Businesses lose millions through lack of lunchtime cover
02-08-2006
Consumer-facing businesses such as shops and offices could be losing millions of pounds due to not having enough people to answer the telephone at lunchtime.
Research from VoIP provider Voice4IP found that between 12pm and 2pm, the number of unanswered calls at British businesses increased considerably, typically doubling in comparison to other times of day.
However, the pattern is not repeated for companies operating in the business-to-business sector, where in many cases the number of unanswered calls falls during this time.
The figures reflect the difficulty of doing business with companies at lunchtime, due to underestimation of the level of demand, Voice4IP claimed.
"The information we have uncovered shows the difficulty that many people are having in doing business with companies at lunchtime," Phil Wedgwood, managing director of Voice4IP.
"Today, consumers want everything 'yesterday' so these firms are likely to be losing new business and frustrating any existing customers calling their offices."
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