Genesys launches initiative to connect eServices, contact centres and next-generation communications into a single customer conversation

  • Genesys will enable enterprises to proactively manage customer experiences across a wide range of devices, including the phone, Web, branches and smartphones 
CAMBERLEY, UK, May 5th, 2009 - Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, an Alcatel-Lucent company (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU), announced at its annual G-Force conference a key initiative called Cross Channel Conversations, designed to eliminate the silos between traditional contact centres, the Web and next-generation communication channels. The new initiative will result in solutions that bring together critical elements of the contact centre, enterprise resources in the branch and back office, and virtual technologies, including the Web, chat, SMS, video, avatars, virtual assistants and smartphones with mobile applications. 

In outlining its Cross Channel Conversations initiative, Genesys said that major changes are needed if companies are to successfully adapt their businesses to serve a growing wave of  consumers who interact across multiple channels. To support Cross Channel Conversations, Genesys will provide an integrated platform to serve as the hub of these interactions and enable enterprises to deliver a differentiated customer experience blending all of the  possible communication channels – voice, Web, mobile, IM and others – into a single conversation. Cross Channel Conversations allows a customer to seamlessly hop from one channel to another according to his/her preferences without losing the context of the interaction, resulting in a differentiated experience and the proactive management of 'moments of truth'.

This vision builds on Genesys' intelligent Customer Front Door (iCFD) initiative, introduced in 2008, that integrated virtually all of the key technologies in speech recognition, self-service innovations, and business processes. This initiative marked a shift from frustrating IVR menus and 'voice mail jail' to a single intelligent self-service and live-service user experience, enabling customers to easily move from a voice-activated, self-service system to a live agent without delay.

With Cross Channel Conversations, Genesys is moving to break down similar barriers between a variety of emerging communications channels. The initial emphasis is on blending Contact Centres and eServices in order to enable consumers to interact with an organisation with whatever technology is most appropriate and efficient.

"One of the greatest difficulties in customer service is to federate the context and history of  the request based on past interactions on the same topic that might have been over different channels. Genesys' Cross Channel Conversations addresses one of the key challenges in customer service today by preserving continuity and consistency over multiple channels," said Nicolas de Kouchkovsky, president of Genesys. "As the conversation moves, numerous systems must be orchestrated to help the consumer navigate and to proactively offer the most relevant resources in the enterprise to solve an issue." 

"Genesys is addressing one of the key issues companies face today as they see a generational shift in customer service. Consumers prefer having the choice of a variety of  channels as they move from initial research, to purchasing, to service. As companies add more channels, they need to provide consistency in a complex environment. To deal with  this complexity companies must move towards integrated, multichannel customer interaction platforms," said Ian Jacobs, senior analyst at Datamonitor.

"The Genesys Cross Channel Conversation initiative was developed because a growing  number of our enterprise customers are asking for a comprehensive solution," Nicolas de  Kouchkovsky said. "We have drawn from the best practices of companies from around the globe who have provided valuable experience in how to unlock value through this type of  integration."

For example:
  • In the Middle East, a 3G service provider has created advanced multimedia contact centres that combine video, voice and SMS, with voice recognition, avatars and other  advanced self-service choices. The video call centre and IVR technology has enabled seven million Egyptian customers to access self-help videos or to interact live with agents via video-enabled mobile phones

  • In Latin America, a leading telecommunications provider has integrated SMS text to complement their live customer service and automated voice self-service platforms. The company leveraged its traditional contact centre business processes and customer relationship management software to create a single environment for all customer interactions. As a result, it has enabled both inbound and outbound SMS, giving customers a greater number of choices for interaction while avoiding silos and customer disconnects throughout the process

  • In Europe, one of the region's fastest growing banks has extended customer service to virtually anywhere within its organisation. By leveraging a unique combination of  presence and availability to Unified Communications and customer service, the company can give customers access to virtually any of the 6,000 key employees in a branch or back office, improving its responsiveness

  • In South Africa, a leading premium television entertainment provider improved its customers' experience by creating an intelligent customer front door that leverages sophisticated speech recognition to improve customer satisfaction with voice platforms and to break down the barriers between self service and live service when customers need to talk to a live agent. Using speech technology coupled with built-in business processes, they can quickly identify the customer's needs and intent, and make a determination on using automated or live service
Solutions based on the Genesys Cross Channel Conversations initiative will include the following key features:
  • Support for the widest breadth of channels: Cross Channel Conversations supports any interaction type as part of a customer conversation – spanning phone, Web, chat, video, mobile, virtual assistants, SMS and voice self-service

  • Proactive management of conversations across channels: No matter what interaction channel a customer uses over time, Cross Channel Conversations manages one  customer conversation – so that enterprise can optimise the outcome of customer  interactions

  • Pooling or mobilising resources across the enterprise to leverage all talents: Cross Channel Conversations aligns every conversation with the ideal resource based upon business value, skill set and availability – so an enterprise can provide its best  resources to address customer needs
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) is the trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, providing solutions to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global services organisation in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 16.98 billion in 2008 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

Media Contact:
Duncan Burford, UK PR for Genesys, 01780 721 433, dburford@iba-europe.com

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