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Managing a call center isn't easy. You deal with high call volumes, demanding customers, and the constant need for efficiency. Call center software can help you manage these challenges. It can improve your team's productivity and enhance customer satisfaction by providing the right tools.

In this article, I'll share my top picks for call center software that can make a difference in your operations. Based on my experience and thorough testing, I've identified solutions that cater to various needs. You'll find insights into features, usability, and how each tool can fit into your unique environment.

Why Trust Our Reviews

We’ve been testing and reviewing call center software since 2021. As CX professionals ourselves, we know how critical and difficult it is to make the right decision when selecting software.

We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions. We’ve tested more than 2,000 tools for different customer experience use cases and written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent & our software review methodology.

The Best Call Center Software Comparison Chart

Here’s a comparison chart that summarizes basic details about each of my top call center software selections. You can view pricing details and the availability of free trials or demos side-by-side to help you find the best software for your budget and business needs.

Tool Best For Trial Info Price
1

Best for automation-driven processes

Free trial available

From $24.99/user/month Website
2

Best for personalizing communication

14-day free trial

From $25/user/month Website
3

Best for handling multiple calls

7-day free trial available

From $19/user/month + $5/additional user Website
4

Best for a scalable and versatile solution

Free demo available

From $15/user/month Website
5

Best for global call centers

14-day free trial

From $19/user/month (billed annually) Website
6

Best for answering customers’ questions

Free demo available

From $85/user/monthh Website
7

Best for phone, SMS, video, & email customer support

Free demo available

From $25/user/month (billed annually) Website
8

Best multichannel solution with advanced AI functionality

Free trial available.

From $20/user/month. Website
9

Best for call monitoring features

Free trial available

From $30/license (billed annually) Website
10

Best for unifying communication channels

14-day free trial

From $49/user/month Website

Best Call Center Software Reviews

I’ve provided detailed summaries of my top call center software choices and explained why I included each system in this list.

Best for automation-driven processes

  • Free trial available
  • From $24.99/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 5/5

RingCentral Contact Center is a modern, AI-first solution designed to manage customer interactions across various channels, including voice, chat, and digital platforms.

Why I Picked RingCentral: RingCentral is a contact center software that caters to businesses of all sizes and budgets. Its AI-first approach to cloud communication includes reliable calling, business texting, video meetings, and team messaging. This tool is particularly effective for businesses seeking a comprehensive and customizable contact center solution that integrates seamlessly with existing communication systems. It's also suitable for a wide range of industries and audiences.

RingCentral Standout Features and Integrations

Features that stand out in this platform are its automation capabilities. Functionalities like IVR/self-service, automatic callback, AI-enabled virtual agents, and call deflection help handle queries efficiently. The AI assistant can also take real-time call notes, provide conversation insights, and offer writing and translation for messages.

Other useful features include omnichannel functionalities, intelligent routing, proactive outreach, compliance risk mitigation, workforce engagement and management, agent skill profiles, prebuilt reports, and detailed analytics.

Integrations include Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Google Workspace, Beetexting, HubSpot, Asana, Zendesk, Appointment Reminder, Aha!, Trello, Zapier, Automator, and over 300 more.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Scalable for growing businesses
  • Many integrations available
  • Automation across multiple channels

Cons:

  • Limited support for polycom phones
  • Limited customization and storage for lower-tier plans

Best for personalizing communication

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $25/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.7/5

Creatio CRM is a comprehensive customer relationship management tool designed to cater to the needs of businesses of various sizes. It offers a suite of features that include lead and contact management, marketing automation, sales management, and service management.

Why I Picked CRM Creatio: One of the most notable features is the 360-degree customer view, which provides a detailed overview of customer interactions and preferences. This allows call center agents to deliver highly personalized service, improving customer satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, the call tracking feature enables managers to monitor call details, analyze performance, and identify areas for improvement, ensuring that the call center operates at peak efficiency.

