#custom AI agent

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Why Your Business Needs a Custom AI Agent Now

A custom AI agent is an AI-powered system tailored to your business’s needs. Unlike generic bots or plug-and-play software, it’s designed to solve your problems—whether that means handling complex queries, automating operational tasks, or integrating smoothly with your internal systems.

The market is moving quickly. Companies that adopt early gain a serious competitive advantage. According to a McKinsey report, businesses that implement AI at scale can cut operational costs by up to 30% while boosting customer satisfaction and revenue growth.

[albertpeter]

How Can Custom AI Agent Development Enhance Communication Strategies?

In the digital age, effective communication is more crucial than ever for businesses, organizations, and individuals. As the landscape of communication continues to evolve, so does the technology that supports it. One of the most exciting advancements in recent years is the development of custom AI agents. These intelligent systems offer significant potential to enhance communication strategies across various sectors. This blog delves into how custom AI agent development can revolutionize communication strategies, explore its benefits, and provide insights into implementation.

Understanding Custom AI Agents

Custom AI agents are specialized software systems designed to perform specific tasks or functions using artificial intelligence. Unlike generic AI applications, custom agents are tailored to meet the unique needs of a business or organization. These agents can automate tasks, analyze data, and facilitate communication between users and systems, making them invaluable in enhancing communication strategies.

Benefits of Custom AI Agents in Communication Strategies

1. Personalization of Communication

One of the standout features of custom AI agents is their ability to personalize communication. Traditional communication strategies often adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, which can lead to disengagement. Custom AI agents, however, can analyze user data and preferences to deliver tailored messages that resonate with specific audiences.

For example, a retail company can deploy a custom AI agent to analyze customer behavior and preferences. Based on this analysis, the agent can send personalized recommendations, offers, or content, significantly improving customer engagement and satisfaction. This level of personalization fosters a deeper connection between brands and their audiences, enhancing overall communication effectiveness.

2. 24/7 Availability

In a globalized world, communication doesn’t adhere to traditional business hours. Custom AI agents can operate around the clock, ensuring that businesses remain accessible to their audiences at all times. This 24/7 availability is particularly beneficial for customer support, where immediate responses can significantly enhance user experience.

For instance, companies can implement chatbots powered by custom AI agents to handle customer inquiries outside regular working hours. This ensures that customers receive timely assistance, leading to higher satisfaction rates and reduced frustration. Moreover, with the ability to handle multiple inquiries simultaneously, AI agents can alleviate pressure on human staff, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.

3. Streamlined Communication Processes

Custom AI agents can automate repetitive tasks that often bog down communication processes. This automation can range from scheduling meetings to sending follow-up emails. By streamlining these processes, businesses can improve efficiency and ensure that communication flows smoothly.

For example, an AI agent can be programmed to manage a company’s calendar, scheduling meetings based on availability and sending reminders to participants. This not only saves time but also reduces the chances of miscommunication or double bookings. By minimizing administrative tasks, employees can devote more time to strategic communication efforts, enhancing overall productivity.

4. Data Analysis and Insights

Effective communication strategies rely heavily on data-driven insights. Custom AI agents excel in analyzing vast amounts of data to extract meaningful patterns and trends. This capability allows businesses to understand their audience better and refine their communication strategies accordingly.

For instance, by analyzing social media interactions and customer feedback, an AI agent can identify the most effective communication channels and messaging styles for different segments of the audience. This information empowers businesses to make informed decisions and adapt their strategies, ultimately leading to more effective communication.

5. Enhanced Customer Engagement

Engagement is a key component of successful communication strategies. Custom AI agents can drive customer engagement by providing interactive experiences that capture users' attention. Whether through chatbots, virtual assistants, or interactive content, AI agents can create engaging communication experiences that foster loyalty.

For example, a travel company could use a custom AI agent to guide users through the process of planning a trip. By providing personalized recommendations, answering questions in real time, and offering relevant content, the agent enhances the user experience, encouraging deeper engagement with the brand.

6. Crisis Management and Support

In times of crisis, effective communication is paramount. Custom AI agents can play a vital role in crisis management by providing real-time information, answering frequently asked questions, and disseminating important updates. This capability ensures that stakeholders receive timely and accurate information during critical situations.

For instance, during a public health crisis, an AI agent could be employed to provide updates on safety protocols, vaccination information, and health resources. By streamlining communication during emergencies, businesses can maintain transparency and trust with their audiences.

7. Cost-Effective Communication Solutions

Developing custom AI agents can lead to significant cost savings for businesses. By automating communication processes, companies can reduce labor costs and enhance operational efficiency. Moreover, the insights gained from AI data analysis can inform more effective marketing and communication strategies, further optimizing budgets.

For example, a custom AI agent might analyze the success of various marketing campaigns, allowing a business to allocate resources more effectively. By identifying which strategies yield the highest return on investment, companies can avoid wasting money on less effective communication methods.

Implementing Custom AI Agents

To effectively implement custom AI agents into communication strategies, businesses should follow a structured approach:

1. Identify Communication Needs

The first step in developing a custom AI agent is to identify specific communication needs and objectives. Businesses should assess their current communication strategies, pinpointing areas for improvement and determining how AI can address these challenges.

2. Data Collection and Analysis

Gathering relevant data is crucial for training AI agents. Businesses should collect data related to customer interactions, preferences, and behavior patterns. This information will help create a more effective AI agent tailored to the target audience.

3. Collaboration with AI Experts

Developing custom AI agents requires specialized knowledge and expertise. Businesses should collaborate with AI development firms or experts to ensure that the agents are built effectively and can meet the defined objectives.

4. Continuous Monitoring and Improvement

Once deployed, businesses should continuously monitor the performance of AI agents. Analyzing user feedback and engagement metrics can provide valuable insights for ongoing improvements and refinements. Regular updates will ensure that the AI agents remain effective and aligned with changing communication needs.

Conclusion

Custom AI agent development has the potential to revolutionize communication strategies across various sectors. From personalized interactions and 24/7 availability to data-driven insights and cost savings, the benefits are substantial. As businesses seek to enhance their communication strategies, leveraging the power of custom AI agents can lead to improved engagement, efficiency, and overall success. By embracing this technology, organizations can position themselves to navigate the evolving landscape of communication and build stronger connections with their audiences.

The future of communication is here, and custom AI agents are at the forefront, ready to enhance the way we connect, engage, and communicate.

[jcmarchi]

Ganesh Shankar, CEO & Co-Founder of Responsive – Interview Series

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/ganesh-shankar-ceo-co-founder-of-responsive-interview-series/

Ganesh Shankar, CEO & Co-Founder of Responsive – Interview Series

Ganesh Shankar, CEO and Co-Founder of Responsive, is an experienced product manager with a background in leading product development and software implementations for Fortune 500 enterprises. During his time in product management, he observed inefficiencies in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process—formal documents organizations use to solicit bids from vendors, often requiring extensive, detailed responses. Managing RFPs traditionally involves multiple stakeholders and repetitive tasks, making the process time-consuming and complex.

Founded in 2015 as RFPIO, Responsive was created to streamline RFP management through more efficient software solutions. The company introduced an automated approach to enhance collaboration, reduce manual effort, and improve efficiency. Over time, its technology expanded to support other complex information requests, including Requests for Information (RFIs), Due Diligence Questionnaires (DDQs), and security questionnaires.

Today, as Responsive, the company provides solutions for strategic response management, helping organizations accelerate growth, mitigate risk, and optimize their proposal and information request processes.

What inspired you to start Responsive, and how did you identify the gap in the market for response management software?

