We all know the old adage ‘nobody ever got sacked for buying IBM’ but in the call recording industry there is no obvious supplier or product, which comes out on top. So how do you even begin to approach the complexities involved in buying what is no longer a simple call recording solution? An Analysis, Objectives and Results (AOR) study is generally a good starting point to assist in defining your business goals and objectives whilst getting everybody focussed on the end goal. Alongside this a Development Needs Analysis (DNA) can be carried out so that product recommendations can be made based on true business needs. A DNA typically includes a review of the current practices within the contact centre. This covers areas such as quality assurance, agent coaching and feedback, agent and management training, organisational structure and relationships, performance measurements and customer satisfaction measurements. By examining and evaluating these areas, recommendations can then be made on solutions for improving business performance. Once you know what you need to buy, you need to consider how you are going to buy it. The hosted option is a popular choice for SME’s who don’t want an upfront capital outlay and prefer a pay-as-you-go model. It also enables businesses to generate revenue at the same time as paying for the service. This can work well, for example in outsourced contact centres when running short and long term campaigns which require expansion and contraction of resource. There are also options to rent, lease or acquire managed service contracts, each option comes with its own benefits, but ultimately you need to choose a solution that dovetails effectively into your business and financial model. At this point you know what you want to buy and how you want to buy it – is there anything else left to consider? Following your due diligence you need to have decided what is important to you. Is it down to cost, functionality, after sales service and support, choice, expertise or is it a combination of some or all of these things? The cost of making the wrong technology investment can be very high, going beyond the equipment itself, but with the right planning and preparation, an investment can prove beneficial and can give you the sustainable, competitive edge that will differentiate your business from others. Contact us for information on Development Needs Analysis, on 0800 458 2988 or email [email protected]. Written by: Business Systems UK
Blog 28 August, 2025 What is Conversational AI? A Beginner’s Guide to Smarter CX In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses are under increasing pressure to deliver seamless and efficient customer experiences (CX). Customers expect quick responses, personalised interactions, and 24/7 availability. This is where Conversational AI comes in. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP), Conversational AI enhances customer service, automates interactions, and significantly improves operational
Blog 23 July, 2025 Mike Wardell Appointed Executive Chairman We are pleased to announce that Mike Wardell, former CEO of Business Systems Ltd, has transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman of both Business Systems and Wordwatch. This strategic move marks a significant milestone for both brands as they continue to strengthen their market-leading positions in customer contact solutions and communications governance and archiving.
Blog 16 July, 2025 Unlocking the Power of Conversation: How Interaction Analytics Is Reshaping Contact Centre Workforce Planning Contact centres are no longer just cost centres – they’re goldmines of actionable insight. And in 2025, forward-thinking customer contact leaders are discovering that the most untapped resource in their operations isn’t in headcount or tech—it’s the conversations they’re already having. Welcome to the era of interaction analytics. With the power to transform how you
Blog 8 July, 2025 From Hype to Impact: AI Strategies for Maximum ROI AI is revolutionising customer contact – but for many contact centres, the results aren’t matching the promise. Despite a surge in experimentation, too many organisations find themselves in “pilot paralysis”: high on potential, low on return. Contact centres need to adopt AI, but many are hitting the same wall: inconsistent ROI. Why? Because not all
Blog 3 June, 2025 Why Workforce Engagement is Key to Retaining Contact Centre Agents Call of Duty: Why Engaged Agents Stay in Contact Centres One repeat challenge our consultants see when we partner with new organisations is Agent retention. With increasing customer expectations, hybrid working models, and AI-driven efficiencies reshaping the contact centre industry, there is always an ongoing pressure for organisations to keep agents engaged and motivated in
Blog 15 May, 2025 How OpenAI’s o3 and o4 Mini Models are a major step forward in Conversational AI for Contact Centres The release of OpenAI’s latest large language models – o3 and o4 mini – represents a major step forward in the evolution of enterprise-grade AI for customer service. These new models are purpose-built to handle complexity, improve reasoning, and scale automation without compromising control or compliance. For contact centres looking to enhance customer experiences and
Blog 1 April, 2025 AI Agents in Contact Centres: Are You Ready for the Future? The Future of Customer Service is Here The contact centre industry is undergoing a significant transformation. Rising customer expectations, increasing operational costs, and workforce shortages are putting immense pressure on businesses to deliver seamless customer experiences while maintaining profitability. The companies that embrace AI agents today are the industry leaders of tomorrow – those that
Blog 10 February, 2025 What is Agentic AI and Why Does It Matter to You? Agentic AI is transforming contact centres by enabling systems to act autonomously, adapt to new situations, and proactively achieve goals – much like a human agent. But how does it differ from traditional automation, and why should contact centre leaders take notice? What is Agentic AI? Unlike rule-based automation, Agentic AI makes independent decisions, learns