CRM Creatio Standout Features and Integrations

Features that stand out include workflow automation for routine tasks such as case routing and follow-ups, AI-driven customer service tools that analyze interactions, predict customer behavior, and automate responses, and a knowledge management system that centralizes access to FAQs and troubleshooting guides.

Other useful features include omnichannel communication by phone, email, and chat, no-code platform customization, AI-assisted app development, contact and account management, and real-time analytics.

Integrations include Microsoft Excel, Gmail, Mailchimp, HubSpot Marketing Hub, Google Calendar, HubSpot CRM, Microsoft Word, Tableau, Microsoft Outlook, and Meta for Business.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Scalable and flexible for growing businesses
  • No-code platform accessible to non-technical users
  • Extensive customization options

Cons:

  • Learning curve for new users
  • Customization can be time-consuming

Best for handling multiple calls

  • 7-day free trial available
  • From $19/user/month + $5/additional user
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

Talkroute is a virtual phone system designed to help businesses manage calls, texts, and video meetings using their existing devices. It enables you to make and receive business calls from anywhere, keeping your personal number private by displaying your business number on outgoing calls.

Why I Picked Talkroute: One reason I chose Talkroute is its call stacking feature, which allows your team to handle multiple incoming calls simultaneously without giving callers a busy signal. This ensures that your customers can always reach you, even during peak times. Additionally, Talkroute offers customizable call menus (auto-attendants) that greet callers and provide them with a menu of options to choose from, ensuring they reach the appropriate department or team member.

Talkroute Standout Features and Integrations

Features include unlimited multi-digit extensions, allowing you to assign direct-dial numbers to departments or individual team members, enhancing internal communication. The system also supports video conferencing with up to 100 participants, enabling your team to collaborate effectively regardless of their location. 

Other useful features include a business text messaging feature that lets you send and receive SMS and MMS messages using your business numbers, providing an alternative communication channel for your customers.

Integrations include Google Sheets, HubSpot, Slack, LeadConnector, Asana, Discord, Google Chat, Gmail, LeadSimple, Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, and Trello.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Easy setup process
  • Consistent call quality and reliability
  • Integrates well with existing operations and allows use of existing cell phones

Cons:

  • Some users may want more sophisticated functionalities
  • Additional costs for extra phone numbers and users

Best for a scalable and versatile solution

  • Free demo available
  • From $15/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.7/5

Squaretalk is a contact center software that’s secure enough for enterprise businesses and friendly enough for first-time users.

Why I Picked Squaretalk: This platform made it onto my list because of its versatility and ability to suit the needs of businesses in different industries and of different sizes. It’s cloud-based and can be used by both in-office and remote workers to conduct high volume outbound calling efforts. It also gives users access to mobile, local, and toll-free numbers in over 100 countries, helping you establish a global presence quickly.

Squaretalk Standout Features and Integrations

Features that stand out in this platform are its SMS communications management tools. It has tools for scheduling SMS reminders and sending out feedback forms and surveys to customers.

Other useful features include the ability to set up custom workflows to automate various elements of your outbound calling processes. With CRM and other useful integrations, this can really help streamline your team’s work and make things more efficient.

Integrations include Zendesk, Telegram, Freshdesk, Zoho, Hubspot, Salesforce, Mailchimp, and Microsoft Teams.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • User-friendly and intuitive interface
  • Extensive reporting and analytics features
  • High security standards

Cons:

  • No mobile application
  • Limited customization options

Best for global call centers

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $19/user/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

CloudTalk is a cloud-based call center software that helps businesses communicate with customers from around the globe.

Why I picked CloudTalk: The platform enables users to provide inbound support and outbound sales to their customers worldwide. CloudTalk offers businesses 140 national phone numbers or a toll-free number, so you can establish your company as a global brand. The vendor also partnered with multiple telecom organizations around the world to give users a robust network and ensure clear calls and consistent performance.

