Dynamic agent workflow based on contact center load

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9729718-B2
Application number	US-201414175074-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2014
Priority date	Feb 7, 2014
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for dynamically selecting a customer agent workflow for handling a customer contact in a contact center based on current contact center load. According to one embodiment, managing agent workflows in a contact center can comprise receiving a customer contact and selecting an agent from a plurality of agents to handle the customer contact. A current load of the contact center can be determined and a workflow for the selected agent to handle the customer contact can be dynamically selected from a plurality of workflows based on the determined current contact center load.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for managing agent workflows in a contact center, the method comprising:
receiving, at a contact center system, a customer contact;
selecting, by the contact center system, an agent from a plurality of agents to handle the customer contact;
calculating a metric, by the contact center system, the metric representing a current load of the contact center; and
dynamically selecting, by the contact center system, a workflow from a plurality of workflows for the selected agent to follow to handle the customer contact by:
when the metric exceeds a first threshold value:
determining the current load of the contact center is high, and
selecting a first workflow from the plurality of workflows, the first workflow comprising a script of agent actions for recording a trouble ticket,
when the metric does not exceed the first threshold value and does exceed a second threshold value:
determining the current load of the contact center is normal, and
selecting a second workflow from the plurality of workflows, the second workflow comprising a script of agent actions for troubleshooting one or more problems identified by the customer contact, and
when the metric does not exceed the second threshold value:
determining the current load of the contact center is low, and
selecting a third workflow from the plurality of workflows, the third workflow comprising a script of agent actions for troubleshooting one or more problems identified by the customer contact and conducting one or more additional interactions with the customer contact.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first workflow comprising the script of agent actions for recording the trouble ticket includes directing the agent to initiate the customer contact, record the trouble ticket for later contact with the customer, and inform the customer that someone will follow up as soon as possible.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metric is calculated based on one or more of current average wait time, longest wait time, abandon rate, and number of calls in queue.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more additional interactions comprise conducting a customer satisfaction survey.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more additional interactions comprise presenting one or more up-sell or cross-sell opportunities.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the metric and dynamically selecting a workflow for the selected agent to handle the customer contact are performed when selecting the agent.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the metric and dynamically selecting a workflow for the selected agent to handle the customer contact are performed when the agent initiates handling of the customer contact.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the metric and dynamically selecting a workflow for the selected agent to handle the customer contact are performed while the agent is handling the customer contact.

9. A system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to manage agent workflows in a contact center by:
receiving a customer contact;
selecting an agent from a plurality of agents to handle the customer contact;
calculating a metric representing a current load of the contact center; and
dynamically selecting a workflow from a plurality of workflows for the selected agent to follow to handle the customer contact by:
when the metric exceeds a first threshold value:
determining the current load of the contact center is high, and
selecting a first workflow from the plurality of workflows, the first workflow comprising a script of agent actions for recording a trouble ticket,
when the metric does not exceed the first threshold value and does exceed a second threshold value:
determining the current load of the contact center is normal, and
selecting a second workflow from the plurality of workflows, the second workflow comprising a script of agent actions for troubleshooting one or more problems identified by the customer contact, and
when the metric does not exceed the second threshold value:
determining the current load of the contact center is low, and
selecting a third workflow from the plurality of workflows, the third workflow comprising a script of agent actions for troubleshooting one or more problems identified by the customer contact and conducting one or more additional interactions with the customer contact.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first workflow comprising the script of agent actions for recording the trouble ticket includes directing the agent to initiate the customer contact, record the trouble ticket for later contact with the customer, and inform the customer that someone will follow up as soon as possible.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the metric is calculated based on one or more of current average wait time, longest wait time, abandon rate, and number of calls in queue.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more additional interactions comprise presenting one or more up-sell or cross-sell opportunities.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein calculating the metric and dynamically selecting a workflow for the selected agent to handle the customer contact are performed when selecting the agent.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein calculating the metric and dynamically selecting a workflow for the selected agent to handle the customer contact are performed when the agent initiates handling of the customer contact.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein calculating the metric and dynamically selecting a workflow for the selected agent to handle the customer contact are performed while the agent is handling the customer contact.

16. A computer-readable memory comprising a set of instructions stored therein which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to manage agent workflows in a contact center by:
receiving a customer contact;
selecting an agent from a plurality of agents to handle the customer contact;
calculating a metric representing a current load of the contact center; and
dynamically selecting a workflow from a plurality of workflows for the selected agent to follow to handle the customer contact by:
when the metric exceeds a first threshold value:
determining the current load of the contact center is high, and
selecting a first workflow from the plurality of workflows, the first workflow comprising a script of agent actions for recording a trouble ticket,
when the metric does not exceed the first threshold value and does exceed a second threshold value:
determining the current load of the contact center is normal, and
selecting a second workflow from the plurality of workflows, the second workflow comprising a script of agent actions for troubleshooting one or more problems identified by the customer contact, and
when the metric does not exceed the second threshold value:
determining the current load of the contact center is low, and
selecting a third workflow from the plurality of workflows, the third workflow comprising a script of agent actions for troubleshooting one or more problems identified by the customer contact and conducting one or more additional interactions with the customer contact.

17. The computer-readable memory of claim 16 , wherein the first workflow comprising the script of agent actions for recording the trouble ticket includes directing the agent to initiate the customer contact, record the trouble

Assignees

• Oracle Int Corp

Inventors

• Chan Victor Chung-Wai
• Seebauer W Scott

Classifications

• H04M3/5238

  with waiting time or load prediction arrangements · CPC title

• H04M3/5234 Primary

  Uniform load distribution · CPC title