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Contact Center Glossary

Customer Experience Vocabulary Defined

A

Abandoned Call - A call that a customer disconnects before an agent answers.

Abandonment Rate - The percentage of inbound calls that are abandoned before reaching an agent.

Accent AI - AI-driven solutions that modify speech for better clarity and comprehension.

Accent Conversion - The process of altering a speaker’s accent using AI or linguistic techniques to enhance speaking clarity and understanding.

Accent Localization - Adapting speech patterns to suit a specific regional or cultural audience.

Accent Masking - Reducing the prominence of an accent to enhance intelligibility.

Accent Neutralization - Tools designed to minimize strong accents for clearer communication.

Accent Reduction - Technology that helps users modify their pronunciation for improved clarity.

Accent Softening - The process of making an accent less prominent to improve communication.

Accent Translation - Converting spoken language into a different accent for better understanding.

Accent Voice Changer - A tool that modifies voice tones and pronunciation in real-time.

ACD (Automatic Call Distributor) - A system that routes incoming calls to the most appropriate agent or department.

After-Call Work (ACW) - Post-call tasks such as logging call details or following up with customers.

Agent - A call center representative who handles customer interactions.

AHT (Average Handle Time) - The average time spent on a call, including talk time, hold time, and ACW.

ANI (Automatic Number Identification) - A system that identifies the caller’s phone number before the call is answered.

Answered Call - A call that is successfully connected to an agent.

API (Application Programming Interface) - Software that allows different call center tools and systems to communicate.

ASA (Average Speed of Answer) - The average time it takes for an agent to answer an incoming call.

ATA (Average Time of Abandonment) - The average time a caller stays on hold before hanging up.

Auto Dialer - A system that automatically dials numbers and connects live calls to agents.

Automatic Speech Recognition - AI-powered technology that converts spoken language into text.

Auxiliary Time (AUX) - Time an agent spends in a non-call-related status (e.g., training or break).

Average Talk Time - The average time an agent spends actively speaking with a customer.

Average Wait Time - The average time a caller spends in the queue before being answered.

B

Blended Agent - An agent who handles both inbound and outbound calls.

Blended Call Center - A center that manages both incoming and outgoing calls.

Blended Universal Queue System (BUQS) - A system that merges customer interactions across multiple channels into a single queue.

Blockage - A situation where callers receive a busy signal due to all lines being occupied.

BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) - A practice where a company outsources call center operations to a third party.

Break Time - Scheduled periods where agents step away from their desks.

Business Intelligence - Data-driven analysis used to optimize call center operations.

C

Call Avoidance - Strategies agents use to reduce handling calls, often negatively impacting performance.

Call Back - A feature allowing customers to request a return call instead of waiting on hold.

Call Blending - Managing both inbound and outbound calls in a call center.

Call Center Schedule Adherence - A metric that tracks how closely agents follow their assigned schedules.

Call Coaching - Supervisors or trainers guiding agents during or after calls to improve performance.

Call Flow - The structured path of a call from start to resolution.

Call Handling - The process an agent follows to manage customer interactions effectively.

Call Monitoring - Supervisors or quality teams listening to live or recorded calls to assess quality.

Call Recording - Storing call audio for training, quality assurance, or compliance purposes.

Call Routing - The process of directing calls to the appropriate agent or department.

Call Script - A predefined dialogue that helps agents provide consistent customer service.

Call Transfer - Moving a customer call to another agent or department.

Callback Queue - A list of customers awaiting a scheduled return call.

Calling Line Identity (CLI) - A feature that displays the caller’s phone number.

Chatbot - AI-powered virtual assistants that handle customer inquiries through text or voice chat.

Cold Transfer - Transferring a call to another agent without prior information being relayed.

Contact Center - A broader term for a call center that includes multi-channel communication (e.g., phone, email, chat).

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) - Software that manages customer interactions and data.

CSAT (Customer Satisfaction Score) - A metric used to measure customer satisfaction based on surveys.

D

Dialer - A system used for automatically dialing customer phone numbers.

Disposition Code - A label assigned to a call indicating its outcome or resolution.

Do Not Call (DNC) List - A registry of phone numbers that should not be contacted for marketing purposes.

Downtime - Periods when systems or agents are unavailable due to technical issues or maintenance.

E

Escalation - The process of forwarding a call to a higher-level agent or manager.

ETR (Estimated Time to Resolution) - The predicted time it takes to resolve an issue.

F

First Call Resolution (FCR) - A metric measuring the percentage of calls resolved on the first attempt.

Follow-Up Call - A secondary call made to check on a customer’s issue or request.

Forecast Accuracy - The precision of predicted call volumes compared to actual numbers.

G

Ghost Call - A silent or abandoned call received by an agent.

Grade of Service (GOS) - A measure of the quality of service based on how quickly calls are answered.

H

Hold Time - The time a caller spends waiting on hold before speaking to an agent.

Hot Transfer - A transfer where the first agent briefs the second agent before transferring the call.

I

Idle Time - Time an agent is available but not handling a call.

IVR (Interactive Voice Response) - A system that allows callers to navigate options using voice or keypad inputs.

K

Knowledge Base - A repository of information that agents can access to assist customers.

L

Live Chat - A real-time messaging system for customer service.

Lost Call - A call that is disconnected before being answered.

M

Multi-Channel Support - Handling customer interactions across multiple platforms (phone, chat, email, social media).

Multi-Skilled Agent - An agent trained to handle various types of customer inquiries.

N

Net Promoter Score (NPS) - A metric that gauges customer loyalty based on survey responses.

No Answer Rate - The percentage of calls not answered within a set time frame.

O

Occupancy Rate - The percentage of time agents spend handling calls versus being idle.

Omnichannel Support - A seamless customer experience across multiple communication channels.

Outbound Call - A call initiated by an agent, often for sales or follow-up purposes.

P

Peak Hours - The time of day when call volume is highest.

Predictive Dialer - A system that dials numbers based on call availability predictions.

Priority Call Routing - Directing important calls to higher-priority agents.

Q

Queue - A virtual line where callers wait for an available agent.

Queue Time - The time a caller spends waiting in line before speaking to an agent.

R

Real-Time Monitoring - Supervisors tracking calls and agent performance in real-time.

Resolution Rate - The percentage of issues successfully resolved by an agent.

T

Talk Time - The duration an agent spends actively speaking with a customer.

V

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) - A technology that enables voice communication over the internet.