CallTalk Standout Features and Integrations

CloudTalk works for any sized business looking for advanced features such as skills-based routing, unlimited call queues, and automation. Also, CloudTalk provides call commenting, tagging, and recording, which will help enhance your rep’s productivity when handling incoming calls. Because it works on the cloud, there’s no need to install software or buy hardware to get started - all you need is a reliable internet connection.

Other features include internal calls and extensions, call recording, call queuing, number porting, voicemail, toll-free numbers, international numbers, call flow designer, and automated call distribution.

Integrations include Freshdesk, Pipedrive, Success4, LiveAgent, Zendesk, Salesforce, Hubspot CRM, Zoho CRM, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Shopify, Zapier, Help Scout, LiveChat, and Intercom.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Stable call quality
  • User-friendly interface
  • Simple rep management

Cons:

  • Needs better API support
  • Updates can cause issues

Best for answering customers’ questions

  • Free demo available
  • From $85/user/monthh
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

Talkdesk puts vital customer information in front of your customer service reps to help them answer any question. Their contact center software is a suitable option for businesses that need a system to handle a small number of calls.

Why I picked Talkdesk: Many platforms put a customer’s information at your team’s fingertips, but Talkdesk sets itself apart because it does the same thing without your agents having to answer the call. It does this by using an interactive voice response function that allows your customer who calls in to complete tasks and get the information they need. Talkdesk’s interactive voice response tool is easy to configure, thanks to its visual customer journey builder.

Talkdesk Standout Features and Integrations

Talkdesk's advanced routing features ensure your customers connect with the right representative, team, or department based on their needs. If you have multiple reps that are right for the customer, Talkdesk’s ring groups feature will distribute calls to various agents simultaneously.

Other advanced features include omnichannel engagement, management tools, employee collaborations, customer experience analytics, enterprise-level uptime service level agreement, artificial intelligence applications, and low-code, no-code, and custom-code tools.

Integrations include Freshdesk, Pipedrive, Userlike, OnePageCRM, Zendesk, Salesforce, Slack, Zoho CRM, Nimble, LiveChat, Shift, Keap, and Gong.io.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • User-friendly platform with good self-service options
  • Efficiently organizes customer data
  • Includes an AI-powered virtual assistant

Cons:

  • Can be slow at generating reports
  • Multichannel engagement capabilities aren't included in their basic plan

Best for phone, SMS, video, & email customer support

  • Free demo available
  • From $25/user/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

Nextiva helps businesses communicate with customers from anywhere possible with its virtual call center capabilities.

Why I picked Nextiva: The platform uses its VoIP solution, Nextiva One, to provide voice, video, fax, text, and team chat features. It’s 100% cloud-based, which makes it perfect for remote teams. Your support representatives can simply log in to Nextiva’s desktop or mobile app and start handling incoming calls. If your call center experiences a large call volume, you can automate routine tasks in the platform, allowing your support agents to focus on crucial calls.

Nextiva is excellent for companies of any size - from small-to-medium businesses to large organizations. You can use the platform to get real-time insights into your team’s data, and your reps can get essential customer details to make them feel like they’re your only customer. Also, Nextiva can provide you with an integrated solution for all customer support channels and business applications.

Nextiva Standout Features and Integrations

Features that make Nextiva stand out include its workforce management and optimization tools such as multi-channel staffing forecasts, multi-skill forecasting, and agent scheduling tools. They also offer integrated quality monitoring and coaching tools to help you improve your agent performance.

Other features worth noting include team chat, free local and toll-free phone numbers, extension dialing number change, an auto attendant, call management, voicemail forwarding, call analytics, advanced call routing, call recording and rating, call queuing, and three-way calling.

