Following my previous blog on PCI DSS Compliance, I had some push-back on my claim that confusion persists in UK organisations regarding call recording for PCI compliance. So it’s only fair and reasonable that I should justify my observations and explain precisely why I believe that some organisations still aren’t getting it. Business Systems specialises in call recording technology implementations and with 25 years’ experience as an independent provider we have pretty much designed, installed and provided on-going service delivery and support for most solutions. In our work in the industry, we have had a steady stream of engagements where clients have mistakenly believed that their call recording solutions met their PCI obligations. The four most common mistakes we see are: Access to our recorder is password protected: while this may be good systems management practice, it is not PCI Data Security Standards compliant. It still does not satisfy Requirement 3.2 which stipulates that no personal identification information should be captured or retained. Our recordings are encrypted: while this was initially viewed as being OK, there has been further clarification on encryption which rules it out: “Sensitive Authentication Data cannot be stored whether encrypted or not”. We use audio masking to obscure the sensitive data: while this approach (it’s a bit like a TV Bleep machine) may seem reasonable, it is not PCI DSS compliant as the sensitive authentication data is still being retained. At collection our agents pause & resume the recording: again this fails to meet requirements and has been the subject of an explicit clarification. Sensitive authentication data must be removed from recordings… “with no manual intervention by your staff”. The fact that the pause has to be initiated manually by the agent means that it is liable to human error as the agent may simply forget to pause the recording. If you want to find out more on how Business Systems can help you ensure compliance, feel free to contact us: 0800 458 2988, [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