Generative AI in customer service: From chatbots to autonomous agents

Since ChatGPT rose to prominence at the end 2022, CX technology vendors have been busy integrating the capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Gen AI into their software platforms. The aim has been to deliver more human-like, personalised, and efficient interactions at scale. Over the years, chatbots have evolved through several distinct generations, moving …

IKEA’s quest to become customer obsessed

The journey toward genuine customer obsession requires more than just good intentions—it demands a robust, organisation-wide strategy for customer listening. In 2018 IKEA embarked on a VoC program aimed at building a single source of truth about its customers and the business.  IKEA’s need for its Voice of the Customer (VoC) program stemmed from its …

Stop taking calls, start driving value – The 2026 contact centre reset

As we head into 2026, the contact centre is about to take a major leap forward. Customer expectations are rising, digital channels continue to multiply, and companies are waking up to something we’ve been saying for years: service isn’t a cost centre but a strategic differentiator and a genuine driver of growth. From our vantage …

Why AI Transparency will build brand trust and loyalty in 2026 – Interview with Nicholas Kontopoulos

Failing to disclose an AI interaction, particularly one that results in a poor service experience, leads to negative sentiments and may  push customers toward more transparent competitors. I recently interviewed Nicholas Kontopoulos, Vice President of Marketing, Asia Pacific & Japan for Twilio about the indispensable role of transparency and trust when implementing AI. If organisations …

Boost profit, not averages – The new metrics defining contact centre success.

As contact centres become ever-more-essential business assets, the measures used to evaluate their performance need to evolve apace, write Customer Science CEO Todd Gorsuch and Crayon IQ founder Audrey William. Have recent years seen your organisation become ever more reliant on its contact centre to disseminate information, deal with all manner of customer interactions and …

The shopper-bot called – Your curtains don’t match your carpets

It seems a week can’t go by without people losing their marbles over some new thing: abstract, techy, quasi-predictive, and always, always hyperbolic. Well, here we go again. The LinkedIn bros are hyperventilating about how our personal bots will be shopping for our new car, speaker-system, gumboots, and tampons. “The old commerce world is dead!”, …

The future of CX is proactive and predictive – Interview with Swyftx’s Siân Howatson

In a recent interview with CXFocus’s Michael Gwilliam, at Ashton Media’s CX Retreat, Siân Howatson, Head of Customer Insights & Automation at Swyftx, discussed the evolving trends in CX, emphasising proactive and predictive customer experiences enabled by AI. She stressed the need for a balanced approach to AI implementation, ensuring it complements employee experience and …

Signature moments that generate value – Interview with Lachlan Davidson from Bupa

AI’s true potential lies in disrupting the Australian market by enabling unique customer experiences, according to Lachlan Davidson, GM of Customer Strategy & Performance at Bupa. Davidson also emphasises that AI must be leveraged to enhance ‘signature moments’, not just basic services. Michael Gwilliam from CXFocus recently caught up with Lachlan at Ashton Media’s CX …

Creating student-first experiences: CSU’s Journey to proactive, empathetic support

The student experience at Charles Sturt University (CSU), particularly for those studying online, has recently undergone a fundamental transformation. Moving away from a limited 9-5 phone based support service, CSU has adopted a modern, highly engaged, and student-centric approach. Historically, enquiry services at Charles Sturt University (CSU) were largely phone-only and operated within a rigid …