What are 2 ways to optimize call centers? Shorten call times and increase agent availability. Simple. But not easy. Unless… Call centers have the right technology. Something like… A piece of software that intercepts calls and automatically moves callers to the right place or the right agent. That’s precisely what an ACD system can do. […]

MIT reports service-based businesses see higher customer satisfaction and retention rates when self-service meets customers’ actual needs. But if quality self-service IVR functions solve typical concerns and problems, what happens to a business’ call center agents? Do they keep a role in such a paradigm? Absolutely. While customers can handle a lot of routine items […]

Capacity planning can be very difficult and confusing for many call center managers and executives. How do call centers know who to schedule and when to schedule agents? That’s the central question surrounding capacity planning. Instead of using error-prone spreadsheets or complicated formulas and calculations, call centers can rely on cloud contact center software to […]

Net Promoter Scores (NPS) are one of the best methods of measuring customer loyalty, according to recent research from the Temkin Group. After asking thousands of consumers to give an NPS to 294 companies across 20 industries, they discovered that promoters, as compared to detractors, are more than 5x as likely to repurchase from companies, […]

Interactive voice response (IVR) is usually a call center’s first contact point with a customer. Which is good, because according to Steven Van Belleghem, 40% of customers prefer self-service over interacting with human agents. Not only that, but customers using some sort of self-service to solve their problems has increased from 67% in 2012 to […]

Most people likely connect interactive voice response (IVR) systems with inbound calls. Customers or patients call into a call center, customer service department, or collections agency. Once connected with the IVR system, the individual interacts with it and either performs an action, such as paying bills or updating contact information, or requests to be connected […]

Common call center platform features range from skill-based routing to smart, predictive dialers. In relation to voice, the features number two: interactive voice response (IVR) and voice recognition software. The first allows callers to reach agents in specific departments and can even prepare agents for those interactions. The second relates to basic transcription services — […]

This election cycle may have been very different indeed, but one thing remained the same through all the divisive rhetoric and unease: call center technology continued to play a crucial role. Call center software stands as an integral component of the voting process. Prior to the national election, volunteers, political organizations, and other entities call […]

Historically, customers avoid calling customer service because of lengthy wait times or a fear of being shuffled from agent to agent. They worry, too, that they will need to reenter information for the n-hundredth time, only to reach a call center representative who asks, “Can I get your name? Date of birth? Account number?” Other […]

Providing excellent customer service is a top goal for many – if not most – companies. While there are some intangibles that come into play, for example, some employees excel at making connections with customers and smoothing over difficult situations, there are also many ways to arm your team to ensure that everyone feels empowered […]