According to 44% of support teams, bringing data together in a single source of truth is their number-one challenge. These teams are often battling disparate tech and switching between tools, the results of which are disastrous for contact center productivity.
Contact center optimization software transforms customer service teams by simplifying processes, improving staff management, and leveraging data for informed decision-making. This is crucial for keeping customers happy, reducing costs, and boosting agent productivity, ultimately leading to better business outcomes. Plus, it unifies siloed data into a single platform.
In this article, we’ll dive into what contact center optimization software is, spotlight the top solutions in 2024, and provide tips for implementing it to achieve the best results.
The best contact center optimization software of 2024
Assembled is the best contact center optimization software for real-time management
Verint Workforce Management is best for simplifying customer interactions across digital channels
Genesys Cloud CX is best for AI-powered operations
Calabrio is best for customer engagement analytics
NICE CXone is best for unified customer communications
What is a contact center optimization software
Contact center optimization software is a specialized tech solution designed to boost agent productivity and enhance the performance of customer service teams. Its primary purpose is to streamline and optimize tedious, repetitive tasks, including call center scheduling, staff management, and customer interactions.
This software typically includes a suite of tools and features that tackle various aspects of contact center optimization, such as:
Workforce management (WFM): Predicting call volumes, scheduling call center agents, and ensuring adequate staffing
Performance analytics: Tracking key performance metrics and providing insights into agent and team performance
Quality assurance: Monitoring and reviewing customer interactions to maintain high service standards
Call routing and distribution: Efficiently directing customer inquiries to the most suitable and available agents
Omnichannel support: Managing customer interactions across various channels (phone, email, chat, and social media) within a single system
Real-time monitoring and reporting: Offering managers up-to-the-minute data on contact center performance
Speech and text analytics: Analyzing customer conversations to understand sentiments, trends, and areas for improvement
Customer journey mapping: Tracking and enhancing the entire customer experience across different touchpoints
Automation and AI integration:Contact center automation uses chatbots and virtual assistants to handle routine queries automatically
Training and coaching tools: Assisting agents in skill development and continuous improvement
These features all work together to enhance customer loyalty by reducing wait times, increase operational efficiency by optimizing resource allocation, and support better decision-making through data-driven insights.
Top 5 contact center optimization software of 2024
As businesses strive to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency, choosing the right contact center optimization software is crucial. Here are the top contact center optimization software solutions for 2024, each with unique features, pros and cons, and pricing.
1. Assembled
Assembled’s suite of workforce-ready features makes it the ideal contact center optimization software for businesses of all sizes. Our advanced forecasting capabilities and powerful real-time performance monitoring grow with your business, helping you identify workflow bottlenecks and deliver an exceptional experience for both your staff and customers.
Top features
Advanced forecasting and scheduling. Assembled's innovative forecasting and scheduling tools ensure you're always staffed to perfection. By accurately predicting call volumes and interactions, we help you reduce wait times and exceed customer expectations.
Real-time performance monitoring. Get instant insights into agent performance and operational metrics. This real-time visibility empowers you to make quick adjustments, maintaining high service levels effortlessly.
Multi-channel support management. Seamlessly manage multiple support channels, including email, live chat, phone, and social media. Assembled ensures consistent service quality across all platforms, keeping your customers delighted.
Integration capabilities. Easily integrate Assembled with your existing CRM and workforce management tools. Centralize your data and processes for better, more informed decision-making.
AI and automation. Leverage AI to superpower agents and automate repetitive tasks. This allows your support teams to focus on resolving complex customer issues.
Reviews
“Assembled makes me look like a wizard when it comes to forecasting. I'm able to accurately project labor needs which drives down our cost to serve and accelerates our path to profitability. It is incredibly easy to use, both administratively and from a front line agent perspective. It is my team's first window they open each day. And all this goes without mentioning the WORLD CLASS customer support that they offer. No vendor has ever done it better in my experience.”
