A call center is a customer service solution using inbound and/or outbound voice calling. An inbound call center takes customer calls through an interactive voice response system (IVR) concerning technical support, complaints, and order questions. In an outbound call center, the business calls customers—either manually or using an auto dialer—for things like appointment reminders, bill/debt collection, and surveys. A blended call center uses a combination of inbound and outbound capabilities.
A contact center adds digital customer service capabilities to a call center. In addition to voice calls, customers can interact using a variety of channels, including SMS, live chat, emails, and social media. Modern contact centers use omnichannel routing to connect customers, meaning they have a single identity regardless of how they interact and can move between channels.