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The Smiley Company Illuminates Cities for International Day of Happiness

YourUpdateTV

Timed to International Day of Happiness, The Smiley Company unveiled large-scale projections around the world featuring the iconic smiley logo in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The projections are in support of the United Nations International Day of Happiness “2022 Happiness for All, Ukraine”* initiative and serve to call attention to and honor the bravery and resilience of the people of Ukraine. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/AyFO6v2Ihbg The Smiley projections appeared on the streets of major cities around the world including London, Los Angeles, New York, Berlin, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome and Sydney. As part of this announcement, Smiley also donated to various humanitarian organizations supporting Ukraine and has been using its platform, The Smiley Movement, to further raise awareness and share resources for ways to donate to the Ukraine effort. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, International Day of Happiness aims to remind people around the world that actions matter and each person can help build a more compassionate world, wherever they are. Since its inception 50 years ago, Smiley’s mission is to spread good news to demonstrate the immense power in a smile through the spread of positivity, good news and optimism around the world. For more information on how to support Ukraine, visit https://smileymovement.org/ for a list of charities, ways to donate and resources taking positive action. * This initiative is in support of the United Nations official International Day of Happiness campaign and The Smiley Company is not officially affiliated with the UN or their initiatives surrounding International Day of Happiness. About The Smiley Company: For the past 50 years, Smiley has embraced positivity, creativity, and collaboration, inspiring forward-facing optimism around the world. Born as a symbol for good news in the newspaper France Soir in 1972, Smiley is now a universally recognised TOP 100 global licensing company registered in over 100 countries. Working with brand partners and leading retailers, Smiley spreads positivity through fashion, accessories, beauty, homewares, food packaging, stationery, and entertainment products. A lifestyle brand that encourages everyone to express more empathy, compassion, and gratitude, Smiley is determined to build a better future. About The Smiley Movement: Smiley Movement is a nonprofit community interest company sponsored by the original SmileyⓇ brand. Our vision is to inspire positive change in society by creating a happier, more equal and sustainable world, where everyone works hand-in-hand to address urgent societal and environmental problems. In 2017, philanthropist and social entrepreneur Nicolas Loufrani – Smiley’s CEO – identified a gap in the market between the people looking for opportunities to give back and the millions of charitable causes in need of support. Market research at the time showed ‘92% of the UK public want to do good in the world but are unsure how to’ and ‘82% would volunteer more if they were better informed about the charity sector’. Smiley Movement was born in 2018 to address this need by providing the technology and ecosystems that empower communities around the world to act on issues important to them. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

March 31, 2022 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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137 Countries Agree to Phase-Out Major Category of Fluorescent Lightbulbs

CLASP

At the Minamata Convention on Mercury fourth Conference of Parties (COP4), 137 governments adopted amendments to phase out a major category of fluorescent lighting, but actions were stalled on others. All fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury, a chemical of major public health concern according to the World Health Organization. In a major win for environmental and human health, the Parties agreed to phase-out compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) by 2025. By accelerating the transition to LED lighting, which is more energy-efficient and non-toxic, the move will avoid 26.2 metric tonnes of mercury pollution and 261.5 million metric tons CO 2 emissions from 2025-2050, and save people $77.8 billion in lower energy bills. However, last-minute interventions delayed a decision on linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs), the long tubes commonly found in offices and stores, until Minamata COP5 in November 2023. “LEDs are a rare silver bullet technology – they’re ready now, they cost half as much to run as fluorescents, and they constitute a double win for climate change mitigation and reducing toxics pollution. We were amazed to see the international cooperation on lighting at COP4. We hope for continued global alignment and momentum at COP5,” said Corinne Schneider, Chief Communications Officer at CLASP. Over days of intense negotiations, a group of countries came together to agree on phase-out dates for all lighting categories, including the EU, India, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Pakistan, Switzerland, the US, and many Latin American governments, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Colombia. However, not all Parties were prepared to move forward, citing the need for more time and additional feasibility analysis. A phase-out of LFLs by 2027 – the date that most countries rallied around by the end of the week – would have captured significantly greater benefits, avoiding a further 71.7 million metric tons mercury pollution and 2.72 Gt of CO2 emissions and saving $1.06 trillion in cost savings, according to experts at CLASP. Last year, 36 governments representing the Africa region submitted a proposal to the Minamata Convention to phase-out virtually all fluorescent lighting by the end of 2025. With many OECD countries banning fluorescents in the coming years in favor of more efficient LEDs, less regulated markets risk becoming dumping grounds for toxic lighting. “The Africa region recognizes that lighting is crucial in promoting livelihoods. Through our proposal, we took the first step towards a global phase-out of mercury-containing fluorescent lighting,” explained Oumar Cissé, Head of Delegation (Mali) in his opening statement at COP4. “The case to phasing out fluorescent lamps – both CFLs and LFLs – is already justified today from a public health, environmental, technical as well as economic perspective.” “The original proposal by the Africa region is consistent with our findings that a transition to clean and efficient lighting is feasible everywhere today. The move to phase out CFLs represents a major win, as it will remove toxic, inefficient bulbs from our homes. But keeping LFLs on the market continues to disadvantage our offices, hospitals, schools and childcare centers, needlessly increasing energy costs and risking mercury exposure,” said Ana Maria Carreño, Director of Climate at CLASP. NGO groups around the world advocated over the past year to address mercury in lighting at COP4. The Climate Action Network launched a petition that garnered over 200 signatures from climate and environmental groups, as well as the private sector, urging governments to take action to phase out fluorescents. “We are leaving this COP with mixed emotions. Un- and under-regulated markets are increasingly vulnerable to dumping of fluorescents that many countries have already banned due to their toxicity and inefficiency,” said Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, International Co-coordinator of the Zero Mercury Working Group. “The decision to phase out CFLs is one step in the right direction, and we congratulate governments for their efforts to progress the Convention’s promise to ‘Make Mercury History.’ We hope to see action on LFLs at COP5 in November 2023.” “We are proud of the work the Africa region has done to protect people from toxic lighting products,” said Roger Baro, Vice President of COP4 (Burkina Faso). “We will continue working to phase-out all fluorescent lighting and stop it from causing further mercury pollution in our communities.” Fluorescent lighting represents about 10% of mercury in all products globally. In the past, fluorescent lamps were promoted as an energy-efficient alternative to incandescent and halogen lamps, and the mercury risks were tolerated as a necessary tradeoff. Today, thanks to major advances in LED technology, mercury-free LED lamps can cost-effectively replace fluorescents in virtually all applications. CLASP improves the energy and environmental performance of the appliances & equipment we use every day, accelerating our transition to a more sustainable world. Contact Details CLASP Alexia Ross +1 339-222-4311 aross@clasp.ngo Company Website http://www.clasp.ngo/

March 31, 2022 09:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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National Land Realty Sells More Than $1.5 Billion in Land

National Land Realty

National Land Realty, the nation’s fastest growing real estate land brokerage company specializing in farm, ranch, country estates, timber, recreational, and commercial development properties, today announced that it hit more than $1.5 billion in sales in 2021. While total transactions and acres of land sold in the past year have increased 51.5 and 80.4 percent respectively, overall sales volume skyrocketed 131 percent. Meanwhile in the same timeframe, the company also added a new CMO and CTO, as well as dozens of new brokers nationwide. A total of 291,449.82 acres changed ownership through 2,201 transactions. Comparison Sales 2021 vs 2020 With 86 offices in 41 states, National Land Realty currently employs 360 active agents. In 2021, the company opened new offices in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Virginia. “Rediscovery of a safe haven asset” “More and more people are rediscovering the value of land as a safe haven asset in the current volatile economy. Land has offered a store of value since this country was settled and continues to be a safe haven for investors that no equity, bonds or even gold can compete with,” says Jason Burbage, President of National Land Realty. “In the past year, National Land Realty has grown at an extremely fast clip. We hired Mac Christian, our new CMO, who will make sure that our marketing function is up to the task of consolidating and expanding on our growth. Meanwhile, under the direction of our new CTO, Tyler Van Meeteren, we are continuing to invest in our land touring and mapping technology which makes our agents better equipped than any of their peers to guide clients through their purchasing journey. Combine all of that with our hiring of new agents and you have a company that is ready for more rapid growth in 2022,” said Jason Walter, CEO of National Land. As a reflection of the company's growth, National Land Realty recently recognized several agents who made it possible at its annual company conference, the National Land Summit. A few of those include: Clint Flowers, ALC (Gulf Coast Office) who received the Top Gun Award for being the company’s top producer with the highest total gross commissions. Austin Hill (Middle GA Office) who received the Rising Star Award, an award given to an individual who is newer to the company (within 10 years) and is on a path to success in sales, education, support, and core values. Beth McLellan (Kosciusko, MS Office) who received the Trailblazer Award for her positive influence on the lives of her team and helping them achieve the highest levels of success, not only in business, but in life. About National Land Realty National Land Realty (NLR) is the nation’s fastest growing real estate land brokerage company specializing in farm, ranch, country estates, timber, recreational, and commercial development properties. Highly regarded for its proprietary land touring technology, Land Tour 360 ®, as well as its GIS land mapping system, LandBase™, which catalogs land data in extremely detailed ways, the company makes it easy to view and zero in on the right property in the right place. Founded in Greenville, S.C. in 2007, NLR has more than 85 offices in 41 states. To learn more visit www.nationalland.com or call (855) 384-5263. Contact Details Ray Young +1 512-633-6855 ray@razorsharppr.com Company Website https://nationalland.com/

