Advice from a Call Center Geek!

Thomas Laird
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Advice from a Call Center Geek!

Advice from a Call Center Geek is a weekly podcast with a focus on all things call center and contact center. Tom Laird, CEO of 600+ seat award-winning BPO, Expivia Interaction Marketing and Ai auto QA startup OttoQa, ICMI Top 25 Contact Center thought leader discusses topics such as call center operations, hiring, culture, technology, and training while having fun doing it! 

  1. 29 MAY

    Listen to This Before You Build or Buy an AI Auto QA Platform

    Send us a text  Everyone’s rushing to add Auto QA. But most are thinking too small. In this episode, I break down what most platforms get wrong, why scoring calls is just the beginning, and what to look for if you actually want impact, not just another dashboard.  Before you build your own or sign a contract, listen to this. It’ll change how you see QA, coaching, and the real future of AI in your contact center.   Tom Laird’s 100% USA-based, AI-powered contact center. As the only outsourcing partner on the NICE CXone Customer Executive Council, Expivia is redefining what it means to be a CX tech partner. Learn more at expiviausa.com.  Follow Tom: @tlaird_expivia Join our Facebook Call Center Community: www.facebook.com/callcentergeek Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlairdexpivia/ Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@callcenter_geek Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9041993/ Watch us: Advice from a Call Center Geek Youtube Channel

    26 min

  2. 17 APR

    2025 Geek Gauge CCaaS Rankings!

    Send us a text In this episode of the Advice from a Call Center Geek podcast, we unveil our highly anticipated 2025 Geek Gauge CCaaS Rankings.  We break down the comprehensive analysis of the top 19 Contact Center as a Service platforms, showing which vendors truly lead the pack in 2025.  Using a groundbreaking approach that combines ChatGPT's analytical capabilities with Deep Research, we've evaluated each platform across 18 critical criteria.  Whether you're considering a CCaaS migration, evaluating your current vendor, or just keeping tabs on the industry, this vendor-neutral assessment provides the clarity you need to make informed decisions.  From AI capabilities to cost transparency, integration ecosystems to operational excellence try to cover it all.  Don't miss this essential guide to the current CCaaS landscape, where technology meets practical real-world application through the eyes of AI.   Tom Laird’s 100% USA-based, AI-powered contact center. As the only outsourcing partner on the NICE CXone Customer Executive Council, Expivia is redefining what it means to be a CX tech partner. Learn more at expiviausa.com.  Follow Tom: @tlaird_expivia Join our Facebook Call Center Community: www.facebook.com/callcentergeek Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlairdexpivia/ Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@callcenter_geek Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9041993/ Watch us: Advice from a Call Center Geek Youtube Channel

    18 min

  3. 3 APR

    What to Demand from Your 2025 Outsourcing Partner- Setting Up Your RFP

    Send us a text In 2025, outsourcing isn’t just about price, it’s about AI, partnership, tech, and long-term CX strategy.  In this episode, Tom Laird breaks down exactly what to look for in a modern contact center outsourcing partner and how to build an RFP that separates real CX tech players from the fluff. From AI expectations and data transparency to platform flexibility and agent experience, this is your blueprint for setting the bar higher and finding a partner who can actually meet it.  Tom Laird’s 100% USA-based, AI-powered contact center. As the only outsourcing partner on the NICE CXone Customer Executive Council, Expivia is redefining what it means to be a CX tech partner. Learn more at expiviausa.com.  Follow Tom: @tlaird_expivia Join our Facebook Call Center Community: www.facebook.com/callcentergeek Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlairdexpivia/ Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@callcenter_geek Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9041993/ Watch us: Advice from a Call Center Geek Youtube Channel

