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Microsoft Dynamics 365 Contact Centre Now Generally Available

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Microsoft has officially launched its highly anticipated Dynamics 365 Contact Centre, offering businesses a powerful solution to enhance customer service operations. This release marks a significant milestone, providing an advanced platform designed to meet the changing needs of modern contact centres.

The Dynamics 365 Contact Centre is equipped with a suite of features aimed at improving customer interactions and streamlining service processes. With integrated AI and automation capabilities, businesses can now deliver more personalised and efficient customer experiences. The platform enables seamless communication across multiple channels, including voice, chat, email and social media, ensuring customers receive timely support through their preferred medium.

One of the standout features of the Dynamics 365 Contact Centre is its ability to unify customer data. By consolidating information from various touchpoints, the platform provides agents with a comprehensive view of customer history and interactions. This holistic approach allows for more informed decision-making and personalised service, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

In addition to its robust feature set, the Dynamics 365 Contact Centre is designed for scalability and flexibility. Businesses can easily customise the platform to suit their unique needs and scale operations as they grow. The solution also integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft Dynamics 365 applications, providing a cohesive ecosystem for managing various aspects of business operations.

Microsoft’s commitment to security and compliance is evident in the Dynamics 365 Contact Centre. The platform adheres to stringent security standards, ensuring that customer data is protected at all times. This focus on security helps businesses build trust with their customers while maintaining regulatory compliance.

The launch of the Dynamics 365 Contact Centre represents an awakening in the contact centre industry with the tight grip that flagship contact centre vendors have been able to sustain for decades. In the APAC region, Alvaria, NICE, Genesys and Verint have a strong hold, with other companies competing including Cisco Webex, Salesforce, Zendesk, Amazon Connect, Five9 and Avaya.

It will be interesting to see whether or not Microsoft invests in increasing its profile in the APAC region in the contact centre space over the upcoming months.

For more information on the new Dynamics 365 Contact Centre and its features, visit the official Microsoft Dynamics 365 blog.

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Blog

Call Design and ProHance Team Up to Transform Business Operations

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When discussing workforce optimisation solutions, the matters of streamlining operations and managing complex data keep coming up. Business owners often share the need for smarter ways of turning large data sets into useful insights for smoother operations. And with work setups changing fast, they need these solutions to be flexible enough to keep up with how their businesses evolve.

Combined forces of workforce optimisation and analytics could be just the answer your business is looking for. And lucky for you, the wait is finally over.

Call Design, an industry leader in workforce optimisation solutions has announced an exciting partnership with ProHance, an esteemed enterprise-grade operations enablement and analytics platform. This partnership doesn’t just promise transformation; it brings in a reset in perspective about how we view back-office operations.

By teaming up together, they are arming organisations like yours with actionable insights that redefine the way decisions at the workplace are made going forward. This collaboration promises to transform back-office operations and equip organisations with actionable insights for smarter decisions. In today’s complex and distributed work environments, we say that is quite an operational advantage to consider.

The Power of Collaboration: Improving Back-Office Operations

Call Design, known for its expertise in workforce optimisation, sees this partnership as a game-changer. Nimesh Dhanak, CEO of Call Design, expresses his enthusiasm, stating, “This partnership with ProHance is a transformative step for us in extending our value to a growing customer base.”

Bridging the Gap: From Manual Efforts to Strategic Insights

If asked about one of the key challenges in back-office operations, most would say obtaining meaningful metrics has been a source of constant stress. Thanks to ProHance’s advanced analytics and operational insights, this challenge has become a thing of the past. The integration of ProHance’s innovative platform into Call Design’s solutions enables back-office leaders to focus on strategic activities that improve customer service outcomes, reducing manual efforts significantly.

Equipping Organisations with Comprehensive Operations Management

ProHance, known for its reliable data and analytics capabilities, offers a holistic view of operations. Brendan Maree, VP & Country Manager ANZ, ProHance, highlights the synergy between the two companies, stating, “Call Design is a natural partner for ProHance with a long and proven track record of helping Australian enterprises successfully improve their enterprise and contact centre effectiveness.”

The Winning Combination for Operational Success

Together, Call Design and ProHance offer a winning combination of state-of-the-art technology and superior consulting skills. This partnership isn’t just about technology; it’s about delivering service and support to your business, especially if you are seeking to optimise your workforce at an enterprise level.

A Glimpse into the Future: The Hybrid Workplace

As a business owner, handling the shift to hybrid workplaces with distributed teams comes with its fair share of challenges. Real-time, actionable insights on your workforce can provide a welcome break from all that. Dhanak emphasises this point, stating, “By harnessing ProHance’s advanced analytics and operational insights, we can deliver more efficient and effective back-office solutions that are critical as our clients adapt to the dynamics of hybrid workplaces with distributed teams”.

