The Ultimate Predictive Dialer Cost Breakdown

So your sales reps aren't making as many calls as you'd like.

Well, hey, what's new?

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However, unlike most sales leaders, you're not content to sit back and let poor calling performance deplete your chances of hitting targets this quarter (and of taking home that sweet, sweet bonus).

Sound about right?

Good, because we've got a helpful little solution for you: predictive dialers.

These helpful devices help ramp up dialing speed, reducing rep idle time and pumping up those outbound call numbers.

But how much does this stuff cost? Is it cost-effective enough to deliver a decent return on investment?

In this article, we will explore the typical predictive dialer cost together. We'll also look at the different elements involved in implementing a predictive dialer and give you some real-world prices from common software platforms.

What Is a Predictive Dialer?

Okay, let's start simple and ensure we're all on the same page before diving into the details.

What even is a predictive dialer?

A predictive dialer is a combination of software and hardware that dials multiple prospect numbers simultaneously, then puts answered calls through the soonest available sales rep.

Well, it's a little more than that.

The predictive element of predictive dialers uses AI algorithms (ooh, fancy) to guess (predict) when a sales rep is likely to be available. Then, it starts dialing a few seconds before that.

Here's what those dialers are thinking (oh god, they're thinking!?):

Agent X takes an average of 7 minutes per call, and he's been on this current call for 6 minutes and 43 seconds. In 17 seconds, he'll be ready for another call. Let's start dialing. By the way, cool name, Agent X!

Obviously, this whole process works a whole lot better if you've got a bunch of sales reps on board because if Agent X isn't available in 17 seconds (maybe he's got one of those customers), then the call can go to Agent Y.

You with us?

Cool. Let's dive a little deeper because predictive dialers aren't the only kind of dialer out there.

Predictive Dialers vs. Other Dialer Types

Oh, you thought predictive dialers were the be-all and end-all of dialers?

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Let's shine a little light on that, shall we?

Progressive dialer

Progressive dialers run through a list of outbound numbers in order. That is, they wait for the rep to finish their call before dialing the next number. That's really the main difference: predictive dialers base dialing times on the typical call time, whereas progressive dialers only dial one number at a time.

Plus, they often give reps a little time in between calls to check out a customer's information and become familiar with the account before the line opens.

Power dialer

Power dialers are like progressive dialers, but without the wait time for reps to get up to speed.

That means two things:

1. More calls per hour
2. Less prepared reps on each call

Pros and cons to everything, right?

Auto dialer

All three of these dialer types come under the header of auto dialer:

• Predictive dialer
• Progressive dialer
• Power dialer

So, that means an auto dialer is any tool that automatically dials customer numbers. Sometimes they allow you to drop pre-recorded voicemails as well!

Then, you narrow down from there as to the type of auto dialer you want.

What's Involved in the Cost of Predictive Dialer?

Okay, so you're familiar with the difference between predictive dialers, power dialers, and progressive dialers.

You've decided the predictive dialer is still what you need, and you're wondering what kind of investment you're going to need to lay out for one of these helpful little guys.

Well, get into the cost of platforms themselves shortly, but you should also know that there are five key costs involved on top of predictive dialer software solutions:

1. Hardware purchases
2. Installation and setup cost
3. Integration with your existing systems
4. Training existing (and new) sales reps
5. Losing customers because of blank calls

Hardware purchases

Your predictive dialer software needs some kind of phone to run on, right?

This can come in a variety of styles, for example:

• A physical handset
• A mobile phone with headset
• A digital softphone

In any case, you'll need to factor in the cost of that hardware.

If you're using the mobile phone and headset option, then you'll need to buy each of your reps a new phone, a headset, and a cable, and probably be prepared with some extra charging cables and headphones in case something breaks (because things do!)

Installation and setup costs

How familiar are you with this kind of equipment?

You might need some help getting it all set up correctly, meaning you'll need to shell out for installation.

Even if you're doing it yourself, you'll need to factor in the man hours required to troubleshoot issues and get everything running smoothly.

Integration with your existing systems

Your predictive dialer software isn't going to be a standalone product; you'll need to integrate it with the sales software you're already using.

Think about it: where are those customer numbers coming from that your dialer is using?

Probably your CRM, right? So, you'll need to consider any costs involved with integrating these two solutions, such as a Zapier subscription.

Training existing (and new) sales reps

If your team has been dialing manually in the past, then implementing a predictive dialer also means a change in procedure.

So, you'll need to account for:

• The time it takes to train reps in the new process
• The potential loss in productivity (and sales results) as a consequence of training
• The additional time it takes to train new reps to use your predictive dialing software

Losing customers because of blank calls

We're going to discuss the pros and cons of using a predictive dialer a little later on, but here's a sneak peek into one of the drawbacks:

Because predictive dialers are dialing customer numbers when they think a rep will be available, there is an expected margin for error. That is to say, sometimes they're going to get it wrong.

