A quick overview of the pros and cons of Toll-Free FlexDial, a global cloud communications solution.
Understanding The Advantages And Disadvantages of FlexDial
Toll-Free FlexDial has emerged as a pioneering solution for companies looking to set up a single toll-free number that callers can dial globally and companies that need to get a toll-free number in a “hard-to-reach” country.
This proprietary solution breaks down geographical barriers, enabling companies to expand their reach and provide an easily accessible and free-to-dial contact phone number in different countries.
Whether you’ve encountered this solution in your online research or spoken with our sales team, consider these pros and cons when evaluating Toll-Free FlexDial for your business.
Pros: Global Reach and Convenience
The primary advantage of Toll-Free FlexDial lies in its global accessibility.
Unlike UIFN, which only covers around 60 countries, and ITFS, which requires unique phone numbers for different countries, FlexDial can function as a single phone number that is reachable from all countries.
FlexDial significantly widens a business’ global coverage and ensures that callers worldwide can connect with your business without incurring charges.
Another significant benefit of FlexDial is the ability to set up toll-free services in countries lacking traditional toll-free options. This capability opens new business markets and offers a competitive advantage where others cannot provide a telephone presence.
Finally, Toll-Free FlexDial has a much faster activation time than UIFN and ITFS numbers from certain countries. For example, ITFS numbers from a “hard-to-reach” country might have a lengthy activation time. UIFN generally takes up to 2 months to set up. FlexDial, on the other hand, can be activated within a few business days.
Cons: Adaptation and Operational Uncertainties
While FlexDial might seem like an obvious solution, its innovative approach has unique challenges.
For one, the unique dialing convention may require caller education to ensure ease of use. People dial a trigger number, hear a message, and the call ends. After the call ends, the caller receives an immediate call back from a business representative, free of charge. Your business could publish these instructions alongside the number to facilitate usability.
Secondly, international dialing capabilities are necessary for customers to call a FlexDial number. The need for international dialing capabilities might limit the service’s accessibility to those with such features enabled in their phone plans. While the call to a FlexDial number is generally not charged, we cannot guarantee how various telecom companies bill their customers in different countries.
Finally, businesses evaluating FlexDial must consider that not all telecom networks properly pass the caller ID. Caller ID transmission is crucial for FlexDial because upon being triggered and the call ending, the solution must be able to call back the person who dialed the number immediately. If local telecom operators do not transmit the caller ID properly, FlexDial cannot return the call.
A Strategic Solution with Considerations
Toll-Free FlexDial is a strategic solution for businesses aiming to establish global reachability. It presents the advantages of more comprehensive global coverage, accessibility, and fast activation for companies looking to expand their reach.
However, the associated challenges require thoughtful implementation, thorough testing, and caller education. By navigating these considerations, businesses can fully leverage the potential of Toll-Free FlexDial to grow internationally.
To learn more about this innovative solution, speak with one of our telecom experts.