March 31, 2022 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NCMA Announces Newly Elected Committee Members

National Contract Management Association

The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) today announced the addition of five newly elected committee members who will join its leadership group of distinguished volunteers. “I am pleased to announce the election of these outstanding members who will be relentless in leading work to advance our mission,” said Wendy Masiello, NCMA program year 2023 President. These members serve on NCMA Board Committees that develop tactics to meet strategic goals and improve service to the NCMA community of contract managers and acquisition-related professionals. Committee members include: Joann Campbell Maher, CPCM, CFCM, CCCM, R&D Director of Contracts, SRC, Inc Clara Anderson, CPCM, CFCM, CCCM, and Fellow, Director of Contracts, Information Systems Laboratories Bruce Tackett, Fellow, Chief Pricing Strategist, U.S. Army Contracting Command Jessica Grant-Johnson, CPCM, CFCM, Director of Contracts, The MASY Group Leslie Fessler, CPCM, CFCM, Director of Mission Systems Contracts, Collins Aerospace “NCMA is powerful because of its volunteers who generously apply their time and talents to our mission. I look forward to partnering with you to propel NCMA and the profession forward,” said Kraig Conrad, NCMA CEO. The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), which was founded in 1959 and is the world’s leading association in the field of contract management. The organization, which has over 18,000 members, is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide. NCMA strives to serve and inform the profession and industry it represents and to offer opportunities for the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. To find out more, please visit www.ncmahq.org. Contact Details Jennifer Knowlton +1 571-382-1127 jennifer.knowlton@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

March 30, 2022 04:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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NCMA Announces National Board Appointments

National Contract Management Association

The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) is proud to welcome four new members to its Board of Directors and announce the next President-Elect. These Directors are community influencers and powerful supporters of contract management and related acquisition professions. The appointments include: President-Elect: Denyce Carter New Directors: Megan Dake, CPCM; Eugene Scott II, JD, CPCM, CFCM, CCCM, and Fellow; and, Shanna Webbers The newly appointed National Directors join 12 other Directors who bring extensive experience from both industry and government to the NCMA Board. Returning directors include Wendy Masiello, Denyce Carter, Amanda Christian, Iris Cooper, Heather Dallara, Major General Cameron Holt, Ted Harrison, Jeff Napier, Steve Sarris, Heidi Timmerman, Joy M. White, and Michael Wooten. Denyce Carter will assume President-Elect responsibilities on July 1, 2022, and will serve as one of the three officers to expand NCMA thought leadership and elevate the profession. Denyce Carter is Vice President of Contracts and Purchasing at General Atomics, one of the world's leading resources for high technology systems. In her capacity as Vice President of Contracts & Purchasing, Ms. Carter is responsible for the company’s commercial and government contracts and procurements and related systems. Since taking over leadership of the company’s Contracts and Purchasing department she has elevated the acquisition organization through recruitment, training, process improvement, terms and conditions, and policy and procedures development. Ms. Carter is widely recognized and respected throughout the purchasing and contracting community for her knowledge and understanding of U.S. Government procurement laws and regulations. “Ms. Dake, Mr. Scott, and Ms. Webbers bring their unique backgrounds and perspectives to the Board as NCMA grows and advances in service of members. I am personally delighted to welcome such a strong group of new board members, and I look forward to serving with each of them in the coming year," said Wendy Masiello, NCMA program year 2023 President. “I welcome our new Directors and celebrate Denyce’s move into a new Board leadership role. It is an honor to have these engaged thought partners as we increase impact and service to this amazing community,” said Kraig Conrad, CEO of NCMA. The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), which was founded in 1959 and is the world’s leading association in the field of contract management. The organization, which has over 18,000 members, is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide. NCMA strives to serve and inform the profession and industry it represents and to offer opportunities for the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. To find out more, please visit www.ncmahq.org. Contact Details Jennifer Knowlton +1 571-382-1127 jennifer.knowlton@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

