Best-in-class customer service organisations are increasingly using AI as a competitive differentiator, especially as they face economic uncertainty and rising costs. Cost savings are just one benefit of AI in customer service. A recent report from Gartner, 3 Ways AI Benefits Customer Service Organisations,* explains how customer service organisations can use AI to move beyond cutting costs to adding value.

Great service relies on having a complete view of your customers. That means bringing all your support channels, workflows, customer data and apps into a unified workspace so agents have the context they need for every customer interaction. But businesses need to take the idea of a single customer view one step further.

The pandemic dealt some heavy blows to the retail industry. Lockdowns, short tempers and supply chain issues were just a few of the challenges that business owners have faced over the past three years. But retailers who got creative – and engaged with their customers in new and innovative ways – surged past the competition. Learn how to boost your retail CX with Zendesk and AWS.

The money in our wallets doesn’t go as far as it used to. Prices are increasing—the cost of low fat milk was around forty five per cent cheaper in December 2021 than today. Meanwhile, the phenomenon of ‘shrinkflation’, a form of hidden inflation, means we’re all paying more and getting less in return. Companies across the board, from small independent businesses right up to the biggest retailers in the country, are finding it hard too.

Understanding the latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) can seem overwhelming, but if it’s learning the basics that you’re interested in, you can boil many AI innovations down to two concepts: machine learning and deep learning. Examples of machine learning and deep learning are everywhere. It’s what makes self-driving cars a reality, how Netflix knows which show you’ll want to watch next and how Facebook recognises whose face is in a photo.

The world is changing and customer experience is shifting alongside. Advances in technology, combined with new and ongoing business challenges, put us all under pressure to continue to evolve, improve and do more for our customers. Many businesses have managed through supply chain disruptions, rising costs and the ongoing shift into the digital landscape – all while under a cloud layer of ongoing economic uncertainty. Companies are faced with tightening margins and cutting costs.

Despite the hype, AI isn’t here to replace your human agents. On the contrary, when human agents and AI join forces, they form a powerful CX team – one that builds on their strengths, while minimising their weaknesses. Your agents shouldn’t be bogged down by busy work. With AI in their corner, they can instead focus on the tasks that make a difference. Which results in a better experience for all involved.

It’s fair to say the manufacturing industry is on the fast track to digital transformation. The pandemic exposed the fragility of our global supply chains, resulting in empty shelves and overstocked warehouses. Meanwhile, as the pandemic subsides, inflation is driving up the cost of goods and logistics, putting the squeeze on companies still recovering from the past few years. So it’s no surprise that manufacturers are looking for ways to cut costs whilst still maintaining quality.

In response to macroeconomic pressure, technology companies of all sizes have been tightening their belts and flattening their org structures. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called it the “year of efficiency”, while others are calling it the “end of the tech boom”. But despite budget challenges, tech companies have reason to hope.

The digital transformation in retail has fundamentally changed the way the entire industry operates. From supply chain management to predictive analytics, it has increased speed and efficiency across all areas of the retail business. In today’s hyper-competitive environment, agility is critical to attracting and keeping customers. Shoppers know they have choices and retailers who aim to keep their business from walking out the door need to put customers at the centre.