Pros
User-friendly interface and easy implementation
Accurate forecasting and scheduling tools
Seamless integration with existing systems
Excellent customer support and responsiveness to feedback
Cons
Limited custom reporting options
Time-off management not linked with some HR platforms
Limited audit trail tracking for time-off requests from an admin perspective
Verint Workforce Management is a software tool designed to help businesses plan and manage their customer service teams more effectively. It predicts contact center demand, creates optimized employee schedules, and tracks performance to ensure the right number of staff are available at the right times.
Key features:
Real-time adherence monitoring
Omnichannel support management
Employee self-service portal
Performance analytics and scorecards
Automated guidance and coaching for agents
Integration with CRM systems like Salesforce and Zendesk
Reviews
“Verint WFM is so easy to use, it makes real-time scheduling a breeze. It gives great suggestions on placing as many Advocates in the proper time slot to ensure we have maximum coverage.”
Pros and cons
Comprehensive feature set for large, complex operations
Strong integration capabilities
Robust suite of paid professional services
Cons:
Can be complex to set up and configure initially
May be overly complex for smaller operations
Limited flexibility for certain scheduling adjustments across campaigns
Can be challenging to use for low-volume queue forecasting
Genesys Cloud CX is an all-in-one customer service platform that empowers businesses to manage their contact centers and customer interactions. It provides tools for handling phone calls, emails, chats, and social media messages, alongside robust features for workforce optimization and analytics to enhance the overall customer experience.
Key features:
Omnichannel support across voice, email chat, SMS, and social media
AI-powered routing and automation
Real-time and historical analytics
Self-service options, including IVR, chatbots, and voice bots
Agent workspace with unified interface
Integration capabilities with CRM systems
Customizable reporting
Reviews
“Genesys brings a lot to the table with robust customer support, features, and accessibility. The platform is easy to use and straightforward with an incredibly useful help feature for base definitions. An administrator can walk into this program and see success with baseline knowledge.”
Pros
Decent omnichannel capabilities across different platforms
AI-powered tools for better routing and automation
Connects with your existing CRM and other systems
Cons
Can be complex for smaller operations
You need a higher-tier plan to access advanced features
Calabrio ONE is a cloud-based customer engagement and analytics platform designed to help businesses optimize their workforce and enhance customer experiences across multiple channels. The platform provides comprehensive tools for workforce management, quality management, and advanced analytics to drive efficient and effective customer service operations.
Key features:
Omnichannel support, including voice, email, chat, and social media
Analytics for customer and workforce insights
AI-driven speech and text analytics
Customizable dashboards and reporting
Integration with leading CRM systems and business tools
Quality management and compliance recording
Automated forecasting and scheduling
Reviews
“Calabrio ONE automatically completes my manual tasks, such as meeting scheduling, allowing me to focus on building dashboards and analytics. I'm able to provide the rest of our team the data they need upfront to be successful and impactful in their roles as supervisors or managers.”
Pros
Powerful analytics and reporting capabilities
Integration with various CRM systems
Quality management features
Scalable for businesses of different sizes
Cons
Initial setup can be time-consuming
Pricing can be higher compared to some competitors
NICE CXone is a comprehensive customer service platform that unifies tools for managing calls, emails, chats, and social media interactions in one place. It offers features such as workforce management, analytics, and artificial intelligence to help businesses enhance their customer experience and improve contact center efficiency.
Key features:
Omnichannel support across 40+ communication channels
AI-powered virtual agents and chatbots
Interactive voice response (IVR) with natural speech recognition
Historical analytics in customizable dashboards
Quality management and call recording
Proactive outbound dialing capabilities
Agent assistance tools with real-time guidance
Reviews
“The platform is very user-friendly. They are prompt with customer support when needed. It is very customizable to match to the CRM that you are using.”
Pros
Comprehensive suite of features for complete contact center management
Key features to look for in a contact center optimization software
There might be several reasons you need contact center optimization software. Perhaps you're grappling with disparate and fragmented tools, forcing agents to switch between multiple screens. Maybe you lack real-time visibility and end up making assumptions. Or maybe call volumes are skyrocketing and you can't keep up.
