Gartner defines the CRM Customer Engagement Center market as a cohesive set of software built around core case management tools, used to provide customer service and support by engaging with customers, while intelligently orchestrating the processes, data, systems, and resources of an organization. CEC applications offer workflow management capabilities and may be used as a system of record for customer interactions. The orchestration of customer service and support processes through a CEC application involves both assisted and self-service moments within customer journeys. It is built around case management records and processes. Workflow is an important CEC component, in terms of an organization being able to orchestrate the processing of customer engagements for the best outcomes in an effortless, effective and timely way. In addition to case, workflow, and knowledge management, personalization and enrichment of customer engagements are crucial.
Gartner defines communications platform as a service (CPaaS) as a cloud-based platform used by developers, the IT team and other nontechnical business roles to build an array of communications-related capabilities using APIs, SDKs, documentation and no-code/low-code visual builders. The CPaaS tools facilitate access to multiple communications channels spanning voice, SMS, email, messaging apps, video and conversational capabilities, along with security.
The CCI market covers solutions that include the equipment, software and services that enable customer service organizations to manage multichannel customer interactions holistically (using self-service and assisted service) from a customer experience and an employee engagement perspective. Central to the definition of CCI is that the solutions are dedicated to supporting a single customer or tenant on each instance of the system, even if that customer or tenant supports multiple contact center operations on that dedicated instance. CCI solutions are used by customer service and telemarketing centers, employee service and support centers, help desk service centers, and other types of structured communications operations.