Call centers rely heavily not only on customer service, but also on technology. Without the proper call center technology, no business would be able to run nearly as efficiently. The technologies that are now available have come a long way from what they were in the past. Here are some of the reasons why:

1. Auto distributors
These pieces of call center technology are normally at the core of large centers. When incoming calls go to a center, they need to go through to automatic distributor in order to determine the appropriate department to contact. This will be based on specific needs of the person that is calling. The distributor will automatically re-route calls so there isn't any buildup and callers get specific help without having to wait. This also helps callers avoid being transferred to unrelated departments.

2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
This is something that agents at the call center use to keep track of customer issues. It also keeps track of what the caller's relationship is with the company and any requests that they have made. This is a very important tool because it keeps call centers up-to-date with what their customer is likely to need.

3. Recording systems
These record inbound and outbound calls that go through the call center. With all of the calls being recorded, there can be no question about what went on during a conversation. This can be used to reference back to whenever the company or caller needs it. Each company will choose what they record based on their needs. There are also systems that record web, fax and e-mail interactions.

4. Campaign Management Systems (CMS)
These systems organize lists of specific people the callers can contact. This can include both phone numbers and e-mails for different people within a company.

5. Interactive Voice Response
A lot more companies are starting to use these in their call centers. They allow callers the opportunity to service themselves instead of having to go through an agent. These systems use voice recognition to direct calls. An example of a voice response system is one that helps the caller make a payment on their account. The caller will say their account number, confirm personal information and then make the payment. They won't have to go through an agent in order to do this, as it is all automated. This piece of call center technology actually helps to reduce wait times and also allows agents to focus on customers that need interaction with them.


You can get more information about Call Center Technology and Predictive Dialing by visiting Vocalcom.