What Did First Orion's Survey Find About Missed Calls?

First Orion surveyed business owners who had registered their numbers through our free Business Number Registration. The results point to a problem hiding in plain sight: 79% of these business owners said missed calls have a very high or moderate impact on their business.

That number matters because these aren't businesses guessing at a hypothetical risk. They're companies that took a proactive step toward call transparency and still recognize missed calls as a real, ongoing drag on operations. When more than three out of four registered business owners flag this as a high or moderate concern, it signals that call answer rates deserve the same attention as any other revenue metric.

Why Do Missed Calls Have Such a High Impact on Businesses?

The stakes are higher than most business owners realize. Multiple surveys show that consumers are reluctant to answer calls from unknown numbers. For example, 8 in 10 Americans¹ say they don’t generally answer their cellphone when an unknown number calls, according to one web survey of U.S. adults. This translates into damaged ROI, customer trust, brand reputation, and more.

What's Really Causing Businesses to Miss Calls?

Carrier spam filters have become more aggressive as scam calling has grown, and legitimate businesses often get caught in that net. As of early 2026, scam and telemarketing calls made up 58% of all robocalls, meaning carrier spam filters are running at peak sensitivity². Legitimate businesses calling from unregistered or unbranded numbers can end up mislabeled as spam, scam, or simply "unknown," and customers respond accordingly by letting the call go to voicemail.

How Does INFORM Branded Calling Reduce Missed Calls?

INFORM Branded Calling addresses the trust gap directly. Instead of a generic or unfamiliar number, INFORM displays the business's verified name, logo (available with INFORM with Logo solution), and reason for calling right on the recipient's screen before they answer. Customers see who's calling and why, which removes the guesswork that drives so many calls to voicemail.

INFORM works alongside Business Number Registration, which vets and verifies a company's outbound numbers with major U.S. carriers. Registration lays the foundation, and INFORM builds the branded, recognizable identity on top of it. Together, they turn an anonymous incoming call into one a customer can trust enough to answer.

What Results Have Businesses Seen With INFORM?

The impact shows up directly in conversions, engagement, and revenue. Arkansas Federal Credit Union relied on outbound phone calls to proactively reach insureds and help them stay current on their payments. But getting answers was an uphill battle. After implementing INFORM Branded Calling, their declined rate improved by 21%, and conversions increased by 9%.

Other businesses have seen similar gains from pairing branded calling with active reputation management. A high-risk insurer boosted engagement 69% with branded calling and a beverage manufacturer saw an 11% increase in conversion rate and a boost in productivity.

How Can I Get Started with INFORM Branded Calling?

Get started with Business Number Registration, which is free and typically confirmed within minutes through First Orion's Customer Portal. From there, businesses can layer on INFORM to display their branded caller ID and add INFORM with Logo to reinforce recognition even further. Pairing INFORM with AFFIRM® Reputation Monitoring adds an extra layer of protection, alerting a business when a number gets mislabeled so it can be corrected before answer rates drop.

For businesses that already know missed calls are costing customers, this survey confirms what INFORM was built to solve: give customers a reason to answer, and they will.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of business owners say missed calls impact their business?

In First Orion's survey of business owners who registered their numbers, 79% said missed calls have a very high or moderate impact on their business.

What is INFORM Branded Calling?

INFORM is First Orion's branded caller ID solution. It displays a business's verified name, logo, and reason for calling on the recipient's phone screen before they answer, helping increase answer rates and customer trust.

Do I need to register my business number to use INFORM?

Yes. Business Number Registration verifies a company's identity with major carriers and forms the foundation for accurate call labeling. INFORM builds the branded display on top of that verified registration.

How quickly can businesses see results from INFORM?

Results vary, but case studies show meaningful gains soon after implementation. Registration itself is typically confirmed within minutes, and businesses have reported answer rate increases ranging from 30% to 70% above baseline after adopting branded calling.