TIPS - TeleVantage Increases Productivity & Service!

November 2006

In this Issue

Welcome

Best Practice: Unexpected Closings

TIP: Using Personal Status with Greetings and Routing Lists

Did You Know…TeleVantage 7.0 – Product of the Year

Show & Tell – Share your TIPS

Trivia: Food for Thought

Welcome

Welcome to the first issue of TIPS from Alternate Access!

Our goal is to provide our customers with information to get the most from TeleVantage.  Each issue will contain a variety of topics - from general tips and tricks to feature updates to industry trends and announcements.  

We look forward to hearing from our customers as well; not only to ensure we are providing relevant information but for their expert insight into the topics, trends and issues that really matter.

Thank you for your continued support,
The Alternate Access Team

Best Practice: Unexpected Closings

Inclement weather can wreak havoc on a business, whether battling a surprise winter snow storm or scrambling from an anticipated hurricane.  While you may not be able to salvage all of day's planned activities you hoped for when the weather interferes, you can easily notify your employees and customers of an office closing or change in hours when this type of crisis hits.  Simply dial in to the Call Manager User, and change the Personal Status and Greeting to reflect your inclement weather message.  You can also set up a special access code for employees to call into the main auto-attendant and reach a "backdoor" number; simply leave a broadcast message for employees instructing them whether or not to report to work.  Remember, safety first!

If you would like more information on how to set up a Call Manager User and / or an employee access code, let us know and we would be more than happy to help you set them up.

TIPS: Using Personal Status with Greetings and Routing Lists

Personal statuses used with customized greetings can instantly alert callers to your whereabouts. Why make a caller wait 5 rings to find out you are not at your desk?  Create a message for statuses like, "in a meeting", "on break", or "on vacation" to give callers an idea of when would be best to call you back.  Go one step further with statuses like "out of office" and create a personal routing list to forward calls to your cell phone or home phone. Callers don't need to know your whereabouts- your calls can be seamlessly routed to you.

There are several ways to get additional information on Personal Status, Greetings or Routing Lists;  users can take the QuickTour located under HELP in Viewpoint (TeleVantage 7.0 and higher), refer to the QuickStart Guide, or contact us directly.

Breaking News from Vertical

Did you know that Vertical TeleVantage 7.0 was recognized as "Product of the Year" by Communications Solutions Magazine in the May 2006 issue?  They also received an "A" rating from VoIP Magazine's CT Labs last spring!

Show & Tell

Share your TIPS with us!  We want to know how our users navigate TeleVantage.  Let us know your favorite TIP then check back next month to see if yours is the featured TIP.  Not only will you have the opportunity to share ideas with your peers but you will be entered into a quarterly drawing for a blue tooth wireless headset! To enter send an email to officemgr@AlternateAccess.com.

Food For Thought

Thanksgiving was not recognized as a national holiday until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln declared it one.  Traditionally it has been celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, but that was not the official date until 1941 when Congress voted it in.  Prior to 1941, the President could set the date; in 1939 and 1940, it was celebrated on the third Thursday - a week earlier!  This was done to extend the holiday shopping period for retailers by an extra week.

Learn More. Contact Alternate Access