There
are many IVR solutions that are used across
many industries. They solve general business
issues and are not tied to any particular
industry or method of doing business. All
businesses are faced with providing better
customer (external and internal) service
while dealing with cutting costs. The key
is to find those areas of the business where
automating processes makes the most sense
from both a financial and a customer impact
viewpoint.
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| INI AudioMENUS™ |
AudioMENUS™
is an audio-text scripting application
that answers phone calls in place
of an operator or receptionist. AudioMENUS™
also provides the ability to seamlessly
and immediately execute other, more
complex applications within it, such
as account inquiry, payment status,
credit card payment or any number
of other applications that are executed
based on caller choices within a menu.
AudioMENUS™ can be used as a
configurable application or as a foundational
element for building more complex
self service solutions.
Common uses of AudioMENUS™
include call routing, automated attendant,
frequently asked questions (FAQs),
and audio-text prompts. The application
guides callers to selections that
provide recorded information and extension
transfers. After connecting, the caller
hears recorded messages explaining
available choices and the phone keys
that activate each option. Customer
specified prompts present the options
for a caller in a clear, organized
manner. The design of AudioMENUS™
enables it to be configured to meet
specific company needs. Special definitions
can be implemented for holidays, closed
hours or other call flows.
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Each
menu is capable of: |
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Announcing only (audiotext) |
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Transferring
to an extension |
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Transferring to a remote
location |
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Transferring to an extension
number entered by the caller |
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Transferring
to a remote location entered
by the caller |
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Executing
another INI application
and returning, if desired,
to the same menu |
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Using
the Bookmark feature to
jump to another menu in
the call flow |
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Running an audio form and
returning to the same audio
menu (if integrated with
INI’ s AudioFORMS) |
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Disconnecting
the caller |
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Jumping
to a specific menu if the
caller does not enter anything
(for example, a rotary telephone
user) |
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Audio-Menus is most easily controlled
by screen-based administration. Options
and changes are displayed as they
are created, greatly reducing the
time needed and the likelihood of
errors. Phone-based administration
is necessary when changing audio prompts
and handy if AudioMENUS™ must
be altered remotely.
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Reports
AudioMenus has
standard reports available
to monitor status: |
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APPLICATION LIST |
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The
Application List report
provides a brief list of
the applications that have
been defined on this system. |
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APPLICATION DETAIL REPORT |
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This report provides a detailed
listing of the contents
of a single application
definition. |
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MENU
HIT REPORT |
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This
report lists all entries
by callers into specified
menus, and/or specific touch-tone
choices made within menus.
Data that is to be collected
is “labeled”
using the Report Labels
function from the System
Administration screens. |
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| Bulletin Board/Information Services |
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| Callers can retrieve information on
a variety of issues by simply following
the prompts. The information and the
specific flow of the prompts are set
up by the business to meet the needs
of their callers and can be modified
at any time. This is the most common
use of IVR solutions in the market today. |
| CTInsight |
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CTInsight
provides multiple benefits to businesses
with Avaya Call Centers. It is available
as an enhancement to Avaya Contact
Center Express (CCE) / Avaya Interaction
Center (IC) or as a stand-alone solution.
CTInsight offers three primary value
enhancements:
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Delivers information
to the agent desktop that
identifies the caller
and allows the agent to
more efficiently and effectively
handle the call. |
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Saves
time and dollars by using
business intelligence to
route calls to the correct
destination, reducing the
need for redirected calls. |
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Provides
a better experience by helping
callers get to the most
appropriate agent for their
needs and minimizing the
necessity to provide information
multiple times. |
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CTInsight is offered in a number of available
configurations. In the simplest form, it monitors incoming
calls for the associated Dialed Number Identification Service
(DNIS) and Automatic Number Identification (ANI) information
provided by the switched telephone network. CTInsight then
provides the mechanism to display that information to an
agent desktop at the same time the call arrives at the agent’s
telephone.
For the many business situations
in which ANI information would not
provide a reliable match with customer
records, CTInsight can be configured
to prompt the caller for other information
such as account number, home telephone
number or other unique identifier.
System confirmation of the caller’s
input can also be provided. At that
point, INI’s Data Connection
Plug-in (IDCP) can be invoked to query
a customer’s data system to
determine customer name, address,
customer ID, and routing information.
Collection and confirmation of the
caller’s information can be
done with a combination of Touch Tone,
Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR)
and/or Text-To-Speech (TTS), depending
on business requirements. |
| Customer Information Access |
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This
solution is called many things—Account
Inquiry, Order Status, Policy Information,
etc.—depending on the industry
using it. Simply put, it allows the
caller to access information from a
company database. Security generally
includes some type of identifying number
(customer Id, SSN, etc.) and a password.
Voice Authentication software moves
this to a higher level by having the
caller register their voiceprint prior
to actually using the solution. The
system stores this voiceprint and then
compares the caller’s voice to
the voiceprint each time the system
is accessed. The key benefits of this
type of solution are freeing up agent
time to handle more complicated calls,
extending service hours and options
for those callers who wish to get the
information as easily as possible, and
providing additional services not currently
available due to constrained agent time
to provide those services.
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| Emergency/Event Notification |
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Providing
an efficient method of notifying groups
of people in the event of an emergency
or some other planned event has gained
prominence in the wake of 9/11. Agencies
need to notify emergency personnel,
employees, and other personnel in a
proactive and traceable manner. Utilizing
“outcalling” functionality,
an automated system can be programmed
to notify these people in a timely manner.
Options include single or multiple lists
of “callees”, response verification,
alternate cascading number calling if
not reached on the first try, estimated
time of arrival upon notification, and
a variety of options specifically designed
to meet that agency’s needs. Contact
notification reports can be sent to
specific people via email or made available
via an Internet browser.
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At least yearly, employees are asked
to verify/modify their existing employee
benefits. This can be accomplished
with an IVR solution that prompts
the caller for their identifying number
and password, and then walks them
through a series of selection options.
This can be extremely sophisticated
with the use of speech recognition
technologies that allow the addition
of new family members, for example,
by simply saying or spelling the name
when prompted. Employees can request
forms to be emailed or faxed to them
when necessary.
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| Employee/Department Directory |
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| The caller is prompted to speak the
name of the person or department they
wish to talk to. The system then confirms
what was said, recognizes the input,
and transfers the caller to the desired
party. Information may be played prior
to the transfer, such as the extension
or telephone number, for future reference.
In addition to reducing the workload
for the company operator(s), this solution
simplifies the issue of publishing corporate
directories and having them go out of
date quickly. As more employees become
mobile and work virtual office, the
ability to call a single number to reach
the person you want is a productivity
saver. Since the database can be changed
real time as employees move or leave,
the system is always up to date. The
initial directory loading is drawn from
a variety of existing sources (HR database,
employee database, etc.) and requires
integration to existing legacy systems.
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| Expected Wait
Time/Queue |
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This
solution is used in call centers to
alert callers about lengths of wait
times and then to give them options
to handle the call if they don’t
want to wait. At the present time, we
provide this solution only behind Definity
PBX systems with call center software
activated.
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| Help Desk |
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IS
departments are being swamped with
trouble reports and spend a fair share
of their day responding to status
questions and opening trouble tickets.
The optimum would be to have the personnel
actively involved in resolving problems,
not collecting information. This solution
allows the employee to call the help
desk, input specified information
through customized prompts, and then
have the trouble ticket opened in
the help desk system. At any time,
the employee can call the system and
request a status. The status fields
generally indicate when resolution
is expected or if the ticket has already
been closed. IS employees are freed
from these time consuming tasks so
they can concentrate on problem resolution.
As a customized option, the system
can be set up to receive SNMP messages
from systems to open trouble tickets,
as well as generate general announcements
to callers when a specific geographic
area is affected by one of these troubles.
