Picture this: You're in the middle of a sales blitz, your heart pounding with anticipation. The next lead you dial could be the big one, the one to help you breeze past quota. But wait, you have to dial the number, wait for the ring, hope they answer, and if not, leave a message. Rinse and repeat, hundreds of times over. It's an arduous, time-consuming task, that, frankly, can be downright exhausting.
Now, imagine if you had an army of efficient, tireless assistants, ready to dial those numbers for you. They wait patiently on the line, listening for the click of a connection, and the moment a live voice says "hello," they bring the call to you. These assistants don't need coffee breaks or time to rest; they work tirelessly, efficiently, making your sales process smoother and more effective.
Welcome to the world of autodialers, your personal army of assistants.
The Power of Autodialers
Autodialers are advanced computer programs that dial telephone numbers automatically. Not only do they dial, but they also detect whether a live person has answered the phone before handing the call over to a human operator. This means your sales team can spend more time speaking to potential customers rather than wasting time on unanswered calls or being put on hold.
Decoding the Autodialer Puzzle: Things to Consider Before You Dial
It's true, autodialers are like a secret weapon in your sales arsenal. But before you launch into the world of automated dialing, there are a few things to consider.
But with a plethora of auto dialers in the market, how do you choose the one that's right for you? Here, we review four top auto dialers for salespeople in 2023 – Kixie, VanillaSoft, RingCentral, and Five9.
Autodialer | Starting Price | Key Features | Best Used For | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kixie | $35 to $95 per user, per month | PowerCall dialer, Business SMS, Voice and SMS automations, Analytics and reporting, Contact center | Those who want to work within their existing CRM or transportation management system (TMS) software, including account executives, marketing teams, sales managers, sales development, sales operations and sales agents | Offers one-click dialing feature, seamless integrations, mobile app, and is affordable | Doesn't have a free plan, the limited calling plan is set to 300 minutes a month, it is Chrome users only, and it is not real estate-specific |
VanillaSoft | As low as $100 per month | Auto dialing, Call recording, VoIP, Logical branch scripting, Appointment setting, Lead and sales tracking, Email and SMS marketing, Sales intelligence | Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) making a lot of calls every day in industries like insurance, banking, finance and mortgage, merchant services, appointment setting and software sales | Offers clean and clear reporting, easy to use, ease of customization, increased sales, and value for money | Custom reports can be difficult to set up and the system has limited integrations and can sometimes lag |
RingCentral | $19.99 per user, per month annually or $32.99 per user monthly | Business phone or toll-free numbers, Unlimited calls within the U.S. and Canada, Enhanced business SMS, Voicemail to text, Team messaging, Document sharing | Businesses of all sizes looking to unify all of their company’s communications into a single system | Scalable, has a mobile app, and set up takes minutes with no hardware installation | No direct Linux support, customer support response time can be slow, and it can go down from time to time |
Five9 | $149 per month to $229 per month | Contact center software, Workforce optimization (WFO), Omnichannel support, Predictive analytics | Small businesses to enterprises looking to deliver exceptional customer service, replace legacy```html systems, or modernize their contact center operations | Easy to use, solid reliability, excellent customer service, and great reporting capabilities | Pricey for smaller operations, the onboarding process can be complex, and limited CRM integration options |
Imagine a bustling sales department. Account executives, marketing teams, and sales managers all working together, their efforts streamlined by a tool that works within their existing CRM or transportation management system (TMS) software. That's where Kixie comes in.
Starting at $35 to $95 per user, per month, Kixie offers an all-in-one contact center solution. Its key features include a PowerCall dialer, Business SMS, Voice and SMS automations, and Analytics and reporting. But its most loved feature is the one-click dialing – a godsend for sales agents who make numerous calls a day.
It's not without its limitations though. With no free plan and a cap of 300 minutes a month for the limited calling plan, it's clear Kixie is best suited for those who have a budget allocated for a dialer system. It's also Chrome users only, and it is not real estate-specific.
Envision a small to medium-sized business in the banking or finance industry. Their staff make a lot of calls every day, tracking leads, setting appointments, and making sales. Sounds exhausting, right? Not with VanillaSoft.
VanillaSoft's key features include Auto dialing, Call recording, VoIP, Logical branch scripting, Appointment setting, Lead and sales tracking, Email and SMS marketing, and Sales intelligence. The platform is easy to use, customizable, and offers clear reporting – a dream for any sales team. It increases sales productivity and offers good value for money, starting as low as $99 per month.
However, setting up custom reports can be tricky, and the system has limited integrations. Occasional lags can also be a minor inconvenience.
Picture a growing business looking to unify all its communications into a single system. RingCentral is the answer. With business phone or toll-free numbers, unlimited calls within the U.S. and Canada, enhanced business SMS, voicemail to text, team messaging, and document sharing, RingCentral becomes the hub for all company communications.
Scalability is one of RingCentral's standout features. It comes with a mobile app, and set up takes minutes with no hardware installation. But it's not perfect. There's no direct Linux support, and customer support response time can sometimes beslow. Downtimes can also occur, but these instances are infrequent.
Now, think about a small business or an enterprise looking to deliver exceptional customer service or deploy AI. Five9 shines in this scenario.
Five9 is a contact center software that offers Workforce optimization (WFO), Omnichannel support, and Predictive analytics. With over 150 integrations and easy-to-use user interfaces (UIs), it's a versatile tool that supports both inbound and outbound dialing and call recording. It's completely customizable, allowing businesses to tailor the system to their needs.
Despite its impressive features, Five9 has some drawbacks. Texting can be difficult, there is no omnichannel support, and analytics and workflow apps are only available with the Ultimate bundle. Plus, with a starting price of $149 per month, it's on the higher end of the price range.
Q: Will autodialers replace my job?
A: Absolutely not. Autodialers are a tool designed to assist you, not replace you. They handle the task of dialing numbers and waiting for someone to pick up, but they can't replicate the human connection, understanding, and relationship-building skills that you bring to the table.
Q: How can autodialers increase my productivity?
A: By automating the process of dialing numbers and waiting for someone to answer, autodialers save you a significant amount of time. This means you can spend more time talking to prospects and closing deals, boosting your overall productivity.
Q: Can I integrate autodialers with my existing CRM software?
A: Yes, most autodialers can be integrated with popular CRM software. This allows for seamless data transfer, easy tracking of calls and results, and improved overall efficiency.
Q: What should I consider when choosing an autodialer?
A: Some important factors to consider are the size of your business, the volume of calls you need to make, your budget, and the specific features you need. Also, remember to check the regulations in your industry and location regarding automated calls.
Q: Are there any downsides to using autodialers?
A: While autodialers can greatly increase productivity, they do have a few potential drawbacks. These include the risk of breaching regulations around automated calls, the cost of the software, and the need for a reliable internet connection. However, with careful planning and selection, these issues can be mitigated.
Q: Can autodialers handle both inbound and outbound calls?
A: Some autodialers can handle both inbound and outbound calls, while others specialize in one or the other. Be sure to check the specific features of an autodialer before making a decision.
Q: Do autodialers only work with specific types of phones or systems?
A: Autodialers typically work over both the regular Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and Voice over IP (VoIP), so they can be used with a variety of phone systems. However, you should always verify the compatibility of a specific autodialer with your existing system.
So, there you have it, a review of four of the best auto dialers for salespeople in 2023. Each comes with its strengths and weaknesses, and the best one for you will depend on your business needs, budget, and personal preference. With the right auto dialer, you can boost your productivity, improve your sales, and take your business to the next level