"Mobile phone company Vodafone Australia has expanded its Lara speech application by deploying a host of new speech-enabled, self-service applications.

Building on the success of Vodafone's multi-award winning speech application Lara, the company has introduced the new platform to enhance it automated customer service capabilities, improving ease of use and streamlining the customer service experience. Survey results from independent studies reveal that nearly 75% of Vodafone customers reported a positive caller experience associated with Lara.

The new platform, provided by Holly Connects and designed and deployed by systems integrator Dimension Data, enables call routing, credit card capture and store location services among the first speech-enabled services deployed on the new platform, which will run the entire spectrum of the telecommunications company's customer care and network service applications. "By expanding our speech platform we are committed to continuing to provide a 'humanised' and enjoyable experience for our customers," said Vodafone Australia's Debbie Taylor."

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