Budget management is never an easy task
CFOs commonly cite tightening budgets as a major challenge in their organisations. When 86% of CFOs feel that they can’t make an effective financial decision when lacking key insights, that just makes things more difficult. One of those key insights could be the amount spent on 0800 numbers.
As a non-geographic number (NGN), 0800 numbers are widely used by businesses to offer a free-to-call option for customers. This boosts accessibility and can grant a more prominent national presence, but it’s down to businesses to absorb those associated call charges. As call volumes grow, so does the financial burden from a larger operational budget.
Gamma’s Inbound Call Management platform allows businesses to switch those costly 0800 number for budget-friendly 0300 numbers. Costs can be more easily managed, and budgets can be better optimised to meet other critical objectives.
From digital transformation to better customer experience, there’s so much more businesses can do when that NGN bill is under control.
Why is my NGN bill so high?!
An excellent question. Remember, 0800 numbers are only known as ‘freephone’ numbers as they’re free for the ones making the call. This is all fine and dandy for customers, but for businesses, it means having to deal with the bill.
Some of the key cost challenges associated with 0800 numbers include:
- Per-minute call charges: Businesses will bear the full brunt of incoming calls, which can be substantial for customer service or sales-driven companies
- High monthly rental fees: Maintaining an 0800 number comes with ongoing costs that will only accumulate over time
- Peak-time costs: During periods of high call traffic, costs can rise significantly, especially with that per-minute pricing in place
- Call Forwarding Fees: If calls need to be redirected to mobiles or international numbers, additional forwarding costs may apply
- Scalability: As businesses grow and require more lines or advanced features, such as interactive voice response (IVR), those costs can increase
- Inefficient budget allocation: Money spent on 0800 numbers could be better spent on growth-focused initiatives, such as marketing, technology investments, or employee training
Honestly, it makes switching to an 0300 number provided by Gamma a real business priority.
The smart budget move
Reducing telecom expenses can seem like an arduous and ambitious task. On average, businesses spend 15% of their overall IT spend on telecom expenditures. Poorly managed, inflexible contracts only add to the difficulty of managing these telecom costs, while putting further strain on the budget.
Switching from an 0800 number to an 0300 number is a great way to start reducing those expenses. Unlike 0800 numbers, 0300 numbers share the cost between the caller and the business, lowering that expenditure while maintaining accessibility for customers.
As both are NGNs, businesses don’t have to worry about losing that perceived national presence, too!
Savings on the horizon
0300 numbers are charged at standard landline rates, which gives businesses an easier way to forecast upcoming expenses. Some prefixes of the 0800 number range, such as 084 numbers, come with both a service and access charge. With an 0300 number, it’s far easier to anticipate costs and predict how much budget is needed for your NGN.
The money saved from reduced NGN costs can be reallocated to other critical areas, including business expansion and product development. 58% of finance leaders are also looking at devoting a greater portion of their budgets to IT and digital transformation.
Boosting expenditure in this area can provide benefits for the whole business, such as operational efficiency and better customer experience.
Keeping customer trust
Both 0800 and 0300 are NGNs, meaning that they aren’t tied down to a specific location and can give businesses that perception of national presence. Yet 0300 numbers have the edge when it comes to customer trust, especially as these numbers tend to be included in call bundles.
Customers won’t think twice about contacting a number they won’t be charged for, meaning an increased call volume can potentially generate more sales and revenue.
Considering not-for-profit organisations use 0300 prefixes, customers can apply the same level of trust to business too. That underlying credibility can work as ‘free marketing’, which is helpful since some businesses are cutting marketing budget as much as 10-20%. For businesses, it’s all about building trust with customers.
Regain control of your budget
Switching numbers shouldn’t be complicated. That’s why Gamma offers a seamless transition from 0800 to 0300 numbers via our Inbound Call Management platform. Our unique approach helps businesses optimise their telecom spend, while maintaining service quality.
Our expert team provides a tailored cost analysis, allowing businesses to identify hidden costs from 0800 numbers. Gamma can then recommend cost-saving strategies that alleviates unnecessary expenditures without disrupting your customer experience. With Gamma Inbound, businesses can gain full visibility and control over their telecom expenses.
Ofcom themselves mention how many organisations are switching to 0300 numbers to save on expenses. You wouldn’t go against expert advice, would you?