Tradek.com, the online broker and financial services company, has implemented Vocalis SpeecHTML, enabling it to provide a range of interactive telephone services to its customers, by allowing them to access and obtain audio information from the Web site using a telephone and spoken voice commands. The solution was supplied by business development company and sole distributor of Vocalis in southern Africa, Complex-IT.
Tradek customers are provided with a unique SpeecHTML number through which they can access and obtain information and manage their personal investment portfolios via a landline or cell phone. Customers have 24-hour access to their portfolios by telephone, while SMS is used to send out share alerts where required. Through the SpeecHTML gateway, customers are linked to the Tradek Web site where data is accessed, retrieved, converted to speech, and the requested information is then sent down the telephone. The solution combines advanced speech recognition, text-to-speech conversion and Internet technologies. SpeecHTML allows customers to speak to a Web site to obtain the information they need and offers a wider audience reach than that provided by the Web site alone.
"Tradek is committed to providing optimum service to its clients," says Tradek CEO, Paul Theron. "Our clients enjoy being able to make use of the Internet to trade online at times when traditional brokers are closed. In today`s fast-moving business world people need to remain in touch with their investments. By offering the latest in Internet technology through SpeecHTML, our customers have constant and flexible control over their financial affairs on a 24x7 basis. The SMS and speech recognition facilities provide added value for customers who are already benefiting from up-to-the-minute news and information services available on our Web site."
These facilities complement the use of services such as WAP and standard online trading. An increased product range within the financial services sector also helps to ensure Tradek clients can get as much done as efficiently as possible without having to open a variety of different accounts with various institutions.
Vocalis MD in South Africa, Mike Renzon, notes that the main advantages of SpeecHTML are that it puts companies in touch with their customers, improves customer service, increases business and contains costs. "Once you have a SpeecHTML license, there is no extra hardware or software to buy," he says. "Changes to Web site information are made by editing Web pages and once edits are completed, they are available to your customer via SpeecHTML. Advanced speech recognition combined with the power of the Internet gives callers quick and convenient access to the information they want."
Theron says that SpeecHTML increases call handling and efficiency, and offers customers a single gateway to a range of information. Because callers are able to use any telephone and call from anywhere, the Web site is accessible to callers who do not have access to a PC. This is of benefit to those clients who normally speak to Tradek dealers direct and provides them with the same anytime, anywhere service that is available to other Tradek customers. Services offered can also be personalised depending on callers` requirements. SpeecHTML allows callers to create personal share watchlists which means they can call in to check on their share prices without having to remember the code combinations for specific shares.
The number of port licenses that a company has determines the number of people who are able to get through to a Web site at once. Extra ports can be added as the service gains popularity. SpeecHTML also allows for response analysis, and gives access to a range of caller statistics.
"SpeecHTML provides customers with an interface they can understand - after all, everyone knows how to use the phone," concludes Renzon. "Because the interface is friendly and interactive, callers are made to feel that they have control of the way information is presented to them."
If you are a Tradek client, call Tradek`s Voice Portal on 082 245 9111.
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