March 30, 2022 04:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Omnichannel Engagement Is Becoming a Centerpiece of Customer Experience Strategy for Many Organizations, According to Dash Research

Dash Network

Although brands have been transforming their customer experience (CX) models over the last several years, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated many organizations’ plans for deploying omnichannel engagement strategies, according to a new report from Dash Research. An omnichannel strategy is a cross-channel strategy that gives a seamless and integrated experience to users across multiple channels. Unlike multichannel strategies, where each channel is managed individually, omnichannel engagement strategies streamline all customer touchpoints under a single platform, with a consistent and continuous experience for the user. “To enable omnichannel engagement, companies must remove data silos and capture and analyze customer interactions at scale,” says principal analyst Keith Kirkpatrick. “With these insights, organizations can uncover pain points, concerns, or challenges, and take action to improve omnichannel CX and drive increased customer retention and loyalty.” Kirkpatrick adds that there are five key market drivers for the growth of omnichannel engagement strategies: Poor levels of customer support A growing shift to digital interactions Changing demographics of customers The COVID-19 impact on sales, service, and support CX as a competitive differentiator Like any technology or approach, however, there are technical and operational barriers to complete market adoption. Dash Research’s analysis indicates that the most notable barriers to adopting and incorporating an omnichannel engagement strategy within the enterprise are: Technical challenges with implementing disparate software and workflow processes A lack of an agreed-upon and supported omnichannel vision Training and personnel issues Privacy issues Dash Research’s report, “Omnichannel Customer Engagement”, examines the market issues, drivers, and barriers for the use of platforms, software applications, and services that enable the deployment of omnichannel engagement strategies for CX. Several case studies illustrating the various ways omnichannel engagement is being used by end users are included in the report, along with best practices, software selection criteria, and recommendations for deploying omnichannel engagement strategies. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website. About Dash Research Dash Research, the market intelligence arm of Dash Network, provides in-depth research and insights on the worldwide CX market including a comprehensive assessment of technology solutions, business issues, market drivers, and end-user dynamics across industry sectors. Dash Research’s global market coverage combines qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to provide a complete view of emerging business opportunities surrounding contact center technologies, customer data & analytics, customer data platforms, customer insights & feedback, customer relationship management, personalization & optimization, and employee experience. For more information, visit www.dashresearch.com or call +1.720.603.1700. Dash Network is an independent, integrated B2B research, events, and digital media platform focused on best business practices and technology solutions for the global Customer Experience (CX) market. The company provides a unique, CX-focused, full-service content and marketing solution, designed to enable industry participants’ strategic planning and go-to-market initiatives, while simultaneously extending the market reach of corporate brands and product messaging to a global audience of CX practitioners. For more information, visit www.dashnetwork.com or call +1.720.603.1700. Contact Details Clint Wheelock +1 720-603-1700 press@dashnetwork.com Company Website http://www.dashnetwork.com

March 29, 2022 05:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise in Irvine, CA Achieves Record Monthly Sales Driven By Apparel and Promotional Products Growth

