How It Works?
An IVR system talks to callers following a recorded script. It prompts a response the caller to respond either verbally or by pressing a touchtone key, and supplies the caller with information based on responses made.

What are important features of IVR systems?

1. IVR system should store responses made by callers.
2. Should be able to provide different responses to callers based on time of day called.
3. Should be able to capture either touch-tone or voice responses by callers.

Common uses of IVR?

Automated Attendant: A specialized form of an Interactive Voice Response system. An IVR connected to a PBX. When a call comes in, this device answers it, and says something like: "Thanks for calling the ABC company. If you know the extension number you'd like, push button that extension now and you'll be transferred. If you don't know it, push-button "0" (zero) and the live operator will come on. Or wait a few seconds and the call operator will come on anyway." Sometimes the automated attendant might give you other options -- like "dial 3" for a directory. Automated attendants are sometimes connected also to voice mail systems ("I'm not here. Leave a message for me."). Some people react well to automated attendants. Others don't.

Electronic Voice Mail: A system which stores messages spoken by a user usually over a telephone, which can be retrieved by the intended recipient when that person next calls into the system. Also called Voice Mail, it operates just like a touch-tone controlled answering machine.

Types of Vendors?
Vendors can be categorized into three types:

1. Manufacturers - companies that manufacture IVR equipment and sell IVR software to complement the hardware.
2. Resellers - companies that sell the IVR equipment and software developed by manufacturers and software vendors. The focus of these companies is in providing customized solutions and support that may not be available from the manufacuters.
3. Specialized Software vendors - these companies focus on developing IVR software solutions.

Active Call Center (http://www.activecallcenter.com)
Active Call Center is scalable voice telephony software for Windows and voice modems or telephony cards. Performs call management that can be fully integrated with existing software, data, and networks. Includes speech recognition, touch tone recognition, and text-to-speech generation to interact with callers. The software can be fully customized with the use of VB Script and supports Caller ID.

Alpine Solutions, Inc (http://www.alpines.com/)
Alpine Solutions, Inc. specializes in software development, systems integration, Interactive Voice Response systems, voice and data communications, and geographic locator technology that features our GeoFind Dealer Locator Service.

Database Systems IVR Systems and Services (http://www.databasesystemscorp.com/psivr.htm)
Phone system and 800 number answering system that features text to speech, database and web access, dial-out capability with voice recording. Standalone or integrated with call center. CTI/Web enabled. On-line performance reports and graphs.

DialPro (http://www.dialpro.com/)
Specialize in implementing sophisticated Voice Processing, CTI and Voice/Data Conferencing platforms with your existing Voice and Data Networks you already own.

EasyIVR - IVR Answering Service & Voce Mail Broadcasting (http://www.easyivr.com)
Manage your own 800 number IVR and voice broadcasting phone campaigns online. Register for service and download phone lists and wav files from the internet - monitor results with reporting system.

First Data Voice Services (http://www.callit.com/)
Tap into the power of our advanced Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology. Energize and streamline your 800# programs. Engage your customers with information and service. Entertain new prospects with exciting promotions. Empower customer service representatives to do what they do best - sell! And provide a superior level of customer service - all while saving your company time and money.

HR Consulting Group (http://www.hrconsultinggroup.com)
Voice Response for HRIS, HSA (including Daily Valuation of Investments), HSA, FSA, Cafeteria, Premium Billing, Debit Cards, Benefits Statements, Voice, Web, Windows enrollment, and administration software including Source Code, installation onsite or ASP, $100/hour for custom programming and communications/legal documents services, etc..

iVoice, Inc. (http://www.ivoice.com/)
IVT has close to 15 years of experience in the Voice Processing industry and has researched and developed feature rich, efficient, cost-effective products.

Liberty Communications Services, Inc. (http://www.lcsi.net/)
We use leading-edge technologies encompassing Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Speech Recognition, and Text to Speech to protect revenue streams, increase service, improve company morale, and contain expenditures.

Nexus Techno Solutions (http://www.nexsussolutions.com)
Premier telecommunications and electronic commerce consulting firm .Over the past few years, we have provided research, consulting services and solutions in various areas of software development. We offer telecommunications expertise to our clients in India and overseas.

NomKa IVR System (http://www.nomka.com/ivr.html)
We develop tailored IVR routing solutions that include: priority, advanced and relationship routing.

NowHire.com (http://www.NowHire.com)
ISG's applicant tracking, resume database and hiring management systems streamline and automate your entire workforce procurement and management process, utilizing the Internet, IVR (phone) and/or Employment Kiosks for corporate and hourly recruitment.

Parwan Electronics Corp (http://www.voicesaver.com/products.htm)
Specializing in Voice Processing Solutions, has quickly become one of the industry's leading software development companies.

Pronexus (http://www.pronexus.com/english/view.asp?x=1)
Manufactures rapid application development tools for Windows open client-server architectures, including the award-winning VBVoice, VBFax and Announce! The company also provides consulting and support for businesses requiring custom CTI solutions.

Prosodie Interactive (http://www.ivrinc.com/)
We have developed, implemented and maintain hundreds of applications currently serving professional corporations, entrepreneurs, retail corporations, human resource companies, government organizations, medical organizations and many other industries. Insight IVR is an application generator that will allow you to build your own IVR application.

Pulse Voice Inc (http://www.pulsevoice.com/content/?page=Work%20Force%20Managment)
Businesses face many challenges today. With workforce management modules targeted to optimize current business practices, pulsevoice provides a tangible methodology for increasing productivity and reducing costs.

Syntellect, Inc. (http://www.syntellect.com/)
We combine advanced interactive voice response, predictive dialer, Internet and CTI technology with a comprehensive service bureau to let you and your customers communicate -- anytime, anywhere, anyway.

TeleSage (http://www.telesage.com)
"SmartQuest" allows persons with no programming knowledge to create their own IVR systems for the lowest cost in the industry. Developed in cooperation with several government agencies, SmartQuest will revolutionize the ease of use and cost of ownershipof IVR.

TeleVoice, Inc. (http://www.televoice.net/)
TeleVoice has been delivering Voice Response systems since 1986. Directly and through our resellers.

Tele-Works, Inc. (http://www.tele-works.com/)
Provides effective solutions for improving communication between local government agencies and their customers.

Unanet Technologies - PSA Solutions (http://www.unanet.com)
Provides web based professional services automation software for project management, time and expense tracking, resource planning and project collaboration (including an IVR module for Time reporting).

UCN - IVR Systems (http://www.ucn.net/Default.aspx?tabid=81)
UCN's hosted IVR contains all the benefits of traditional interactive voice response systems, but without the high start up costs commonly associated with IVR. Find out how we can improve your customer service, and your bottom line.

Voice Data Solutions, Inc. (http://www.vdsinc.com/)
(VDS) specializes in the development and remarketing of custom-designed Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) products, process automation and re-engineering, and Year 2000 (Y2K) database issues.

VoiceShot Voice Broadcast (http://www.voiceshot.com/public/outboundcalls.asp)
VoiceShot Outbound voice broadcast and voice mail broadcast allows you to instantly send hundreds or even thousands of interactive phone calls while managing the entire process right from the Web.

Voice Technologies (http://www.voicetechnologies.com/)
Our services include custom Interactive Voice Response systems, Voice Recognition, Text-to-Speech, Fax-on-Demand, Paging, Voice-Mail, Follow Me services, and other IVR related services.