My co-founders and I founded Responsive in 2015 after facing our own struggles with the RFP response process at the software company we were working for at the time. Although not central to our job functions, we dedicated considerable time assisting the sales team with requests for proposals (RFPs), often feeling underappreciated despite our vital role in securing deals. Frustrated with the lack of technology to make the RFP process more efficient, we decided to build a better solution.  Fast forward nine years, and we’ve grown to nearly 500 employees, serve over 2,000 customers—including 25 Fortune 100 companies—and support nearly 400,000 users worldwide.

How did your background in product management and your previous roles influence the creation of Responsive?

As a product manager, I was constantly pulled by the Sales team into the RFP response process, spending almost a third of my time supporting sales instead of focusing on my core product management responsibilities. My two co-founders experienced a similar issue in their technology and implementation roles. We recognized this was a widespread problem with no existing technology solution, so we leveraged our almost 50 years of combined experience to create Responsive. We saw an opportunity to fundamentally transform how organizations share information, starting with managing and responding to complex proposal requests.

Responsive has evolved significantly since its founding in 2015. How do you maintain the balance between staying true to your original vision and adapting to market changes?

First, we’re meticulous about finding and nurturing talent that embodies our passion – essentially cloning our founding spirit across the organization. As we’ve scaled, it’s become critical to hire managers and team members who can authentically represent our core cultural values and commitment.

At the same time, we remain laser-focused on customer feedback. We document every piece of input, regardless of its size, recognizing that these insights create patterns that help us navigate product development, market positioning, and any uncertainty in the industry. Our approach isn’t about acting on every suggestion, but creating a comprehensive understanding of emerging trends across a variety of sources.

We also push ourselves to think beyond our immediate industry and to stay curious about adjacent spaces. Whether in healthcare, technology, or other sectors, we continually find inspiration for innovation. This outside-in perspective allows us to continually raise the bar, inspiring ideas from unexpected places and keeping our product dynamic and forward-thinking.

What metrics or success indicators are most important to you when evaluating the platform’s impact on customers?

When evaluating Responsive’s impact, our primary metric is how we drive customer revenue. We focus on two key success indicators: top-line revenue generation and operational efficiency. On the efficiency front, we aim to significantly reduce RFP response time – for many, we reduce it by 40%. This efficiency enables our customers to pursue more opportunities, ultimately accelerating their revenue generation potential.

How does Responsive leverage AI and machine learning to provide a competitive edge in the response management software market?

We leverage AI and machine learning to streamline response management in three key ways. First, our generative AI creates comprehensive proposal drafts in minutes, saving time and effort. Second, our Ask solution provides instant access to vetted organizational knowledge, enabling faster, more accurate responses. Third, our Profile Center helps InfoSec teams quickly find and manage security content.

With over $600 billion in proposals managed through the Responsive platform and four million Q&A pairs processed, our AI delivers intelligent recommendations and deep insights into response patterns. By automating complex tasks while keeping humans in control, we help organizations grow revenue, reduce risk, and respond more efficiently.

What differentiates Responsive’s platform from other solutions in the industry, particularly in terms of AI capabilities and integrations?

Since 2015, AI has been at the core of Responsive, powering a platform trusted by over 2,000 global customers. Our solution supports a wide range of RFx use cases, enabling seamless collaboration, workflow automation, content management, and project management across teams and stakeholders.

With key AI capabilities—like smart recommendations, an AI assistant, grammar checks, language translation, and built-in prompts—teams can deliver high-quality RFPs quickly and accurately.

Responsive also offers unmatched native integrations with leading apps, including CRM, cloud storage, productivity tools, and sales enablement. Our customer value programs include APMP-certified consultants, Responsive Academy courses, and a vibrant community of 1,500+ customers sharing insights and best practices.

Can you share insights into the development process behind Responsive’s core features, such as the AI recommendation engine and automated RFP responses?

Responsive AI is built on the foundation of accurate, up-to-date content, which is critical to the effectiveness of our AI recommendation engine and automated RFP responses. AI alone cannot resolve conflicting or incomplete data, so we’ve prioritized tools like hierarchical tags and robust content management to help users organize and maintain their information. By combining generative AI with this reliable data, our platform empowers teams to generate fast, high-quality responses while preserving credibility. AI serves as an assistive tool, with human oversight ensuring accuracy and authenticity, while features like the Ask product enable seamless access to trusted knowledge for tackling complex projects.

How have advancements in cloud computing and digitization influenced the way organizations approach RFPs and strategic response management?

Advancements in cloud computing have enabled greater efficiency, collaboration, and scalability. Cloud-based platforms allow teams to centralize content, streamline workflows, and collaborate in real time, regardless of location. This ensures faster turnaround times and more accurate, consistent responses.

Digitization has also enhanced how organizations manage and access their data, making it easier to leverage AI-powered tools like recommendation engines and automated responses. With these advancements, companies can focus more on strategy and personalization, responding to RFPs with greater speed and precision while driving better outcomes.

Responsive has been instrumental in helping companies like Microsoft and GEODIS streamline their RFP processes. Can you share a specific success story that highlights the impact of your platform?

Responsive has played a key role in supporting Microsoft’s sales staff by managing and curating 20,000 pieces of proposal content through its Proposal Resource Library, powered by Responsive AI. This technology enabled Microsoft’s proposal team to contribute $10.4 billion in revenue last fiscal year. Additionally, by implementing Responsive, Microsoft saved its sellers 93,000 hours—equivalent to over $17 million—that could be redirected toward fostering stronger customer relationships.

As another example of  Responsive providing measurable impact, our customer Netsmart significantly improved their response time and efficiency by implementing Responsive’s AI capabilities. They achieved a 10X faster response time, increased proposal submissions by 67%, and saw a 540% growth in user adoption. Key features such as AI Assistant, Requirements Analysis, and Auto Respond played crucial roles in these improvements. The integration with Salesforce and the establishment of a centralized Content Library further streamlined their processes, resulting in a 93% go-forward rate for RFPs and a 43% reduction in outdated content. Overall, Netsmart’s use of Responsive’s AI-driven platform led to substantial time savings, enhanced content accuracy, and increased productivity across their proposal management operations.

JAGGAER, another Responsive customer, achieved a double-digit win-rate increase and 15X ROI by using Responsive’s AI for content moderation, response creation, and Requirements Analysis, which improved decision-making and efficiency. User adoption tripled, and the platform streamlined collaboration and content management across multiple teams.

Where do you see the response management industry heading in the next five years, and how is Responsive positioned to lead in this space?

In the next five years, I see the response management industry being transformed by AI agents, with a focus on keeping humans in the loop. While we anticipate around 80 million jobs being replaced, we’ll simultaneously see 180 million new jobs created—a net positive for our industry.

Responsive is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. We’ve processed over $600 billion in proposals and built a database of almost 4 million Q&A pairs. Our massive dataset allows us to understand complex patterns and develop AI solutions that go beyond simple automation.

Our approach is to embrace AI’s potential, finding opportunities for positive outcomes rather than fearing disruption. Companies with robust market intelligence, comprehensive data, and proven usage will emerge as leaders, and Responsive is at the forefront of that wave. The key is not just implementing AI, but doing so strategically with rich, contextual data that enables meaningful insights and efficiency.

Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit Responsive,

[questerablogs]

Boost Your Business Efficiency with Questera AI

Questera is a dynamic AI-powered customer engagement platform that brings unparalleled efficiency to your operations. With a team of specialized agents designed to optimize your workflows, Questera helps businesses make real-time decisions based on data, automate workflows, and reduce costs. Whether you're managing marketing campaigns, engaging customers, or analyzing data, Questera allows you to focus on strategic growth while the AI agents handle the details.

[lilybarthes]

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[agentsarchitect]

Unlocking Business Efficiency with Custom AI Automation Services

Discover how custom AI agents are revolutionizing business automation in 2025. This in-depth blog explains why generic AI tools no longer meet the demands of growing companies—and how custom-built agents can automate tasks, boost team productivity, and cut operational costs. Learn what separates great AI development firms from the rest, the key traits to look for, and why service providers like Agent Architects are leading the way with end-to-end automation solutions. If you're exploring how to scale smarter with AI-powered workflows, this article offers valuable insights to guide your decision and accelerate your transformation.

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Lemnisk Unveils Industry-First Innovations for the AI Era of Customer Engagement

New AI-driven features include Real-Time Predictive Scoring, Entity-Level Identity Resolution, Voice-to-CDP processing, and Model Context Protocol compliance Lemnisk, a leading enterprise Customer Data Platform (CDP) and marketing technology company, today introduced a suite of AI innovations that mark a significant leap forward in real-time, personalized customer engagement. Trusted for its…

[ailifehacks]

AI Agents in Customer Service: How to Deploy Scalable AI Assistants for Support Teams

AI agents in customer service revolutionize how businesses scale support. Learn how to deploy smart, scalable AI assistants for efficient team support. Modern companies rapidly embrace AI agents in customer service to scale support and streamline operations. From small startups to global enterprises, AI-powered assistants are transforming how businesses handle customer queries, reduce workload,…

[unitedstatesrei]

Automate, Elevate, and Build a Business That Works for You with Caroline Hobbs

Key Takeaways Automating systems and setting clear expectations are the keys to building a scalable, sustainable business. Agents should start with their personal sphere and consistently ask for the business without fear. Leveraging AI and SOPs empowers agents to save time and focus on income-producing tasks. United States Real Estate Investor The REI Agent with Caroline Hobbs https://youtu.be/rpR6yoX4TIg Follow and subscribe to The REI Agent on social Facebook Instagram Youtube .cls-1fill:#fff; Linkedin X-twitter United States Real Estate Investor It's time to have an investor-friendly agent on your team! It's time to have an investor-friendly agent on your team! United States Real Estate Investor From Open Houses to Ownership: Caroline Hobbs’ Rise to Real Estate Mastery In this eye-opening episode of The REI Agent Podcast, Mattias hosts the extraordinary Caroline Hobbs, a powerhouse in real estate, tech, and team building. While Erica is out for physical therapy, Mattias flies solo to spotlight a woman whose story screams resilience, vision, and innovation. Caroline isn’t just a top-producing agent. She’s the founder of Reward Realty, one of California’s youngest-ever brokers, and the brain behind a revolutionary real estate CRM that’s changing how agents work nationwide. “I graduated college in 2009—arguably the worst time in history to try and get a job in finance.” Her story begins with inherited wisdom. As a third-generation real estate expert, Caroline was practically born to build an empire. What started with open houses during college soon transformed into a thriving brokerage, and eventually, a pioneering tech company designed for agents by an agent. Starting Young, Going Big: The Journey of a 21-Year-Old Broker Caroline doesn’t just talk the talk—she’s lived every part of it. At just 21, she became a licensed broker, stepping into an industry most were fleeing during the housing crash. Her mentor, a Keller Williams legend with over 10,000 contacts in her database, gave Caroline the tactical experience to thrive in chaos. “I was probably the youngest broker in the state for a while… because I graduated early and the experience rule hadn’t kicked in yet.” That early exposure to system-building and data management laid the foundation for something bigger: leading her own team, then creating a platform that helps others do the same, faster, smarter, and more profitably. Real Brokerage, Real Growth, Real Results Fast forward to today, Caroline’s team under Real Brokerage has grown from 4 to 9 agents in just four months. Her secret? Monthly masterminds, relentless expectation setting, and systems that allow every team member to build sustainably. “We teach people how to treat us—but we also set the expectations for our clients, our team, and our business.” She’s not just closing deals. She’s mentoring minds and building leaders. From showings to SOPs, Caroline’s influence runs deep in every aspect of her operation. She reminds us that real leadership is built on communication, follow-through, and vision. The Software That’s Reshaping the Agent's Life Caroline’s CRM isn’t just another shiny object, it’s a full-stack assistant that reads documents, transcribes calls, tracks deadlines, and automates client communication. “We help agents build out their SOPs, automate their transactions, and create time-saving systems that actually serve them.” With integrations into DocuSign, Dropbox, Fellow, and custom pipelines, it’s a plug-and-play system that frees up time for what matters: serving people. The CRM even uses AI to summarize phone calls, schedule follow-ups, and trigger marketing automations. It’s the very definition of working smarter, not harder. Train Like a Pro with Caroline’s AI Roleplay Coach Caroline also created a custom GPT tool for her team that roleplays lead conversations, provides feedback, and trains agents on how to confidently convert calls into clients. “It gives them

real-time feedback on what they did well and how they can improve—and it’s trained with Tom Ferry and Phil Jones language.” New agents use it daily to sharpen their skills before ever picking up a phone. She understands that the biggest gaps in success are often confidence and preparation, and she’s built tools to bridge both. Want More Deals? Ask for the Business. When Mattias asked Caroline for one golden nugget for new agents, she didn’t flinch. “Start with your sphere and ask for the business. Don’t be shy to say, ‘Do you know anyone looking to buy or sell?’” Her advice is refreshingly practical—start face-to-face, lean on your community, and build your skills over time. AI and automation are tools, but relationships and reputation are still the foundation. Final Words of Wisdom from a Trailblazer To close out the episode, Caroline recommends the game-changing book Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell. “You should be out making the sales, not buried in paperwork. Automate and delegate everything else.” From strategy to software to soul, Caroline Hobbs embodies what The REI Agent is all about: building wealth while staying aligned with who you are and what matters most. Want to work smarter, lead better, and live bolder? Start by asking better questions. Caroline did, and it changed everything. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories on The REI Agent podcast, your go-to source for insights, inspiration, and strategies from top agents and investors who are living their best lives through real estate. For more content and episodes, visit reiagent.com. United States Real Estate Investor Create healing and connection within yourself, your family, and your community. Create healing and connection within yourself, your family, and your community. United States Real Estate Investor Contact Caroline Hobbs Reward Realty Linktree United States Real Estate Investor Mentioned References Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell Tom Ferry Phil Jones Real Brokerage Google Forms ChatGPT United States Real Estate Investor Transcript Welcome to the REI Agent, a holistic approach to life through real estate. I'm Mattias, an agent and investor. And I'm Erica, a licensed therapist. Join us as we interview guests that also strive to live bold and fulfilled lives through business and real estate investing. Tune in every week for interviews with real estate agents and investors. Ready to level up? Let's do it. Welcome back to the REI Agent. It's your friendly local neighborhood real estate agent podcast host, Mattias, an investor. We are not, we don't have Erica with us today. So unfortunately, she had to go to PT. So we will hopefully have her here on the next one. But we did have a great guest today, Caroline Hobbs. Caroline is a team lead. She's an experienced agent, broker, and now a software owner. She has a CRM that she sells that has a lot of automations and stuff built in. It's pretty cool. So definitely check out the show notes if you are interested in hearing more about that. She can, you can see where, you know, in her link tree what all is available. I think that in this business, there's a lot of shiny objects. There's a lot of people that are trying to kind of get your money and can be distracting. Sometimes we get focused or persuaded into something. It could be changing brokerages. It could be, you know, this new tool that's fun. It could be a new system. I'm certainly guilty of this stuff. But I think at the end of the day, if you are focused on providing your clients with consistent, clear communication and you're setting expectations, you're going to do really well. So if you focus on those as the core tenement, and if you are building out systems and processes that help enhance that, I think that's what's really key in business that you already have. That's not necessarily something that will help you gain more business, other than people might rave about your services because they felt like they were taken care of the whole time.

