The VoIP industry has evolved to a point now where the IP PBX (News - Alert) is no longer a new product, and a majority of businesses have, at the very least, considered switching to a VoIP system, if they have not already done so. Certainly, there are differences between various systems on the market, the greatest of which is call and extension capacity — some are designed for large enterprises, and others for small and mid-sized businesses, or even home offices.

 

But now that basic functionality is, for the most part, equal throughout the industry, the differentiating factor becomes additional features, some designed for specific verticals, others for more general use. Regardless, it is these peripherals that are now the focal point of most IP PBX manufacturers.

 

TalkSwitch (News - Alert) produces IP telephony systems for small single or multi-location businesses, and has a product line with a rich feature set at an affordable price point, but it, too, must continue to enhance its offerings in order to grow its market share. Its latest add-on application is one that can have a bevy of uses for customers in a variety of verticals — its new TalkSwitch Call Reporting application.

 

Making the conversion to an IP-based system is one thing — and its benefits are well documented — but in order to truly gain the most from their investments, businesses must be able to accurately assess the effectiveness of the system and its features.

 

With TalkSwitch Call Reporting, customers now have access to reports defining any and all system activity, allowing them to identify peak call volumes, average call duration, queue times, unanswered calls, and more. In fact, TalkSwitch says its latest application allows clients to track and report every activity on the system, including the assignment of account codes to more effectively assess performance and ensure accurate billing.

 

It also lets managers monitor activity in real time, which can not only aid in creating a more efficient communications environment, but can help identify additional coaching needs as well as evaluate new employee development. Also, by tracking line usage, companies can gain valuable information on whether they need to eliminate or add lines to their systems.

 

The Advanced edition includes tracking and reporting features applicable in nearly any business environment, bus especially any with significant external customer contact. The Premium edition adds features specifically designed for the hospitality industry, like automated guest check in/out, one-click billing with the ability to set call rates, and support for multiple locations.

 

“Our Call Reporting software gives users the ability to analyze call activity and distill the information they need to save money and manage their businesses more efficiently,” said Jan Scheeren, President and CEO, TalkSwitch.