What is a Call Recorder?

A call recorder, also known as call recording software, is contact center technology that records the contents of phone calls and may also capture agent screens. This creates a record of what occurred during the conversation between an agent and a customer, as well as the system screens the agent accessed and the data entered into them.

Organizations may set their call recorders to record all calls or just a portion, depending on how they plan to use the call recordings. Possible uses include:

• Quality management - The main reason contact centers implement call recorders is so that they can use the output for quality improvement. Quality analysts review a sample of recordings on a regular basis and evaluate them according to predetermined standards. The assessments are used to coach agents in an effort to improve performance.
• Dispute resolution - Another common reason to use call recorders is to support dispute resolution. Call recordings are a direct record of a phone interaction and can even be used in court if certain criteria are met.
• Training - Contact centers often use call recordings in training as examples of what to do or not to do.
• Voice of the customer - Call recorders capture feedback straight from the customer, which provides a unique, valuable opportunity to hear what they think about products, the brand, customer service, website experience, and more.
• Problem identification - Call recordings can also help organizations identify and diagnose issues, such as product defects and website bugs, so they can be resolved quickly.

Features of the best call recorders

Modern call recorders have capabilities that promote quality, compliance, and ease of use. The best recorders will have the following features:

• Easy search and retrieval - With some call recording software, searching for a specific call can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. The best call recorders have intuitive user interfaces that make search and retrieval a snap.
• Compliance support - There are many laws and regulations that dictate what can, can't, and must be done related to recording calls. For example, PCI standards require the masking of certain credit card data. Look for call recorders with features that help contact centers stay compliant.
• Extensive storage options - Contact centers should be able to configure their call recorders to record only what they need and store recordings for as long as business requirements dictate. Additionally, call recorders should provide options regarding how and where recordings are stored.