CALL CENTERS

Call Centers Original Definition A call centre or call center (note spelling differences) is a centralized office used for the purpose of receiving and transmitting a large volume of requests by telephone.

Contact Centers Current Definition is now called Contact Center A contact center is a centralized process used for the purpose of receiving and transmitting a large volume of requests by telephone, , direct entry, or fax.

Why? The centralisation of call management aims to improve a company's operations and reduce costs, while providing a standardised, streamlined, uniform service for consumers.

How? Increasingly, the voice and data pathways into the centre are linked through a set of new technologies called computer telephony integration (CTI).

How? Call centres use a wide variety of different technologies to allow them to manage large volumes of work. These technologies facilitate queueing and processing of calls, maintaining consistent work flow for agents and creating other business cost savings. Such technologies include:

Features ACW (After call work - Sometimes called "wrap" or "wrapup") ACD (automatic call distribution) Agent performance analytics AHT (Average Handle Time) ANI (automatic number identification) Automated Surveys BTTC (best time to call) / Outbound call optimization Call Recording (call recording software) CIM (customer interaction management) solutions (Also known as 'Unified' solutions) Chat and Web Collaboration CTI (computer telephony integration) CRM (customer relationship management) Electronic performance support system Management Issue tracking system IVR (interactive voice response) PDS (Predictive Dialing System) Outsourcing Quality Monitoring Speech analytics Third party verification TTS (text to speech) TTY or TDD Virtual queing Voice analyssis Voic VOIP Voice recognition WFM (workforce management).

Operations Often operated through an extensive open workspace for call center agents or customer service representatives (CSR), with work stations that include a computer for each agent, a telephone set/headset connected to a telecomswitch, and one or more supervisor stations. New models are leaning more to “virtual” call centers, where CSRs work from home or in remote telecommuting centers

MSAA Seven sites have developed plans for TMCC –Orlando, Louisville, Cherry Hill NJ, Fitchburg MA, and Atlanta (dropped out) –Paducah, Kent, Lower Savannah Aiken SC

Operational Features Telephone system Software – matching, switching, etc. Procedures –Protocol –Script –Management – metrics

Telephones Major Factor Different types –Phones that do metrics On-hold Length of call Records conversation –Simple

Software There are many systems that provide various levels of information –Management only –Reservations and eligibility –Scheduling and routing

Protocol and Script Medicaid –Provider of last resort Consistency Provides for quick response

Call Center Metrics Average Speed of Answer Abandonment Rate Busy Signal On Hold Time Time in IVR Average Length of Call Average Abandon Time

Models Remote Agents Temporary Agents Virtual Call centres Contact centres

Functions Information & Referral Reservations Scheduling Routing Dispatching Reporting Billing

Information & Referral Easiest and a good starting point Least customer friendly Requires good and up-to date data base

Reservations Requires good software Requires eligibility information Requires capacity knowledge

Scheduling & Routing Scheduling is just telling the customer they have a trip Routing is putting the trips in a logical order

Dispatching Vehicle control Easier to reassign trips Better productivity Reluctance from providers GPS/AVL very helpful

Reporting & Billing The final step in a central call center If AVL in place then the reporting and billing is easier Quicker billing and thus payment to providers

Discussion