A customer relationship management (CRM) system is a piece of software that helps you organize your customer information and better manage customer relationships.
By keeping all the relevant databases in a single place and allowing you to keep detailed customer records, CRM software lets you use advanced data analytics to create a better customer experience from start to finish.
The 8x8 CTI platform integrates seamlessly with all major CRM systems, including:
- Zendesk
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Salesforce
- And many more
There are three key functions to be gained by connecting your CTI and CRM:
- Click to dial
- Screen Pops
- Data Visualization
Click to dial functionality gives agents the ability to click a number in their CRM database and have an outbound call made from their phone, without the need to use a manual dialer.
Without proper integration, agents are left having to switch between their phone software and their CRM software.
Screen pops are on-screen information windows that pop up when you answer an incoming call. They display a summary of what’s known about the inbound number pulled from your CRM database.
By making basic caller information available, screen pops mean employees that receive incoming calls such as customer support workers can get to the point faster. Improving agent productivity and helping them deliver more streamlined, efficient customer service.
The greater possibilities for visualizing information is one of the main benefits of CTI. Compared to using a telephone alone, the inclusion of computer screens in your telecommunications setup provides a powerful means of accessing and interpreting a wealth of valuable data.
When your CTI phone system and CRM tool work together, the opportunities for data visualization are further multiplied. With proper integration, you can see caller ID and other real-time call data from your telephone system alongside previously collected information and useful business intelligence from your CRM application.
For modern businesses, CTI and CRM systems are two of the most important prices of software that get used on a daily basis. As such, there are significant advantages to be gained by integrating your telephone system and your CRM software.
An integrated CRM-CTI strategy helps inbound telephone agents provide more efficient, higher-quality service by connecting caller information from their CTI software with customer history stored in their CRM databases.
By displaying caller information in screen pops, CTI solutions that make CRM data readily available to telephone agents mean they don’t have to waste time asking for or looking up basic details.
When it comes to outbound calls such as sales calls, potential customers are more likely to take sales reps seriously if they’re equipped with key information such as people’s names and purchase history.
Computer telephony integration is indispensable if you want a streamlined, efficient way of making outbound calls. Why waste time reading numbers from contact lists and manually dialing when you can make calls at the click of a button?
With a CTI system that is properly aligned with your CRM software, no matter which application you choose to use as your primary communications hub, initiating calls can all be done from a single interface.
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) is a technology that allows callers to navigate menus so that they can automatically be routed to the most appropriate extension, allowing for aspects like language- and skills-based routing. It does this by interpreting DTFM tones or by speech recognition.
8x8’s intelligent IVR menus use the latest speech recognition and conversational AI technology to implement customized menu paths for incoming callers.
Connecting your IVR system to your CRM solution allows you to better consolidate customer data, keep track of customer tickets, and streamline your workflows.
When it comes to optimizing your customer relationships, the ultimate CTI solution is to connect a cloud-based CRM system like salesforce to a cloud-based communications platform like 8x8.
When both CRM and CTI systems are set up to function independently of individual, on-premises servers, otherwise impossible automation options open up that allows you to route calls based on customer profiles associated with each number.
For example, you can prioritize VIP clients, ensuring that they’re always moved to the front of the call queue. You can even set up your CTI system so that callers are automatically routed to the agent they previously spoke to or the one that is dealing with their specific case.