history of hastings communication services
Live Telephone Answering Services throughout the decades
Ann's first phone system, 1948
1940's
Austin's first telephone answering service named Austin Answering Service was founded in 1948 by Ann Hastings. Ann was one of the country's first virtual receptionists, answering telephones stationed on her kitchen table. These phones were simply extensions of businessmen's telephones. The business quickly grew and soon Ann was answering a couple dozen telephones spilling off of the table onto the chairs and kitchen floor.
first keybox, 1950
1950's
Early on, clients benefitted financially from sharing a human resource as well as the added-value of the courteous and professional service. In response to the growing business, the Hastings moved their home and business to East 17th street in 1950. Key boxes - the first switched technology - were introduced in 1951. Hastings pioneered this innovative equipment, which now enabled operators to switch telephone lines by simply flipping a switch and place callers on hold.
operators on keyboxes, 1950
Later that year, Ann saw the need to expand and offer a downtown Austin location that would be even more convenient to clients and moved the business into the Littlefield Building at 6th Street and Congress Avenue. Around that time she hired her first employee.
The business thrived in the 1950's and another technological leap was made in 1957, when the first "cordboard" was obtained. The original Bell 557-B Switchboard on display at Hastings was an innovation in telephone switching, connecting operators with multiple phone lines through a patch system. Switchboards were the mainstay of the business for the next 22 years.
operators on switchboards, 1960
1960's
In 1965, Austin Answering Service changed its name to Hastings Telephone Answering Service, Inc., becoming an official corporation. The company outgrew its office and moved to a larger space in the Perry-Brooks building at 8th and Brazos.
operators on switchboards, 1970
1970's
By the 1970's Hastings had grown to over 100 employees with 25 switchboards and four offices throughout Austin - adding locations in the North, South & West regions of the city. During the early 1970's Ann's husband, Clint, joined the company, spearheading the introduction of new paging services after a successful career in engineering at the Texas Highway Department. In 1978, Mark Hastings joined the company fulltime, following years of working part-time in the family business. One of Mark's roles early on was as a radio operator, facilitating mobile phone calls long before cell phone technology was introduced. Hastings harnessed new technology introduced in 1979, installing its first computerized telephone answering system. This system enabled the company to synchronize customized answering scripts with incoming calls, automating a process that had been manual for nearly 30 years.
operators on computers, 1985
1980's
The next innovation - voice mail technology - was introduced in 1981and Hastings installed Austin's first voice mail system. By 1986, business was flourishing and Hastings outgrew the office at 6th Street and Congress Avenue. Hastings Telephone Answering Service fully modernized its operation and expanded the company into a central location at Shoal Creek and 11th Street, where they installed state-of-the-art computer systems. This strategic move enabled the company to consolidate offices into one larger space and further improved the efficiency of the operation. By 1988 Scott Hastings joined Mark on the management team, allowing Ann and Clint Hastings to retire from the business. As the demands of Hastings' clients changed, Hastings invested in technology to integrate many vast electronic delivery services, confirming its commitment to customer service.
operators on computers, 1990
1990's
In 1993, Hastings Telephone Answering Service became Hastings Communication Services, Inc. The name was changed to more accurately reflect the broad scope of the services Hastings now offers. Today, Hastings acts as an extension of their clients' customer service department, taking orders, answering frequently asked questions, directing callers to the proper service technicians, as well as acting as virtual receptionists.
Mr. & Mrs. Hastings
TODAY
The wide range of services offered by Hastings Communications are built upon strengths developed over 60 years, including our expertise in customer service, our ability to respond to our customers' needs, and our expert knowledge of the latest advances in communication services and technology. Around 2004, Hastings enhanced their business solutions, ensuring bilingual staff around-the-clock to support the growing Spanish-speaking population.
Currently, 35 men and women are employed at Hastings as Virtual Receptionists, Administrative Assistants and Customer Service Representatives, handling over six-thousand calls each day, with an accuracy rate of over 99%. Hastings presently serves approximately 1,500 clients across the country.
Hastings is a recognized leader in the industry as a twelve-time winner of the "Award of Excellence" presented annually by the Association of TeleServices International, Inc.
Hastings Communication Services is an active member of Association of TeleServices International (ATSI), the Startel National Users Group (SNUG), Business Network Connection, The Business Success Center, Business Network International (BNI) and Choose Austin First.