XO Interactive and Genesys Announce On-Demand Proactive Communication Solutions for Six Key Vertical Markets

  • XO Leverages Genesys Customer Interaction Management Software, Creating On-Demand Voice Self-Service for Financial Services, Insurance, Banking, Healthcare, Pharma and Utilities

Wokingham, May 3, 2007 - Two of the leading providers of customer service software and managed services have unveiled new, on-demand proactive communication solutions designed for vertical markets, including financial services, banking, healthcare, pharmacy, utilities and insurance markets.

At G-Force, North America's largest annual meeting of Genesys customers and partners, XO Interactive, a leading provider of Enterprise Voice Managed Services and a subsidiary of XO Communications, and Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc., an Alcatel-Lucent company (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU), demonstrated how on-demand communication solutions can help businesses be more proactive in addressing customer service and support issues.

Proactive contact is the use of outbound contact technology to anticipate customer needs and provide notification using any of several communication channels, including telephone, SMS, instant messaging, voice messages and paging. Key industry analysts are pointing to proactive contact as a new opportunity to improve customer loyalty and satisfaction.

In fact, a surprisingly large number of customers appreciate proactive communication and can become more loyal if it is used effectively. A global survey of 4,300 consumers released this week by Genesys found that 89 per cent of consumers feel that proactive communications from companies by phone or by text can be a positive experience.

As an example, 87 per cent of consumers indicated having a more positive opinion of a supplier after receiving a courtesy call to thank them for their business or to ask about their satisfaction. When used effectively, this type of proactive communication can build customer relationships. Some types of proactive communication are also less intrusive than live agent calls, such as voice or text messages, so it’s important to match the communication to the right channel.

For businesses, proactive communication can also help increase average revenue per customer, reduce the cost of customer service and improve customer retention.  

A wide variety of industries can leverage proactive communications. For example, retail pharmacies can reduce inbound order status calls and the cost of return-to-stock by using automated "will call" to notify customers of prescription status and availability.

Insurance companies find that policy renewals increase with frequent communications leading up to the renewal event, and the number of products sold per customer increases.  

Retailers already know that proactive communication with their most loyal customers can increase this segment's spending. Not only can retailers generate additional revenue but, they can provide information on order status while confirming information (e.g. shipping) to ensure the highest levels of service.

On-demand proactive communication solutions for vertical markets were demonstrated in both the G-Force exhibit hall and during key breakout sessions. On-demand services are part of the XO Enterprise Voice Managed Services suite, and leverage the Genesys voice self-service platform to provide companies with the flexibility to proactively contact customers with both simple notifications and speech-enabled transactional communications.

XO Interactive on-demand services also enable companies to use the Genesys platform to quickly and easily deliver voice messages to customers via an automated system, with content customised for these specific vertical markets.

At G-Force on Wednesday, April 25, XO Interactive hosted a one-hour session titled, "Touch Your Customers As Never Before." During this time, presenters covered the value proposition, shared supporting industry examples and a success story of a customer's communication innovation that drove additional revenue.

About XO Interactive
XO Interactive, a subsidiary of XO Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB:XOHO.OB), provides managed services to every industry and spans enterprise and medium business markets. As one of the nation's largest providers of voice self-service, XO Interactive delivers solutions of unparalleled scalability, at the highest quality and with carrier grade reliability from its geo-redundant data centres to some of the largest organisations of the Global 1000.

About Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc.
Genesys, an Alcatel-Lucent company, is the only company that focuses 100 per cent on software to manage customer interactions over the phone, web and in e-mail. The Genesys software suite dynamically connects customers with the right resources - self-service or assisted-service - to fulfill customer requests, optimise customer care goals and efficiently use resources. Genesys software directs more than 100 million customer interactions every day for 4,000 companies and government agencies in 80 countries. These companies and agencies can leverage their entire organisation, from the contact centre to the back office, to improve the overall customer experience. As a result, Genesys helps stop customer frustration, drive efficiency, and accelerate business innovation. For more information, go to www.genesyslab.com or visit the industry blog at www.betterinteractions.com

About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications, and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organisations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved adjusted proforma revenues of Euro 18.3 billion in 2006 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. [All figures exclude impact of activities transferred to Thales]. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: www.alcatel-lucent.com


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Media Contacts:
Lucille Jackson, Genesys, 0118 974 7144, ljackson@genesyslab.co.uk
Duncan Burford, UK PR for Genesys. 01780 721 433, dburford@iba-europe.com


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