Sometimes, your dialer will reach a customer, and no rep will be available, meaning the customer will have a weird blank phone call.

If they put two and two together, they might come to determine that it's the fault of a poor system on your part, which might impact the customer's trust in your business.

Predictive Dialer Cost Range

Like most software platforms, predictive dialers range significantly in cost.

But it's not just the pricing that differs, it's also the pricing model.

CallHub, for example, charges per minute of calling. Other platforms, like PhoneBurner and Nextiva have a monthly cost for access to the platform.

Some combine the two approaches, charging a monthly cost with fees for usage overages.

Across the board, the average predictive dialer cost is around $100 a month. These prices range from as little as $20 a month to as much as $229 a month.

Predictive Dialer Pricing Breakdown

Okay, let's get a little more detailed.

How much does a typical predictive dialer platform actually cost? Here, we're going to look at six popular options to give you some real-world insight into predictive dialer pricing.

Note, however, that these platforms vary significantly in what you actually get, so the pricing isn't necessarily a direct comparison.

PhoneBurner

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PhoneBurner offers three pricing plans:

1. Standard - $124 per user, per month
2. Professional - $149 per user, per month
3. Premium - $166 per user, per month

Pricing is accurate as of August 2022

Nextiva

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Nextiva's pricing changes based on the number of users you have.

They offer three pricing plans:

1. Essential
2. Professional
3. Enterprise

To give you an idea of how the pricing scales, the Essential plan costs $23.95 per user per month if you have less than 5 users, but only $17.95 per user, per month if you have over 100.

Pricing is accurate as of August 2022

ChaseData

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ChaseData offers three pricing tiers:

1. Small Business - $89 per agent, per month
2. Professional - $139 per agent, per month
3. Enterprise - $169 per agent, per month

Pricing is accurate as of August 2022

Five9

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Like most predictive dialer software platforms, Five9 bundles its offerings:

• Core - $149 a month
• Premium - $169 a month
• Optimum - $199 a month
• Ultimate - $229 a month

As expected, features vary between these four pricing options.

Pricing is accurate as of August 2022

CallHub

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CallHub has a slightly complex pricing model.

It appears that they don't have a fixed monthly price to use the platform, but they only charge based on usage.

These costs differ based on your region, but costs include:

• $0.046/min for voice broadcast
• $0.069/min for web browser-based agent calls
• $0.092/min for outbound phone calls
• $0.026/min for inbound phone calls

Pricing is accurate as of August 2022

GenesysCloud

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GenesysCloud offers three pricing options:

1. Genesys Cloud CX 1 – $75 per month
2. Genesys Cloud CX 2 – $110 per month
3. Genesys Cloud CX 3 – $150 per month

Pricing is accurate as of August 2022

Predictive dialer cost comparison

Wanna skip the wordy stuff and just look right at the numbers?

Here's what the six most popular predictive dialers cost.

Pricing accurate as of August 2022

Pros & Cons of Low-Cost Predictive Dialers

Predictive dialers, while helpful, do have a few drawbacks, especially the low-cost ones.

Let's explore some of the most important pros and cons of low-cost predictive dialers.

Pro 1: They're cheap!

Well, they don't cost a lot, so you can keep your overheads nice and low!

That said, most of the low-cost predictive dialers charge more for minute usage, depending on how much you use the platform.

Con 1: Reps may be unprepared for calls

This is a problem with predictive dialers in general, but it's more of an issue for low-cost solutions that don't have the most sophisticated timing mechanisms.

As a result, a rep might be given a new call as soon as they hang up on a previous line, meaning they're not really that prepared for the next customer.

Pro 2: They make outbound dialing faster

Sure, it might only take a few seconds to dial each number, but if you're calling 100 people a day, that all adds up.

Predictive dialers eliminate this need, saving you a tonne of time.

Con 2: Some customers may receive blank calls

If a predictive dialer makes a call and connects, assuming a rep is available, but nobody is, then the customer on the other end of the line will receive a blank call - not great from a branding perspective.

Pro 3: Agent idle time is reduced

Because agents are constantly on call (because the predictive dialer puts one through as soon as they're finished), idle time is reduced, so your team is more productive each day.

Con 3: Answering machine detection may be flawed

Some platforms offer answering machine detection, claiming to be able to leave an automated message if the dialer can't get through.

Lower-cost platforms tend to be less good than that, however, so sometimes they can get stuck on the line thinking they have a real person and put that answering machine through to a sales rep.

Conclusion: Integrate a Predictive Dialer With a CRM

So, now you've got your head around the costs of predictive dialers. You might even know which one you want to buy.

But as we've already discussed, predictive dialers aren't standalone products; you'll need to integrate them with a powerful CRM platform.

You know, like Ringy?

Book a demo with our team today, and find out how the whole thing works.