Industry News
Efficiency and automation key as Zendesk simplifies customer service
With the igaming industry experiencing rapid international growth, nurturing brand identity and loyalty remains a key focus for operators – a complex challenge when faced with an increasingly diverse customer base. Speaking at the customer service software company Zendesk’s Showcase London, the firm’s president of products Adrian McDermott discussed how Zendesk’s segmentation and automation software is leading the way for efficient B2C interaction.
“Gaming has a set of unique challenges,” said McDermott. “Most games have large populations of casual users, free users, paid users, heavy users, and segmentation of inbound – and understanding how to deal with that inbound – is incredibly important.”
“We have gaming customers that have hundreds of millions of free users they need to serve through self service, and we have gaming customers with some very high-spend individuals, and they need to treat those people differently.”
One of the first things Zendesk offers gaming firms is a self-service environment where users can help users, or access appropriate content, with Harvard Business Review recently stating that 81 percent of people would rather find the answer for themselves than seek assistance. Further stages include an escalation from that channel into an instant messaging environment where customers talk directly to an agent, with an establishment of user identity.
The automated process, which also utilises AI and extensively curated user help functions, allows brands to streamline the customer service response, effectively allowing them to more efficiently utilise customer-facing agents. “Ultimately, serving gaming customers is often about having humans sitting in seats talking to humans who play that game, engaging with them and representing the brand.”
“Our gaming customers bring that to bear themselves, we just give them the tools, and build best practices in, that when a player comes for support, they get a response which is timely, in brand and meets their expectations.”
Not only did Zendesk’s Showcase London offer a positive opportunity to engage with firms keen to integrate the firm’s efficient software systems, but the 12 June event also proved the perfect place to announce an expansion of Zendesk’s AI-powered Answer Bot.
Already embedded in over 10,000 apps, Answer Bot tool will now be extended across all web and mobile channels, allowing companies to provide constant, consistent support and quicker response times across all platforms. “Customers today demand fast responses in a context that suits them, and AI can be used to help companies be more timely and accurate when engaging with customers. With Answer Bot, we’re putting an end to laborious processes to resolve simple questions. We’re not just delivering self-service everywhere – we’re delivering AI-powered self-service everywhere, which will continue to make for a better customer experience.”
Alongside Answer Bot – which also surfaces recommendations to agents during customer interaction, thereby increasing accuracy in response – Zendesk also announced a range of new tools as part of its Guide Enterprise knowledge base. With nearly four billion knowledge base articles viewed on Zendesk in 2018, the firm’s curated catalogue of problem solving and FAQ response articles has been strengthened with solutions such as Article Events – allowing regular appraisals of the usefulness, brand consistency and accuracy of articles – and Content Cues, prioritising the most regularly viewed responses. “This is what AI can do; large-scale pattern matching that goes beyond human comprehension,” said McDermott. “One of the reasons we’re super excited about this is that we are seeing that new capabilities across gaming are being released every month, every quarter, they’re entertainment products unlike any before, they are constantly morphing.”
“This is a challenge for customer service, figuring out the connotations downstream of what’s going to happen to a player in that new reality – it’s almost impossible to be figuring it out without machine automation. It’s uniquely suited to the pace of game deployment.”
Though igaming firms are just waking up to the potential of streamlined customer service software, McDermott added that Zendesk’s experience with gaming firms already extends over seven years, with key integrations in major studios and providers delivering manifold efficiencies. With its suite of systems and software covering consumer-engaged businesses in all sectors, Zendesk offers one of the most multi-faceted B2C solutions on the market, a serious consideration for igaming operators as both product options and customer numbers increase.
“We provide the tools and services to people to help them provide great customer service, and that cuts across all kinds of industries, ecommerce, traditional retail, services IT – and of course gaming.”
“We have a range of products that help people connect with their customers, and we always say that the best customer experiences are built with Zendesk.”
Industry News
LiveScore Group Announces Internal Restructuring as Part of Sustainable Growth Strategy
LiveScore Group has announced an internal restructuring process, expected to impact more than 100 existing roles across multiple business locations, including London.
The changes are seen as a difficult yet important step for LiveScore Group, streamlining the business to create improved structures and a pathway to long-term sustainable growth. All impacted employees have been informed and are now subject to a confidential consultation process.
Sam Sadi, CEO of LiveScore Group, said: “On behalf of all Directors of LiveScore Group, and the relevant subsidiary companies, we are saddened by the difficult decision to commence an internal restructure of the business, a process which impacts a significant number of our people.
“Whilst we celebrate our recent period of significant and exciting growth, we must now future-proof the organisation and ensure our internal structures allow us to achieve long-term and sustainable success.
“This is a hard time for all our people, as we say goodbye to colleagues who have played an important role in our journey across recent years.”