So no matter what you do in this business, no matter what kind of things that you look into, because I think, you know, systems and processes and software, AI, all that stuff can be incredibly powerful. Just don't lose sight of what's really important when you are interacting with your clients. I think that's the key there. But without further ado, I'm going to keep this one short. We're going to go right into Caroline Hobbs. She, again, is out of the Silicon Valley area. She is an experienced agent. She may have been, and she talks about this, the youngest broker in the whole state of California for a couple months. So without further ado, Caroline Hobbs. Welcome back to the REI Agent. I am here with Caroline Hobbs. Caroline, thanks so much for joining us today. Thanks for having me. Hey, Caroline, you got a couple different hats. You have been an agent for a while. You've now team lead and you own a software company, correct? Correct. Yeah, awesome. To get started, I want to dive into all this different stuff, but let's get started by just kind of hearing how you got into real estate to begin with. Yeah, definitely. So I am third generation in real estate. So you could kind of say that I was born into it. My grandfather used to flip properties. He was a contractor. And after my mom graduated college, he encouraged her to go on and get her real estate license, which she did. She worked for Fieldstone down in Southern California, selling new homes for years and years, and eventually moved over to the lending side of things. While I was in college, I got a part-time job. I had no intention of going into real estate, as I have my degree in finance, but got a job hosting open houses for a realtor in Palo Alto and decided that I liked it. So shortly after graduation, I got my broker's license and a few years after that, started my independent brokerage. Nice. Wow, that's awesome. So you jumped right into starting your own brokerage, not just a new team. You went right into being your own broker. Well, so the realtor that trained me, just to give you a little bit of perspective, I started working for her in 2008, 2007, something around right there, and right at the heat of the crash as the market was crumbling. I graduated college. You needed to get into it. I graduated college in 2009, which is basically the worst time in history to try and get a job in finance. I was still working with the agent that trained me, and honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better mentor. The woman who I got to work with, she was internationally ranked as the top-selling agent in all of Keller Williams. She had a database at the time of over 10,000 people, which this is before people used databases. So I was hosting her open houses. I was organizing all of her clients in her database. I got a lot of really tactical, hands-on experience for how to manage contacts, how to stir the pot and turn that into actual business. So I worked with her for the first five, six years of my career, and then I was teaching a lot of classes at Keller Williams. I went off. I became an independent agent with them, but ultimately, I felt like my time was being pulled in multiple directions with being in the bigger office and having my broker's license. I felt confident that I could do it, and so I started Reward Realty in 2011. And I started that in 2013, and I ran it as an independent for 11 years. Wow. That's awesome. Just real quick before I forget, do you have any fun ways of re-engaging a database of that size that you could share? Honestly, the technologies have changed so much. So the tactics I use today to serve databases like that versus the tactics I used 10 years ago are very different. I am really big on utilizing tags and client types. I'm also pretty big on utilizing pipelines to analyze your business, kind of scoping out a little bit. I think the most important thing is to make sure that your contacts are always properly categorized.

And then when we talk about my software, I can kind of talk about ways that we have built our system to help agents keep those things top priority as they're working in their database. So that way, it's easier to identify those low-hanging fruit. Okay. Yeah, we'll have to get into that. I do want to talk a little bit about team building first. So when you got your brokerage, did you already have agents that were going to join you or were you just kind of at that point going to be a solo broker agent? Or did you hire an admin? What was that process like? For most of the time that I ran my brokerage as an independent, I had just an admin TC and a couple agents with me, like two or three for most of the time. So it was never, I was always the top producing agent. I was in some cases feeding other agents that were with me. Being independent was great. It was really lonely at first because I went from a team in an office environment to being on my own. And so having that assistant really helped with bridging the camaraderie gap and the social gap. And then it's honestly just recently that I really started getting involved more with the associations, the boards, things like that locally. At the time, real estate wasn't trendy to get into because the market was crashing. It was the worst time in real estate. So I was much younger than anybody else in my office or really in the industry that I knew at the time. When I got my broker's license, I had just turned 21. I was 21. Wow. There's a good chance I was probably the youngest broker in the state for a while just because you had to either have a degree in finance or economics or have five years sales person's experience at the time. And since I was younger than everybody in school and I graduated and got my broker's license right away, they changed it a few months later to require the five years experience. But at the time, they didn't have that in place. I was wondering. I think here it's three years of experience. I don't know if we have that finance loophole. There's no loophole anymore. But there was. This is in 2009, so a long time ago. So when you were bringing agents on or when you had a couple of agents, were they just selling independently or were they designated to help you in certain ways like having a showing agent or something like that, listing specialist? I did have one showing agent. The others worked independently. Okay. Yeah. And how's your, you said sales team earlier. How's that structured now? So my sales team has grown a lot. So one year ago, I made the switch from operating my business as an independent to coming on with Real Brokerage as a part of their white label program. So under their white label program, I've been able to grow quite a bit. We have an agent locally that is a huge attractor. And but he doesn't quite have the capacity to give training and things like that to agents. So I started doing monthly masterminds for agents with my lending partners where I kind of take a look at all the different ways that agents generate business, whether we're talking about social interactions, you know, their kids, the parents at their kids schools, whether we're talking about online marketing, purchasing leads, converting leads, whether we're talking about social media, being an influencer, direct mailing, farming, all of these different kind of tried and true, so to speak, ways. We kind of rotate and dive into each of those things on a monthly basis. Usually the trainings are about two to three hours long. And it has grown my team from four of us to nine of us in the past four months. Wow. Now, again, is that structured kind of like you were before? Do you have any designated people helping you directly? Are they all just kind of independent agents that are there to help or to be mentored by you, et cetera, and work together as a team? So we work together as a team. So I help not as much on like the paid lead side, but like I go on listing appointments with my agents and secure the transaction for us.

I've been in this business for so long. I understand the ins and outs and how to problem solve on the spot. There's not much that somebody could throw at me that I wouldn't be able to take a second and give them good guidance on. Not to say that I'm perfect. It's just when you've been in the business almost 16 years and you've been on as many inspections and things like that, you retain it. And I honestly, I live by the mindset that there's always something new to learn with every transaction, with every interaction that we have with people. So I kind of utilize that. Yeah. Cool. Yeah, it definitely helps. And things don't phase you quite as much as they may have in the beginning. A hundred percent. When a problem comes up or whatever, like each time. I kind of remember the first year that really my business really took off, skyrocketed. It also came with a lot of problems. And there was one time where I was just like down. I was just like, you know, kind of overwhelmed and just like, oh my gosh. So many problems, so many issues. And, you know, a good friend of mine kind of took me aside and was trying to give me like a pep talk and all that kind of stuff. But another friend was telling me, you know, whenever this kind of stuff happens, like it's just, you know, once you get past it, like you feel unfazed, like you're going to be unflappable. You're not going to be able to be bothered by little things anymore because you just got through this like really tedious time. But on top of that, the next time something like that happens, it's not as big of a deal. And so like looking back at the things that like phase you at the beginning versus now, just it's kind of, it's almost funny. But you can share that with your team as well if they're not quite as experienced as you. You know what, I tell my team this all the time and I can't say it enough is not only do we teach other people how to treat us, but we also set expectations for our clients, for our team members, for any interactions that we have. And so I feel like as an agent, more than anything else, that is our number one role is setting expectations. Because it's when those expectations are not met that people start getting frantic and they start making emotional choices. And so if you can just stay ahead of that and provide communication, then the problems stop popping up. 100%. There is somebody on here, I think he was an investor actually, but he was talking about how kind of everything boils down to setting clear expectations and communicating effectively. And if you can do those two things, even with your kids, with your family, it's just like, you know, you're a little kid and they're in the middle of a TV show or middle of playing in the park and all of a sudden you're like, we're going, we're leaving, bye. And just rip them out of that. They're going to be pissed. They're going to be very mad. But if you set the expectations that A, you're going to be here for this long and then kind of check in with them, communicate that, you know, 15 minutes, 10 minutes, five minutes, one minute, whatever, and we're going to leave, then that whole process goes a lot more smoothly. And that's the same for, you know, clients. Like if you are proactively communicating throughout the process and, you know, setting the expectations that they're going to get that email, that call, that whatever at this time, they're not going to be anxious. They feel that they're covered. And yeah, so I agree. Agents are the same way though. And I think that's one reason why I've been successful in stepping from, because in a lot of ways I run my team and my downline with Real in the same way that I ran the brokerage. Setting expectations with your agents. I think, you know, let's talk about marketing for example. People think that they're going to send one postcard and suddenly the phone is going to start ringing and everyone is going to be offering them their house to sell. Right.