Whatever your reasons, it's crucial to choose software that fits your unique needs. Here are some things to consider.
Advanced forecasting and scheduling
Tools that predict future call volumes and staffing needs enable you to assign the right number of agents with the right skills at the right times. This not only reduces customer wait times but also empowers your team members to perform at their best. Assembled’s predictive modeling leverages past data to forecast future outcomes, allowing you to prepare ahead of time.
Omnichannel support
The software you choose should be capable of handling customer interactions across multiple channels, including phone, email, chat, SMS, and social media. This ensures an enjoyable customer experience by allowing agents to view and manage all interactions from a single window.
Real-time analytics and reporting
47% of support teams plan to invest in data and analytics, highlighting the shift towards data-driven decision-making. Choosing a tool with powerful analytics is the first step to enhancing service levels and customer satisfaction.
These tools provide instant insights into key performance indicators (KPIs) such as call volume, average handling time, and customer satisfaction. Managers can then make data-driven decisions quickly, identify trends, and address any issues as they arise.
AI and automation
If your CX operations involve a lot of repetitive tasks, look for contact center solutions with automation capabilities to handle common customer queries or route calls based on customer needs.
With 70% of support teams planning to use AI in the next year, it’s a crucial part of your contact center tech stack. AI can be integrated into core support processes to improve efficiency and accuracy, leading to better outcomes and happier customers.
Integration capabilities
Make sure the software you choose integrates seamlessly with your existing systems, such as your CRM software, helpdesk tools, and other business apps.
You might also want to assess software for:
Quality management: How does it monitor and improve agent performance?
Security: How does it handle encryption and data protection?
Agent scorecards: How will you assess and track individual agent performance?
Conversational analytics: How will you extract insights from customer interactions?
How to implement a contact center optimization software
Implementing call center software can transform your customer experience, boost efficiency, and elevate your overall performance. Ready to make it happen? Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:
1. Define objectives and goals
Start by clearly defining what you want to achieve with the new software. Are you aiming to reduce call wait times, improve agent performance, or enhance customer satisfaction? Having clear objectives will guide your selection and implementation process.
2. Evaluate and choose the right software
Research options: Dive deep into your research to find software that aligns with your specific needs. Look for features like advanced analytics for smarter decision-making and real-time reporting for instant insights.
Request demos and trials: Don’t commit without trying it first. Request demos and trials to test functionality, ease of use, and to ensure it meets your requirements.
Check integration: Ensure the software seamlessly integrates with your existing systems. A unified view of customer interactions and data is key to smooth operations.
3. Plan the implementation process
Develop a timeline: Map out a detailed implementation timeline with specific milestones. This keeps your project on track and ensures tasks are completed on time.
Allocate resources: Assemble a dedicated project team and equip them with the necessary resources. This might include IT professionals, contact center managers, and end users.
Risk management: Identify potential risks that could derail the project and develop strategies to mitigate them. Consider technical issues, resistance to change, or data migration challenges.
4. Customize and configure the software
Once you’ve selected the software, focus on customizing and configuring it to meet your specific needs. This may involve setting up workflows, integrating with other systems, and configuring user roles and permissions.
5. Full deployment
It’s time to start using the software. Ensure all users are trained on the new system — leverage agent training sessions and user manuals to keep everyone up to speed.
6. Monitor performance and optimize
Once your software is out in the wild and a core part of operations, continuously monitor its performance. Use real-time analytics and reporting tools to track key metrics and identify areas for improvement. Collect feedback from end users to understand what’s working and what’s not.
7. Evaluate ROI
Finally, evaluate the return on investment (ROI) of your new software. Compare performance metrics before and after implementation to determine if the software has met your objectives and goals.
The importance of choosing the right contact center optimization software
Choosing the right contact center optimization software is crucial for long-term success. It helps keep customers happy and loyal, which is essential in today’s dynamic business environment. By investing in effective software, you can achieve better performance and higher profits. Call center optimization software not only enhances the efficiency of your customer service teams but also ensures that customers receive consistent and high-quality support.