Equipping Enterprises Worldwide: A Global Impact

With over 370,000 users across 150 enterprises in 25 countries, ProHance’s track record speaks volumes about its global impact. This partnership isn’t just about local solutions; it’s about facilitating operational success for organisations worldwide combined with Call Design’s industry expertise.

A New Era of Operational Efficiency

The partnership between Call Design and ProHance ushers in a new era of operational efficiency and productivity. By integrating advanced analytics into workforce optimisation solutions, businesses can now realise the full potential of their operations and make data-driven decisions that drive success.

In a world where every decision counts, Call Design and ProHance have teamed up to help enterprises like yours thrive in the face of complexity, ensuring that every action leads to meaningful outcomes. It’s not just about optimising business operations; it’s about shaping the future of work.

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Blog

Macquarie Bank Goes Digital: A Wake-up Call for Customer Service in a Cashless World?

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Macquarie Bank’s recent decision to ditch cash at all branches, transitioning to a completely digital service model, has sent shockwaves through the Australian banking sector. While this move reflects the undeniable trend towards digital banking, it raises critical questions about customer service and accessibility in a cashless future. This article delves into Macquarie Bank’s gamble, exploring the potential pitfalls and how they can ensure a smooth transition that prioritizes customer experience.

The Rise of the Digital Dollar: A Convenient Future?

Undoubtedly, digital banking offers undeniable convenience. Customers can manage their finances 24/7, make quick transactions, and access a wider range of financial products online. Macquarie Bank’s decision aligns with this trend, catering to a growing demographic comfortable with digital solutions. However, a significant portion of the population, particularly the elderly and those in regional areas with limited internet access, still rely on traditional banking services. Eliminating cash access entirely could alienate these customers and create a barrier to financial inclusion.

The Contact Centre: A Lifeline in a Digital Ocean

Macquarie Bank’s shift necessitates a robust and well-equipped contact centre to bridge the gap between the digital and the human touch. Here’s why a strong contact centre is more crucial than ever:

  • Addressing Complexities: Digital platforms can’t always address complex financial queries or navigate unique customer situations. A skilled contact centre agent can provide personalised assistance and build trust in the absence of in-person interaction.
  • Building Trust: Shifting to an entirely digital model can breed a sense of isolation in customers. Proactive and empathetic contact centre agents can reassure customers and foster a sense of security.
  • Human Troubleshooting: Digital systems can malfunction, and customers might encounter technical difficulties. A well-trained contact centre team can troubleshoot issues, guide customers through online processes, and offer human intervention when needed.

Investing in the Customer Experience: Beyond Efficiency

While Macquarie Bank emphasises efficiency gains from their digital shift, focusing solely on cost reduction could backfire. Here’s how they can invest strategically in their contact centre to ensure a positive customer experience:

  • Omnichannel Support: Customers today expect seamless interaction across channels (phone, email, chat). A robust contact centre should offer options to cater to diverse preferences.
  • Shorter Wait Times: Long wait times are a recipe for frustration. Macquarie Bank needs to invest in sufficient staffing and efficient call routing systems to minimise hold times and prioritize customer time.
  • Agent Training and Empowerment: The human touch remains paramount. Agents need comprehensive training on digital banking products and services, alongside strong interpersonal skills to navigate customer concerns effectively.
  • Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: In the absence of face-to-face interaction, agents need to actively listen, empathise with customer frustrations, and provide solutions with emotional intelligence.
  • Accessibility Features: Catering to visually impaired or hearing-impaired customers through features like screen readers or text relays ensures inclusivity in the digital era.

The Future of Banking: Striking a Balance

Macquarie Bank’s digital-first approach is a bold move. However, its success hinges on effectively addressing customer service concerns. Striking a balance between digital convenience and human interaction is critical. Here are some additional considerations:

  • Hybrid Model Exploration: Could Macquarie Bank offer a hybrid model where select branches remain open for specific services, catering to customers who prefer a physical touchpoint?
  • Mobile Banking Enhancements: Optimising the mobile banking app to ensure user-friendliness and intuitive functionality is crucial.
  • Transparent Communication: Macquarie Bank needs to proactively communicate the changes, offer educational resources on using online banking tools, and provide clear instructions on how to access customer support.

