Downloads |
Product Overview
Cisco® Unified Customer Voice Portal (Unified CVP) is an award-winning product that provides IP-based self-service and call routing. It combines open-standards support for speech with intelligent application development and industry-best call control to deliver personalized self-service to callers - either as a standalone interactive-voice-response (IVR) system or transparently integrated with a contact center.
Business Value
With Cisco Unified CVP, businesses and organizations can provide incoming callers with automated, intelligent self-service using touch-tone input or speech recognition. Callers can access and modify their accounts, place orders, get status updates, retrieve information, and resolve problems - all without speaking to a live agent. This paradigm results in dramatic savings in agent costs. However, if an agent's services are required, Cisco Unified CVP can queue the call and then transfer it to an agent - along with information about the caller and the self-service session. With this solution, agent productivity improves and customers enjoy a smooth service experience.
Cisco Unified CVP is an IP-based system, but it easily interoperates with traditional telephony networks through voice gateways using open-standards VoiceXML. These same voice gateways serve as VoiceXML browsers under the control of Cisco Unified CVP, allowing them to play announcements, collect information, and queue calls. The architecture of Cisco Unified CVP provides distributed call treatment with centralized application management, allowing calls to receive self-service and queuing at the most efficient (or desirable) location, while still enabling consistent branding and caller experience, and easy application updates.
When self-service or queuing are complete, Cisco Unified CVP uses Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based call control to instruct the network where to route the call, often reducing or eliminating telephony carrier transfer costs. The ability of Cisco Unified CVP to route calls across customer service sites enables resource virtualization, allowing businesses and organizations to significantly lower their costs by reducing the number of agents required to maintain a given service level. For example, a customer might call a local office and if no agents are free there, Cisco Unified CVP can easily route the call to a different site where an agent is available.
Cisco Unified CVP is especially powerful when used as part of the broader portfolio of Cisco Unified Communications Solutions, because it takes full advantage of the unique capabilities of Cisco routers and session border controllers (SBCs).
Table 1 lists the new features and benefits available in Cisco Unified CVP 8.0.
Table 1. New Features and Benefits of Cisco Unified CVP 8.0
Table 2 lists continuing features and benefits of Cisco Unified Customer Voice Portal.
Table 2. Cisco Unified CVP Features and Benefits
|
Feature |
Benefits |
|
Self-Service |
|
|
Play Announcements, Prompts, and Audio |
• Cisco Unified CVP can play prerecorded announcements and prompts to callers, supporting a wide variety of informational and self-service applications. Streaming audio is also supported (with Real-Time Streaming Protocol [RTSP]), allowing play of live audio sources.
|
|
Collect Caller Input |
• Cisco Unified CVP can collect information from callers in a variety of ways (for example, yes or no, menu choices, forms, and data types), enabling faster, more intuitive self-service sessions.
|
|
Barge and Type Ahead |
• Knowledgeable callers can save time by skipping through prompts and announcements they are already familiar with.
|
|
Opt Out |
• Callers have the option to "zero-out" to speak with a live agent.
|
|
Speech (Automatic Speech Recognition [ASR] and Text-to-Speech [TTS]) |
• ASR and TTS are optionally supported through third-party vendors such as Nuance, Loquendo, IBM, and Microsoft (with additional partner integration), providing a faster, more intuitive self-service session. For additional information about supported speech vendors, visit the Cisco Developer Network at: http://developer.cisco.com/web/partner/search.
|
|
Database Read and Write |
• Cisco Unified CVP can read and write information from back-office databases, providing callers with real-time access to their accounts.
|
|
Web Services Support |
• Cisco Unified CVP supports web services interfaces such as Web Services Description Language (WSDL) and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), enabling real-time integration with web-enabled business applications.
|
|
IVR Application Debugging |
• Application debugging tools enable deployment of robust, error-free Cisco Unified CVP self-service applications the first time.
|
|
Third-Party Device Integration |
• Cisco Unified CVP is integrable with select third-party recording and analytic tools that help businesses and organizations improve their customer care. For additional information, visit the Cisco Developer Network at: http://developer.cisco.com/web/partner/search.
|
|
Video |
|
|
Video Contact Center |
• Cisco Unified CVP supports audio-based self-service and queuing for calls, which optionally become video calls when routed to a contact center agent. This support provides rich caller-agent interactions while saving cost and bandwidth during the self-service portion of the call. Video contact center is supported in this way for the following calling endpoints:
• Cisco TelePresence™ communications system.
• Third-generation (3G) mobile devices (when connected to the network through a Cisco Integrated 3G-324M Gateway).
• Cisco Unified Video Advantage cameras.
• Cisco Unified IP Phone 7985G videophones.
|
|
Cisco Virtual Expert Management |
• Cisco Unified CVP is tested with validated reference designs for Cisco Virtual Expert Management, which increases retail bank revenue by better capturing walk-in traffic, especially for complex products such as small business loans, investments, and even home mortgages. For additional information, visit: http://www.cisco.com/web/strategy/financial/virtual_expert_management.html.
|
|
Multichannel |
|
|
|
• Cisco Unified CVP supports integration with email servers to send email messages based on caller self-service input, allowing callers to benefit from this additional service channel.
|
|
Short Message Service (SMS) |
• Cisco Unified CVP supports integration with SMS servers to send messages based on caller self-service input, allowing callers to benefit from this additional service channel.
|
|
Basic Outbound |
• Built-in outbound functions enable Cisco Unified CVP to make an outbound call from a polled data file, providing simple outbound functions without the complexity and expense of a complete solution.
|
|
Outbound with Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise |
• If full outbound functions are required, Cisco Unified CVP can be deployed with the Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise Outbound option.
|
|
Call Control and CTI |
|
|
Transfer to Agent, IVR, Private Branch Exchange (PBX), Automatic Call Distributor (ACD), or Carrier Network |
• In addition to its self-service and queuing capabilities, Cisco Unified CVP possesses powerful SIP-based call control to instruct the IP network where to route the call. This control can include call transfer to an agent, IVR, ACD, PBX, or a carrier network, providing a wealth of customer service options. Cisco Services and authorized Cisco Advanced Technology Partners can assist with integrations to specific devices and carrier networks.
|
|
Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) |
• Cisco Unified CVP can transfer the call to an agent along with CTI information about the caller and the caller's self-service session. This improves agent productivity and results in a smoother customer service experience. CTI data can be passed either through Cisco Unified Intelligent Contact Management (ICM) or directly to SIP-enabled devices through the SIP message header.
|
|
Carrier Interoperability |
• Testing and certification has been performed with Cisco Unified CVP and the following telephony carrier call-transfer mechanisms:
• *8
• Two B-Channel Transfer (TBCT)
• ATT's IP Trunking
• Signaling System 7 (SS7) (through the Cisco PGW)
|
|
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) |
• Cisco Unified CVP supports a range of SIP RFCs to enable powerful, comprehensive, and efficient control over calls. Some of the major RFCs supported include:
• RFC 3261: Session Initiation Protocol.
• RFC 3811: SIP UPDATE method (Cisco Unified CVP receives and responds).
• RFC 3515: SIP REFER method (Cisco Unified CVP sends).
• RFC 3891: SIP REPLACE method (no special handling).
|
|
Architecture |
|
|
Scalability |
• Cisco Unified CVP is extremely scalable, supporting deployments from as small as 24 ports (a single T-1) to as large as 15,000 ports.
|
|
Gateway VoiceXML Browsers |
• Cisco Unified CVP interoperates with voice gateways using open-standards VoiceXML, allowing it to instruct the gateways to play announcements, collect information, and queue calls. Gateways can be deployed essentially anywhere on the network, allowing self-service and queuing to occur at the most efficient and cost-effective location.
|
|
Network Queuing |
• The ability of the application to treat and queue calls on network gateways helps businesses and organizations achieve higher customer service levels by virtualizing resources across multiple sites. For example, a customer might call the local Boston office and if no agents are free there, Cisco Unified CVP can easily route the call to a different site where an agent is available.
|
|
Failover |
• The distributed architecture of the application provides robust failover capabilities. For example, if a network gateway is taken out of service, subsequent calls can be immediately routed to a different gateway for treatment.
|
|
Management |
|
|
Operations Console |
• A built-in operations console gives managers and operators straightforward configuration of Cisco Unified CVP components.
|
|
Unified System CLI |
• Unified System CLI enables you to collect diagnostic (health and status) information about Cisco Unified CVP servers and to collect device-specific information from each supported node connected to the Cisco Unified CVP server from which you are using the Unified System CLI.
|
|
Reporting |
|
|
Reporting Database |
• A built-in reporting database enables businesses and organizations to create their own Cisco Unified CVP reports using third-party tools.
|
|
Cisco Unified Intelligence Center |
• Customers can optionally purchase Cisco Unified Intelligence Center with Cisco Unified CVP to create customizable reports showing a holistic view of their customer interactions.
|
|
Unified Communications Integration |
|
|
Cisco Solution Releases |
• Cisco Unified CVP is fully tested with other Cisco Unified Communications products (for example, Cisco Unified Communications Manager) as part of each Cisco Unified Communications release, assuring customers of robust, fully supported, end-to-end solutions.
• Testing includes certification with major Cisco Unified CVP solution components such as proxy servers, content-server switches, Cisco Unified Border Element gateways, Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE), and Cisco PGW softswitches.
|
Platform Support, Compatibility, and Specifications
Consult the Hardware and System Software Specification for Cisco Unified CVP (Bill of Materials [BOM]) for hardware and operating system requirements, for compatibility with other Cisco and third-party products, and for additional product specifications: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/custcosw/ps1006/prod_technical_reference_list.html.
Licensing
Cisco Unified CVP is licensed by self-service ports and call-control sessions. For a complete description of Cisco Unified CVP licensing, consult the ordering guide at: http://www.cisco.com/web/partners/downloads/partner/WWChannels/technology/ipc/downloads/CCBU_ordering_guide.pdf.
Warranty Information
Find warranty information on Cisco.com at the Product Warranties page.
Ordering Information
Consult the ordering guide for a full list of Cisco Unified CVP part numbers and detailed ordering instructions: http://www.cisco.com/web/partners/downloads/partner/WWChannels/technology/ipc/downloads/CCBU_ordering_guide.pdf.
To place an order, visit the Cisco Ordering Home Page. To download software, visit the Cisco Software Center.
Cisco Services
Cisco Services adapt to market changes while increasing productivity, improving competitive advantage, and delivering a rich-media experience across any workspace.
The combined strengths of Cisco and our partners provide a portfolio of services that can help you prepare your infrastructure for future changes aligning to long-term business goals.
Together we create innovative, network-centric architecture solutions resulting in a scalable and responsive foundation that helps you realize the full value of your IT and communication investment.
For more information about Cisco Unified Contact Center Services visit, www.cisco.com/go/uccservices
Cisco Authorized Technology Partners
Cisco Unified CVP Advanced Technology Partners (ATPs) have completed rigorous training and validation of their knowledge of the product and can provide some or all of the following capabilities to customers:
• Planning
• Design
• Implementation
• Operation
• Optimization
• Product resale
• Professional services
• Postsales support
Information about Cisco Unified CVP ATP partners is available at: http://www.cisco.com/web/partners/pr11/atp/cust_voice_portal/index.html.
Cisco Developer Network Partners
The Cisco Developer Network program offers a formalized means for developers to certify value-added applications and solutions for use with Cisco Unified Customer Voice Portal. Information about Cisco Developer Network partners is available at: http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/ctdp/Search.pl. To find Cisco Unified CVP partners, go to the "Enter Cisco Product(s)" box and click "Unified Customer Voice Portal".
For More Information
For more information about Cisco Unified Customer Voice Portal, visit www.cisco.com/go/cvp.