Minuteman Press International Inc

Frank Matsumoto is the owner of Minuteman Press located at 18 Technology Drive, Suite 171, in Irvine, California. Frank has owned the business since 2010 and recently achieved record monthly sales. Frank says, “My growth was sparked by increases in apparel and promotional products sales. This made up 60% of my business while wide format printing was also a growth driver for us.” For nearly 12 years, Frank has built his brand by building relationships and following the Minuteman Press franchise business model to market his business. “I personally visit other local businesses to get to know other people and so they can get to know me. It also gives me the chance to see what they are doing in terms of promotional products as behind every counter are items like cups, pens, and t-shirts. Everywhere I go, I make sure to wear branded Minuteman Press apparel and I come prepared with our branded product catalogs. It starts with me wearing my own branded apparel and showing them our products, and then it goes – and grows – from there.” “As soon as I educate clients on our ability to go beyond printing, their mindset changes and suddenly they realize they can use our services for their apparel and promotional needs.” -Frank Matsumoto, owner, Minuteman Press franchise, Irvine, CA One client that has taken full advantage of Minuteman Press’ printing, apparel, and promotional products capabilities is HI-CHEW ™. Frank says, “We started our relationship on a phone call for a rush order of postcards. I visited with them, introduced myself, and secured the order. At first, we did a run of 25,000 die-cut postcards. This turned into a reorder for 75,000 and then later over 100,000 die-cut postcards featuring HI-CHEW™ products and coupons.” Frank continues, “Thanks to fulfilling that first order and then building that relationship, the number of items we’ve provided for HI-CHEW™ has grown considerably over the past four years. At the end of 2021, we did their string backpacks, sunglasses, laminated tote bags, t-shirts, 13,000 hand sanitizers, keychains, and stickers on their specialty buckets. We also provide branded apparel for their employees and for customer giveaways.” “There’s no way to replace the touch and feel of a promotional item or printed piece. It is simply good business to use print as a marketing tool to reach your target audience and help increase brand awareness as well as ROI.” -Frank Matsumoto Over the past two years, Minuteman Press in Irvine has remained open and operating throughout the pandemic as an essential business. During that time, Frank ramped up his marketing across all channels. He says, “We used mailers, built up our social media, and solidified our presence by generating positive Google reviews. We have earned a 5-star rating with nearly 100 reviews, and we are proud to receive such amazing customer feedback.” Today, as more business events return to Irvine, Frank has seen an uptick in trade show supplies. Frank says, “Orders for trade shows can include everything from booth displays, banners, and table throws to apparel and promotional products. For all of these items, Minuteman Press is here to help.“ “Irvine has one of the largest business hubs in Orange County. There are a lot of opportunities here, and I also am in a business complex building relationships each day with other business owners. I’ve used a combination of direct marketing, promotional mailers, email marketing, social media marketing, and networking through my BNI group to grow over the years.” Prior to franchising with Minuteman Press, Frank worked in sales. “I was looking at several franchises and did my due diligence. I really liked the structure of Minuteman Press, as well as the B2B nature of the business. I didn’t want to rely on walk-ins like a general retail store, and I love the Monday-Friday business hours. It gives me the freedom and flexibility to do things like pick up my daughter from school and take her to her fencing class while still being able to build my business.” Frank appreciates the ongoing local support he’s received from Minuteman Press since buying the business. “Whenever I need something, Dan Byers and the regional team is here to help me. I also like the FLEX software we use to manage all of the different aspects of the business.” When asked what the biggest lesson he’s learned over the past 12 years as a business owner, Frank answers, “What comes to mind is one of the first things that was taught during the Minuteman Press training program. There was a sign that said, ‘If you don’t market, you won’t make it.’ Over the years, and especially over the past two years, I can say that marketing has been huge for our sustained growth and success.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Irvine, CA, visit their website: https://www.irvine.minutemanpress.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

March 28, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NLPC Files Lawsuit Against FEC for Dismissing Complaint Against Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez for Massive Reporting and Contribution Violations

National Legal & Policy Center

The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), an ethics watchdog group, filed a lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission (FEC) in federal court in Washington, D.C., alleging that the FEC unlawfully and arbitrarily dismissed NLPC’s March 2019 complaint against Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), Saikat Chakrabarti, her former Chief of Staff and his fundraising company, Brand New Congress LLC, and related political committees. NLPC’s 2019 complaint alleged that AOC and company failed to properly disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in fundraising expenses and violated campaign contribution limits by using Chakrabarti’s Brand New Congress LLC to essentially operate her campaign without disclosing and itemizing campaign expenses over $200 as required by law. Instead, almost a million dollars were disclosed simply as “strategic consulting.” In its February 23, 2022 letter to the NLPC, the FEC simply noted that the FEC dismissed the complaint against AOC a month earlier in January, and was deadlocked 3-3 with respect to the Brand New Congress respondents. The FEC has yet to give any reason for its dismissal of NLPC’s complaint but said those belated reasons will be forthcoming. “This wasn’t dark money. It was pitch black money,” said Peter Flaherty, Chairman of NLPC. “This appears to be a scheme to spend hundreds of thousands to elect ‘progressive’ candidates without any of the required disclosure for any expenditure of $200 or more,” Flaherty added. “It is outrageous that the FEC would dismiss NLPC’s complaint that even former FEC Commissioners have indicated raise civil if not criminal violations,” said Paul Kamenar, NLPC’s counsel who filed the lawsuit. “We look forward to prevailing in court,” Kamenar added. ### NLPC’s Government Integrity Project has filed numerous ethics complaints with the FEC, IRA, DOJ, and Congressional Ethics Committees against government officials. For a copy of NLPC’s lawsuit, go to: https://www.nlpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NLPC-v.-FEC-AOC-Complaint-with-Exhibits.pdf. Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. Contact Details Paul Kamenar +1 301-257-9435 paul.kamenar@gmail.com Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

March 28, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Contact Center Customer Experience Software and Services Revenue Will Surpass $18 Billion by 2026, According to Dash Research

Dash Network

Today’s business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) organizations have been evolving their call centers into contact centers, which are designed to take a more active role in delivering great customer experience (CX) via an omnichannel engagement strategy that focuses on improving the overall experience of the customer across all touchpoints, rather than just traditional call center key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics. According to a new report from Dash Research, this approach is leading to the purchase of new software and services that not only incorporate basic customer data, but also integrate customer journey information to help provide the most appropriate level of service (which can range from a self-service tool to a voice conversation or other digital interaction with a live agent specialist). The end goal, of course, is to ensure that the customer’s sales, support or administrative engagements with the company are efficient, convenient, and successful. Dash Research projects that the market for contact center software and services will reach $18.1 billion by 2026, increasing from $13.8 billion in 2019, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4%. The CX market intelligence firm’s analysis indicates that contact center software is likely to be purchased by organizations that have adequate financial resources to deploy each year, as most contact center software is now being sold via an “as a service” subscription model. Additionally, companies that have a dedicated focus on improving the overall CX are also prime candidates for purchasing new technology, as they realize that single-channel, primarily voice-based CXs are rarely preferred by customers. “Providing excellent and consistent experiences can and will be bolstered by investments in contact center applications, platforms and services,” says principal analyst Keith Kirkpatrick. “But overall improvements in CX ultimately depend on an organization taking an assessment of its current CX policies and procedures, listening to customers, identifying the level of service is wants to provide, and then implementing specific operational and behavioral changes.” Kirkpatrick adds that the key adoption drivers of software for contact centers include: An increase in digital engagement from B2C and B2B customers A mandate for more efficient contact center labor and resource allocation A desire to deploy a multichannel or omnichannel engagement strategy A push to generate revenue via contact centers A demand to improve the overall CX However, despite the increasing appetite for deploying new technology tools to improve the efficiency, speed, and effectiveness of contact centers, organizations face several barriers to implementation, including: Technical integration challenges Issues with data quality and data availability Data governance, privacy, and security concerns Return on investment (ROI) considerations Agent dissatisfaction and turnover Support and training Dash Research’s report, “CX for Contact Centers”, examines the market issues, drivers, and barriers for CX and CE software platforms, software applications, and services that incorporate or facilitate the personalization and/or optimization of CXs. Several case studies illustrating the various ways personalization & optimization efforts are being deployed by end users are included in the report. The scope of the market forecasts includes software that is deployed by Dash Research’s ecosystem of companies that spans 20 industries, 5 world regions, and 3 offerings (software platforms, software applications, and professional services). The forecast takes 2019 as a base year, forecasts market value from 2021 through 2026, and segments the market by offering, geography, and function (CX versus CE). An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website. Dash Research, the market intelligence arm of Dash Network, provides in-depth research and insights on the worldwide CX market including a comprehensive assessment of technology solutions, business issues, market drivers, and end-user dynamics across industry sectors. Dash Research’s global market coverage combines qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to provide a complete view of emerging business opportunities surrounding contact center technologies, customer data & analytics, customer data platforms, customer insights & feedback, customer relationship management, personalization & optimization, and employee experience. For more information, visit www.dashresearch.com or call +1.720.603.1700. Contact Details Clint Wheelock +1 720-603-1700 press@dashnetwork.com Company Website http://www.dashnetwork.com

March 28, 2022 05:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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