Call center A physical location where a high volume of customer and other telephone calls are handled by an organization, usually with some amount of computer automation. Call centers typically provide voice only inbound, outbound and limited self-service customer interactions. See also: Contact Center.
Call center agent scorecardA call center agent scorecard is an important tool for measuring and improving performance in a call center. The scorecard typically includes key metrics like first-call resolution that provide a basis for helping customer service agents set goals and track progress. It can also be used to provide incentives, as part of a gamification strategy, to keep agents engaged and motivated.
Call center agent softwareCall center agent software is any desktop or mobile application that enables call center agents to effectively manage customer interactions. Most call center agent software includes features such as an integrated dialer, recording capabilities and analytics. Advanced cloud-based applications have automation capabilities that route calls to the right agent or department. They also include chatbots, voicebots and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
Call center agent utilizationThis represents the percentage of time call center agents spend on handling calls and other customer interactions, and related work. These rates can be used to calculate agent efficiency. In call centers, agent utilization considers total time at work — including logged-out time such as training — while agent occupancy considers only live logged-in time.
Call center coachingCoaching is used to give call center agents feedback as part of quality management and employee training. It can be part of regular performance assessments or done in real time when needed during customer interactions.
Call center CRMCall center customer relationship management (CRM) is a technology solution that stores critical customer information and improves agent access to customer data like account details and interaction history.
Call center managementThe way in which organizations manage the daily operations of the call center, including forecasting, scheduling, employee training, reporting, and all customer interactions. Call center management can be modernized through use of workforce optimization solutions.
Call center reportingCall centers track and report on KPIs and other predefined metrics. These give insights into overall call center efficiency and productivity; customer journeys; and the performance of individuals such as agents. Reports are displayed on dashboards, enabling staff to monitor the call center and take action, as needed.
Call center RFPA request for proposal (RFP) simplifies decision-making by systematizing the evaluation process so you can evaluate the right information to compare vendors and choose the best solution. A company uses the formal RFP framework when decision makers know what they want to buy and are soliciting multiple offers. A formal RFP document specifies your business and technical requirements — comparing the most important vendor capabilities so you can identify and select the best products or services. Check out our handy guide if you need some practical help to start your own RFP process.
Call center workforce optimizationA customer experience strategy that modernizes call center technologies and platforms, through the use of digital channels, in order to improve customer satisfaction.
Call center workforce planningCall center workforce planning addresses all elements of the call center including team scheduling, training and forecasting.
Call deflectionAI enables self-service options for customers, allowing them to complete tasks such as placing orders or checking balances without human agent intervention. Call deflection refers to the strategy of using AI to handle simple requests, freeing agents to focus on more complex interactions.
Call timeCall time, also known as “talk time,” is the amount of time a call center agent spends on a call with a customer. It is a key performance metric used in contact centers and call centers to measure agent productivity and efficiency.
Chat messagesAllows agents and supervisors to communicate during a contact. Reduces hold times and increase first and final contact resolution.
Cloud call centerA web-accessible platform for handling customer calls and interactions. Call centers based in the cloud can be accessed from virtually anywhere, eliminating the need for a physical infrastructure, which may reduce operational costs and increase scalability to support evolving customer experience strategies.
Cloud contact center A cloud contact center is an approach to customer support that enables businesses to manage customer communications and interactions via the internet.
Co-browseCo-browse, sometimes referred to as “screen share,” facilitates a collaborative browsing session between a customer and a contact center agent. Based on the customer’s needs, an agent can see the customer’s screen, move their cursor, highlight or annotate key areas on the screen, and even take full control of the browsing session to help the customer achieve their goals.
Compliance confidenceAI technologies can ensure compliance by monitoring call interactions for adherence to scripts, regulations and company standards. This reduces the risk of non-compliance and enhances the quality of customer interactions.
ComposabilityComposability is a system design principle in which a solution is composed of components that can be assembled in different combinations to address individual use cases.
Consistent customer experienceConsistency in practice and measurement allows businesses to orchestrate consistent experiences for their customers seamlessly across all touchpoints and channels that a brand offers, regardless of the medium or the platform.
Consumer behaviorConsumer behavior refers to the study of how individuals make decisions about purchasing goods and services, including the factors that influence their choices. Understanding consumer behavior helps businesses tailor their marketing, product development and customer engagement strategies to meet consumer needs more effectively.
Contact centerA contact center is a centralized facility or system where customer interactions across various communication channels — such as phone, email, chat and social media — are managed.
Contact center agent
Front office employees that are customer-facing and typically the primary point of human customer contact within an organization.
Contact center artificial intelligenceContact center artificial intelligence (AI) is the use of advanced machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) technologies to automate and optimize call center operations and improve customer service.
Contact center chatbotA chatbot is software designed to simulate conversation with human users via text or voice.
Contact center CRM systemsContact center customer relationship management (CRM) systems are a set of specialized software solutions designed to manage and analyze customer interactions and data throughout the customer lifecycle.
Contact center managementThe way in which organizations manage the daily operations of the contact center workforce, across multiple touchpoints and channels, in order to accommodate omnichannel customer journeys.
Contact center shrinkageContact center shrinkage refers to the amount of time that call center agents are not available to handle customer interactions, even though they are scheduled to be working.
Contact center workforce managementContact center workforce management (WFM) encompasses the strategies and tools used to optimize the scheduling, forecasting and management of agents in a contact center.
Contact center workforce optimizationA customer experience strategy that integrates contact center technologies and processes in order to deliver seamless omnichannel customer journeys in a multi-channel workforce.
Contact center workforce planningContact center workforce planning is the process of aligning the strategic and operational elements of a contact center workforce with organizational objectives.
Contextual support in customer serviceProviding relevant, effective customer assistance that takes into account the context of the customer’s situation, history and current needs — even anticipating what they might need next. Artificial intelligence (AI) enables this contextual support by listening, understanding and engaging with customers through natural language. And since AI understands and predicts intent, it can help customers reach resolutions faster. It can even recognize when a customer needs human support, and then pass that conversational history and insight to an agent.
Conversational AIConversational AI is a technology that enables computers to understand, process and respond to human language.
Conversational AI for call centersConversational AI refers to the use of chatbots and virtual assistants powered by AI technologies to simulate humanlike conversations with customers. In call centers, it’s used to automate responses, handle routine inquiries and provide 24/7 support, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Conversational intelligenceConversational intelligence involves analyzing customer and agent interactions — via voice or text — to extract insights on sentiment, intent and overall experience.
CopilotIn the context of AI and contact center software, copilot is a general term for an AI assistant that supports various roles (agents, supervisors and admins) by providing real-time assistance, insights and automation capabilities. It enhances decision-making, productivity and customer experiences through intelligent recommendations and actions.
Cross-functional collaborationThe process of breaking down silos within an organization in order to allow various departments to work together toward common business goals.
CT Connect
A computer telephony call control server software that connects a range of telephone switches to a variety of data processing environments.
CTI
Computer Telephony Integration. Computer control and functionality applied to telephony hardware.
CTI server
House the server software that monitors telephony events (ringing, busy etc.) at the switch.
Customer acquisition costCustomer acquisition cost is the amount of money it takes to convert a potential lead into a new customer. These costs can be incurred in the form of sales, marketing, overhead, time and other resources expended.
Customer behavior analysisThe study of consumers’ purchasing patterns and engagement with a brand to better understand their preferences, needs and decision-making processes
Customer behavior analyticsCustomer behavior analytics refers to the process of analyzing how customers interact with a brand across various channels. By understanding patterns in behavior, businesses can optimize the customer experience, improve engagement and drive conversions through a customer journey management strategy.
Customer churnThe rate at which customers stop doing business with a company. This could be a symptom of dissatisfaction with a product, preference for the experience of buying from a competitor and more. Seamless, individualized customer experiences help to reduce churn by building emotional connections and increasing brand loyalty.
Customer data integrationThe process of gathering, consolidating and managing customer information from all available sources to provide a single, comprehensive view of the customer across an organization.
Customer data platform (CDP)A customer data platform (CDP) is software that centralizes customer data from various sources into a single, unified view. CDPs enable businesses to analyze and act on customer data in real time, allowing for better personalization and improved customer experience strategies. A CDP is a critical part of any customer journey management strategy; in order to optimize journeys, you need to be able to gather and analyze all your customer data in one place.
Customer data utilizationThe strategic use of customer data to inform business decisions, personalize customer experiences and drive growth. While modern companies find themselves awash in information from various channels, customer journey analytics empowers them to gain the full power of data across previously disconnected business units and channels. By integrating data across all touchpoints, leading organizations can see the complete picture of customer interactions, understand how that affects their bottom line and make improvements accordingly.
Customer effort score (CES)
A measurement focused on service interactions in contact center environments. It provides a way to measure how customer centric channels and touchpoints are in their design and management, and how they promote ease of use, simplicity and effortless interaction.
Customer engagement
The ongoing relationship a customer has with an organization based on relevant, personalized experiences and the anticipation of the customer’s evolving needs.
Customer experience (CX)Customer experience (CX) is the sum total of every interaction a person has with a brand, from initial awareness to purchase to ongoing support and beyond.
Customer experience management (CEM)
A strategy that focuses on the operations and processes used to create a positive customer experience with focus on your organization, product, service, or brand.
Customer experience metricsCustomer experience (CX) metrics are key performance indicators that measure various aspects of the customer experience. Common CX metrics include Net Promoter Score, customer satisfaction and customer effort score. These metrics help businesses assess how well they are meeting customer needs.
