From the Midwest to New England, more than a dozen winter storms have pummeled Americans this year, shutting down businesses, taking out power lines and making driving conditions hazardous. ASD – Answering Service for Directors, the leading funeral home answering service, understands that Funeral Directors cannot simply take a break during inclement weather due to the unpredictable nature of death. The company has created a full-scale Weather Response Plan that includes multiple redundancies and employees camping out over night or working remotely from home to ensure their clients’ sensitive calls are protected 24/7.
As this press release is being written, ASD’s powerful onsite generator is supplying electricity throughout the company’s entire office. Winter Storm Nika, the destructive snow and ice storm that impacted more than 30 states, left more than 20% of ASD’s county without power. When several transformers in the area were knocked out, ASD’s system automatically switched over to one of the two onsite backup generating stations without any interruption of service.
During inclement weather, funeral homes throughout the country are often impacted by power outages and communication problems resulting in a higher call volume. ASD adjusts the company’s staffing levels in advance of these events so that calls are answered without delay. On Wednesday, ASD answered 91% of all incoming calls on the first ring and 98% by the fourth ring despite the hazardous conditions outside. The company’s Weather Response Plan includes a strategy to ensure the office remains fully staffed no matter the circumstances.
ASD maintains an open-door policy during major weather events, providing incentives and accommodations so their staff can stay overnight if necessary. More than 10 Call Specialists camped out the night before Winter Storm Nika. This isn’t the first time ASD employees have stayed at work to provide funeral directors with seamless telephone protection. Over 40 Call Specialists camped out during both Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Irene.
This year, ASD is highly focused on growing the company’s remote capabilities so that team members can work from home if necessary. With more than a dozen remote stations, ASD can now provide an extra layer of support to clients. The company has enough offsite operating stations that it could close the building and still continuing running without disruption. However, since employees’ residences are vulnerable to power outages, the majority of staff must come to work. ASD leaves nothing to chance when it comes to safeguarding their clients’ urgent calls.
As one of the worst winters in recent memory begins to wind down, ASD remains focused on expanding its Weather Response Plan. The company’s Data Center, which houses many redundant fiber optic cables reaching multiple carriers, is tested often and has received numerous upgrades. This ensures that if a carrier experiences an outage, ASD can reroute all calls to a working network. The company has also grown its facility this year, adding a newly renovated Training Center to help accommodate more staff. The infrastructure, technology and redundancies ASD has in place provides peace of mind to funeral professionals that their calls will always be answered promptly, no matter what Mother Nature decides to dish out next.
About ASD
ASD is the leader in answering services and call support for funeral professionals. Family owned and operated, ASD blends state-of-the-art technology with an experienced team of knowledgeable call specialists that possess a high level of understanding of the funeral process. The company’s intensive training programs ensure that the potential value of every call is recognized and communicated to directors in the most cost efficient way. ASD’s innovative technology, custom-built systems and call support expertise have made it a national leader in the death care profession. Headquartered in Media, Pennsylvania, ASD offers comprehensive answering services for funeral homes and funeral related businesses of all sizes. For more information, visit www.myASD.com or call 1-800-868-9950.
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