That's just not how it works. It's stacking those good behaviors every single day to get closer and closer to your goal. And so it's about building that consistency. And so part of my job as a team lead is setting that expectation from the beginning. Okay, you want to start a farm. That's amazing. Let's go ahead and determine the farm. But to be clear, you should not expect anything to turn from this farm for at least the next three to six months. Don't start Google marketing and think that all of a sudden your phone is going to ring off the hook. No, you're going to have to build up that SEO credibility. You're looking at at least six months before you're really starting to get things, the algorithms and everything, getting to know who you are. And so I think that's where a lot of miscommunication goes into it. I think a lot of people are afraid of the truth or they're afraid of rejection if they give somebody the whole truth. And so it's kind of just it goes back to setting those expectations from the beginning. Yeah, that consistency too is huge. I have a house under contract that I've been mailing postcards to that community as a farm for two years, I think. And this is the first actual deal to come from two years. Yeah. And now the result of this sale is great for everything that I've been saying that I'm doing. I did in this deal and we got an amazing above asking price offers that I can now market to that community and just hopefully that will continue to snowball the results from that marketing that I've been doing. But that's hard for people. I mean, that's a lot of money. You know, it's hard to see the forest for the trees. Like if you're spending a lot of money on Google ads, you're spending a lot of money on postcards and nothing's actually come from it. You just feel like, you know, what's the point after a couple months you just spent. So in some ways it's easier to sign a contract or to just send the money to an agency that says, I'm going to commit to this for a year and I'm going to put it up front and it's done. And because you're going to just be spending money pointlessly otherwise, probably. Well, and honestly, I think the same thing goes when you're starting a team as well is people think this is going to be great. I am going to start a team. I'm going to check in with my team and they're going to go off and then I'm going to get a piece of the commission and it's going to be great. Right. Well, starting a team is a huge time investment and time is money. And, you know, I feel like so much of this business is kind of like a chess game and understanding where you move your time and money. And oftentimes I use those synonymously because, you know, we need both. Yeah. Succeed. Yeah, totally. Tell us a little bit about the software now. We were talking a little bit beforehand and how the software you're creating is all about automation and kind of freeing up people's time. So then I'm definitely super interested in. So tell us about what your software does. Well, so something that I have learned in mentoring agents and running the brokerage and going to conferences and meeting people from across the country. Realtors are social beings. Yeah. They are great at meeting people. They're great at forming relationships. They're not good at the back end stuff, but not everyone can afford an assistant. And a lot of people don't have the skill set to really articulate what it is that they're how their process goes, how it's laid out. And the reason is, is they don't have a standard operating procedure for how they transact. They kind of do it on the fly. Yeah. And say, well, every transaction is so unique. But is it because we have the same deadlines? You have the same paperwork that's needed. Hopefully you're getting the same level of customer service to each of your clients. So one thing that I really love about our software, like straight out of the gate from the time that we onboard you is there's several different modules that you go through.

And really what these modules are aimed to do is to build out those SOPs for your listing and buying process from deadlines to communications, to marketing, to gifting. Even we are one of our things is we're really big on building out integrations for all of the different tools and everything that you're using. If you're using something with an open API, our dev teams will actually build a custom integration with that company. We have a priority list based on request, but that's something that we're doing to constantly make our software work better with the tools and everything that agents are already using. We're not trying to... So many of those. Exactly. There is, there is. So for example, we're just finishing a two-way integration with Fellow, which is a home valuation software. And the reason why we're building out a two-way integration with them is they have some really great data enhancement tools where you can look up phone numbers and email addresses and things like that. And it's no, it's not helpful if you get a data enrichment in another software program and then it doesn't update clients in your database. Right. And so we want to make sure that we're working smarter and not harder. So things like that. So we have the transaction management process that is automated as far as deadlines and communications go. We also have an app with DocuSign and a client portal with Dropbox that kind of organizes all of the paperwork for each client as it's completed. And then as far as like the marketing goes, we have some postcard automations set up. We have from the time that people come into the database and that first call is made to them for like your online marketing leads, that call is actually transcribed and sent through chat GPT to determine what type of client it is. Is it a buyer? Is it a seller? Did you set up an appointment on the call? Because if you did, it's going to set the calendar appointment in your system. Nice. If you collect that email address from them over the phone, it's going to save that email address for them in the system so that when you're driving between appointments or at your kid's soccer game and you're taking a call and you don't have a pen and paper and you're like, oh, could you please text me your contact? Yep. You don't have to do that anymore. Just utilizing the smart number in the system will help you collect all that information and make sure that it's setting things off appropriately. So when different types of appointments are made, different types of communications are going to go out as far as reminders or even email communication, preparing them for an inspection. One of my favorite things is once the inspection is complete, the inspection appointment, it's going to send a text to your client saying the inspection is complete. Use the link below to schedule a review of the inspection documents with your agent. And it sends them the next calendar link. So that way you already have your next appointment being booked with your clients to follow up without you having to sit around and wait for it. Nice. So is this a CRM or a plugin to anybody's CRM? It's a CRM. Okay, cool. Although it can sync with other CRMs, it doesn't make sense. Right, you're doubling up. Yeah, cool. Yeah, I like that. It's, there's a lot that, a lot of time people can spend in that, in those rabbit holes of like automating and stuff. And so it is nice when somebody is already creating those for you and kind of setting up a system that they can follow. So that's really cool. Yeah, we, like throughout the onboarding process, they actually order the communications and everything like that. You can actually change the emails that are going to go out. So you get full privileges over that. You can add emails to sequences. And then our software will automatically build those workflows in there for you. Yeah, that's awesome. So I imagine then you would have kind of like a work phone

