Customer service stories
Pressure to lift output is pushing Kiwi businesses to embed AI in daily communications, with labour productivity up to 40% below peers.
Businesses can now add AI-driven customer service inside Microsoft Teams as AnywhereNow and Meridian IT bundle deployment and support around existing systems.
Consumers now expect faster, more automated support as AI agents handle complex customer journeys, though many firms still struggle to prove ROI.
More than 5 million annual member contacts will be handled faster as the insurer links AI self-service with 2,400 staff on a single cloud system.
Retailers could cut setup time for AI shopping tools, as Anthropic's blueprint targets quicker deployment and tighter control over checkout flows.
Missed calls and admin could cost salons bookings, as Treatwell rolls out an AI receptionist that answers queries and manages diaries across Europe.
Labour shortages are leaving Australian companies unable to fill critical roles, with one in three reporting poorer service and 32% losing customers.
The hire signals Cyara's push to win more enterprise customers in APAC as firms demand tighter oversight of AI customer-service tools.
Retailers could cut support costs and speed refunds as AfterShip's new AI agent automates delivery issues and return reviews.
Businesses using AI agents can now inspect prompts and responses inline, as F5's guardrails plug into MuleSoft's Agent Fabric.
Disrupted systems can quickly delay production, shipments and spare parts, exposing how tightly factory IT now underpins supply chain performance.
Shared AI infrastructure will help the insurer roll out agents faster, while keeping oversight tight across its 52-country network.
Banks and insurers in India may cut transcription errors on EMI amounts and policy numbers as a multilingual model targets noisy calls.
Customers now get faster follow-up on currency and remittance enquiries as GlobalPay links 12 channels with sales tools on one platform.
Privacy worries are undermining retailers' AI push, with only one in 10 UK shoppers saying they trust product recommendations, a survey found.
The certification gives clients added assurance as businesses face growing scrutiny over who is accountable for AI risks and controls.
Businesses risk wasting money on AI unless they first tackle the repetitive admin that is draining skilled staff time across departments.
Most leaders say prolonged vacancies are hurting customers and revenue, as a US survey pegs each critical empty post at USD $14,700 a month.
The voice agent market may gain faster, cheaper phone handling as Alma undercuts GPT-4.1 on latency and cost for live calls.
Security and data privacy are slowing wider use, even as 70% of Indian banks and lenders run artificial intelligence in production.