    23 min

  4. 26 MAR

    The Survey Delusion: Why NPS and CSAT Are Failing Your Call Center

    Send us a text EPISODE DESCRIPTION: Are your post-call surveys actually providing meaningful insights, or just creating a dangerous illusion of customer understanding? In this eye-opening episode of Advice from a Call Center Geek, we tackle the uncomfortable truth about those NPS and CSAT metrics your executive team loves so much.  The shocking reality? Only 1 in 20 customers actually completes these surveys, yet companies continue making major strategic decisions based on this minuscule, heavily biased sample. After examining the latest research and industry data, we're ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about customer feedback collection. This episode breaks down: Why survey response rates have plummeted to a dismal 5% and what this means for data reliabilityHow extreme response bias creates a distorted picture of your actual customer experienceThe fundamental flaws in survey methodologies that no amount of tweaking can fixWhy AI-powered sentiment analysis across 100% of interactions represents the future of customer insightsPractical steps to transition your contact center to more reliable feedback mechanismsWhether you're a contact center director, CX professional, or operations manager, this episode delivers the wake-up call your customer experience strategy desperately needs.  Stop making decisions based on feedback from just 5% of your customers and discover how to capture the complete voice of your customer base.  Tom Laird’s 100% USA-based, AI-powered contact center. As the only outsourcing partner on the NICE CXone Customer Executive Council, Expivia is redefining what it means to be a CX tech partner. Learn more at expiviausa.com.  Follow Tom: @tlaird_expivia Join our Facebook Call Center Community: www.facebook.com/callcentergeek Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlairdexpivia/ Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@callcenter_geek Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9041993/ Watch us: Advice from a Call Center Geek Youtube Channel

    25 min

  5. 24 FEB

    Beyond AHT and SLA: How to Measure Success in AI-Powered Contact Centers

    Send us a text Traditional contact center metrics like Average Handle Time and Customer Satisfaction scores have served the industry well for decades. But as AI transforms how we serve customers, through virtual agents, agent assistance tools, auto-quality assurance, and intelligent summarization, yesterday's KPIs are no longer enough. In this groundbreaking episode, we explore the new measurement framework required for AI-powered contact centers. We'll dissect traditional metrics, introduce essential new KPIs for measuring AI effectiveness, and provide a practical roadmap for evolving your measurement approach. Whether you're just beginning your AI journey or already operating a sophisticated digital-first contact center, this episode delivers actionable insights on: Virtual agent performance metrics beyond simple containmentMeasuring effective human-AI collaborationTracking the complete customer journey across AI and human touchpointsCalculating the true ROI of your AI investmentsJoin me as we redefine what success looks like in the age of AI-powered customer experience.  Tom Laird’s 100% USA-based, AI-powered contact center. As the only outsourcing partner on the NICE CXone Customer Executive Council, Expivia is redefining what it means to be a CX tech partner. Learn more at expiviausa.com.  Follow Tom: @tlaird_expivia Join our Facebook Call Center Community: www.facebook.com/callcentergeek Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlairdexpivia/ Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@callcenter_geek Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9041993/ Watch us: Advice from a Call Center Geek Youtube Channel

    20 min

  6. 5 FEB

    Contact Center Coaching 2.0 -Turning QA Insights into Agent Coaching Gold

    Send us a text Most QA programs score agents but don’t actually develop them—and that’s the problem. In this episode, we break down how to move beyond compliance-based QA and use real call insights to coach smarter, faster, and better. You’ll learn: ✅ Why high QA scores don’t always mean high performance ✅ How to shift from traditional QA to coaching-driven QA ✅ The power of Auto QA tools like OttoQa.com for real-time coaching insights ✅ How micro-coaching leads to faster, more effective agent development Stop grading agents and start developing them. Tune in and discover how to turn QA insights into coaching gold!  Tom Laird’s 100% USA-based, AI-powered contact center. As the only outsourcing partner on the NICE CXone Customer Executive Council, Expivia is redefining what it means to be a CX tech partner. Learn more at expiviausa.com.  Follow Tom: @tlaird_expivia Join our Facebook Call Center Community: www.facebook.com/callcentergeek Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlairdexpivia/ Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@callcenter_geek Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9041993/ Watch us: Advice from a Call Center Geek Youtube Channel

    25 min

  7. 23 JAN

    Beyond Words: Measuring AI Empathy Through Impact

    Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode of Advice from a Call Center Geek, we dive deep into one of the most contested questions in customer service technology: Can artificial intelligence truly demonstrate empathy, and how do we meaningfully measure it? While tech companies tout their AI's emotional intelligence capabilities, we'll cut through the marketing hype to examine what empathy really means in customer interactions. We'll explore practical examples from call centers where AI handles emotionally charged situations, comparing them with human responses to similar scenarios.  Through real case studies and expert insights, we'll break down the components of empathy, from emotional recognition to appropriate response selection - and assess how AI systems measure up against these criteria. Rather than accepting the binary "AI can/cannot be empathetic" debate, we'll examine the nuanced reality of how AI systems process and respond to emotional cues.  We'll discuss concrete metrics used in call centers to evaluate emotional intelligence, whether applied to human agents or AI systems, and question whether these measurements truly capture the essence of empathy. This episode challenges both AI skeptics and enthusiasts to reconsider their assumptions.  For call center leaders and CX professionals, we'll provide actionable frameworks to evaluate AI solutions beyond the buzzwords, helping you make informed decisions about implementing emotionally intelligent automation in your customer service operations.  Tom Laird’s 100% USA-based, AI-powered contact center. As the only outsourcing partner on the NICE CXone Customer Executive Council, Expivia is redefining what it means to be a CX tech partner. Learn more at expiviausa.com.  Follow Tom: @tlaird_expivia Join our Facebook Call Center Community: www.facebook.com/callcentergeek Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlairdexpivia/ Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@callcenter_geek Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9041993/ Watch us: Advice from a Call Center Geek Youtube Channel

    18 min

  8. 13 JAN

    Let's Get Real: The True Story of AI in CX & Your 2025 Game Plan

    Send us a text Tired of the AI hype cycle? In this straight-shooting episode, we're diving into what's actually happening with AI in customer experience operations right now. Not what vendors are promising, not what futurists are predicting, but the real deal from someone in the trenches.  You'll discover what's genuinely working, what's still smoke and mirrors, and most importantly, how to build your roadmap for 2025.  We're unpacking real implementation stories, revealing common pitfalls, and sharing the frameworks you need to evaluate what's right for your organization.  Key takeaways:  The truth about current AI capabilities in CX (no sugar coating) Which use cases are delivering real value today Critical steps to prepare your team and infrastructure A practical framework for your 2025 planningThe mistakes you can't afford to makeWhether you're just starting your AI journey or trying to optimize your current operations, this episode gives you the unfiltered insights and actionable steps you need to move forward with confidence.  Time to cut through the noise and get real about AI in CX.  Tom Laird’s 100% USA-based, AI-powered contact center. As the only outsourcing partner on the NICE CXone Customer Executive Council, Expivia is redefining what it means to be a CX tech partner. Learn more at expiviausa.com.  Follow Tom: @tlaird_expivia Join our Facebook Call Center Community: www.facebook.com/callcentergeek Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlairdexpivia/ Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@callcenter_geek Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9041993/ Watch us: Advice from a Call Center Geek Youtube Channel

    33 min
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About

Advice from a Call Center Geek is a weekly podcast with a focus on all things call center and contact center. Tom Laird, CEO of 600+ seat award-winning BPO, Expivia Interaction Marketing and Ai auto QA startup OttoQa, ICMI Top 25 Contact Center thought leader discusses topics such as call center operations, hiring, culture, technology, and training while having fun doing it! 

Information

  • Creator
    Thomas Laird
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    240
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Advice from a Call Center Geek!
  • Show Website
    Advice from a Call Center Geek!

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