Email notifications can also be added
if that is the primary mode of communication.
Password Reset, utilizing voice authentication
technology for security, allows employees
to call the system to request a reset
for lost/forgotten passwords. The
system confirms the caller’s
identity using voice authentication
software and then either resets the
password or assigns a new one. The
new password can be spoken to the
caller or it can be sent to the caller’s
voicemail box for additional security.
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| Once a trouble ticket is opened, the
appropriate technician can be notified
via pager or wireless phone to alert
them about the ticket. This can be customized
so that only certain levels of troubles
(i.e. “red alert”, Level
1, etc.) receive this priority notification
treatment. The technician is prompted
for a response to indicate they have
received and accepted the trouble call.
They can also dial back into the system
when the trouble is resolved to close
the ticket and leave a specific message
for the trouble ticket initiator if
desired.
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| Label MAGIX™ |
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Label Magix™ is no longer available. Please call 800.732.3236 if you have any questions.
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| Monitor MAGIX™ |
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Monitor Magix™ is no longer available. Please call 800.732.3236 if you have any questions.
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Socket MAGIX™ |
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Socket MAGIX™ is a specialized SocketSPM software package and socket server device that connects to the Administration Port of MERLIN systems and exposes a TCP/IP socket that can be accessed remotely from an intranet or the Internet.
Problem:
Without Socket MAGIX™ system administrators and service providers can only access MERLIN systems remotely via dial-up methods, frequently involving human transfers. Such transfers are inconvenient, create reliability and security concerns, and can be expensive! Even on-site system administration requires a separate wire run, serial port and possibly a modem to administer a system.
Solution:
Socket MAGIX™ — a specialized software solution and server device that utilizes the Administration Port of MERLIN systems and exposes a TCP/IP socket that can be accessed securely and remotely from an intranet or the Internet for programming, configuring, and/or monitoring systems.
SocketMAGIX™ was developed in response to WinSPM user requests for a stable, TCP/IP connection to the Merlin Communication System. This development culminated in the release of the SocketMAGIX™ Connectivity kit in November 2001.
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Features and Benefits |
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- MERLIN systems can be accessed from anywhere on a network anytime.
- Multiple system administrators can program/administer the system from their own desk (one at a time).
- Provides a better environment for simultaneous programming of MERLIN Messaging and MERLIN MAGIX administration.
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Reliable |
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- More reliable connection than with modems.
- The TCP/IP link is not subject to noise and other signal distortions.
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Secure |
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- A security setting environment complete with 128-bit encryption.
- Eliminates the need for separate exposed passwords.
- Does not expose security holes permitted through *10 transfers and/or access lines.
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Economical |
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- Does not require expensive, dedicated remote system access lines.
- Saves the cost of wire run between MAGIX control unit and customer-provided PC running WinSPM.
- Saves a serial port for other uses on a connected PC.
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Flexible |
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- Works with both LEGEND and MAGIX systems.
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Avaya Certified |
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- Solution endorsed by Avaya Laboratories!
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| SureConnect™ |
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Allows callers to leave contact information so they can receive a call back rather than remaining on hold.
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| Time Clock Reporting |
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This
solution allows employees to call in
from a phone to “clock in”
to the time reporting system. It is
particularly useful where employees
may change work location regularly or
even multiple times during the day.
The employee is prompted for an identifier
(or Voice Authentication can be used),
a job site code, and any other information
needed for the system. The IVR system
passes this information to the time
reporting system real time. Various
reports and alerts are usually designed
to keep supervisors informed on pertinent
information. This solution does away
with lines at the time clock and eradicates
data entry errors that typically occur
when time cards are used.
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| User Interface |
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Both touchtone and speech technology
interfaces are in use in today’s
market. The application itself often
dictates the approach to be used, with
speech technologies gaining preeminence
due to their user friendliness and intuitive
approach. Speech technologies consist
of speech recognition, text to speech
translation, and voice authentication
for security of access to information.
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