Top Impactful Technologies for Customer Service in 2024

The integration of technologies has become instrumental in shaping the customer service realm.

What are the essential technologies for customer service that can give your business an edge in 2024? From artificial intelligence-driven chatbots streamlining support interactions to data analytics enhancing personalized customer experiences, the impact of these technologies is profound.

This article delivers a practical roundup of the top tech tools shaping customer support today.

Key takeaways

• AI is significantly enhancing customer service with intelligent chatbots, voicebots, AI-driven analytics.
• Customers are increasingly seeking self-service options; businesses are responding with tools like knowledge bases, interactive guides, and on-demand video tutorials.
• Omnichannel customer service is essential for creating a seamless experience, by centralizing inquiries and streamlining communication across multiple platforms.

Table of Content

1. Harnessing the Power of AI for Enhanced Customer Interactions
2. AI-Driven Analytics for Deeper Customer Insights
3. Empowering Self-Service Options for Today’s Customers
4. Solutions Supporting Customer Services Employees

Harnessing the Power of AI for Enhanced Customer Interactions

The introduction of artificial intelligence has brought about significant changes in the realm of customer service, revolutionizing traditional interactions and replacing them with customized experiences. With AI, businesses can proactively understand and cater to individual customer preferences at a large scale. According to Gartner, 69% of customer service leaders plan to invest in conversational AI solutions.

Let us now examine how applications of AI not only enhance business efficiency, but also ensure personalized support for customers on a wider scale and and build better customer relationships.

Intelligent Chatbots: The First Line of Customer Support

Chatbots are computer programs designed to simulate conversation with users, typically through text or voice interfaces. They leverage AI and natural language processing (NLP) to interpret and respond to user queries, providing an interactive and efficient way to engage with customers. Most commonly, the tools are deployed to handle basic and repetitive queries.

In the Global State of Multichannel Customer Service report by Microsoft, it is highlighted that the paramount factor influencing customer satisfaction is the prompt resolution of issues. To exemplify, a comprehensive study across four countries, namely the USA, Great Britain, Brazil, and Japan, revealed that the swiftness in addressing customer concerns is deemed the most critical aspect of a positive customer experience.

Chatbots can be a useful solution that provides instant responses, perform routine tasks, and offer information on common topics. The goal is to resolve straightforward issues without the need for human intervention.

If a customer inquiry or issue is more complex and requires a higher level of expertise, the interaction is escalated to human agents. These agents have the knowledge and skills to handle more intricate problems, provide personalized assistance, and offer a human touch in customer interactions.

When To Implement Chatbots In Customer Service?

Chatbot can be one of several means of communications in multichannel customer support. Customers have different preferences and needs. They might prefer to use a chatbot instead call a contact center. Chatbots can be integrated across various communication channels, including websites, messaging apps, and social media. This enables businesses to offer a seamless and unified customer experience across multiple platforms.

If your business receives a large volume of repetitive and routine queries that can be addressed with standard responses, a chatbot can efficiently handle these inquiries, providing quick and consistent answers. I f there are repetitive and time-consuming tasks in your customer service processes, such as:

• Order tracking
• Appointment scheduling
• Information retrieval, a chatbot can automate these tasks, improving efficiency.

What Are The Benefits Of Introducing Chatbots In Customer Support?

• 24/7 availability: Unlike human agents who have limitations in working hours, chatbots can operate 24/7, ensuring that customers can receive assistance at any time, even outside regular business hours.
• Immediate response: Chatbots offer instant responses to customer inquiries, addressing their concerns promptly. This immediacy contributes to a positive customer experience and prevents frustration caused by waiting for assistance.
• Consistency: Chatbots provide consistent responses based on programmed algorithms, minimizing the risk of human error or inconsistencies in information. This contributes to a standardized and reliable customer service experience.
• Enhanced efficiency: By handling routine inquiries, chatbots allow human agents to focus on more complex issues that require empathy, creativity, and critical thinking. This division of labor improves overall operational efficiency.
• Scalability: As your business grows, the volume of customer inquiries may increase. A chatbot is scalable and can efficiently handle a growing number of routine queries, ensuring consistent service quality and response times.

