The importance of proper communication during a crisis cannot be understated, and new technology innovations strive to make communication as seamless as possible. One such innovation, being implemented around the country, is two-way visual communication systems in elevators.

But why is it so important to include visual communications if elevators already include call phones? And how does it work? Here’s all you should know about it…

What?
Emergency elevator communication systems for the deaf, hard of hearing, and speech impaired must all provide the following accommodations now:

1. Live 24/7 text-based, visual, and video-based communication
2. Accessibility for the hearing and speech impaired, with voice-only options for the visually impaired
3. Compatibility with video conferencing, chat/text software, and other approved communication technology used by emergency personnel.

When?
In just the past few years new regulations, such as those set by the International Building Code (IBC) of 2018 and the ASME A17.1 Code of 2019, mandate the installation of these video monitoring systems in new elevator cars.

Where?
These video systems are to be implemented in all new elevator installations as well as major modifications. Whether you are doing a rehab, renovation, or installing a brand new elevator, it must include an emergency two-way visual communication system.

Why?​
To ensure the safety of any passengers in an emergency situation, communication systems need to be inclusive of those with disabilities. As such, video monitoring systems provide hearing impaired individuals with a new and improved method of communicating with rescue services.

How?
These new visual communication systems are made up of these three important components within each elevator car:

1. An adjustable camera that can be accessed remotely by rescue services to view the elevator car, passengers, and floor.
2. An LCD video display that allows dispatchers to inform passengers of their rescue status and ask questions remotely.
3. Physical YES/NO buttons for passengers to respond to questions with.

Insta Answer is no stranger to these new regulations. Through our partnership with SmartView Visual Communication, we have implemented video monitoring into our elevator call services. Our team of expertly trained agents that understand how to deal with entrapments is here to help anyone in need, anytime, anywhere. Don’t believe us? Call today and see for yourself how we handle our customers.

Sources:
​https://www.kingsiii.com/help-phone-blog/elevator-video-communication-for-2018-ibc-code-update-part-1/
https://www.rathmicrotech.com/smartview.html

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If you're considering making the switch to an outsourced customer service team, there are lots of things for you to consider. Insta Answer understands how important it is to make the right decisions for your business, so we'd like to share some benefits and drawbacks of different customer service types. After reading our list, you should be more able to make the right informed choice for your company.
 
 In-House Customer Service Team
  
Pros

• Representatives are more company-informed. Your team is highly knowledgeable about your brand, services, and products.
• Greater data security. When customers deal directly with your business, the risk of exposing their private information is minimized. 
• Changes are easy to implement quickly. You can communicate directly with your in-house team, and easily follow up as often as needed. 

Cons 

• Higher cost. Setting up customer service infrastructure can be very expensive. In addition to acquiring the technology you'll need, there is also the added cost of training and employing a customer service team. 
• Employee attention decreases productivity elsewhere. If your staff is dealing with customer service issues, it means they're not spending their time on more technically demanding tasks. 
• Coverage is limited. You can only take on however much the staff can handle and when. It's very difficult for in-house teams to offer 24-hour coverage or constantly have a representative available on busy days.

 
Outsourced Customer Service Team
 
Pros

• The most cost-effective choice. Without the price of setting up infrastructure or hiring and training dedicated staff, outsourcing can save you a lot of money. With Insta Answer, you could pay as little as $3 per day for 24/7 service. 
• No hassle: pre-trained staff at your disposal. Our team are already highly experienced customer service experts, so your business can provide the best customer experience from day one. 
• Scalability is simple. Whether due to busy seasons , events, or weather issues, no matter how busy you get, you will never miss a call or have to train additional staff.

Cons

• Potential for data-breaches. Always be sure who you hire follows data security standards. 
• Less company-informed representatives. An outsourced team might not have the same level of brand awareness as an in-house employee.
• It takes longer to implement change. Getting messages to an outsourced team is less direct and can be more time-consuming.

 
Insta Answer offers all the pros of outsourced customer service, with none of the cons. We're unique because we have over 50 years of experience in your industry, and our secure BPO-trained team is easily reachable. If you're looking for an inexpensive, scalable, solution that offers 24/7 support, then give us a call!  Eliminate all the cons of outsourcing, so you can get back to business — or rest — while we handle the calls for you.

After a difficult and unprecedented year, businesses everywhere are searching for new ideas to ensure their success. If you're in the property management business, you're probably looking for ways to attract and retain high-quality tenants.  Insta Answer has been helping businesses in the property management industry for over 50 years, so we've seen what makes certain businesses incredibly successful. Here are our best tips for a prosperous new year. 

1. Keep Your Properties Well Maintained
Happy tenants usually want to extend their leases. An impactful way to save yourself time while keeping tenants happy is to stay on top of repairs and maintenance, including landscaping. Don't leave yourself a long list of repairs and improvements that need to be made. Instead, complete projects quickly and keep landscaping neat. This will keep current tenants happy and allow new tenants to move in quickly.  

2. Use Technology to Your Advantage
These days, it should come as no surprise, people are online constantly. If you want to stay ahead of the competition and make it easy for new tenants to learn about your properties, then you need to take full advantage of social media and your website. Having an actively updated website where you discuss what's happening in your community is so important for getting noticed and can be an informative resource for your tenants. Make sure it's easy to navigate and updated regularly. 

3. Provide Excellent Customer Service
Problems and emergencies can happen at any hour of the day or night. As a property manager, it's your job to efficiently handle these situations, but you don't need to make your life miserable in the process. By hiring a virtual receptionist, you can have a trained professional assisting your tenants while ensuring you are never bothered in the middle of the night again.  Our professional representatives know how to handle all kinds of emergencies and maintenance issues. We can dispatch calls, provide information on billing, and more. 

​Did you know that when you use Insta Answer as your receptionist you only pay if the phone rings? We save you money while keeping your tenants happy. You can pay as little as $3 per day, and you can even get your first two weeks free. Contact us today, and let's get started taking your customer service to the next level. 

​If you're hoping to win over more customers for your oil company, the best thing to do first is to assess what your customers' top needs actually are. A lot of the time a minor difference will be what sets one business ahead of the competition, especially in the oil industry where there can be multiple similar companies in a service area. It's a good idea to start looking out for the impactful changes you can make that will grab a customer's attention. With that in mind, here are the top four things that your customers are looking for when they need to choose an oil company. 

1. 24/7 Support
One of the most important things to customers is knowing that there will be support available whenever they need it. Nobody wants to deal with an answering machine or have to wait until Monday when an emergency happens. Customers will always prefer the company that's easiest to get in touch with.

2. Well-Trained Technicians & Customer Service Representatives 
The people who represent you matter. Technicians and customer service representatives give the longest lasting impression of your business to customers. Both should be knowledgeable and consistently pleasant to deal with. 

3. Affordable Prices
Pricing will definitely be one of the first areas potential customers look when comparing companies. Offering flexible payment plans and making it easy to see which fees you charge are just a few ideas that are always appreciated. 

4. Great Reputation and Reviews
Your online presence is so important; customers will be looking for positive reviews from previous customers, and they love to see high levels of company engagement. Companies that respond to their reviews leave a great impression. Always encourage reviews from your current customers. 

An easy way to boost your reputation and encourage positive reviews is to choose Insta Answer for your customer service representatives and after hours answering service. Our around the clock service and highly experienced representatives have been making companies stand out for over 50 years. Contact us today to get started!