FUNCTIONS OF FRONT OFFICE DESK

Customer relations is a key function of front office departments. If a customer or passerby has any specific questions, the clerk should be the one to provide the answer in a clear, professional manner. If someone passing a salon on the street wants to know how much a partial head of highlights will cost, the front desk clerk should provide those details.

The front desk operates as an entryway for many businesses. If you work at the front desk of a hotel or any other type of lodging, you’re in charge of taking care of check-ins and check-outs for customers. If you work at a beauty salon front desk, you’re in charge of signing customers in for their upcoming appointments. The same applies to front desk receptionists who work in medical environments, whether dentists’ offices or large hospitals. Front desk clerks look after who comes and goes.

The function of a front office often includes serving as a payment spot, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS. Front desk clerks often deal with payments in cash, checks and credit cards. If you’re a guest paying for a hotel suite, you likely will do so at the front desk. The front desk clerk will probably also print a receipt for you when the payment has gone through. When you get a haircut, you probably wait to pay for the service until you walk over to the front desk where you can also schedule your next appointment in the front office book.

Phone duties are a major component of front desks. If you’re looking to speak to a staff member or guest of a hotel, you might call the front desk. If you have a simple query about room rates, you’ll likely do the same. If you have to cancel or delay a reservation you just made, the front desk is often the place to call, too. Many of the same factors apply to front desk clerks in all businesses, notably salons. Since front desks are so heavily centered around the telephone, clerks must possess strong communication abilities and clear speaking voices.

One key function of front desks – and their workers – is to help guests feel at ease. When you first walk through the doors of a hotel or salon, for instance, hearing a warm “hello” from a clerk with a kindly expression on his face can be comforting. It also can be comforting to be told to have a terrific day as you exit the premises. Front desks should aim to give guests a feeling of relaxation and security.