Voicebots

Voicebots are bots designed to interact with users through spoken language. These systems leverage natural language processing (NLP) and speech recognition technologies to understand and respond to verbal commands or inquiries. Voicebots can be integrated into various devices and platforms, providing users with a hands-free and convenient way to access information, perform tasks, or receive assistance.

Voicebots can be made compatible with various assistive technologies, such as screen readers or speech-to-text converters. This adaptability ensures that individuals with visual or auditory impairments can seamlessly integrate voicebot interactions into their preferred assistive technology setup.

When Voicebot Is A Suitable Technology For Customer Service?

Similarly to chatbots, if your customer service receives a significant number of voice-based queries or if your customers prefer using voice commands, introducing voicebots can streamline the handling of such inquiries. If your customers use voice commands across various devices and platforms, integrating voicebots into your customer service strategy ensures a seamless and consistent experience across different channels.

Adaptive voicebots can learn and remember user preferences over time. This enables them to provide more personalized responses, recommendations, and experiences, contributing to a more tailored interaction for each user.

Importantly enough, voicebots incorporate accessibility features that cater to individuals with diverse needs. This may include options for adjusting speech rate, volume, or using voice commands for those with mobility challenges. Providing a customizable and inclusive interface ensures that individuals with different abilities can comfortably interact with the voicebot.

A Conversational AI solution: Primebot

Primebot, developed by OEX VCC, leverages cutting-edge AI and ML technologies to automate customer support. This advanced solution excels in conducting non-linear dialogues that go beyond predetermined scenarios, thanks to Modern Speech Recognition (NLU) and speech synthesis capabilities. This allows it to comprehend spontaneous human speech, interpret speakers’ intentions, and consequently, efficiently resolve repetitive issues.

The solution’s capabilities:

• Cost reduction of contact center operations by 50%
• Full integration with external systems Hot transfer – seamless call redirection to consultants
• Quick implementation time Elimination of human errors
• Utilization of specialized speech recognition models models, for example, recognition of names and surnames

Here is how it can be ultilized in customer support:

The voicebot provides information from the knowledge base or external systems. Primebot can handle up to 70% of repetitive queries regarding:

• Product details
• Availability
• Delivery times for online orders
• Status of complaint resolution
• Explanation procedures and more
• Satisfaction surveys
• Appointment booking
• Terms & conditions update

This means Primebot can reach out to the customer to provide information about the order, such as notifying that the product is ready for pickup or indicating a delay in delivery. The bot can also confirm attendance at appointments with a doctor, scheduled examinations, or planned service visits.

Moreover, intelligent voicebot can replace the traditional IVR. Customers no longer need to listen to all the prompts and press keys on the phone! The conversation is conducted in natural language; the bot recognizes the speaker’s intentions, categorizes them appropriately, and directs them to the relevant department or provides information. Additionally, Primebot can make calls rapidly, as it can handle up to 100 conversations simultaneously in one instance.

AI-Driven Analytics for Deeper Customer Insights

According to Gartner’s Report Top Priorities for Customer Leaders in 2024, 64% of the leaders employ analytics to support operational efficiency and 70 % employ analytics to understand customer expectations.

By utilizing AI-driven analytics, businesses can experience several advantages. One of the main benefits is outperforming traditional data analysis methods. To this, these tools offer a more comprehensive understanding of customers and their behavior using machine learning and natural language processing techniques which reveal trends, patterns, and correlations.

These valuable insights into customer behavior enable companies to better cater to their needs with greater effectiveness. This ultimately leads to improved customer success as well as fostering loyalty among existing customers towards the business.

Analytical Systems Supporting Contact Centers: A Use Case

OEX Voice Contact Center has introduced a groundbreaking customer service support tool named Boromir. This innovative tool plays a crucial role in enhancing the customer service process by facilitating the monitoring of online consultations, their effective management, and in-depth analysis of generated data.

