An apparatus and methods for a call routing system is disclosed whereby
the call routing service provider is associated with a series of
partners. By providing a system supporting not only the main user, but
also the partners, efficiencies are gained through cost-spreading. Agents
can be qualified to field calls for multiple business entities.
Cross-selling and proactive servicing based on caller demographic and
profile data can be effectuated. The system employs a centralized or
global bank of shared Interactive Voice Response (IVR) units so that
unnecessary post-routing and call site interflow are reduced. The system
comprises a central server system that interfaces with a long distance
provider so that route requests are received, caller data is retrieved
from one or more databases, routing and handling strategies are
developed, load balancing is effectuated, and calls are appropriately
routed to one of a plurality of geographically separated call center
systems with queues staffed by agents. Each call center system is
designed to support various queues, and agents may be qualified or
assigned to various queues based on their skill sets and skill levels.