number that would be integrated with a CRM that then have those automated texts coming from and that you would have like those phone calls, the recording, et cetera, happening through. Yeah, yeah. And so one of the things that I've found in CRM searches and stuff is there seems to be a lot of separation. Like people like prefer maybe to have their personal stuff and their like work stuff separate. And I've kind of always operated off of like, it's all one for me. You know, like all my contacts are just kind of my sphere. So one of the things that I've had to do with some of the CRMs I've worked with is then kind of sync my contacts. And that has to be like through a Zapier or something like that. But that's been one little thing. But I do like the fact that you can have, you could build out, especially if you're doing, I could imagine if you're doing like online lead generation, which is not something I've done much of, that you might feel bombarded with a bunch of people you don't know well. And so like having that separation could be nice until maybe you get them into like that, you know, they're actually an active client. And then, you know, you might use your own phone as well. But yeah, I could see why there's a lot of people that their CRM wants to be very separate from their personal life. I see that. But honestly, I feel like it's a lot misguided. And the reason for that is like those people, those friends and family members are some of your biggest supporters. Oh, absolutely. And sometimes they need reminding that you're an expert in the field that you're in. You're not just the default because you're family. You're default because you're the smartest person they know about real estate. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah. And you want them to be shouting your name from the hilltops anytime they hear anybody breathing about moving. Exactly. So for me, like identifying the client type, and we have a lot of automation set up like this, where it's like when you add a lead source, we add it into the workflow, and we say, okay, leads coming from this lead source. What are they? Are they buyers? Are they sellers? Are they so like, for example, we use Google Forms. And so I know that when somebody fills out the buyer Google Form, that they are a buyer. Yeah. And so I think it's just making sure that you're appropriately labeling your contacts. And so, you know, you asked me the question earlier, like, what do you do to stir the pot? Yeah. Well, again, as a part of the onboarding process, and it's available like in our learning center as well as we talk about how to use tags, we talk about how to use the client type, we talk about how to create new opportunities to keep the end filters to be able to find the people that you've communicated with most recently, the newest leads, the how to put them in groups where you know that this is like a warm nurture, like you know that they're going to transact in the next six to 12 months, and they should be on your like bi weekly call list. Right, right. You know. So those are kind of the things that I specify and we use automation to automatically add certain tags when they hit different milestones, so to speak, or have reached out in a certain way. We can automate removal of tags or addition of tags. So that way, we're making sure that our data is constantly staying up to date as well. Yeah, yeah, that's, it's always embarrassing. If, like I have, I have a lender that sends me a happy birthday message every year on the wrong date. And that's why, like, you know, this stuff is great if you have good data, and that's why it's so important to like you have to really work your data, your sphere to make sure that you're getting, you know, you're not doing something like that. Exactly. Yeah. That's cool. What other ways have you used AI to integrate with this system? To integrate into the system. The phone is probably the most impressive right now. The

other ways that we're using it is going to be in reading the transaction documents that part isn't going to be ready for probably the next six months. But we are working on actually being able to extract fields from like the purchase contract and whatnot to update fields in our different transaction files. That's cool. We also use it for, we do have AI like assistance that can help with texting back and things like that when calls come in. It's a last minute, it's like a last ditch effort kind of thing for us to use the AI agents. I prefer human voice. So most of my smart numbers bring to multiple people on my team. Okay. What other ways are we using? I have a market analysis. So I know the smart number thing that you just said to me really quickly, like, so that would, everybody's phone would ring or would it go to like different people at different times? If somebody doesn't answer, then it goes to the next person. I can set it up either way, actually. So that would be round robin. It was going to go around the circle. Um, usually it just rings to everybody all at the same time. So the first person that picks it up, that's my preference because then you don't have somebody sitting on the phone thinking that nobody's going to pick up the phone. Two minutes. Yeah, that makes sense. That's cool. Yeah, that makes sense. And obviously having somebody answer is the best option. Yeah. That's the number that I use on every single marketing piece. If you look on Google, it's going to be my smart number. If you look on anything, um, being a woman in this industry, I stopped putting my phone number out there a little while ago. Sure. Um, and that's been helpful. Yeah, no, that's, that's great. And that's one of the beauties too, of, of having something, uh, a number in a CRM that's not, you know, your personal number. Um, sorry, then I interrupted you about, you were saying something else. Um, I can't remember what it was now. Um, oh, we also use AI for a market analysis each month. So, um, I used a prompt that uses data from like, what's going on with the fed and news and whatnot to, um, help give insight as to the factors that are affecting our local marketplace currently. Oh, that's cool. Yeah. I think, I think, uh, anybody listening to this, that isn't using AI much. Um, I think it's just really important to start, uh, just, I heard somebody say, put a sticky note on your desk that says, how can I have AI do this? Um, or how can I use AI? And, and it's just really about figuring it out. Like if you haven't, you don't even have to figure it out. Ask, ask chat GPT why you're using it. The point is that you have to actually like use it. Like you have to be, uh, constantly trying to engage it because if you're not, then you may not think, oh, oh, this could be done by a chat GPT. Cause like, once you start, you know, using it for more and more things, it just becomes like obvious, like, oh yeah, that's something I'm definitely going to have chat GPT do. Um, my personal favorite right now, uh, this is really small, but one thing that's been pretty impactful is, you know, I have a Mac and Apple intelligence is kind of built in or whatever. Um, what I did was I, uh, made keyboard shortcuts for a proofreading and for a rewriting so that wherever I'm in, in my Mac, um, if I'm writing something, I can just kind of word vomit and just like get something out there that's not that clear, but it has the key points in it and then boom rewrite. And it's perfect. And that can be in a text message or that can be in an email. My email has built an AI too, but, but yeah, it's, that's been, that's been really nice, uh, to just kind of be more effective of a communicator. Cause I think, you know, often through when you're not on the phone, I mean, the way you communicate is very, very key. Absolutely. I, um, one thing that I did for my team is I built a custom Jack, uh, GPT for role playing with them, which is so easy to do.

Honestly, it's not rocket science, but, um, the thing I like about it is I built in like randomized questions for it. Um, and the reason why I love utilizing this tool. And so like on my agent's weekly check-in sheet, one of the questions is how many times did you use the chat GPT module this week? And the point is, is they'll come up with a scenario, they present it and you need to respond. And then it's going to give you advice on like what you did well, where you can improve and what the perfect answer would be. That's cool. And, um, I pro I trained it using Tom Ferry and Phil Jones language. Okay. Um, yeah, that's awesome. And it goes really, really nice. And so, and I really, you could do like the voice to text for it, or even just do the voice role play with it. But honestly, I prefer people doing the written version because I find that when you sit down and write and you're really thinking about it, your brain makes deeper lasting changes than if you're just to talk, you start thinking about the cadence and how you want to put these different words together, um, in a more thoughtful way that I feel like can stick and become more of a script. Yeah. Yeah. I love that. That's awesome. Um, I do have some, I have some questions about like, uh, if you have any golden nuggets for real estate agents, uh, that maybe are getting started or, um, have been at it for a while. I mean, is there anything that comes to mind that you'd want to share? Ask for the business, start with your sphere and ask for the business. Don't be shy to say, do you know anyone that's thinking of buying or selling this year? Okay. I love it. And is that, would you recommend going by calling, uh, emails? What, what's the best route for, for doing that? Um, I think for newer agents also honestly being like face to face with people, like throughout your day to day life, that's going to be your best bet. Um, I don't think newer agents have the skills on the phone to fully convert. I think that's a skill that's acquired over time, which is absolutely something you should work on, but do a month of my chat GPT bot first and then go and talk on the phone. Um, cool. Ask for it, like get involved with the community and ask for it. Yeah, no, that's great. I love it. Um, what about any books that you'd recommend? Do you have any favorite books that are fundamental for everybody to read or ones that you're currently enjoying? Yeah, I, I am a serial reader, so I am constantly picking up new tips and tricks. I think pertaining to this conversation, um, Dan Martell's book, buy back your time. Um, that really focuses on making sure that the activities that you're putting the most time into activities that only you can do. So in real estate, that's making the sales. You should be in phase showing homes. You should not be organizing your paperwork and spending hours on doing that when you could be out going and finding your next transaction. Yeah, no, that's awesome. Um, and, and like you were saying, like, you know, with your CRM, um, there's some of those automations, like if, if you're doing it yourself, it takes a lot of time. And that might be, again, where you can buy back your time by having somebody else do it by using your software. Um, but yeah, what a great way to free up, um, bandwidth too, is to automate a lot of the things that are just kind of repetitive. Yeah, absolutely. I'll, um, I'll send you my link tree to put in the description that has information on both my software, but it also has, um, access to our chat GPT module. So if anybody wants to give it a shot and try and sharpen their skills, um, it's there for you to use. Oh, that's awesome. Thank you. And that was going to be my next question is, is what's the best way to reach out to you or find more information about this stuff? Yeah, absolutely. Um, use that link. It's got all of my contact information, my social handles, um, and information on our, on our software.

