When you set up a call center, you streamline the process for your team to achieve goals. A great set up starts with considering how many employees you’ll need and setting concrete objectives for your call center. 

Once those are established, you’ll want to make sure the call center equipment you use is right for your needs. Here are some tips for getting your new system running. 

Find Practical Computers

Call center operations use sophisticated software to enhance the customer experience and ensure that all calls are routed to the right agent for minimum frustration and maximum efficiency. The desktop computer is the basic element undergirding the whole operation. Even when using cloud-based call center software, agents need a way to access it.

Locate your nearest uBreakiFix location so any computer issues can be fixed the right way the first time, and with minimal downtime. As you buy, choose desktops over laptops. While some laptops are cheaper, there are good reasons to prefer desktops: 

• Faster processing speeds at a lower cost than equivalent speeds on a laptop
• More storage space
• More connections for working with headsets, microphones or any other add-ons
• Greater safety for your investment, as a larger size, makes them harder to steal and less likely to be moved and dropped

Use Efficient Headsets

Your personnel needs quality headsets. The traditional phone simply won’t do the job, and a poor quality headset will result in frustrated customers (and agents). Agents will have difficulty hearing the customer over the noise of the call center, and customers will have trouble making out the agent if the headsets aren’t equipped with a quality microphone.

While choosing a headset is always a balance of cost and quality, good headsets have a few things in common:

• They are wired since wireless headsets have to be recharged and cost more for equivalent quality
• They are comfortable so that agents are not tempted to remove them frequently
• They offer noise reduction technology that enables agents to hear customers clearly
• They have a reputation for quality, so you don’t have to replace them in just a few months
• They have USB connections for the best sound quality and voice clarity

Select User-Friendly Software 

The software you choose for your call center should improve quality and speed. Good software gets your agents, customers and business goals all on the same page and reduces handling times, callbacks, and transfers. The right software will also offer you a high degree of functionality without the need to invest in extensive on-premises infrastructure.

There are many types of cloud-based call center software available, but not all are created equal. Here’s what to look for:

• Omnichannel integration so you can communicate with your customers seamlessly across channels
• Call center quality management so you can observe, measure, and evaluate how the call center is performing
• Consistent, reliable uptime with 24/7 customer support
• Scalability so your call center can respond flexibly to your business needs
• Predictive dialers with CRM integrations and customizable workflow

Settle In With Comfortable Equipment

Call centers have an unpleasant reputation for high turnover among agents. Every time an agent leaves, you have to find a new one, retrain them, and accept slower speeds and lowered efficiency for a while as the new agent learns the ropes. One simple way of retaining your call center agents is by making them comfortable.

You may choose to make agents comfortable by hiring them to work from home, but if you have them come to your facility, here are some things to consider getting:

• Chairs comfortable enough to sit in for hours at a time
• Desks designs and computer mice that minimize repetitive stress injury
• Lighting that is comfortable rather than glaring
• Blue light filters for computer screens to minimize headaches and eyestrain
• A break room where agents can decompress

Deciding on a major when you get to college can be daunting. What’s even more daunting is when you decide to go into a field such as engineering, which has countless applications in several areas and industries. So, how do you decide which focus is the right fit for you? Looking at successful engineering companies and firms can help you figure out what your most lucrative choices might be. When it comes down to being an engineering student, it’s important to have a solid understanding of what your life will be like as an engineering major as well as post-graduation.

What To Expect As An Engineering Major

Majoring in engineering requires studying a variety of fields, including science, math, and even business. The broad nature of the skills you master in your introductory years as an engineering student means that there are a variety of disciplines for you to choose from as you continue to specify your education. You’ll be trained in identifying and solving problems, communicating effectively, and formulating and carrying out experiments. Depending on your concentration, you may also need to take courses in ethics.

Each engineering major will have a different set of skills that they hone in undergrad. These skills will ultimately prepare you to work effectively in the environment most relevant to your field of study, and each environment is different. For example, if you’re planning on becoming a biomedical engineer, you may need to learn how to use medical technology like MRI machines. You may also need to learn how to use specialized work gear such as flame-resistant clothing if you’re working as a fire engineer. Fire engineers help keep buildings up to code and may also investigate certain fires. If you aren’t as excited about science but are still interested in finding a lucrative engineering job, Civil Engineering may be a good fit for you. While considered one of the “easier” engineering jobs to get, the day-to-day demands of your actual career are much more stressful than other types of engineering. Ultimately, what concentration you choose to focus on as an engineering major comes down to your aptitudes and interests. However, keeping in mind the average starting salaries as well as where you would like to be working in five or ten years can also help inform your decision.

It’s important to note that, regardless of the field of study you choose, a career in engineering entails dedicating yourself to staying up to date on the latest advancements, discoveries, and creations. Engineers are lifelong learners, so you must be willing to attend conferences and presentations even once you receive your degree. Doing so ensures that you will always stay at the forefront of your field and stay competitive in the job market. How exactly do you find a job, though?

Staffing Agencies Are One Route To A Career

Of course, once you graduate with your engineering degree, you’ll need to find a job to put your skills to use. Enter businesses like Enser Corporation. Enser Corp is an engineering staffing agency that was established in 1947 to provide solutions for engineering service demands, including areas like design, testing, and analysis. The agency can help place you in a job ranging anywhere from Mechanical Design to Finite Element Analysis, making them the perfect choice for recent graduates. Enser prides itself on offering a caliber of service that’s unmatched by other engineering firms. Best of all, since they serve both you and a specific client, it’s in their best interest to find suitable job placements for both parties. This can make the job application process much simpler and far less stressful. Some agencies will even be able to help coach you through designing your resume and fielding interview questions.