The announcement follows on from the recent news that LiveScore Malta Limited (part of LiveScore Group) is to withdraw its LiveScore Bet brand from the Netherlands following recent government tax increases in the market. The announcement includes those impacted by this. There will be no other customer impact in respect of any of the remaining LiveScore, LiveScore Bet or Virgin Bet sites globally.
Industry News
Pronet Gaming Appoints Alex Karaoulis as its New Commercial & Product Strategy Lead
Pronet Gaming, an award-winning platform provider of full turnkey solutions, announced the appointment of Alexandros Karaoulis as its new Commercial & Product Strategy Lead.
With over 14 years of experience in the iGaming industry, Karaoulis brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will be instrumental in driving the company’s strategic initiatives forward.
Throughout his iGaming career, Karaoulis has held various senior roles with B2B sportsbook and casino providers, as well as with B2C operators. His extensive background in marketing and sales within the iGaming sector positions him as a true industry expert, ensuring that Pronet Gaming remains at the forefront of innovation in a rapidly evolving market.
“I am thrilled to join Pronet Gaming and excited to fulfill my role in developing and executing sales strategies to drive the company’s revenue growth in key markets,” Karaoulis said.
With a track record in commercial strategies and driving product excellence, Karaoulis’ appointment is invaluable as Pronet Gaming now seeks to expand its footprint to Asia. His vision and deep understanding of the iGaming landscape equip him to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities that the dynamic region presents.
“I want Pronet Gaming to lead the iGaming revolution by providing innovative, culturally tailored solutions that cater to the diverse and rapidly growing demands of the region. Through strategic partnerships, cutting-edge technology, and a deep understanding of local markets, we aim to empower operators to offer world-class gaming experiences that engage players and drive sustainable growth,” he added.
According to Karaoulis, Pronet Gaming is poised to make a splash in Asia by leveraging its advanced technology, flexible platform solutions and deep market expertise while adapting to the unique characteristics of the region.
“The key differentiation point of Pronet Gaming is that we have B2C experience, which greatly aids in understanding the needs of operators and helping them to improve and execute their strategy according to the market. I have worked in B2C roles for more than seven years in my iGaming Career and managed campaigns across various channels, optimised conversion funnels, and learned to use data to improve player acquisition and retention,” said Karaoulis.
Karaoulis acknowledges that the marketing skills he has acquired from B2C experience are valuable in every B2B environment. As he dives into his new role at Pronet Gaming, Karaoulis aims to guide his operator clients on how to better market their own sites, including providing them with advice on effective acquisition strategies, content marketing and campaign structures that appeal to iGaming audiences.
“I also focus heavily on engagement strategies, loyalty programs, bonuses, and personalised offers to keep players active and returning. In my new B2B role, I will advise clients on best practices for player engagement, helping them adopt effective loyalty programs, personalised marketing, and retention tactics that drive player lifetime value to improve the end-player experience for our clients’ sites,” Karaoulis added.
Industry News
Vbet Wins Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at SiGMA Europe 2024
Vbet has been crowned the Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at the highly coveted SiGMA Europe event, cementing its position as a leader in the online gaming industry.
This achievement highlights Vbet’s commitment to providing an exceptional user experience by combining cutting-edge technology with a vast range of options and a secure process. The dedication to creating a responsible, enjoyable environment for players was recognised with this award, making this accolade even more significant. As Vbet continue to expand into new markets, the list of strategic partnerships grows alongside our constant drive to expand its offering. This award serves as a stepping stone on its path to reach more players and set new standards in the industry.
Arman Khachatryan, VBET’s Managing Director, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the Best Online Casino Operator award at SiGMA Europe 2024. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, passion, and effort of our entire team. Our mission has always been to deliver the highest quality experience in the safest environment possible to our users. This award not only recognizes our dedication to this mission but also motivates us to continue expanding into new markets and territories.”
-
Latest News2 days ago
Make every pixel personal: Opera GX facelift lets you match your browser to your setup down to the smallest detail
-
Latest News2 days ago
Casino Management System Market to Reach USD 29.09 Billion by 2032 | Enhanced Security and Operational Efficiency Drive Growth | Research by S&S Insider
-
Africa5 days ago
South Africa: Tribunal Grants Lottoland Interim Relief – Orders Google to Grant Lottoland Access to its Advertising Platform
-
Latest News2 days ago
Fast Track Celebrates Third Year as a Great Place to Work Certified™ Tech Company
-
Latest News3 days ago
IBIA Upgrades Technology Platform to Strengthen Global Betting Integrity Efforts
-
Latest News2 days ago
ACR POKER ADDS BLITZ BONUS BOOST TO NOVEMBER CALENDAR AS $20 MILLION GTD WINTER OSS ENTERS FINAL DAYS
-
Latest News2 days ago
Crypto Sportsbook, Sportsbet.io’s player wins huge $3.2m jackpot from $5 spin
-
Balkans5 days ago
CT Interactive Shortlisted in Two Categories at BEGE Awards 2024