Cool. Awesome. Well, I really appreciate your time. This has been a fun conversation. Yeah, absolutely. Thanks so much for having me.

[precallai]

Inside the AI Based Contact Center with Tools Tech and Trends

Introduction

The evolution of customer service has entered a new era with the rise of the AI based contact center. No longer just a support line, today’s contact centers are intelligent, data-driven hubs that utilize artificial intelligence to deliver personalized, efficient, and scalable customer interactions. As businesses race to stay ahead of the curve, understanding the essential tools, technologies, and emerging trends that power AI-driven contact centers becomes crucial. This article explores how AI is transforming contact centers and what lies ahead for this innovative landscape.

The Rise of the AI Based Contact Center

Traditional contact centers, though essential, have long suffered from inefficiencies such as long wait times, inconsistent service, and high operational costs. AI-based contact centers are solving these issues by automating routine tasks, predicting customer needs, and delivering omnichannel support.

AI technology, such as machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and robotic process automation (RPA), is now integrated into contact center platforms to enhance agent productivity and customer satisfaction.

Essential Tools Driving AI Based Contact Centers

1. AI-Powered Chatbots and Virtual Agents

Chatbots are the most visible AI tool in contact centers. These virtual assistants handle customer queries instantly and are available 24/7. Advanced bots can handle complex conversations using NLP and deep learning, reducing human intervention for repetitive inquiries.

2. Intelligent Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Systems

Modern IVR systems use voice recognition and AI to route calls more accurately. Unlike traditional menu-based IVRs, intelligent IVRs can interpret natural language, making customer interactions smoother and faster.

3. Speech Analytics Tools

AI-driven speech analytics tools analyze live or recorded conversations in real time. They extract keywords, sentiments, and emotional cues, offering insights into customer satisfaction, agent performance, and compliance issues.

4. Workforce Optimization (WFO) Platforms

AI helps optimize staffing through forecasting and scheduling tools that predict call volumes and agent availability. These platforms improve efficiency and reduce costs by aligning workforce resources with demand.

5. CRM Integration and Predictive Analytics

By integrating AI with CRM systems, contact centers gain predictive capabilities. AI analyzes customer data to forecast needs, recommend next-best actions, and personalize interactions, leading to higher engagement and retention.

Core Technologies Enabling AI Based Contact Centers

1. Natural Language Processing (NLP)

NLP allows machines to understand, interpret, and respond in human language. This is the backbone of AI-based communication, enabling features like voice recognition, sentiment detection, and conversational AI.

2. Machine Learning and Deep Learning

These technologies enable AI systems to learn from past interactions and improve over time. They are used to personalize customer interactions, detect fraud, and optimize call routing.

3. Cloud Computing

Cloud platforms provide the infrastructure for scalability and flexibility. AI contact centers hosted in the cloud offer remote access, fast deployment, and seamless integration with third-party applications.

4. Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

RPA automates repetitive tasks such as data entry, ticket generation, and follow-ups. This frees up human agents to focus on more complex customer issues, improving efficiency.

Emerging Trends in AI Based Contact Centers

1. Hyper-Personalization

AI is pushing personalization to new heights by leveraging real-time data, purchase history, and browsing behavior. Contact centers can now offer customized solutions and product recommendations during live interactions.

2. Omnichannel AI Integration

Customers expect consistent service across channels—phone, email, chat, social media, and more. AI tools unify customer data across platforms, enabling seamless, context-aware conversations.

3. Emotion AI and Sentiment Analysis

Emotion AI goes beyond words to analyze voice tone, pace, and volume to determine a caller's emotional state. This data helps agents adapt their responses or triggers escalations when needed.

4. Agent Assist Tools

AI now works hand-in-hand with human agents by suggesting responses, summarizing calls, and providing real-time knowledge base access. These agent assist tools enhance productivity and reduce training time.

5. AI Ethics and Transparency

As AI becomes more prevalent, companies are increasingly focused on responsible AI usage. Transparency in how decisions are made, data privacy, and eliminating bias are emerging priorities for AI implementation.

Benefits of Adopting an AI Based Contact Center

Businesses that adopt AI-based contact centers experience a variety of benefits:

Improved Customer Satisfaction: Faster, more accurate responses enhance the overall experience.

Cost Reduction: Automation reduces reliance on large human teams for repetitive tasks.

Increased Scalability: AI can handle spikes in volume without compromising service quality.

Better Insights: Data analytics uncover trends and customer behaviors for better strategy.

Challenges in AI Based Contact Center Implementation

Despite the advantages, there are challenges to be aware of:

High Initial Investment: Setting up AI tools can be capital intensive.

Integration Complexities: Integrating AI with legacy systems may require customization.

Change Management: Staff may resist AI adoption due to fear of replacement or complexity.

Data Security and Compliance: AI systems must adhere to data protection regulations like GDPR or HIPAA.

Future Outlook of AI Based Contact Centers

The future of AI-based contact centers is promising. As technology matures, we can expect deeper personalization, more intuitive bots, and stronger collaboration between human agents and AI. Voice AI will become more empathetic and context-aware, while backend analytics will drive strategic decision-making.

By 2030, many experts predict that AI will handle the majority of customer interactions, with human agents stepping in only for high-level concerns. This hybrid model will redefine efficiency and service quality in the contact center industry.

Conclusion

The AI based contact center is transforming how businesses interact with customers. With powerful tools, cutting-edge technologies, and evolving trends, organizations are reimagining the contact center as a strategic asset rather than a cost center. By investing in AI, companies can enhance customer experiences, improve operational efficiency, and stay competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace. The time to explore and adopt AI contact center solutions is now—because the future of customer support is already here.

[jcmarchi]

Hakob Astabatsyan, Co-Founder & CEO of Synthflow – Interview Series

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/hakob-astabatsyan-co-founder-ceo-of-synthflow-interview-series/

Hakob Astabatsyan, Co-Founder & CEO of Synthflow – Interview Series

Hakob Astabatsyan, Co‑Founder and CEO of Synthflow, is leading the development of cutting-edge voice AI technology that helps businesses automate customer calls with human-like responsiveness. Based in Berlin, Hakob co-founded Synthflow in 2023 with the goal of making advanced conversational AI accessible to companies of all sizes.

Under his leadership, Synthflow has rapidly scaled across Germany and the U.S., enabling clients in real estate, healthcare, finance, and other industries to deploy custom no-code voice agents in just weeks. These AI agents handle inbound and outbound calls, integrate with 200+ apps and CRMs, and operate at low cost with exceptional accuracy. With rapid revenue growth and a growing global team, Synthflow is becoming a leading voice automation platform—and Hakob is at the forefront of its expansion.

What inspired you to start Synthflow, and how did your background as a strategist and serial entrepreneur influence the company’s mission?

