Insights

Q&A with csf Corporation

May 12, 2016

csf Corporation (also known as CSF) is a leader in the Toll-Free management industry, helping dozens of carriers and Responsible Organizations (Resp Orgs) increase their productivity and efficiency. With its market-leading 8MS software, its Least Cost Routing (LCR) capabilities and its text enabling technology, CSF is at the forefront of the Toll-Free industry’s drive toward growth. Frank Lauria, CSF’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, recently talked with us about the company’s capabilities, the future of the Toll-Free industry and the value of text-enabled Toll-Free Numbers. Here is what he had to say...

What services do you provide your customers?

CSF uses our proprietary 8MS software to add a layer of functionality for users as they interface with Somos’ SMS/800 Toll-Free Number (TFN) Registry. So Resp Orgs that are doing complex routing and porting in bulk can do so much more easily because we’ve added an extra step of automation for them.

What is the value of Toll-Free today?

In the past, the value of Toll-Free was in covering the cost for the phone call. But today, almost everyone has a fixed-rate phone plan. So now, the value of Toll-Free is mostly in company branding. When your company has a Toll-Free Number it lends a certain cachet—you’re seen as bigger, cooler and more important. And in the customer’s mind, your Toll-Free Number promises a higher level of service. They’re not dealing with a little mom-and-pop shop; they’re doing business with an important national company. And this gives you even more cachet when your Toll-Free Number is text-enabled.

Why does a text-enabled Toll-Free Number add extra value?

When your existing, recognized Toll-Free Number is text-enabled, consumers can engage with your brand on an even deeper level. Now, when they want to connect with you, they can do it using whichever channel is most convenient for them at that time, for that interaction. And businesses can integrate texting into their call centers to make it more practical and less expensive.

Do you see text enabled Toll-Free Numbers driving growth in the Resp Org community?

Definitely. It’s a healthy business ecosystem, with companies emerging and merging all the time. Text enabling requires additional software to manage this extra level of complexity—provisioning, customer support, text management portals, and ACD queues for managing the text messages themselves, and there are several companies popping up to meet these needs. It’s an exciting time for the industry.

What is your advice to promote texting to Toll-Free Numbers?

I would urge companies to promote it by focusing on the “one number” aspect of it: Your company can now serve customers in a multimodal way using one Toll-Free Number for both voice and texting while enhancing your identity and brand. You can call us or text us at 1-800-xxx-xxxx!

To learn more about CSF, visit their website today.

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