Abstract: According to one aspect, a first request is received at a services application programming interface (API) of a support center from a first user for a first product provided by a first client. A second request is received at the services API of the support center from a second user for a second product provided by a second client. A first knowledgebase (KB) associated with the first client and a second KB associated with the second client are identified. A third KB that contains information common to the first product and the second product is identified. The first KB and the third KB are enabled to be accessible by a first agent assigned to provide support services of the first product. The second KB and the third KB are enabled to be accessible by a second agent assigned to provide support services of the second product.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, it is determined, at a support center, a relationship between a first product provided by a first vendor and a second product provided by a second vendor. The first and second products have been purchased by a user via a purchasing facility associated with a client of the support center. In response to a first event received from the client or the first vendor indicating a change of the first product, a first message is transmitted to the user on behalf of the client notifying the user the change of the first product. A second message is automatically transmitted to the user offering a support service of a possible change of the second product in view of the relationship between the first and second products, without requiring the user to initiate a request for the support service.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a request is received at a support center a request from a user for registering a product, where the request includes a machine-readable code that uniquely represents the product. In response to the request, the product is identified and product information is compiled based on the machine-readable code without requiring the user to specifically provide the product information. The product information of the identified product is stored in a user asset store associated with the user, where the product information stored in the user asset store is utilized subsequently for supporting identified product.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a request is received at a support services application programming interface (API) of a support center that provides support services to a plurality of products of a plurality of vendors, where the request is received from a user for support services of a product. In response to the request, a case identifier (ID) is instantly generated that uniquely identifies a current instant support services session associated with the user for supporting the product. A touch plan is dynamically created representing an instance of the support services session, where the touch plan is identified and tracked by the case ID. A communication session is established between an agent and the user to allow the agent to provide support services to the user based on the touch plan.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a request is received at a services application programming interface (API) of a support center from a user for support services of a product. A first list of one or more communication channels that are available for the user to contact an agent of the support center is generated based on a second list of one or more communication channels preferred by the user and a third list of one or more communication channels preferred by a vendor associated with the product. The first list of one or more communication channels is transmitted via the service API to the user. In response to a selection of a communication channel from the first list, a communication session is established between the user and the agent via the selected communication channel for providing support services of the product on behalf of the vendor.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a request is received at a services application programming interface (API) of a support center from a user for support services of a product provided by a client of the support center. In response to the request, one or more articles associated with the product are identified that have been published in an online publication forum, where the articles have been extracted from a knowledgebase (KB) based on a support history of the product maintained by the support center. A list of support options is presented to the user, including a first one-touch button to contact an agent of the support center and a link to the one or more articles of the publication forum to allow the user to attempt finding a solution to the product without having to contact the agent of the support center.

Abstract: An approach for over the phone interpretation call management is provided herein. Calls from customers of a client are received at an interactive voice recognition (IVR) system, which determines a language of the caller by detecting the language or language selection by keypad entry. The IVR system forwards the call along with a modified ANI number to a Call Management Center (CMC), which determines an appropriate agent to handle the call based on the client information and the modified ANI number. The call is then forwarded to the agent and a screen corresponding to the call is activated in a call service application for the agent. Additional applications such as quality monitoring are concurrently executed with the call processing.

Abstract: In embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods of aligning an agent's compensation with an organization's goals, incentivizing an agent to improve their performance, and managing an agent. In one embodiment, the present invention includes defining a performance metric that relates to a goal of an organization. Performance levels are then defined for the performance metric. The performance levels are associated with performance values that an agent must meet to have their performance classified within a performance level. The method also includes providing a compensation rule that defines which of the performance levels an agent must achieve to change their current compensation. The performance of an agent with respect to the performance metric is then monitored to generate an agent performance, which is compared to the previously established achievement values to determine an agent's performance level.

Abstract: In embodiments, the present invention relates to methods and systems for monitoring performance of employees, contractors and other agents employed to perform tasks on behalf of a company, business organization or other entity. In an embodiment, the present invention involves defining performance metrics that relate to achievement values. The achievement values are associated with defined performance levels. Performance statistics that relate to an agents performance are collected and compared to the achievement values to characterize an agent's performance within one of the performance levels. The performance level achieved by an agent and the compensation of the agent are graphically displayed, and in some embodiments used to determine compensation adjustments.

Abstract: A read-only bootable media is provided in which a remote agent loads the read-only bootable media onto a computer. The read-only bootable media provides a customized operating system that is run in the computer's volatile memory. The read-only media also disables any persistent storage connected to the agent computer or devices connected to the agent computer. This protects the agent's computer and any networks that the agent connects to from malicious software. Also, by disabling persistent storage, confidential information is protected from unauthorized retention by the agent.

Abstract: Call center management with at home agent access based on caller language is provided herein. Calls from customers of a client are received at an interactive voice recognition (IVR) system, which determines a language of the caller by detecting the language or language selection by keypad entry. The IVR system determines an available at home agent with the proper language skills and forwards the call to be processed by the at home agent. The at home agents can call the call center to set their status. Information associated with the call may be collected and used by associated system(s) such as quality control, status monitoring, financial processing, and the like.

Abstract: In embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods of handling calls received from customers. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a call from a customer who called a promotional telephone number. The phone call is connected to an IVR system. The IVR system maintains a set of rules for handling calls. The method further includes creating a call detail record, which includes a unique identifier, a source telephone number, and the promotional telephone number. A customized greeting is then played to the customer based on the promotional telephone number the customer dialed. Based on the rules for handling calls, the call is redirected from the IVR system to an agent along with transmitting and displaying the call detail record to the agent.

Abstract: The present invention, as embodied in the claims, relates to customer care management via a communications systems and methods including, in embodiments, a combination of automated and human services to be provided to a customer in a retail store environment in real time. For example, one embodiment of the present invention provides an automated method for assisting a customer in a retail store comprising: identifying the customer; periodically identifying the customer's position in the store; identifying a product of interest to the customer; and communicating information to the customer via a remote specialized sales agent or other audio, visual and/or computer data relevant to the customer.

Abstract: An approach for monitoring interaction between individuals engaged in a communication session is disclosed. The individuals are described herein as a customer service representative and a customer and the communication session is accomplished over a communication network. Audio data embodying the communication session is copied and stored to a media file in conjunction with video data captured by a video capture device monitoring the customer service representative. The media file is a data structure in which the audio data and the video data are stored in segmented fashion. Each segment of audio data is associated with a segment of video data based on a common time reference, thereby providing synchronized documentation of the communication session. The media file is stored on a database and available to a supervisor using a server computer to monitor the communication session for quality assurance or other evaluation purposes.

Abstract: A system and method for the rapid and visual web-based development of web-based customer service applications which render rich graphical user interfaces emulating the controls common to traditional desktop applications is disclosed. The rich user interface applications are comprised of scripting languages built with standard browser-based protocols and thus do not require the installation of any additional client-side or proprietary software applications. Not only is the user able to work on a rich user interface web application, but this application then allows the user to create, or develop, another web-based rich-thin-client application using visual programming tools.

Abstract: A risk management tool allows a user to enter information about a company of interest to determine if the company demonstrates fraudulent characteristics. The risk management tool contains a fraud radar, a credit velocity indicator, and a fraud database lookup. The credit velocity indicator is a measure of the number of user companies utilizing the risk management tool that are searching for information on the same company. The fraud radar shows a visual representation of the historical fraudulent activity surrounding a given geographical area specified by zip code. The fraud database lookup indicates the matches found for the company of interest and allows a user to drill down on any or all of the matches. These three different measures of risk are combined and displayed graphically for the user, allowing the user to make a better informed decision instead of relying on a single credit resource derived score.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and method for providing information to an in-store customer. An embodiment of the system includes several radio frequency identification (RFID) tags placed in predetermined areas within the shopping area. A mobile device, carried by the customer, receives signals from the RFID tags. The signals are used to determine the location of the customer within the store. The determined location is used by an information server to return location-specific information and advertising to the mobile device. The mobile device displays the location-specific information and advertising to the customer.

Abstract: In embodiments, the present invention relates to methods and systems for monitoring performance of employees, contractors and other agents employed to perform tasks on behalf of a company, business organization or other entity. In an embodiment, the present invention involves defining performance metrics that relate to achievement values. The achievement values are associated with defined performance levels. Performance statistics that relate to an agents performance are collected and compared to the achievement values to characterize an agent's performance within one of the performance levels. The performance level achieved by an agent and the compensation of the agent are graphically displayed, and in some embodiments used to determine compensation adjustments.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for facilitating communication between a customer at a retail store and a specialized agent at a remote location. The customer uses an in-store smart client kiosk to initiate a communication session with the agent. The agent can instruct the smart client kiosk to display information relevant to the customer's questions. In embodiments, the messages are XML messages transmitted between the agent's device and the smart client kiosk. The XML information contains information to retrieve content, rather than the content itself, which allows the communication to take place over a small bandwidth connection. Communication takes place in an environment that does not require co-browsing, which allows the agent to analyze large amounts of information but send only helpful information to the client.

Abstract: In embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods of aligning an agent's compensation with an organization's goals, incentivizing an agent to improve their performance, and managing an agent. In one embodiment, the present invention includes defining a performance metric that relates to a goal of an organization. Performance levels are then defined for the performance metric. The performance levels are associated with performance values that an agent must meet to have their performance classified within a performance level. The method also includes providing a compensation rule that defines which of the performance levels an agent must achieve to change their current compensation. The performance of an agent with respect to the performance metric is then monitored to generate an agent performance, which is compared to the previously established achievement values to determine an agent's performance level.