How conversational intelligence and multi-agent orchestration are reshaping customer journeys INSIDE Foreword Contents The swift advancement of artificial intelligence (AI)agents, which are being applied to customer experience(CX), is nothing short of extraordinary. GenerativeAI, conversational intelligence and orchestration autonomous AI is increasing efficiency and productivitywhile decreasing costs, the holy grail for any leader. The next generation of AI agents has arrived, capableof managing more complex and sophisticated problemsand situations. Early adopters are transitioning from rule- Forewordpage 2 Rise of conversational intelligencepage 3 As a result, CX leaders are charged with reimagining thecontact center and support delivery. This requires carefulconsideration about the role of transparency, security Section 2AI-first vision for customer supportpage 6 Future of CX automation in the complex In this report, completed in partnership with Talkdesk,CX Networkwill guide readers through the next wave of automation, so they can understand the central role AI Conclusionpage 13 About Talkdeskpage 14 IN THE NEXT SECTION:Discover the biggest opportunities for AboutCX Networkpage 15 Rise of conversational intelligence In the early days of AI agents, many companies opted todelegate repetitive tasks like answering frequently askedquestions (FAQs) or providing directions to a brick-and-mortar location. Many are still taking this approach, butthose days could be over now. CX leaders can expand “AI agents learn from data in real time, spotting earlysigns of dissatisfaction, engaging in empatheticconversations across any language, and offeringround-the-clock, instant support. They are notreplacing humans; they are helping them,” says patient is hesitant and wants to understand why heneeds to see the doctor. The AI agent checks internalpolicies to explain why the appointment is required. Unlike previous AI agents, this one adapts quickly,explains to the caller the policy and can easilyunderstand the interruptions without getting thrownoff course. With no human intervention, the AI agent “Agentic AI is changing the CX game by handlingentire journeys, from the first interaction to complexback-office processes. This approach, called CustomerExperience Automation, or CXA, is the next evolutionin AI. Instead of fragmented handoffs, AI agents nowhandle tasks, such as itinerary rebooking, refunds, and For example, Talkdesk offers a sample use careshowcasing Customer Experience Automation inaction on its website that includes a patient seeking a Andrade reminds people that the next generation of AIagents goes well beyond automation. This technology is “This architecture replaces fragmented single-agentworkflows with a team of specialized AI agents,each supervised by an orchestrator agent. Thisenables coordinated execution across silos, replacingmanual handoffs with automation. This multi-agent making, collaborating to resolve complex, multi-facetedinquiries in a single interaction without context loss.What’s more, they solve problems that would stump pre-scripted logic, exhibiting emergent intelligence to learn,adapt, and evolve, discovering optimal solutions withoutredesign or reprogramming. Fueled by structured and answers quickly, and don’t necessarily need a humanfor. When we can offload that volume intelligently, ouragents can focus on the complex inquiries that requireproblem-solving and empathy. But when it comes totrust, it’s not just about the AI working correctly. It’sabout transparency. Customers need to know they’re As times change and the technology advances, CXleaders are looking for something more than mereefficiency. They want to move into a world where AI can Best applications of AI agents in CX With this more sophisticated AI agent, CX leadershave more options about how to apply them tocustomer support. But many are moving with caution “Honestly, the real game changer would be making AIfeel truly helpful, not just quick,” says Sahil Shetty, seniorCXA analyst for Lowe’s. “Right now, a lot of these systemsnail the basic stuff, but they often miss the nuances likecontext or someone’s mood. If we can get AI to read “The sweet spot is handling those repetitive,transactional interactions that consume so much of ouragents’ time but don’t require real judgment calls,” says Rise of conversational intelligence Yvette Mihelic, director customer experience railoperations and maintenance at John Holland Group,says that conversational AI impacts service delivery, Smart trip planning– Personalized journeyrecommendations improve convenience and reduce Feedback integration– Real-time insights from Crisis response– Scalable, accurate messagingduring disruptions builds confidence and reduces Staff enablement– AI assists with HR, policy, andscheduling queries, streamlining internal workflows. Consistent communication– AI ensures policy-alignedresponses across channels, reducing conf