The Takeaway: A Customer-Centric Approach is Key

Macquarie Bank’s digital transformation is a microcosm of a broader trend in the banking industry. While digital solutions offer undeniable benefits, neglecting the human element in customer service can have detrimental consequences. By prioritising customer experience, investing in a robust contact centre, and striking a balance between digital convenience and human interaction, Macquarie Bank can ensure a successful transition without alienating its customer base. After all, in a digital world, customer service remains the cornerstone of building trust and loyalty. Many contact centres are at the front-end of the digital transformation but be wary if AI is your contact centre. Customers will drop because of lack of personalised service.

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Contact Centre

Nurturing Excellence: The Path to Elevating Contact Centre Agents in the AI Era *

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contact centre agents

In this ever-growing world of customer service, the role of contact centre agents has never been more important. These frontline professionals are the voice and face of businesses, taking upon the responsibility of delivering excellent customer experiences. With that said, the demands placed on contact centre agents have heightened as of late due to rising customer expectations and the rapid integration of technology. Most notably is that of artificial intelligence (AI). Contact centre agents can look forward to professional development programs, like Auscontact’s, to help prepare for the AI emergence. 

The Agent’s Journey: Challenges and Expectations 

Contact centre agents are so much more than mere responders to customer inquiries; they are the problem solvers, brand ambassadors, and emotional support providers. The modern customer expects a seamless, personalized, and quick resolution to their queries. As a result, agents are often faced with high-stress situations and tight schedules prone to the continually changing products, services and processes. 

To address these challenges, the contact centre industry is turning to AI solutions to alleviate agent stress and enhance customer experiences. 

AI as an Ally, Not a Replacement 

Contrary to the fear that AI might replace human agents, it is now increasingly viewed as a powerful tool to support and assist them. AI can handle routine, repetitive tasks, leaving agents with more time to focus on complex customer inquiries that require empathy, creativity, and problem-solving skills. These are skills for the human agents, which AI cannot yet replicate. 

  1. Automating Repetitive Tasks: Mundane tasks like data entry, call logging, and information retrieval can be handled by AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants. This frees up agents to engage in more meaningful interactions and activities.
  1. Enhanced Information Retrieval: AI can provide agents with real-time information, such as product details or customer histories, allowing them to provide more informed responses.
  1. Emotion Analysis: AI can analyze customer sentiment, helping agents personalize their responses to address customer emotions more effectively. 
  1. Predictive Analytics: AI-driven predictive analytics can anticipate customer needs and offer proactive solutions, making the agent’s job more proactive than reactive.

The Role of Professional Development 

While AI can ease some of the burden, it’s professional development that truly empowers contact centre agents to thrive in the AI era. Here are some key aspects of agent development: 

  1. Continuous Training: In a tech-focused world, continuous training is pivotal. Agents need regular updates on product knowledge, soft skills, and AI tools. This helps them to stay confident and competent. 
  1. Soft Skills: AI can handle facts and figures, but it’s the human touch which builds rapport. This involves training in soft skills like empathy, active listening, and problem-solving.
  1. Resilience Building: Contact centre agents often face difficult customers. Resilience training may assist them in handling stress effectively while on the job.
  1. AI Integration Training: Understanding how to work alongside AI is a very valuable skill. Agents need to know when to rely on AI and when to step in themselves.
  1. Career Progression Paths: Agents should have clear career progression paths in which they get opportunities to move into team lead, supervisor, or specialist roles. This would help keep them motivated and engaged.
  1. Mentoring Programs: Experienced agents can mentor newcomers, notably through sharing their own insights and some tricks of the trade.

The Auscontact Professional Development Program 

In Australia, the contact centre industry has recognized the important role professional development plays in the growth of an agent. Auscontact, the industry association for customer contact professionals, offers a comprehensive professional development program designed to nurture agent talent and grow the industry as a whole. 

  1. Certifications: Auscontact offers certifications that validate an agent’s skills and knowledge. These certifications are recognized industry-wide and provide a significant boost to their careers. 
  1. Workshops and Webinars: Regular workshops and webinars cover a wide range of topics, from proper customer service practices to the latest in AI and technology. These events offer agents the chance to learn from industry experts and upgrade their own skills and knowledge.
  1. Networking Opportunities: Contact centre agents can benefit greatly from networking. Auscontact provides numerous opportunities to connect with peers, share experiences, gain insights and relations.
  1. Leadership Training: The program isn’t limited just to entry-level agents. It also offers leadership training for those looking to advance in their careers.

The Road Ahead: A Bright Future for Contact Centre Agents 

As we look to the future, the role of contact centre agents is set to evolve further. They will continue to be the human face of customer service, but AI will be their trusty ally, handling routine tasks and providing valuable insights. 

