Anticipated benefits Faster and easier access to back-end data; 24/7 unattended operation; fewer operators and call center agents; support for PC, mobile phone and wireless device users; and shortened calls.Hurdles Planning and designing an implementation; integrating with existing phone systems; and fine-tuning the voice recognition engine to work with the widest possible range of voices and phone-line conditions.Primary markets Call centers and enterprise communications centers.Cost $50,000 to more than $70,000 for basic directed dialogue systems; $80,000 to more than $500,000 for full-featured natural language environments. VendorsMicrosoft www.microsoft.com: Microsoft Speech Software Development Kit?a full speech platform is currently in technical preview.IBM www.ibm.com: IBM WebSphere Voice Response software. Nuance www.nuance.com: Nuance Voice Platform software.SpeechWorks International www.speechworks.com: SpeechWorks software.ScanSoft www.scansoft.com: SpeechPearl software.Phonetic Systems www.phoneticsystems.com: Voice Search Engine software. Related content brandpost Sponsored by Freshworks When your AI chatbots mess up AI ‘hallucinations’ present significant business risks, but new types of guardrails can keep them from doing serious damage By Paul Gillin Dec 08, 2023 4 mins Generative AI brandpost Sponsored by Dell New research: How IT leaders drive business benefits by accelerating device refresh strategies Security leaders have particular concerns that older devices are more vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. By Laura McEwan Dec 08, 2023 3 mins Infrastructure Management case study Toyota transforms IT service desk with gen AI To help promote insourcing and quality control, Toyota Motor North America is leveraging generative AI for HR and IT service desk requests. By Thor Olavsrud Dec 08, 2023 7 mins Employee Experience Generative AI ICT Partners feature CSM certification: Costs, requirements, and all you need to know The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification sets the standard for establishing Scrum theory, developing practical applications and rules, and leading teams and stakeholders through the development process. By Moira Alexander Dec 08, 2023 8 mins Certifications IT Skills Project Management Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe