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Glossary

Speech-Enabled IVR

What is Speech Enabled IVR?

Speech-Enabled IVR has evolved beyond basic voice recognition to become an intelligent conversational interface powered by advanced AI. A modern Speech-Enabled IVR combines automatic speech recognition (ASR) with natural language understanding (NLU) and large language models (LLMs) to create natural, context-aware voice interactions that can understand complex customer intents and execute sophisticated tasks. 

Why is modern Speech-Enabled IVR important? 

  • Enhanced Customer Experience: Provides natural, conversational interactions instead of rigid menu systems with keypad navigation 
  • Improved Resolution Rates: Better understanding of customer intent leads to more successful self-service 
  • Reduced Customer Effort: Eliminates frustrating menu, keypad navigation and allows customers to speak naturally 
  • Operational Efficiency: Handles more complex queries without human intervention 
  • Brand Differentiation: Creates a modern, tech-forward impression of your business 

How to measure the effectiveness of Speech-Enabled IVR? 

  • Intent Recognition Accuracy: How correctly the system identifies customer intents and questions 
  • Containment Rate: Percentage of calls resolved without live-agent transfer 
  • Conversation Completion Rate: Success rate of completing full customer journeys 
  • Average Handling Time: Time to resolution compared to traditional IVR or agent handling 
  • Customer Satisfaction: Feedback scores specifically for voice interactions 

How to improve Speech-Enabled IVR? 

  • Integrate with Agentic AI: Transform reactive IVR into proactive, goal-oriented AI voice agents 
  • Implement Conversational AI: Move beyond simple commands to natural, flowing conversations 
  • Contextual Awareness: Maintain conversation history and customer context across interactions 
  • Omnichannel Integration: Connect voice experiences with other digital channels for seamless journeys 
  • Continuous Training: Regularly update language models with domain-specific knowledge 

Teneo Conversational IVR transforms traditional voice systems by integrating advanced AI capabilities, including natural language understanding and agentic automation. This creates voice AI agents that can engage in natural conversations, understand complex requests, maintain context, and autonomously execute multi-step tasks—all while providing a seamless experience that feels human-like rather than robotic. 

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