Customer experience platformContact center infrastructure, available from the cloud or on-premises, that supports the design, orchestration, monitoring, and tuning of customer journeys across voice and digital channels.
Customer feedbackCustomer feedback is an essential element of customer service. It is any information provided by customers that can help businesses better understand their customers’ needs and expectations. Customer feedback can be gathered in various forms, including surveys, focus groups, customer service calls, online reviews and social media comments. The feedback can provide insight into the customer experience that can help businesses improve customer satisfaction, loyalty and overall performance.
Customer feedback analysis with AILeveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze customer feedback across a variety of channels such as product reviews, social media and emails. This AI-powered analysis enables an organization to extract valuable insights that it can use to improve its products, services and customer experiences over time.
Customer interaction analyticsCustomer interaction analytics is the process of turning unstructured data found in email, voice, chat and more into structured data that can be searched and analyzed.
Customer journeyThe customer journey tracks every touchpoint and interaction a customer has with a brand, from initial discovery to post-purchase follow-ups.
Customer journey governanceCustomer journey governance refers to the policies, practices and frameworks that ensure consistency and alignment across all customer interactions and touchpoints. It helps organizations maintain a cohesive strategy for managing customer experiences while ensuring compliance and meeting business goals.
Customer journey managementCustomer journey management is the practice of using behavioral trends and technology to influence and optimize the customer experience (CX). Customer journey management aims to minimize the customer effort across all channels and touchpoints, ensuring a seamless experience every time a customer interacts with your company.
Customer journey mapA customer journey map is a visualization of the paths customers take across channels and over time. These maps enable teams to broaden their perspective beyond internal goals to include the customer's perspective.
Customer journey optimizationCustomer journey optimization is the process of connecting and mapping customer interactions, across multiple touchpoints, in order to direct or influence the end-to-end experience.
Customer journey pain pointsCustomer journey pain points refer to the obstacles or frustrations customers encounter during their interactions with a brand. Identifying and addressing these pain points is critical to improving the overall customer experience, reducing churn and boosting customer satisfaction. The main goal of customer journey management is to proactively eliminate as many pain points as possible so that customers enjoy the smoothest experience possible.
Customer loyalty and engagementStrategies and practices aimed at building long-term relationships with customers, encouraging repeat business and fostering a positive connection between the brand and its customers.
Customer retentionThe ability of a company to retain its customers over time, often achieved by providing a customer experience that continuously meets or exceeds expectations.
Customer retention strategiesApproaches and tactics that companies use to keep their customers engaged and loyal over time. These strategies can range from promoting shared values to providing empathetic customer service to fostering word-of-mouth support. Businesses that are effective in retaining their customers over the long term increase their earnings while enhancing their brand recognition and industry prominence.
Customer satisfaction (CSAT)A measurement that determines how an organization meets the expectations of its customers based on satisfaction. Customers are asked a question following a transaction about their satisfaction with the company, which is then rated from one (very dissatisfied) to five (very satisfied).
Customer segmentation and AIUsing artificial intelligence to match a prospect or customer to the appropriate segments. These segments can classify intent and priority, identifying the likely interests, shopping preferences and buying behaviors of a customer based on similar previous customers. This enables organizations to personalize experiences by determining when and where to engage customers with an automated content offer, bot or agent-assisted service.
Customer serviceCustomer service is the assistance and service provided by an organization to customers before, during, and after the purchase of products or services.
Customer support optimizationEnhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of customer service operations to create a more seamless end-to-end experience for the customer. Optimizing customer support and orchestrating smoother experiences improves response times, resolution rates and overall customer satisfaction.
Customized learning pathsTailoring educational content and experiences to fit the individual needs of learners. With modern workforce engagement management capabilities, businesses can empower each employee with a personalized development hub that puts them in control. They can manage their performance and access assigned learning content and coaching sessions — all while staying on top of their work. And the business can build learning modules to train or inform its employees, and assign assessment modules to better evaluate their knowledge and skill levels.
CX automationCustomer experience (CX) automation uses technology to streamline and automate repetitive tasks and processes related to customer interactions. This can include the use of chatbots, automated emails and workflow automation, allowing businesses to scale their customer service and engagement efforts. Automation makes customer journey management easier by taking rote tasks away from people and giving them more time to focus on problems that require a human touch.
CX copilotA CX copilot is an AI-enabled solution that assists agents and supervisors in delivering faster, more personalized customer interactions.
CX maturity modelA CX maturity model is a framework used to assess how advanced a company’s customer experience strategies and processes are. It helps organizations understand their current level of customer experience capability and provides a roadmap for continuous improvement.
CX strategyA customer experience strategy is a plan that defines how a company will manage and improve the interactions that customers have with their brand. It includes objectives for enhancing customer satisfaction, loyalty and advocacy, and it typically involves a mix of technology, processes and employee engagement.