in just over three decades the U.S. will have the largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, with over 150 million people speaking the language.

If you own a business, chances are that you’re able to easily communicate with your English-speaking customers. However, can you say the same for your Spanish-speaking customers? Language barriers can make communication incredibly difficult, causing frustration and, ultimately, money lost from your business. Fortunately, there is a way to ensure effortless communication with your Spanish-speaking customers.

What Is a Bilingual Answering Service?

A bilingual answering service is a way to offer Spanish-speaking customer service without the added cost of hiring additional staff for your own business. Calls are answered in your business’s name by a friendly and professional operator who can take orders and messages and schedule appointments, all in fluent English or Spanish depending on what your caller prefers.

The Gift of Clarity

Having an answering service can increase clarity and understanding. Operators who are unable to understand Spanish-speaking callers will lose touch with these customers, as well as lessen the perceived value of your business.

When a customer’s intent can be communicated in a way that’s completely understood by the operator, their true intent can be known. As well, information can be listened to and communicated by the bilingual answering service with compassion and respect.

The ability to communicate in their own language whenever they need to ask a question, place an order, or make an appointment will allow your Hispanic customers to appreciate your business that much more.

How an Answering Service Can Save Your Business Money

A bilingual answering service can save you money in many ways. Because it is outsourced, an answering service doesn’t require you to hire and train permanent staff and spend additional money on benefits, vacation pay, sick time, office space, or equipment.

woman at call center

When you outsource to a bilingual answering service, your business and customers can have instant access to a professional receptionist who is already trained, and who also receives progressive training so that they are always honing their skills. This allows you to provide English and Spanish-speaking callers access to a professional representative of your business every time they dial.

How an Answering Service Can Make Your Business Money

As you’re saving money with an outsourced bilingual answering service, you can also make money. When Spanish-speaking clients are able to communicate in their own language, they are more likely to return to you the next time they require a service or product they need.

In being able to serve the Hispanic community, your business can become the one that the majority of Spanish-speaking members of the community supports. As more in the community hear about how they can communicate easily and comfortably with your business, more will choose your service when they need to communicate with you.

Benefits to Medical Facilities

woman answering phone in office

If you run a medical facility, you need to be able to schedule appointments, but you also need to ensure that any and all health information communicated by your Spanish-speaking patients can be translated completely and accurately by those who take the call.

Any and all information that callers communicate is first accurately understood, and then thoroughly translated by a Spanish answering service. This will allow your facility to confidently provide the treatment your patients need. A HIPAA compliant bilingual answering service serves both new and existing patients, allowing you to increase intake efficiency of the former while allowing you to better serve the latter.

The ability to offer a wide range of communication options to Hispanic patients means their needs can be met right from their first call to you, with no fear that any critical information will become lost in translation.

Benefits to Legal Firms

Attorneys understand the value of providing a top-quality customer experience. Still, many neglect to offer Spanish-speaking services to would-be clients. When a Hispanic client calls, and your existing staff cannot answer or speak Spanish, that call can quickly turn into a long and frustrating experience.

Bilingual answering services for attorneys are trained in legal terms and situations. These experienced agents can ensure accurate information collection while lawyers and staff members concentrate on their cases.

Benefits to Contractors

group of people with headsets

Whether you run a plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or construction business, a bilingual answering service can benefit you. Not only does it allow you to communicate with Spanish-speaking customers about the work they need, but it can also allow you to help your Hispanic employees.

Employees needing parts in order to complete a job, whose company vehicle has broken down, or who are sick and unable to come to work can communicate with your bilingual answering service to relay this kind of important information.

In knowing what your staff requires from you, you can ensure that client jobs are completed on time, employees can get to work, and replacements can be called for those who are ill.

HVAC contractors needing to make multiple repairs when bad or unusual weather strikes can use bilingual answering services to ensure that no one has to go without heating or cooling for too long.

Benefits to Small Businesses

A professional bilingual answering service can offer your business many advantages. Not only does a service allow you to provide the same level of quality that larger businesses do and expand your client base, but it also allows you to present a professional attitude whenever customers call you.

If you’re just starting your business, a professional service can help you to impress and attract customers right away, allowing you to move into the relationship-building stage sooner.

Benefits to Real Estate Professionals

Property owners need to be able to service the needs of all tenants. Bilingual answering services can allow tenants to get in touch with you in emergency situations, such as when maintenance is needed, as quickly as possible. The service can ensure that levels of urgency are well-determined so that calls and messages are only escalated on your terms.

When would-be tenants wish to book an appointment to see an apartment you have to view, a bilingual answering service ensures important details are included and that all potential tenants have an opportunity so you can find the best fit.

Benefits to Hospitality Businesses

Hotels and resorts need to be able to handle overflow calls during busy seasons, as well as provide guests with prompt and professional attention. A Spanish answering service allows Hispanic guests to access all of your hospitality services, as well as get their questions answered. Operators specifically trained in the hospitality industry are always ready to provide customers with the information they require so you can keep your rooms booked and your guests happy.

Expert Operators, Any Time of the Day or Week

Even when your legal business, contracting company, medical facility, or small business is closed, your bilingual answering service will ensure your ability to continue taking calls. Whether it’s the middle of the night or on a weekend, live representatives and instant message delivery allow you to meet the needs of your customers whenever they call.

Cutting-Edge Technology That Places You in the Lead

woman answering phone at hotel

When you’re running a successful legal, medical, real estate, contracting, or other business, you need to stay on top of technology. Otherwise, you will find yourself behind the competition. Great providers of bilingual answering services invest heavily in the best technology for you so that all you have to do is sit back and reap the rewards.

Having a bilingual answering service will allow you to become better at meeting the needs of your English-speaking customers, as well as allow you to reach your Hispanic community. In being able to offer your customers bilingual answering services, you can allow a higher number of customers to reach you—an essential part of doing business in today’s fast-paced world.

Now that you know all of the benefits of providing bilingual answering services, you can start the process of finding the right company for you. AnswerMTI is a nationwide leader in live answering services and can provide your customers with the professional assistance they need, thanks to warm and friendly bilingual answering service operators. To learn more about our affordable services, call 1-800-673-2000 today.

Source

  1. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/29/us-second-biggest-spanish-speaking-country