To succeed in this changing environment, investing in the professional development of contact centre agents is non-negotiable. It’s a win-win situation: well-trained agents provide exceptional service, leading to satisfied customers and subsequent business growth. 

Through initiatives like that of Auscontact’s professional development program, the contact centre industry in Australia is ready to meet the challenges that come with this AI technology. Guided by these new tools, the future of contact centres is bright, the agent’s is even brighter.

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Role of Outsourcing in Contact Centres

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Australia’s contact centre outsourcers had a roller-coaster ride through the pandemic and the 2022 change of Government, now Generative AI is causing a new wave of disruption. Through it all, the fundamental reasons why businesses choose to outsource all, or part of their contact centre operations have remained constant, and BPOs, as the outsourcers are known, play a significant and indispensable role in the Australian contact centre industry.

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Contact Centre

Contact Centre industry association Auscontact launches new academy

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Contact Centre industry association Auscontact

The contact center industry has been growing rapidly in recent years, with an increasing number of companies relying on contact centers to provide customer support, sales, and other services. With this growth comes an increasing need for skilled professionals who can work in these environments, and the Auscontact Academy aims to meet that need.

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Contact Centre

Must-Attend Event of the Year for Contact Centre Leaders in Australia and New Zealand

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Aziz for Auscontact New Story

Are you a contact centre leader in Australia or New Zealand? Do you want to stay ahead of the competition and learn about the latest trends, insights and strategies to keep your operations thriving? If customer experience and operational excellence is important to your organisation, mark your calendars for May 8th and 9th, 2023 because the Auscontact Practitioners Symposium in Brisbane is the must-attend event of the year.

With an impressive lineup of speakers and exclusive insights into best practices, this event will provide you with everything you need to take your operations to the next level. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect.

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Discover Your Dream Job with Auscontact’s Job Board

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Top 10 jobs in the Contact Centre Industry

Are you looking for a job in the contact centre industry? Look no further than Auscontact’s job board, the first of its kind dedicated to the industry in Australia and New Zealand. With a range of job opportunities available from top recruiters, this is the perfect place to start your career or take the next step in your professional journey.

Here are the top 10 jobs being advertised on the Auscontact job board:

1. Contact Centre Manager – Hays Recruitment

Are you an experienced manager looking to lead a team in a fast-paced and dynamic environment? Hays Recruitment is currently seeking a Contact Centre Manager to oversee the operations of a busy contact centre.

2. Team Leader – Probe CX

As a Team Leader at Probe CX, you will be responsible for managing a team of customer service agents, ensuring they provide the highest level of customer satisfaction. With a focus on coaching and development, this is a great opportunity for an experienced team leader looking for a new challenge.

3. Sales Consultant – TactiCall Recruitment Services

Do you have a passion for sales? TactiCall Recruitment Services is currently seeking a Sales Consultant to join their team. In this role, you will be responsible for driving revenue growth by developing and executing sales strategies.

4. Customer Support Executive – TactiCall Recruitment Services

TactiCall Recruitment Services is also seeking a Customer Support Executive to provide outstanding customer service to their clients. If you have excellent communication skills and a passion for helping others, this could be the perfect job for you.

5. Customer Care Consultant – nib Group

nib Group is currently seeking a Customer Care Consultant to join their team. In this role, you will be responsible for providing excellent customer service and support to their members.

6. Learning Design Specialist – Hinchen Resources

As a Learning Design Specialist at Hinchen Resources, you will be responsible for creating engaging and effective training materials for contact centre agents. If you have experience in instructional design and a passion for helping people learn, this could be the perfect job for you.

7. Candidate Experience Team Leader – Adecco 

Adecco is seeking a Candidate Experience Team Leader to oversee their recruitment team. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring a positive candidate experience throughout the recruitment process.

8. Customer Service Agents – TactiCall Recruitment Services

TactiCall Recruitment Services is also seeking Customer Service Agents to provide support to their clients. If you have excellent communication skills and a passion for helping others, this could be the perfect job for you.

9. Trainer – Probe CX

As a Trainer at Probe CX, you will be responsible for designing and delivering training programs to contact centre agents. If you have experience in training and a passion for helping people learn, this could be the perfect job for you.

10. Senior Operations Manager – Concentrix

Concentrix is seeking a Senior Operations Manager to oversee the operations of their contact centre. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring the highest level of customer satisfaction while driving revenue growth.

These are just a few of the many job opportunities available on the Auscontact job board. With a variety of positions available at all levels, there is something for everyone. Don’t miss out on the chance to take your career to the next level – visit the Auscontact job board today!

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