Do you ever feel like your competitors have outdistanced you when it comes to using innovative technology to create exceptional customer experiences? Are there signs that your customers are lukewarm about your organization's customer support options? Maybe your agents complain about the outdated technology they use every day while assisting customers? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, it might be time to implement some advanced call center technologies.

If you work in a contact center, you know that business is different now compared to before the pandemic struck. The most obvious difference may be that most of your agents started working from home – and almost a year later, likely still are. But you probably also noticed a change in your call volumes and patterns. Many organizations experienced a spike in volume at the beginning of the lock downs as well as an increase in handle times. And the timing of when those calls came in changed for many as well.

Contact centers are a critical touchpoint that can make or break a customer journey. Having the best cloud call center software can ensure this particular part of the journey is smooth sailing rather than rough seas. We explore the critical role contact centers play in customer journeys and how the best cloud call center software can ensure this particular touchpoint offers frictionless service.

In today's experience economy, quality is more important than ever. Consumers are much less tolerant of low quality customer service experiences. On the flip side, they'll reward exceptional customer experiences (CX) with more purchases and referrals. Under these circumstances, contact centers can't afford to have agents who are indifferent about or resentful of quality improvement efforts.

An ACD is essential contact center technology. Without an ACD, the operation would be in disarray, which is why it is indispensable for every contact center. However, ACD capabilities vary widely across vendors, meaning just because a call center uses an ACD doesn't mean they are reaping all the benefits that the best ACDs can provide. Learn the capabilities of industry-leading ACDs and how those capabilities positively impact operations and customer experience (CX).

Interactive voice response (IVR) systems are the gatekeepers to the contact center. As such, they set the tone for the entire interaction. Does your gatekeeper welcome everyone in with little friction, or is your IVR system more like the troll under the bridge, barring the way until customers answer the riddles correctly? Contact centers can meet self-service goals with their IVRs while still delivering good CX.

There are numerous reasons to record calls, but leading the pack is quality. Call recordings play a central role in monitoring, measuring, and improving call quality. A quality management program without call recordings is like macaroni without cheese. The pair belong together.