Don’t you feel bored or frustrated when you hear “press 1 for sales team” or “press 2 for support team” when you’re trying to connect with a customer support team?

Enter a hero: To make you calm from traditional IVR, VIVR(virtual interactive voice response)came into the market. Visual interactive voice response, also known as VIVR, is a system that incorporates a visual interface to direct callers to a web-based support interaction.

Visual IVR gathers real-time data and helps customers navigate menus quickly. Personalize the support journey by seamlessly connecting customers to self-service options or experts who can solve their concerns at first contact.

🔑 Key Highlights
  • Visual IVR offers a more intuitive and efficient way for customers to navigate through self-service options, leading to increased satisfaction and reduced frustration.
  • By automating routine tasks and providing agents with relevant customer information, Visual IVR boosts agent productivity and reduces call handling time.
  • Visual IVR collects valuable data on customer behavior and agent performance, enabling businesses to make data-driven decisions and optimize their customer service strategy.
  • Visual IVR can help lower operational costs by reducing call volumes, increasing self-service rates, and improving agent efficiency.

What is visual IVR?

Visual IVR (VIVR) is an automated customer service tool that uses voice-only prompts and an interactive onscreen interface to guide customers through specific support interactions, accessible on desktop and mobile devices.

The text you provided focuses on how visual interfaces leverage multiple channels for intuitive navigation and seamless data collection from customers. It mentions that customers can receive the link to visual IVR menus via SMS or through an installed application on their phone. The menus are designed to reflect the IVR (interactive voice response)  structure and can also accept other forms of input, such as long texts and images.

A visual IVR system enables the real-time collection of data. Company websites and mobile applications help customers swiftly navigate menus. Customers can input their responses using radio buttons, checkboxes, and drop-down menus, which are more reliable and reduce the likelihood of customer errors.

How does visual IVR work?

Visual IVR (VIVR) is a technology that enhances the user experience by adding a visual layer to traditional voice response systems. It allows customers to interact with a web page or app, making navigation and selection easier.

The system offers a visually interactive menu with tailored options. This allows customers to easily navigate through their issues or requests in real-time, enhancing their understanding and efficiency compared to voice-only menus.

The visual IVR system escalates calls to live agents if the visual system cannot resolve a customer’s issue, accelerating the resolution process by gathering relevant information and providing a more intuitive and engaging experience.

Differences between Traditional IVR and Visual IVR 

Aspect Traditional IVR Visual IVR
User Interaction Involves listening to and navigating through voice menus. Users interact with visual menus on their screens.
Ease of Use It can be frustrating and time-consuming with lengthy menus. Typically easier and faster with intuitive touch-based options.
Accessibility Limited voice prompts may not be ideal for all users. More accessible, especially for users with hearing impairments.
Error Handling Misunderstandings due to voice recognition issues. Fewer errors as users select options directly on the screen.
Customization Limited customization of menu options and flows. Highly customizable and can be tailored to specific user needs.
Speed It can be slow, especially if the user has to listen to long menus. Generally quicker, as users can see all options at once.
Customer Satisfaction Often lower due to frustration with navigation. Higher satisfaction with easy and clear navigation.
Technology Requirement Requires only a phone line. Requires a smartphone or device with internet access.

Benefits of Visual IVR

Visual IVR offers numerous advantages to agents, customers, managers, and business owners.

1. Better customer service:

Visual IVR solutions improve customer experience and engagement. They eliminate frustrations such as long hold times and speaking with multiple agents. These solutions provide support 24/7 through voice and digital channels. Customers can resolve issues on their own schedules. Visual IVR is available as a one-time mobile app on different devices, making it convenient and flexible. It also speeds up the support process, increasing customer satisfaction.

2. Cost-efficiency:

In this case, VIVR enhances customer care because it takes care of routine work, addresses basic customer problems, and allows agents to target complicated customers’ concerns, selling calls, and relationship building. It integrates with CRM systems and contact center applications, arming the agents with tools, as well as adequate customer details for efficient, hassle-free customer relations.

3. Boost agent productivity:

VIVR improves customer service by automating tasks and handling simpler issues, which lets agents focus on complex customer needs, sales calls, and building relationships. It works with CRM systems and contact center software, giving agents the tools and customer data they need for efficient, high-quality customer support.

4. Deeper Understanding of Agent Activity:

In addition to the real-time insights, containment of calls, dependant on the type of workflow, can be a significant factor for the analysis of potential bottlenecks and L&D manager comprehensible agent training deficiencies. This is the time that any agent spends talking during the call, rate of abandoning a call, csat and NPS scores, cost per call, the number of outbound and inbound call, and the number of calls on hold in the queue. 

These analytics give an understanding on some of the customer mapping, sundry behaviors, and prognosis call volumes. It is equally vital to note that automated customer surveys assist business organizations in keeping track of their customers as well as the issues of contention which if not well handled, would transform into major crises.

5. Reduced wait times:

Using a visual IVR system helps reduce the number of routine calls handled by your agents, increasing the likelihood of first-call resolution. This self-service technology allows clients to address their concerns using their preferred mode of communication.

Limitation of Visual IVR

Visual IVR offers convenience for customers, ease of use, and time-saving benefits for agents through the automation of common support requests. However, it is important to consider some drawbacks as well.

Visual IVR systems may not provide the same level of user-friendly experience as fully digital customer self-service tools like advanced website chatbots, an online knowledge base with FAQs, or live agent chat messaging.

The role of Artificial Intelligence in the customer experience is expanding, and automated chatbots and voicebots powered by Conversational AI are capable of handling more complex customer service issues. Furthermore, these AI-powered chatbots are capable of emulating natural language, personalizing fully automated customer interactions, and improving efficiency over time, all thanks to machine learning.

Additional potential drawbacks of Visual IVR include:

  • Customers still need to call the contact center.
  • Visual IVR can only assist with the specific customer service issue it has been programmed to handle.
  • Long pre-recorded IVR menu options may remain an issue
  • Relying on visual IVR on-screen menu options might make it difficult for customers to reach a live agent quickly
  • General customer resistance to IVR (customers feel undervalued, lack personalized support, etc.)

Best practices for Visual IVR

To enhance the efficiency and consistency of the customer experience, it is suggested to optimize the IVR system while prioritizing user experience (UX). This approach minimizes customer inconveniences and ensures the functionality and seamlessness of the visual IVR. The following tips can be followed to enhance the effectiveness of call flow:

1. Enhance your IVR script:

Avoid repeating old IVR scripts and design digital IVRs for virtual interfaces. Use inspiration from call flow, but consider additional menu options for varied visual and audio experiences.

2. Customize your Visual IVR:

Tailor your menu to personalize the experience for callers frustrated with IVR systems. Use customer data to add their name to prompts, ensuring a seamless interaction with live agents.

3. Make it easy to use:

If your virtual IVR system is overly complicated, customers are less likely to use it. A complex setup can lead to customer frustration, dissatisfaction, and an increase in calls to live agents.

4. Provide customers with a call-back option and the ability to speak with agents:

Businesses that use a virtual intelligent menu often let customers choose to call a phone number or ask for a call-back service. When customers can schedule a call-back from a live agent, businesses can reduce wait times and make customers happier.

Final words

Enhance your company’s omnichannel distribution by offering clients an effective self-service option. Visual IVR transforms customer support by enabling customers to save time and promptly address their issues without staying on hold. This technology smoothly becomes part of a contact center’s activities, reducing stress on your agents’ tasks.

FAQs

What do clients need to download to use visual IVRs?

Visual IVRs do not require the installation of an app as they are web-based, ensuring widespread use and acceptance. If needed, you can transfer to a live agent, and once transferred, agents can see your entire customer journey. This reduces the need to repeat information multiple times.

What type of content can you use on VIVR?

VIVR can include audio prompts, text, graphics, images, and visual cues. Visual IVR broadens the range of interaction choices from numerical options on a keypad to characters and screen-selectable options.

Does Visual IVR decrease accessibility for users with disabilities?

With proper planning and design, VIVR does not decrease accessibility for those with disabilities. It combines visual and voice elements to offer a multimodal interaction experience, benefiting users with disabilities by providing alternative ways to interact. Visual customer support menus can use assistive technologies like screen readers or magnifiers.

What are the top 3 Visual IVR providers?

The top 3 visual IVR providers are:

  1. Five9
  2. Genesys Cloud CX
  3. Radial

Prasanta Raut

Prasanta, founder and CEO of Dialaxy, is redefining SaaS with creativity and dedication. Focused on simplifying sales and support, he drives innovation to deliver exceptional value and shape a new era of business excellence.

Prasanta, founder and CEO of Dialaxy, is redefining SaaS with creativity and dedication. Focused on simplifying sales and support, he drives innovation to deliver exceptional value and shape a new era of business excellence.