The Evolution of Branded Calling: Enhancing Trust and Security in Communication – First Orion

Smartphone screen displaying an incoming call with the logo and reason for calling visible.

Effective communication is essential for businesses to connect with their customers in today’s fast-paced world. Branded calling enhances caller ID by displaying the business’s name, logo, and call purpose, improving trust and call answer rates. This results in higher engagement and more meaningful connections with customers. 

The Evolution of Branded Calling

Branded calling has come a long way since its inception. In the early days, it faced challenges with adoption, integration, and availability. Basic branded calling – widely available today – started as being limited by provider and carrier networks. It also went through several character limit expansions and now allows businesses up to 32 characters to customize their outbound calls on most mobile networks.

However, recent advancements have significantly improved its effectiveness and reliability.

Solutions like INFORM and SENTRY represent the latest in branded calling technology, offering secure call authentication to protect consumers, safeguard business brands, and enhance outbound strategies.  

A brand cannot be spoofed with call authentication because the business initiates and informs the network of every call before dialing. Taking this concept a step further, SENTRY will block calls in the network that did not authenticate before the call. 

INFORM with Logorepresents the long-awaited on-network delivery of brand logos to the phone, moving us past the need for specific phone platforms and client-installed software. This solution, combined with call authentication, ensures businesses can deliver their logo to the end user’s phone while protecting the consumer and their brand through the end-to-end call flow. 

One of the most significant developments in branded calling is its integration with all major US carrier networks. Through continued development, all the carrier’s underlying analytics providers have started to sync on best practices and the general approach of Branded Communications. This widespread adoption ensures businesses can reach their customers with a consistent and reliable branded calling experience, regardless of the carrier.

Customer service representatives working in a modern call center, reviewing documents and communicating with clients, representing a secure and trustworthy customer service environment.

Ensuring Call Security and Trust

The commitment to ensuring call security and trust is at the heart of branded calling. Carriers, often through analytics providers, today employ robust verification processes to authenticate outbound business phone numbers and prevent fraud. These processes involve detailed checks and continuous monitoring to ensure that calls consumers receive are genuine and trustworthy. 

Protection against call spoofing is critical. Technologies like STIR/SHAKEN help safeguard calls, though their limitations necessitate solutions like INFORM and SENTRY for additional layers of security. These solutions can add an additional layer of brand protection or call blocking through end-to-end call authentication. 

What Sets First Orion Apart? First Orion provides real-time, end-to-end call authentication beyond STIR/SHAKEN, using unique keys to verify legitimate branded calls and enhance security. 

First Orion also integrates with all major U.S. carriers, making branded calling a seamless experience for businesses and their customers. This multi-carrier support ensures the most consistent branded experience possible, enhancing both answer rates and customer trust. 

Additionally, reputation monitoring, such as AFFIRM, is another essential aspect of maintaining trust. Businesses must continuously monitor their call reputation to address any issues promptly. This proactive approach helps maintain a positive customer relationship and ensures that branded calling remains a trusted communication channel. 

Continued Advancements in this Evolving Market

  • Affordability: Branded calling is often perceived as prohibitively expensive. However, its value far outweighs the cost, especially considering potential losses from missed opportunities. With the introduction of low-cost entry options, branded calling is more accessible than ever, making it a viable option for businesses of all sizes.
  • Unified Ecosystem: The branded calling ecosystem has evolved significantly from its early days. While fragmentation and challenges existed in the past, the branded calling industry’s current state is much more unified. Ongoing efforts toward standardization and collaboration among industry players have strengthened the landscape, ensuring that branded calling remains a robust and reliable solution.
  • Logo on Call Display: Concerns about logo presentation hindering the effectiveness of branded calls are outdated. Modern branded calling solutions now support a wide range of devices and over-the-network delivery, ensuring a consistent display of logos and other branded elements. This advancement enhances branded calling’s overall impact and reliability, providing a seamless experience for both businesses and consumers.

Real-World Impact

The real-world impact of branded calling is evident in the numerous success stories from businesses across various industries. Companies that have adopted branded calling solutions report higher answer rates, improved customer engagement, and better business outcomes. Testimonials from satisfied customers highlight the positive effects of branded calling on their communication strategies.

“By branding our calls, we confirm the authenticity of our call for our members which paves the way for more meaningful and constructive conversations. We’re excited to be early adopters of this technology and provide an enhanced relationship for our 150,000 members.”
— Rodney Showmar, President and Chief Executive Officer of Arkansas Federal Credit Union

Another significant benefit of branded calling is enhanced consumer safety. Branded calling reduces fraud, ensuring consumers can trust the calls they receive—crucial in today’s scam-prone calling environment. 

The Future of Branded Calling

Looking ahead, the future of branded calling is bright. Ongoing innovations and developments promise to make this technology more effective and accessible. Industry leaders are committed to providing secure, reliable, and effective branded calling solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses and consumers alike.

In conclusion, branded calling is a powerful tool that enhances trust and safety in modern communication. As the industry evolves, branded calling will remain a cornerstone of effective and secure business communication. 

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