From Switchboard to Auto Attendant

SwitchboardOne of my favorite movies is Auntie Mame starring Jane Russell (1958.) There are so many wonderful, funny scenes in the movie, but some scenes always stand out in your memory and one of those for me is when she went to work as a switchboard operator.



Most people these days don’t realize how the telephone systems of yore worked. When you called a company, it went to the switchboard operator who would literally plug your line into the correct office. It might then be answered by a secretary before you reached your final destination. It was a cumbersome process, but back then, switchboard operators were the height of technology.

Luckily, we now have auto attendants to handle any calls coming into our companies. With a simple push of buttons, the system can connect you to your landing place without having to enter the labyrinth of assistants and being put on hold.

No matter your size, an auto attendant makes your company look professional and, unlike the video, ensures the call goes to the correct video. Hearing a professional greeting welcoming you to your company (“Thank you for calling XYZ Incorporated”) sounds much better than “Um… hello?”

Do you still have an “old” telephone system at your company? Updating to an auto attendant with My Halloo can give relief to your customers and your office.