Why Cisco’s AI-Powered Tools Are a Game-Changer for Businesses

Cisco just launched a bunch of new AI-powered tools that will change how businesses talk to customers and how people work together. These tools, announced at WebexOne and shared with Lifewire in an email, are designed to simplify things, help people get more done, and make customers and employees happier.

One of the main tools is the Webex AI Agent, which helps call centers provide customers with fast and easy self-service options. The AI Agent uses "the latest in responsible AI and automation" to quickly understand and answer customer questions, so people don't have to wait on hold. Cisco says the Webex AI Agent could make customers 39 percent happier by instantly solving common problems like changing flights or dealing with lost credit cards.

Another new tool announced at WebexOne 2024 is the AI Agent Studio, which lets businesses easily create and use AI-powered agents without needing to be tech experts. This tool gives call centers the power to create their own AI agents for specific jobs and grow their operations quickly. The AI Agent Studio makes it easy for companies to improve customer service and lets human agents focus on more complicated issues or build relationships with customers.

Cisco also announced improvements to its Webex AI Assistant, which will be available in early 2025. This assistant provides features like summaries of past conversations to ensure smooth transitions between AI and human agents and suggests responses to help agents answer questions faster. For agents, tools like summaries of dropped calls ensure that no information is lost if a call gets disconnected, making customer support better and more efficient.

To help call center employees deal with stress and heavy workloads, Cisco introduced Agent Wellness features, which will also be available in early 2025. These tools can automatically schedule breaks for agents and adjust workloads based on what's happening in real time, helping to reduce burnout and improve employee well-being.

For the workplace, Cisco introduced several new things to help employees work together better. Cisco Spatial Meetings creates immersive 3D experiences using a Cisco Room Bar Pro and Apple Vision Pro, while the Ceiling Microphone Pro automatically adjusts to different room setups to make conversations feel more natural no matter where people are sitting. These tools aim to make employees feel like they are in the same room, even when working remotely.

Cisco made it easier for IT teams to manage work-from-anywhere environments with new smart workspace tools. Workspace Designer provides a 3D view of workspaces to simplify setup, while Smart Diagnostics in Control Hub helps IT teams find and fix meeting room problems quickly. The company also added highlights, chapters, and other features to Vidcast and now supports AI-generated Slido polls.

Whether for call centers or internal teams, these tools are sure to make work easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable.