IVR

Interactive Voice Response or IVR is a technology that allows a computer to detect voice and keypad inputs, typically used to automate dialogue during a phone call. Formerly restricted to "automated attendant"-style telecommunications, it is now appearing in car navigation systems, desktop computers, and mobile applications as the potential implications of better speech recognition reach other technology markets.

IVR consists of a dialog between a human user and a computer. The computer prompts the user with either prerecorded prompts or synthesized speech, and the user can respond by some combination of voice, touch-tone keys, and auxiliary input devices. Sometimes, advanced speech recognition can be used to translate natural-language responses into actions to be taken by the computer. More usually a series of menus are presented to the user, combined with the user entering things like numbers, dates, or PIN codes. IVR systems may be designed to eventually hand off the call to a human agent, although they may enable the user to handle certain business functions exclusively through the computer, saving the business the expenses of running a call center, and the user's time while holding for an agent.

See our What is IVR? page...

for more detail on how Plum's IVR can help your business.

With Plum Voice IVR Hosting or IVR Systems, you can have your telephone lines become: