As the holiday season approaches and the New Year is on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to evaluate and update your IVR (Interactive Voice Response) and on-hold message. A well-crafted phone system recording can enhance customer experience, streamline communication, and ensure callers receive the information they need in 2025. In this blog, we’ll explore the key IVR prompts your business should consider, ensuring a smooth transition from festive greetings to fresh, informative messaging.
1. Update Hours
First and foremost, it’s crucial to update your IVR system with your post-holiday hours. After the festive season, many businesses return to their regular operating hours, but it’s essential to specify any changes, particularly around public holidays.
For example, your greeting might sound like this:
“Thank you for calling [Your Company Name]! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season. Our regular hours are now back in effect. We’re open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Please note, we’ll be closed on public holidays.”
Make sure to list specific public holidays your business observes, and don’t forget to mention any hours changes due to daylight savings time.
2. Public Holidays in 2025
As many businesses resume their regular hours, your after-hours messaging should clearly communicate your availability. Consider updating your IVR prompt for when callers reach out outside of business hours:
“Thank you for calling [Your Company Name]. We’re currently closed for the [insert public holiday]. We will return on [insert date] at 9 AM. Please leave a message, and we’ll return your call upon our return.”
This ensures that callers know when to expect a response, helping to manage their expectations.
3. Plan for Public Holidays in 2025
It’s a good idea to pre-record messages for upcoming public holidays throughout the year. This can help keep your IVR system organised and ensure consistency in your messaging. By proactively planning for public holidays, you can save time and ensure your callers receive accurate information.
4. Provide Information on Daylight Savings Time
If your business operates in areas affected by daylight savings, it’s essential to include this information in your IVR prompts. Mentioning daylight savings can help avoid confusion regarding your operating hours. This approach keeps customers informed and minimises misunderstandings.
5. Promote New Year Initiatives
The new year is an excellent opportunity to introduce new initiatives or services. Use in-queue and on-hold messaging to share this information with callers. For instance:
“Happy New Year from [Your Company Name]! We’re excited to announce that we will be launching [insert new product] this week. Head to our website to view our catalogue for January!”
This not only informs customers about what’s new but also encourages them to engage with your business.
Conclusion
As you prepare for the new year, updating your phone system with professional and new recordings is a crucial step in ensuring a seamless transition from holiday messaging to fresh, informative prompts. By incorporating these essential after-hours and message on hold updates, you can create an engaging experience for your callers and set the stage for success in 2025. Embrace the new year with enthusiasm, and let your phone system reflect the positive changes ahead!
McGirvanmedia are your trusted audio recording company and we are ready to work with you to create your perfect phone system recording. We can assist right up to our last working day in the office, which is Friday the 20th of December but we will be back on deck on the 6th of January 2025. Check out our audio library to listen to some of our samples and voice talent demos.
For more information, or to request a personalised message on hold demo, please email us at enquiries@mcgirvanmedia.com.au or call to speak to one of our friendly team on 1800 777 428.
Sources:
- Fair Work Ombudsman, “2025 public holidays”.
