How to Forward Calls to Another Number - Wavetel Business

Maintaining 100% availability can be a challenge for anyone. There are times when your business phone is simply out of reach, or you're too occupied to pick up calls promptly. However, ensuring customer satisfaction is vital around the clock. Discovering how to forward calls to an alternative number presents a straightforward solution for both desk phone and smartphone users, effectively preventing the frustration of missed calls. It's important to note, though, that call forwarding isn't the sole method available to address this issue.

Call forwarding is a valuable feature that allows you to divert calls to another number or device, ensuring you never miss important calls, even when you are unavailable. In this blog, we will walk you through the steps to set up call forwarding and provide insights into its various applications.

What is call forwarding?

Call forwarding is the process of redirecting incoming calls from one phone number to another. This versatile feature is available on most modern phones and can be incredibly handy for both personal and professional use.

Why call forwarding is an essential phone feature?

Never miss important calls

By forwarding calls to another number, you can ensure that you're reachable, even if you're away from your primary phone.

Work flexibility

Forwarding calls to your work number while on vacation or to your home number while at the office can help maintain work-life balance.

Emergency situations

In emergencies, call forwarding can ensure that calls are directed to someone who can assist immediately.

Understanding the limitations of call forwarding: What you need to know

Call forwarding, whether through a traditional phone system or a smartphone, offers convenience but comes with certain limitations that should be taken into account:

Manual setup

With many landline phone systems, configuring call forwarding typically requires manual intervention each time you wish to divert calls to another number or device. This can be inconvenient and time-consuming.

Forgetting to disable

There's a risk of forgetting to disable call forwarding when it's no longer needed. This can result in calls being forwarded unintentionally, potentially leading to missed communications.

Double billing

If you're using a desk phone system in addition to another separate phone plan, you might end up paying for two separate services. This redundancy can be costly and unnecessary.

Lack of selectivity

When using a single phone number for both business and personal purposes, there's often no way to automatically forward only business calls while keeping personal calls on the primary device. This can lead to mixed priorities and a lack of call segregation.

Effortless call handling through virtual numbers

While call forwarding can be useful in certain situations, opting for a virtual phone number, offered by VoIP providers like Wavetel Business, can provide a more comprehensive and hassle-free solution for your team's communication needs. Here's why virtual phone numbers are becoming the go-to choice for businesses looking to avoid the complexities of manual call forwarding:

Sharing responsibility for incoming calls

• With virtual phone numbers, there's no need to spend extra time forwarding calls to various numbers. Services like Wavetel allow seamless sharing of business phone numbers among team members, enabling shared responsibility for incoming calls and texts.
• Customisable ring orders ensure that incoming calls are directed to available team members efficiently.

Unified communication without dual phones

• Virtual phone numbers are accessible from anywhere using any mobile device or computer, eliminating the need for team members to share their personal cell numbers or toggle call forwarding between multiple phones.

Secure access for vendors and virtual assistants:

• Virtual numbers facilitate secure communication with external vendors or virtual assistants without the hassle of call forwarding. Users can be invited with restricted roles, granting access to call and text functionality without altering phone settings or account details.

Enhancing work-life balance

• Establishing business hours ensures that calls are only received when the team is available. Calls outside of these hours are automatically directed to voicemail.
• Individual team members can set their own work hours, and Do Not Disturb mode can be activated when they are temporarily unavailable.

Effortless call routing

• You need not to hire staff or invest your time on manual call transfers. Virtual numbers offer the option to create phone menus, allowing clients to choose their desired department with a simple keypad selection.
• Calls can be instantly routed to specific team members, other users within your workspace, or forwarded to another virtual phone number or external number.

Easy call forwarding with virtual numbers and VoIP phone systems

Whether you're managing a virtual number or using a VoIP phone system, call forwarding ensures that you remain accessible and responsive to callers, regardless of your location or circumstances. It's a powerful tool for enhancing communication flexibility in our fast-paced digital world.

Setting up call forwarding with virtual numbers

Here are the steps to set up call forwarding with virtual numbers:

• Log in to your virtual number provider's website or app.
• Find call forwarding or call routing settings in your provider's portal.
• Choose the type of call forwarding you want (e.g., all calls, when busy, when unanswered, when unreachable).
• Enter the forwarding number (your primary or another designated line).
• Confirm and save your call forwarding settings.
• Test it by having someone call your virtual number to check if calls are forwarded correctly.

Setting up call forwarding with VoIP phone systems

If you're using a VoIP phone system, the process is slightly different:

• Log in to your VoIP phone system's online dashboard or administrative interface.
• Locate the call forwarding options, often under "Call Management" or a similar category.
• Select the type of call forwarding you want to set up.
• Enter the destination number where calls should be forwarded.
• Confirm your settings and save them, ensuring you apply the changes.
• Test call forwarding by having someone call your VoIP number to ensure calls are correctly redirected.

Summing up

Call forwarding is a valuable feature that empowers individuals and businesses to stay accessible and responsive in an increasingly mobile and dynamic world. It ensures that important calls are never missed, regardless of location or circumstances, and it enhances work flexibility, work-life balance, and even emergency response capabilities. While call forwarding can be manually configured and comes with certain limitations, the adoption of virtual phone numbers offered by VoIP systems provides a more seamless and comprehensive solution. These virtual numbers not only simplify call management but also offer enhanced communication flexibility, making them a preferred choice for businesses seeking efficient call handling in the digital age.

Wavetel Business is a leading provider of VoIP communication solutions, offering seamless and efficient telecommunication services for businesses. Their virtual phone numbers and VoIP systems simplify call management and enhance communication flexibility.