Automated payments from Telephonetics VIP begins self service initiative to improve citizen experience at Reigate and Banstead Borough Council

24th July 2008, Hemel Hempstead - Reigate and Banstead Borough Council has chosen a speech self service solution from Telephonetics VIP, the speech recognition and voice automation specialist, to automate payment transactions through its contact centre.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council serves around 127,000 residents living in approximately 53,000 properties.

Initially the Council will be implementing the speech self service technology from Telephonetics VIP to process payment transactions such as parking fines or council tax.

Bryn Panther, Head of Customer Services, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, explains the Council's reasons for choosing Telephonetics VIP, "Reigate and Banstead Borough Council had a long standing relationship with VIP for ACD solutions. The Telephonetics VIP merger happened at a time when we were looking to innovate ourselves in the widening of provision of self service customer solutions for telephone transactions." 

The Council has future plans to use the self service technology for non-payment transactions such as reporting a missed refuse collection or the location of an abandoned vehicle. They would also like to use the technology for short term projects such as the annual update of the electoral register.

Bill Burgar, Managing Director, Telephonetics VIP concludes, "More and more local authorities are using telephone automation to boost service levels. The technology not only allows them to keep costs under control but greatly improves their accessibility and convenience for the community. We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with Reigate and Banstead Borough Council through the provision of innovative speech self service solutions to help them achieve their customer service goals."

ENDS

About Telephonetics VIP (www.telephoneticsvip.co.uk)
Telephonetics VIP, which is part of Telephonetics plc, is a leading provider of speech recognition and voice automation solutions. Offering diverse automation solutions and deployed across 20,000 telephony channels, Telephonetics VIP uniquely processes over 35 million minutes of speech recognition per annum, via its carrier-class resilient platform in both hosted and customer premises solutions. Drawing on over 15 years of understanding how people interact over the telephone, Telephonetics VIP offers a range of customer-focused solutions, covering even the most demanding environments, and delivering real business benefits to all its customers.

With innovative solutions for speech self-service, mobility, outbound messaging, emergency notification and business continuity Telephonetics VIP has built a large customer base. This includes 80% of the major UK multiplex cinemas, over 50% of the NHS acute health trusts, more than 50 local councils and emergency service operations, along with significant financial and legal company representation.

Telephonetics plc
Telephonetics plc (TPH.L) is a UK-based speech recognition solutions company. The Group was listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market in July 2005
About Reigate & Banstead Borough Council

Reigate & Banstead is located in the County of Surrey, due south of London and largely within the Metropolitan Green Belt. Predominantly open countryside, the Borough is traversed by the North Downs escarpment - a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - and the Greensand ridge. 

The Borough covers 12,900 hectares and encompasses the main village of Banstead in the North, the towns of Reigate and Redhill in the centre and Horley in the South. It shares borders with Greater London to the North, Epsom and Ewell to the North-West, Tandridge to the East, Mole Valley to the West and Crawley to the South.

Contact:

Danielle Hearne                   
Tel: 01442 242 242
PR Manager     
Email: Danielle.hearne@telephoneticsvip.co.uk 
Telephonetics VIP

 

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