Integrations include Salesforce, Zendesk, Hubspot, Zoho CRM, Microsoft Dynamics, Workbooks, Bullhorn, SugarCRM, ServiceNow, ConnectWise, GoldMine, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Teams.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Their self-service interactive voice response (IVR) feature helps manage high call volumes
  • Excellent uptime rate for a cloud-based system (99.999%)
  • Includes workforce management and workload optimization features

Cons:

  • Contact center and business communication modules are priced separately
  • Call recording limited to Enterprise plan

Best multichannel solution with advanced AI functionality

  • Free trial available.
  • From $20/user/month.
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

Dialpad is a sophisticated multichannel call center platform that uses AI to improve agent workflows and help them answer customer queries faster.

Why I picked Dialpad: The platform’s AI provides a significant enhancement to the software’s contact center capabilities. For example, Dialpad can automatically transcribe your reps’ phone calls and identify specific keywords in the conversation, such as “refund.” Then the AI will display helpful references on the rep’s screen to help with the call. The AI can also alert your managers to potential issues in real-time by detecting your reps’ conversation sentiments - each conversation will have a label of “positive,” neutral,” or “negative.”

Dialpad is excellent for small businesses wanting smarter, more effective conversations in a fully functional virtual call center. It provides deep, real-time call center metrics across voice, social media, and digital communication channels. Also, the software can generate scripts for your reps facing difficulty answering customer questions.

Dialpad Standout Features and Integrations

Dialpad's multichannel customer engagement capabilities empower your customer service agents to engage with customers across popular social media channels like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Apple Business Chat within one workspace. This helps platform users provide a better end-to-end customer journey, no matter which communication method they prefer.

Their platform also includes several noteworthy features that make it easier for managers to monitor their agents' performance, including manager alerts for service level agreement issues, call monitoring tools (Listen In, Barge, and Take Over), and a screen capture tool that takes a snapshot of an agent's computer interface.

Other notable features include flexible call routing, automated voicemail and callback, interactive voice response, real-time speech analysis, live caller sentiment, real-time coaching, and quality management tools.

Integrations include Hubspot, Zapier, Clio, Domo, Wingman, Intercom, HappyFox, Helpwise, Kizen, Salesforce, DataGrail, Recruitly, AutoReach, Microsoft Teams, and Gong.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Automated post-call notes increase agent productivity
  • Pinpoints follow-up topics
  • Includes a self-service virtual agent

Cons:

  • Limited customization options
  • Hold queue is limited to 25 customers at one time

Best for call monitoring features

  • Free trial available
  • From $30/license (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

Aircall is a popular choice for modern organizations thanks to its ability to provide deep insights via real-time analytics.

Why I picked Aircall: The platform’s dashboard will give you and your sales managers instant access to your call center’s metrics to ensure everyone meets their goals. Aircall enables you to monitor your agent’s missed call rate in a straightforward, all-in-one tool. You can use the software to monitor your entire call center or narrow your focus on an individual representative on the same screen.

Aircall helps businesses in any industry that need call center software and also offers customer service tools. You’ll get the same features and capabilities of the more heavy-weight tools, such as call routing and performance reports, but for an affordable price.

Aircall Standout Features and Integrations

One feature that stood out in Aircall's system is that it enables you to claim local and international phone numbers for your business in 100+ countries, even if you aren't based there. Plus, you can use their platform’s phone system to manage customer inquiries worldwide and eliminate spam or bot callers by blocklisting numbers easily.

Their interactive voice response (IVR) feature also helps to streamline your call center operations by classifying callers according to their needs and automatically routing them to the best-suited agent (i.e., skills-based call routing), improving your customer experience greatly.

Other advanced features include call whispering (the ability to speak to teammates secretly while they're on a live call), insight cards (a tool that proactively loads your agent up with customer details as soon as their phone rings), automatic call recording, a live dashboard, third-party application data syncing, and in-depth analytics.

Integrations include monday.com, Freshdesk, Quaeris, Pipedrive, Cyclr, Wingman, Desktop.com, BetterCloud, Salesforce, Zendesk, Slack, Mailchimp, Zoho CRM, Hubspot CRM, and Constant Contact.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Excellent customer support
  • Accessible on multiple devices
  • Deep communication insights

Cons:

  • Loudspeaker functionality is unpredictable
  • Power dialer feature is limited to the Professional plan or above

Best for unifying communication channels

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $49/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.2/5

Zendesk allows your reps to unify all forms of customer conversations in one central location.

Why I picked Zendesk: The cloud-based platform enables your business to provide personalized phone support to your customers. The Zendesk Talk solution is a part of the Zendesk for Service software, a multichannel support system that allows users to provide phone support capabilities in the same platform you can use for other customer conversations. Your reps will be able to see all real-time customer information by syncing the voice tools with your other communication channels.

Zendesk is an excellent solution for small and medium-sized businesses searching for methods to enhance their voice capabilities with tools such as call transcriptions or redactions. Current Zendesk users will also enjoy the platform because they’ll be able to add call center functionality to their helpdesk services. Its basic plan includes the call center functionality a small or medium-sized business would want, such as omnichannel support, ticketing, and basic analytics dashboards and reports.

Zendesk Standout Features and Integrations

One stand-out feature with Zendesk is their Advanced AI add-on. This enterprise-grade AI addition can help you speed up your customer service by using advanced AI bots to provide insights and suggestions to your agents while they're on a live call. In addition, Zendesk's intelligent triage feature automatically categorizes tickets based on customer intent, sentiment, and language, and can feed into additional workflows, triggers, and call routing rules.

Zendesk also makes it possible to set a maximum queue size and wait time to help you avoid having customers sitting on hold for too long. Once your calls have exceeded your maximum, additional calls will be automatically directed to voicemail instead of leaving your customers dwindling on the phone for frustratingly long wait times.

Other features include an agent workspace with lots of customer-specific context, collaboration tools, a knowledge management hub, call scripting, and a whisper mode that allows multiple agents to silently collaborate with each other during a live call.

Integrations include Slack, Mailchimp, Zapier, Campaign Monitor, Okta, Mindsay, Geckoboard, Rivery, Daisee, Airbyte, Data Virtuality, Sunshine Conversations, and IntraManager.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface with robust features
  • Adaptable to users’ needs
  • The Zendesk Guide is beneficial

Cons:

  • Difficult to personalize
  • Customer support needs improvement

Other Call Center Software

Here are a few more options that didn’t make the best call center software list:

  1. Zoho Voice

    For integrated telephony in CRM

  2. Freshdesk Contact Center

    For an affordable virtual contact center

  3. Five9

    For managing high call volumes

  4. RingCentral

    For productivity tracking and monitoring agent performance

  5. Genesys

    For gamification and other employee engagement features

  6. LiveAgent

    For integrated helpdesk and ticketing tools

  7. Twilio

    For customization

  8. 8x8

    For team collaboration.

  9. CallHippo

    For outbound calling

  10. Calabrio

    For workforce optimization.

Related CX Software Lists

If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for here, check out these related customer experience management tools that I’ve tested and evaluated.

Call Center Software Selection Criteria

When selecting customer support software to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like improving call handling efficiency and ensuring data security. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:

Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:

  • Manage inbound and outbound calls
  • Provide call routing and call queuing
  • Offer call recording and playback
  • Deliver real-time analytics and reporting
  • Multi-channel communication mamagement tools

Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:

  • AI-driven call insights
  • Advanced workforce management tools
  • Customizable dashboards
  • Integration with virtual assistants
  • Real-time language translation

Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:

  • Intuitive user interface
  • Easy navigation and layout
  • Minimal training required
  • Responsive design for all devices
  • Customizable user settings

Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:

  • Availability of training videos and tutorials
  • Interactive product tours
  • Ready-to-use templates
  • Access to live webinars
  • On-demand chatbots for assistance

Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:

  • 24/7 availability
  • Multi-channel support options
  • Fast response times
  • Knowledgeable support staff
  • Comprehensive help center

Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:

  • Competitive pricing structures
  • Features offered at each price tier
  • Discounts for annual billing
  • Scalability of pricing plans
  • Return on investment potential

Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:

  • Overall satisfaction ratings
  • Commonly mentioned strengths
  • Frequently noted weaknesses
  • Feedback on customer support
  • User experiences with updates and improvements

How to Choose Call Center Software

It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:

FactorWhat to Consider
ScalabilityEnsure the software can grow with your business. Look for flexible plans that allow you to add users or features as needed without major disruptions.
IntegrationsCheck if it connects with your existing tools like CRM software, email, and chat systems. Seamless integration can save time and reduce errors in data handling.
CustomizabilityLook for options to tailor workflows, dashboards, and reports to fit your team's specific needs, enhancing productivity and user satisfaction.
Ease of UseChoose software with an intuitive interface that requires minimal training. This helps your team quickly adapt and focus on customer interactions.
BudgetEvaluate the total cost of ownership, including setup fees and potential add-ons. Ensure it aligns with your financial constraints and offers good value.
Security SafeguardsPrioritize software with strong data protection measures. Features like encryption and compliance with regulations (e.g., GDPR) keep your data safe.
Support & TrainingVerify the availability of customer support and training resources. These can be crucial for troubleshooting and maximizing the software's potential.
Performance MetricsLook for tools that offer detailed analytics and reporting. Understanding your team's performance helps in making informed decisions and improvements.

In my research, I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs from different call center software vendors. Here are some of the emerging trends I’m keeping an eye on:

  • AI-Powered Insights: AI is enhancing call center analytics by providing real-time insights into customer interactions. This helps teams understand customer sentiment and improve service.
  • AI in Customer Engagement: AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming integral to customer engagement strategies. They handle routine inquiries, provide instant responses, and escalate complex issues to human agents, ensuring faster resolutions and improved customer satisfaction.
  • Omnichannel Support: Customers expect to interact across multiple channels like chat, email, and social media. Call center software is evolving to integrate these channels into a unified platform, allowing teams to manage all interactions in one place.
  • Remote Work Capabilities: With the shift to remote work, software is now offering features that support remote teams, such as cloud-based cal center access and virtual collaboration tools.
  • Advanced Workforce Management: Tools are incorporating features to better manage and schedule agents, optimizing productivity and reducing costs. Solutions now include real-time performance tracking and automated scheduling.
  • Focus on Customer Experience: Enhancements in user interface design and personalization features are making it easier for agents to deliver tailored customer experiences.

What Is Call Center Software?

Call center software is a tool that enables businesses to manage customer interactions across various channels. Customer service representatives, support teams, and sales professionals typically use these tools to improve communication and customer satisfaction.

Features like AI-powered insights, omnichannel support, and remote work capabilities help with analyzing customer data, managing interactions, and ensuring consistent service. Overall, these tools enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of customer support operations.

Features of Call Center Software

When selecting call center software, keep an eye out for the following key features:

  • AI-powered insights: Analyze customer interactions in real-time to improve service and understand customer sentiment.
  • Omnichannel support: Manage customer interactions from multiple channels in one platform, ensuring a consistent experience.
  • Remote work capabilities: Provide cloud-based access and collaboration tools to support remote teams effectively.
  • Advanced workforce management: Optimize agent productivity with real-time performance tracking and automated scheduling.
  • Customizable dashboards: Tailor visual data displays to fit your team's specific needs, enhancing decision-making.
  • Call routing and call queuing systems: Direct calls to the right agents efficiently, reducing wait times and improving customer satisfaction.
  • Call recording and playback: Record interactions for quality assurance and training purposes, ensuring service consistency.
  • Real-time analytics and reporting: Monitor performance metrics to make informed decisions and improve operations.
  • Security safeguards: Protect customer data with encryption and compliance with data regulations, ensuring privacy and trust.
  • Integration with existing tools: Seamlessly connect with CRM, email, and chat systems to streamline workflows and data management.
  • Call Monitoring and Analytics: Help track and improve employee training, ensure call quality, and track metrics like wait times and call volumes.

Benefits of Call Center Software

Implementing call center software provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:

  • Improved customer satisfaction: Efficient call routing and omnichannel support ensure customers are connected to the right agent quickly.
  • Enhanced team productivity: AI-powered insights and advanced workforce management help your team focus on high-priority tasks and optimize their workflow.
  • Better data management: Integration with existing tools keeps customer information organized and accessible, reducing errors in data handling.
  • Increased flexibility: Remote work capabilities allow your team to provide consistent service from any location, adapting to changing work environments.
  • Actionable insights: Real-time analytics and customizable dashboards offer valuable data to guide decision-making and improve operations.
  • Cost savings: Automated scheduling and efficient resource allocation help reduce operational costs while maintaining service quality.
  • Strengthened data security: Security safeguards protect sensitive customer information, ensuring compliance with regulations and building trust.

Costs and Pricing of Call Center Software

Selecting CX tools requires an understanding of the various call center software pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in call center software solutions:

Plan Comparison Table for Call Center Software

Plan TypeAverage PriceCommon Features
Free Plan$0Basic call routing, limited support channels, and essential analytics.
Personal Plan$15-$30/user/monthEnhanced call management, basic integrations, and limited reporting capabilities.
Business Plan$40-$70/user/monthAdvanced analytics, multi-channel support, CRM integration, and customizable dashboards.
Enterprise Plan$80-$150/user/monthComprehensive workforce management, AI-powered insights, full omnichannel support, and dedicated support.

Call Center Software: Frequently asked Questions

If you have general questions about what call center software has to offer, these answers to frequently asked questions are a good place to start:

What call monitoring and analytics KPIs should I track?

Here are some key call monitoring and analytics KPIs you should track using call center software:

  1. Average Handle Time (AHT): Tracks the average time agents spend on each call, including hold and wrap-up time, to measure efficiency.
  2. First Call Resolution (FCR): Shows the percentage of issues resolved during the first call, highlighting the quality of support.
  3. Customer Satisfaction (CSAT): Measures customer happiness with their interaction, often through post-call surveys.
  4. Call Abandonment Rate: Reflects the percentage of callers who hang up before reaching an agent, indicating wait time concerns.
  5. Service Level: Monitors how often agents meet the expected response time, such as answering 80% of calls within 30 seconds.
  6. Agent Utilization: Tracks how much time agents spend actively handling calls versus idle time, helping balance workloads.
  7. Call Volume: Shows the total number of incoming and outgoing calls to help forecast staffing needs.
  8. Net Promoter Score (NPS): Measures how likely customers are to recommend your business, reflecting overall satisfaction.
  9. Hold Time: Tracks how long customers are placed on hold during calls, helping to identify bottlenecks in service.
  10. Call Quality Scores: Evaluates agent performance based on factors like script adherence, professionalism, and problem resolution.

Tracking these KPIs helps optimize call center operations, improve customer experience, and support data-driven decisions.

How can AI be used in Customer Engagement?

AI can greatly enhance customer engagement by making interactions faster, more personalized, and efficient. Here are some key ways it can be used:

  1. Chatbots: AI-powered chatbots provide instant responses to customer queries, offer 24/7 support, and can handle multiple interactions at once, improving response times and customer satisfaction.
  2. Personalization: AI analyzes customer data to tailor recommendations, emails, and offers based on individual preferences and behaviors, making interactions more relevant and engaging.
  3. Sentiment Analysis: AI tools can detect emotions in customer feedback, emails, or social media posts, helping businesses respond appropriately and improve their overall approach.
  4. Proactive Support: By predicting customer needs using past interactions or patterns, AI can suggest solutions or products before a problem arises, creating a smoother customer experience.
  5. Automated Follow-Ups: AI can schedule and send reminders, surveys, or promotions, keeping customers engaged without requiring manual effort.
  6. Enhanced Self-Service: AI-driven systems like smart FAQs or virtual assistants guide customers to solve their issues independently, improving satisfaction while reducing support costs.

Using AI in these ways helps businesses build stronger relationships with their customers by offering timely, personalized, and effective engagement.

How can I choose the best call center software for my business?

That’s a great question, and thankfully, helping people select software is one of my specialties. Here’s a framework that I recommend using as you evaluate your top call center management options:

  1. Make a business case for your specific needs regarding your desired call center software. This phase should also include creating a realistic budget for what you can spend on this new software too.
  2. Identify any pain points of systems you’re currently using. This is important as you’ll want to ensure any new system you consider addresses these points specifically.
  3. Form an internal implementation team of key stakeholders. Make sure to involve a few key personnel from each relevant department.
  4. Research the different options out there and make a short list of your top choices. (Hint: if this article didn’t have exactly what you’re looking for, pop up to our search field instead. It’s very likely that we have other lists that already have what you’re looking for.)
  5. Meet with your implementation team to narrow your list down to three top software solutions.
  6. Request a personalized demo or free trial of your top three choices. This will give you a hands-on experience of what it’s like to use the tool, allowing for a more thorough comparison.
  7. Make your final choice based on how well each system satisfies your business needs, addresses your pain points, works with your budget, and provides a good user experience.

If you need additional help, I also recommend this article: What is Customer Support Software and How to Choose the Right One for Your Business.

What are the ongoing costs of call center software?

Ongoing costs for call center software can vary widely based on several factors including the size of your team, the complexity of your needs, and the specific features you require. Generally, these costs can include monthly or annual subscription fees, costs per user or agent, and additional charges for premium features such as advanced analytics, AI capabilities, and integration with other business systems. It’s also common to encounter costs associated with updates, maintenance, and support services to ensure the software remains effective and secure over time.

Can call center software support remote or distributed call center teams?

Absolutely! Modern call center software is designed with flexibility and scalability in mind, which makes it ideal for supporting remote or distributed teams. These solutions often operate on cloud-based platforms, allowing team members to access the system from anywhere with an internet connection. This enables businesses to set up virtual call centers, where agents can work from home or any other remote location, without compromising on the quality of service. Features like real-time monitoring, call routing, and collaboration tools are specifically designed to support the unique needs of remote teams.

How do call center software solutions handle data security and privacy?

Data security and privacy are top priorities for call center software solutions, given the sensitive nature of customer interactions and data. These platforms typically employ several layers of security measures including encryption of data in transit and at rest, regular security audits, compliance with international data protection regulations (like GDPR and HIPAA, depending on the region and industry), and user authentication protocols. Additionally, many providers offer features for data anonymization and secure access controls to minimize the risk of data breaches and ensure that customer information is handled responsibly.

Check Platform Security and Service Agreements

These are important factors when choosing call center software because they impact both data safety and the reliability of the software. Here’s how they relate:

  1. Platform Security: Call center software often handles sensitive customer data, like personal details or payment information. Strong security measures—like encryption, access controls, and regular vulnerability assessments—protect this data from breaches, ensuring compliance with laws like GDPR or CCPA.
  2. Service Agreements (SLAs): Service Level Agreements define the reliability and performance standards of the software, such as uptime guarantees, support response times, and resolution timelines. These agreements ensure the software operates smoothly, minimizing disruptions to customer service.

By addressing both security and service agreements, businesses can trust the call center software to be dependable and safe for their operations and their customers.

Call Center Software Makes Scaling Support Simple

The major benefit of call center software in today’s modern world is its ability to enhance customer service and team efficiency. It centralizes communication across multiple channels like phone, email, and chat, ensuring that customer inquiries are handled quickly and seamlessly. Features like automated call routing, AI support, and real-time analytics help teams work smarter, not harder, by reducing response times and personalizing customer interactions.

But what if you need more advice and tool suggestions? Where would you go? Well, there’s an answer to that too: Sign up for The CX Lead newsletter! You’ll get the latest advice from customer experience experts and tool recommendations from our team.