Call centers are a considerable portion of the customer service that many companies feature. The term call center is quite generic however, and can refer to a variety of actual business functions, ranging from call centers designed to handle inbound customer calls, tech support systems, help desks, or even outbound customer call centers.

No matter the actual function of the call center, there are a variety of basics that are important to all of them. If you are setting up, managing or, in need of a call center, be sure to consider the following:

- Will you be handling the call center internally, or outsourcing this function? There are pros and cons to both, and this can be an important decision to make. Outsourced call centers are often quicker and easier to set up, and may be cheaper as well, but distance the company from their customers. If you are outsourcing, finding a high-quality call center service is imperative.

- What volume of calls do you anticipate needing to handle? The larger the volume, the higher the cost will be, especially for setting up an internal call center.

- If you are setting up the call center internally, do you have the people and processes in place to be able to provide high-quality customer support? Do you have the resources to make this investment? Do you have the necessary technology to support the operation efficiently?

- Will you be needing 24/7 call center availability, or only handling calls during business hours? Will you need to have a way for important customers to be able to reach you in an emergency?