When we started Synthflow, voice AI was still in its infancy, limited to robotic IVRs and hard-coded scripts. But having worked across multiple startups and tech ventures, I could see a deeper opportunity. My background as a strategist taught me to spot moments when a shift in infrastructure reshapes an industry, and that’s exactly what large language models did for voice.

We knew that if we could combine cutting-edge AI with real-time voice interaction we could transform customer communication. That mission to democratize voice AI wasn’t just a tagline; it was a response to a market gap. Our north star has always been to build human-like automation that is easy to deploy, scalable, and secure.

Your mission is to “democratize access to AI voice automation.” What does that look like in practical terms for small and mid-sized businesses?

Democratizing voice AI means removing the technical and financial barriers that have historically limited access to this technology. Whether you’re a fast-scaling startup, a mid-sized operation, or an enterprise team looking to modernize customer engagement, our goal is to make human-like voice automation deployable in days.

This is why we built Synthflow as a no-code platform. Instead of relying on engineering resources or lengthy integrations, teams across sales, support, and operations can design and launch voice agents through a simple browser-based interface. It’s a shift from AI being a back-office R&D project to a frontline business tool.

Can you walk us through what it takes to build and deploy a voice agent from scratch using your tools?

It’s remarkably intuitive. Our no-code, browser-based interface lets users drag and drop elements to design a complete call flow conversation from greetings to follow-ups. You can define tone, fallback behaviors, and integrations with your existing systems like CRMs or calendars.

We take care of everything behind the scenes—transcription, speech synthesis, LLMs, and call setup—so teams can focus on the experience, not the plumbing. That’s how we earned G2’s Fastest Implementation badge for AI Agents globally, because most of our customers go from zero to live in under two weeks.

What breakthroughs allowed you to achieve human-like latency of <500ms and near-perfect uptime?

Achieving sub-500ms latency was a major technical milestone. It required a combination of edge computing, real-time streaming architecture, and model-level optimization. We decoupled our speech-to-text and text-to-speech layers from the LLM inferences to ensure parallel processing wherever possible.

On the infrastructure side, we designed for reliability from day one—leveraging redundancy, failover routing, and distributed cloud systems to maintain uptime even at high volumes. Today, we process over 40 million calls per month, and our customers benefit from that battle-tested scale.

How does Synthflow’s AI avoid hallucinations and stay within brand-safe “guardrails” during conversations?

Unlike general-purpose chatbots that try to handle anything and everything, our voice agents are built to be goal-driven. That focus dramatically reduces the chances of hallucination. If an agent is designed to schedule calls, it simply won’t respond to unrelated prompts like “tell me a joke” or “what’s the weather.” It sticks to the task it was created for, keeping the conversation purposeful and on track.

On top of that, our platform includes a built-in knowledge base that lets you define exactly what the agent should know—and more importantly, what it shouldn’t. This makes it easy to keep conversations brand-safe, accurate, and relevant, while giving you full control over how the AI handles information.

What makes users trust an AI voice agent, and where do things typically go wrong in customer experience?

Trust comes down to speed, relevance, and tone. If an AI responds quickly, understands intent, and sounds natural, people are more likely to engage. We’ve built in subtle human cues like pauses and filler words to make conversations feel real.

Things go wrong when AI tries to do too much. That’s why our agents focus on specific tasks and escalate when needed. It’s not about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things well.

That said, we know some people are still skeptical. And that’s fair—every new technology goes through that phase. As a pioneer in voice AI, we see it as our job not just to build great tech, but to help people feel confident using it.

How do you ensure that Synthflow voice agents handle sensitive data securely while complying with HIPAA, SOC2, and GDPR?

Security and compliance are core to our architecture. We’re certified under SOC 2 and GDPR and operate with HIPAA-compliant safeguards for healthcare clients. This includes data encryption at rest and in transit, role-based access controls, audit logs, and consent frameworks baked into call flows.

What role do humans still play when Synthflow is deployed — and where is human-AI collaboration most critical?

Humans will always play a critical role. Synthflow isn’t here to replace people, we’re here to make them better at their jobs. Our AI voice agents take on the repetitive, routine calls so human teams can focus on what they do best: handling complex, emotional, and high-impact conversations.

We think that the future of customer communication is like a relay. The AI runs the first leg of the conversation—capturing intent, collecting details, handling routine actions. When things get more complex, it passes the baton to a human with full context so they can pick up seamlessly. That kind of human-AI collaboration creates better experiences for both sides of the conversation.

You’re based in Berlin. How does the European tech ecosystem shape Synthflow’s growth strategy, especially around privacy and AI regulation?

Being in Europe, especially in Berlin, has sharpened our focus on privacy, ethical AI, and compliance-first development. European customers demand high standards, and we’ve embraced that as a competitive advantage. Our architecture is designed to be data-sovereign and regulation-ready, which positions us well as global AI regulations tighten.

Berlin also offers a unique talent pool. It’s helped us grow thoughtfully while staying grounded in trust, which is essential when your product talks directly to customers on behalf of a brand.

Where do you see the future of AI voice agents heading — and what’s one major trend in enterprise AI that’s currently underhyped?

The future is accelerating faster than anyone predicted. Within a few years, I believe over half of all B2B voice interactions will be AI-driven, and we’re already seeing glimpses of AI-to-AI conversations managing entire workflows.

One underhyped trend is the rise of no-code and low-code AI orchestration. Everyone talks about the models, but the real unlock comes when businesses can deploy and iterate on AI solutions without writing code. And we’re excited to be part of this wave.

Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit Synthflow. 

[questerablogs]

The Evolution of Customer Engagement: AI vs Traditional CRM

Customer expectations are evolving. They want faster responses, personalized support, and smooth experiences—all without waiting or repeating their issues. This shift has exposed the limitations of Traditional CRM systems, which mainly store customer data but fail to offer timely, intelligent engagement.

The rise of AI customer engagement is changing the game. It's no longer just about automation or using AI in customer service. The real change comes with smart AI CRM tools that know what action to take, when to take it, and how to personalize the experience for each customer.

An AI CRM functions like a well-coordinated team. It manages customer interactions, ensures no delays, and adapts to customer needs in real time. With AI customer engagement capabilities, businesses can provide personalized support and accelerate sales efforts without extra manual work.

One of the key benefits of an AI CRM is its ability to integrate various tools, so you don’t have to juggle multiple platforms. It provides a seamless, all-in-one solution for customer service, sales, and marketing.

If you want to enhance your customer engagement and drive growth with cutting-edge AI technology, try Questera. It provides powerful AI customer engagement tools that deliver a seamless experience from AI-driven customer support to AI-powered sales and marketing.

[enrcloud]

AI Agents Revolutionizing Marketing, Commerce, and Customer Service

AI agents are transforming the landscape of marketing, commerce, and customer service by automating tasks, personalizing customer interactions, and enhancing operational efficiency. In marketing, AI agents analyze consumer behavior to deliver tailored content and optimize campaign strategies. In commerce, they streamline processes like inventory management and order fulfillment, adapting in real-time to market demands. For customer service, AI agents provide 24/7 support, handling inquiries through natural language processing and learning from interactions to improve over time. Companies like Salesforce and Walmart are integrating AI agents to handle a significant portion of customer interactions, leading to increased satisfaction and reduced operational costs. As AI technology continues to evolve, its role in these sectors is expected to expand, offering businesses a competitive edge in delivering personalized and efficient services.

[spinnrblog]

Salesforce’s Agent Force 2 = next-level AI CRM. 💬 AI agents ☁️ Unified data 🤝 Real customer connection It’s not just automation—it’s innovation with intention.

VengoAI.com