Boromir seamlessly integrates an application within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem along with proprietary ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tools, showcasing a comprehensive solution developed and implemented by experts from the New Tech department.

The system conducts thorough analysis, including the examination of questions posted in the Teams messenger, the subjects of posts, response times, and the content of replies.

The tool can:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the interactions
• Categorize traffic
• Enable the identification of common and challenging issues within the customer service process.

This, in turn, empowers the company to optimize time and costs associated with customer support, with a primary goal of increasing overall efficiency and service quality.

Boromir efficiently transfers relevant data into clear summaries, generating comprehensive reports. This centralized approach replaces the previous scattered accumulation of information across multiple channels, bringing it all together in one accessible location.

The implementation of this tool has yielded remarkable results, including a 50% reduction in response time and a more than one-third reduction in staff hours required to handle inquiries. Consequently, this achievement has led to a substantial increase in the profitability of numerous projects.

Ewelina Kowalczewska, Key Account Director at VCC, emphasizes the significance of real-time analysis, stating, “Thanks to the ease of real-time consultation analysis, we not only identify customer issues more promptly but can also develop training programs and accessible procedures for advisors more efficiently. As a result, this significantly enhances the quality of service.”

Empowering Self-Service Options for Today’s Customers

The tech-savvy and young individuals now seek out self-service options as their preferred method for finding solutions independently. According to the report Global State of Multichannel Customer Service crated by Microsoft, more than 90% of all customers expect brands to offer self-service support portal or frequently asked questions (FAQ) page. On the other hand, Gartner show that 64% of customer service leaders decide to improve self-service options to enhance customer experience.

As a result, businesses are adapting by providing user-friendly tools such as knowledge bases, interactive troubleshooting guides, and on-demand video tutorials to meet this growing demand for self-service.

Knowledge Bases: The DIY Solution

Knowledge bases serve as valuable sources of information, allowing customers to quickly access common solutions for their inquiries. This enables them to independently find the answers they need, reducing their dependence on direct assistance from agents.

Interactive Troubleshooting Guides

Self-service troubleshooting guides are a highly useful tool for customers who need to solve complicated problems. These interactive guides offer users step-by-step support, empowering them to address issues independently. As a result, the number of customer inquiries decreases significantly and improves overall satisfaction with their experience.

On-Demand Video Tutorials

Customers can access on-demand video tutorials to gain a better understanding of products and services. These instructional videos are especially useful in showcasing the usage or troubleshooting process for products.

The flexibility offered by these on-demand tutorials allows customers to learn at their own speed, resulting in an improved overall experience when using the product or service.

Solutions Supporting Customer Services Employees

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems

In the context of customer service tools, as outlined by Statista, the projected revenue in the customer relationship management software market is anticipated to reach US$88.19 billion in 2024.

The Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software market is substantial and continues to grow for several reasons:

• Business efficiency: CRM software enhances organizational efficiency by streamlining processes related to customer interactions, sales, marketing, and customer support. This efficiency gain attracts businesses looking to optimize their operations.
• Data centralization: The tools centralize customer data, providing a 360-degree view of customer interactions. This centralized data helps businesses make informed decisions, personalize customer experiences, and target marketing efforts more effectively.
• Integration with emerging technologies: The systems increasingly integrate with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and analytics. This integration enhances functionality, providing businesses with advanced insights and automation capabilities.
• Personalization and customer experience: As businesses strive to provide personalized experiences, CRM tools play a crucial role in understanding customer preferences and behaviors. This personalization leads to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Top CRM tools

Some of the leading customer service software options include:

• HubSpot Service Hub
• LiveAgent
• ServiceNow
• Salesforce Service Cloud
• Zendesk
• Zoho Desk

Unified Communications (UC) Tools

The tools play a crucial role in enhancing communication and collaboration within customer service operations. Here’s an elaboration on how these tools are utilized:

• Integration of communication channels: Unified communications involves the integration of various communication channels into a single, cohesive platform. This integration typically includes channels such as phone calls, emails, and chat systems. The primary objective is to streamline communication and provide a unified interface for both customers and customer service agents.
• Seamless interaction: One key aspect of unified communications is the ability for agents to seamlessly switch between different communication channels. For example, an agent can start a conversation with a customer via email, and if the issue requires more immediate attention, smoothly transition to a phone call or live chat. This flexibility allows for a dynamic and adaptive approach to customer interactions.
• Fostering collaboration: Unified Communications tools foster collaboration among customer service agents and across departments. When all communication channels are integrated, agents can easily share information and insights gained from interactions. For instance, if a customer initiates contact through email, but later follows up with a phone call, the agent handling the call can quickly access the email history to provide a more informed and cohesive response.
• Consistent customer experience: By consolidating communication channels, Unified Communications ensures a consistent customer experience. Customers can choose their preferred communication method, and regardless of the channel, they receive a uniform level of service. This consistency is crucial for building trust and meeting customer expectations.
• Efficient issue resolution: Agents equipped with Unified Communications tools can access a comprehensive view of customer interactions. This accessibility enables quicker issue resolution, as agents have a complete history of the customer’s communication, allowing them to pick up where the previous interaction left off. This reduces redundancy and enhances the overall efficiency of problem-solving.
• Adaptability to diverse platforms: Unified communications is designed to adapt to the diverse platforms used by both customers and agents. Whether a customer prefers email, a phone call, or a chat session, the Unified Communications platform ensures a seamless experience. Similarly, agents can manage and respond to queries from different platforms within a single interface.

Generative AI

By incorporating generative AI tools into their workflow, customer service teams can significantly improve their efficiency, responsiveness, and the quality of customer interactions. This technology acts as a valuable support system, empowering agents to provide more personalized and effective customer service.

According to Garner report, 83% of customer service leaders say that their enterprises either have plans to invert in Generative AI or have done so already.

Agents can use AI-powered tools to draft responses, with the AI system suggesting language and content based on historical interactions.

The main benefits are:

• Speeding up response times
• Maintaining consistency
• Assisting agents in crafting effective and customer-friendly messages.

Generative AI can assist in creating dynamic scripts for specific scenarios, ensuring agents have a structured yet adaptable framework for responding. It enhances consistency in responses while allowing flexibility based on the unique aspects of each interaction.

When faced with complex or technical queries, agents can use generative AI tools to generate detailed and accurate responses.

AI can assist agents in translating customer queries or responses into different languages. Enables agents to communicate effectively with customers who speak different languages, expanding the reach of customer support.

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality: The Next Frontier in Customer Engagement

Customer engagement is being transformed by Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), offering a new level of immersion. These technologies allow customers to realistically interact with products, explore virtual environments, virtually try on clothing or accessories, test drive cars and even take tours of real estate properties.

VR and AR present an exciting frontier in the realm of customer support, offering innovative ways to enhance the customer service experience. In the context of customer support, these technologies can revolutionize how businesses engage with their customers, address issues, and aid.

These immersive experiences greatly enhance the connection between customers and brands as they can visualize these offerings in an engaging way through VR/AR technology. By providing realistic interactions, customers can fully engage with the brand’s products and services at their convenience without physical constraints.

Summary

Customer service technology plays a crucial role in enhancing customer satisfaction and experiences. From utilizing AI to incorporating feedback for constant improvement, companies are continuously innovating to meet evolving customer demands.

The impact of technology on customer service goes beyond efficiency and cost reduction. It is about providing customized experiences, building trustworthiness, and fostering long-term relationships with customers. Understanding their needs and meeting expectations. On the other hand, it is a bout efficiency and comfort of customer service reps.

Going above and beyond will be even more important as we advance into the digital era.

As such, businesses should continue investing in technological advancements that improve interactions with customers for better outcomes.

Author: Katarzyna Skrzypiec, Bot Trainer & Coordinator at OEX VCC