You can have it cheap, fast or good. Pick two.
Not many companies give such an honest assessment of their ability, but this common phrase is true across the board. Rarely, if ever, do you get the luxury of getting all three from any product or service. Read More >
As a utility provider, you’ve kept the power on, you bill fairly and your technicians respond in a timely manner. That’s a great way to boost CX for utilities. But in today’s experience-driven world, it may not be enough to satisfy your customers.
Like all industries, customer expectations of utility providers have changed dramatically in the last decade. People aren’t just looking for the best product or service at the best price anymore. Instead, they want customer experiences (CX) to remember and brands that remember them.
When an emergency strikes, you pick up the phone and call 911. A helpful call taker confirms your address, gets the details of the emergency, and help arrives within minutes. Sounds simple, right?
If you’re dialing 911 from your office, a hotel or a remotely connected softphone, that simple interaction may actually be a pretty complex transaction. It requires multiple systems to integrate and communicate to get you the help you need. West supports the journey of a 911 call from start to finish. Read on to find out what happens behind the scenes and learn about the technologies that enable enterprise 911.
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Most people don’t dial 9-1-1 and then hang up. Most people don’t realize that a 9-1-1 abandoned call taxes already limited emergency response and communications resources. Most of the time, when someone dials 9-1-1 for help, it is the worst moment of their life and they need immediate emergency assistance.
Peak energy demand credits are great. They put less stress on utility infrastructure, reduce wasted electricity and give many customers a discount on their bill.
But none of those benefits are possible if utility customers don’t know about them. Or just as unfortunate, they know but choose to ignore them. Read More >
Proactive communication helps guide utility customers down the right path. But sometimes you need them to make the most efficient, cost-effective or responsible choice on their own. Yet even when customers want to make the right decision, they oftentimes still need to contact you for help. That’s where inbound communication tools for utilities can help, and summer is a great time to get started.
Inbound communication tools for utilities are really no different than tools used in other industries. They include solutions like chatbots, contact center software, interactive voice response (IVR), webchat, email, web portals and more. So you may already be quite familiar with these tools and just need some guidance on how to get more from them. Read More >
Mary Boyd, VP of Government and Regulatory Affairs
The first 911 call placed on February 16, 1968 marked a turning point for our country. More importantly, however, the 911 ecosystem that we take for granted would not be possible without the contributions of an extraordinary group of men and woman who have dedicated their careers to saving lives.
By now, you’ve heard that millennials are paying more for experiences and that customer experience will be the driving factor for the majority of businesses in the next few years. But does that hold true for healthcare, too?
In recent years, patients often elect to receive healthcare through mobile apps, outpatient treatment and clinics instead of hospitals, according to Modern Healthcare. That’s driven heavily by cost and changes to insurance, but it opens the door to a larger shift. Read More >
By John Snapp, VP of Technology
Earlier this month, I presented to carriers and PSAPs about new solutions that promise a better location earlier in the 9-1-1 call flow. I also spoke about the methodology and results from West’s location testing and trials with Google’s Android-based ELS (handset-initiated location).
The following addresses the questions I wasn’t able to respond to during the live event.
Q: We received many similar questions around the timing and availability of the wireless 9-1-1 location technologies discussed. Many asked, when will these solutions be made available? How soon will PSAPs start to benefit from the improved location? What are the potential implementation impacts to carriers and PSAPs?
