System and method for integrated customer management
First Claim
1. A method for customer inquiry management via an automated management system, wherein the automated management system includes a programmable management server comprising a customer database and a resource repository, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving customer service representative access information from a customer service representative upon access to the system by the customer service representative, wherein a previously stored profile of the customer service representative is retrieved using at least some of the access information;
(b) assigning the customer service representative to perform one or more unique, predefined roles based on the customer service representative'"'"'s profile, wherein the role assignment is based on the customer service representative'"'"'s qualifications stored in the profile, including training, expertise and language fluency, wherein further the role comprises advisor, researcher, quality assurance representative, librarian or administrator, wherein further role assignment is based on the most appropriately qualified customer service representative that is accessing the system for that role;
(c) thereafter receiving an inquiry from a customer;
(d) routing the inquiry to a customer service representative previously assigned to the role of an advisor, wherein the advisor generates a research request based on the inquiry;
(e) submitting the research request to a resource repository;
(f) searching the resource repository for potential solutions, resources or other information in response to the inquiry;
(g) assigning a level of match of the research request in relation to the information available in the resource repository based on the search of the resource repository; and
(h) responding to the inquiry based upon the level of match.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated system and method for customer management deploys customer databases to profile customer service requests for distribution to appropriately assigned agent representatives. The representatives adopt particular roles according to customer care volume, inquiry type, time of day and other customer management needs. Consumer profiles may be accessed in real time to combine customer care events with cross-selling and other promotions related to the consumer'"'"'s transaction history and other factors.
139 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for customer inquiry management via an automated management system, wherein the automated management system includes a programmable management server comprising a customer database and a resource repository, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving customer service representative access information from a customer service representative upon access to the system by the customer service representative, wherein a previously stored profile of the customer service representative is retrieved using at least some of the access information;
(b) assigning the customer service representative to perform one or more unique, predefined roles based on the customer service representative'"'"'s profile, wherein the role assignment is based on the customer service representative'"'"'s qualifications stored in the profile, including training, expertise and language fluency, wherein further the role comprises advisor, researcher, quality assurance representative, librarian or administrator, wherein further role assignment is based on the most appropriately qualified customer service representative that is accessing the system for that role;
(c) thereafter receiving an inquiry from a customer;
(d) routing the inquiry to a customer service representative previously assigned to the role of an advisor, wherein the advisor generates a research request based on the inquiry;
(e) submitting the research request to a resource repository;
(f) searching the resource repository for potential solutions, resources or other information in response to the inquiry;
(g) assigning a level of match of the research request in relation to the information available in the resource repository based on the search of the resource repository; and
(h) responding to the inquiry based upon the level of match. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An automated customer inquiry system, including a programmable management server comprising a customer database, an assignment module, and a resource repository, the system comprising:
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(a) a customer service representative assignment unit for receiving customer service representative access information from a workstation of a customer service representative upon access to the system by the customer service representative, and for assigning the customer service representative to perform one or more unique, predefined roles based on the customer service representative'"'"'s profile stored in the assignment unit, wherein the profile is retrieved using at least some of the access information;
(b) an inquiry receiving unit for receiving an inquiry from a customer at a customer access device, wherein the management server is capable of communicating with the customer access device via at least one communication channel;
(c) an inquiry routing unit for routing the inquiry to a customer service representative previously assigned to the role of an advisor, wherein the advisor generates a research request based on the inquiry;
(d) a research request routing unit for submitting the research request to a resource repository;
(e) a search unit for searching the resource repository for potential solutions, resources or other information in response to the inquiry;
(f) a search result assignment unit for assigning a level of match of the research request in relation to the information available in the resource repository based on the result of the search of the resource repository; and
(g) a submission unit for automatically submitting the inquiry to a researcher if the level of match is zero, indicating no responses located from the search of the resource repository, or if the level of match is greater than one, indicating more than one response is located from the search of the resource repository; and
wherein the customer service representative role assignment is based on that customer service representative'"'"'s qualifications, including training, expertise and language fluency, wherein further the assigned role comprises advisor, researcher, quality assurance representative, librarian or administrator, wherein further role assignment is based on the most appropriately qualified customer service representative accessing the system for that role.
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Specification