The ICE Age


The I.C.E Age Cometh

Over the last 15 years massive changes have occurred in the way that people and organisations interact, both on a business and personal level.

Rapidly evolving PC technologies, Mobile communications, feature rich digital services (Broadband), communication services deregulation, and new generation Call Centre technology; All of these elements converging combined with increasing competition, and peoples ready access to these new technologies has lead to the demonstrable fact that high customer service levels are now the ‘norm’ rather than the exception.

Service Excellence is no longer a differentiator, but is seen as a mandatory entry ticket to the customer service market place.

Time was that the ‘single call solves all’ mentality prevailed. This has now developed into the ‘single interaction solves all’ mindset, present at the forefront of customers minds, with an emphasis on rapid service or problem resolution and enquiry management.

To date some companies are successfully tackling the challenges of increased competition, globalisation and monetary union and the inexorable march towards electronic commerce.

However the landscape is still changing.

The early 21st Century is now being referred to within the telecommunications industry as the ‘ICE’ age for 2 primary reasons.

Firstly the speed and ferocity of the changes faced by all market sectors are leaving companies reeling from rapid technology change, the price tag associated with this change, competitor pressures from previously unknown directions and new routes to market that where not even imagined 4 years ago.

Secondly, in the real ‘ICE’ age Dinosaurs that were unable to adapt became extinct. In the virtual ‘ICE’ age, companies that cannot predict or adapt to change stand a very real chance of falling by the wayside in terms of profitability and market share.

The term ‘ICE’ in this situation refers to the latest twist to the technological conundrum.

Information

Communication

Entertainment

The convergence of these technologies will be one of the single largest factors redefining channels to market over the next 5 years.

The Sub technologies that are driving the ICE age are:

  • Database systems
  • Personal Computer Technology
  • Digital Communications
  • Internet / Intranet Technology
  • Call Centre Technology
  • Computer Telephony Integration
  • Mobile Communications
  • Digital Interactive Television

The rapid simultaneous emergence and development of this diverse list of technologies is changing expectations in many seemingly unrelated areas of life.

The growing prevalence of high speed, readily available internet access and the mass market take up of mobile internet technologies heralds the ‘Third Wave’ of internet expansion in the UK and European market place.

In short the near future will see an extraordinarily diverse range of people from all social and economic groups who will be comfortable using multi-media access systems. This coupled to lower costs of consumer electronic items such as mobile phones and Digital television will add even greater speed to the winds of change.

Artisiam provide the expertise needed for companies to traverse the constantly changing terrain of the new customer service landscape.

Leveraging 20 years of expertise in the customer contact space, Artisiam is well placed to add value to companies of any size and complexity.

For further information please contact us