Contact Center: Glossary

A contact center is a physical location where customer service representatives (CSRs) are employed to handle customer inquiries. The term can also refer to the customer service department of a company, which is often organized as a contact center. A contact center is typically equipped with a computer system, telephone system, and other customer service tools.

The term "contact center" is also used to describe a type of call center, which is a type of customer service center that handles customer inquiries through various channels, such as phone, email, web chat, and social media.

What are the 4 elements of contact centre?

1. The contact centre is the interface between the organisation and its customers. It is the point at which customer queries and requests are received and processed.

2. The contact centre must have the capability to handle a large volume of customer contacts. This requires a robust infrastructure and skilled staff.

3. The contact centre must be able to provide a high level of customer service. This means having the necessary skills and knowledge to deal with customer queries and requests efficiently and effectively.

4. The contact centre must be able to continuously improve its performance. This requires regular monitoring and assessment of performance indicators, and the implementation of corrective actions where necessary.

What is TA in call center?

There are many different types of call center systems, each with its own unique set of features and capabilities. However, all call centers share one common goal: to provide excellent customer service. This is where TA comes in.

TA, or technical assistance, is a vital part of any call center. It is the team that provides support to call center agents, helping them to resolve customer issues quickly and efficiently. Without TA, call center agents would be unable to do their jobs properly, and customers would be left feeling frustrated and angry.

TA teams are usually made up of highly skilled and experienced technical experts. They are responsible for ensuring that call center agents have the knowledge and tools they need to resolve customer issues. TA teams also work closely with call center managers, providing them with feedback and recommendations on how to improve the call center's overall performance.

What is PTR in call center?

PTR, or "Per Talk Time Ratio", is a metric used in the call center industry to measure agent productivity. It is the number of minutes an agent spends talking to a customer divided by the number of minutes they spend on after-call work. A high PTR indicates that an agent is spending more time talking to customers, and a low PTR indicates that an agent is spending more time on after-call work.

What are the main functions of a contact centre?

The three main functions of a contact centre are customer service, sales, and marketing.

Customer service is the primary function of a contact centre. This involves providing assistance to customers with questions or problems related to the product or service that the company offers. This can be done through various channels such as phone, email, or live chat.

Sales is the second main function of a contact centre. This involves generating leads and converting them into customers. This can be done through various channels such as phone, email, or live chat.

Marketing is the third main function of a contact centre. This involves creating and executing marketing campaigns to promote the product or service that the company offers. This can be done through various channels such as phone, email, or live chat.

What is the difference between contact center and call center?

The two terms are often used interchangeably, but there are some important distinctions. A call center is primarily focused on inbound or outbound calls, while a contact center encompasses calls, emails, and chats. In other words, a contact center is a multi-channel operation, while a call center is single-channel.

Another difference is that call centers are typically reactive, meaning they wait for calls to come in, while contact centers are proactive, meaning they actively reach out to customers. This difference is reflected in the way the two types of operations are structured. Call centers are typically organized around queues, with each agent handling the next call in line. Contact centers, on the other hand, are organized around skills, with each agent being responsible for a specific type of interaction.

Finally, call centers are typically focused on transaction-oriented interactions, such as taking an order or providing customer service. Contact centers, on the other hand, are focused on relationship-building interactions, such as sales or upselling.