The State of the Contact Center in 2026
Balancing AI Innovation with Human Connection to Reimagine Customer Experience
ICMI conducted the survey in August and September 2025 via emailed invitations to respondents residing in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia. The survey queried senior customer service and contact center professionals from organizations across 30 industry sectors about the state of their contact center operations. ICMI research was responsible for all survey design, administration, data collection and analysis. These procedures were carried out in strict accordance with standard market research practices and existing U.S. privacy laws.
A Quick Start Guide to Level Up Your Contact Center Career
The most successful contact center professionals are those who proactively develop their leadership skills, adapt to industry changes, and find ways to drive business value. Whether you’re an aspiring leader or an experienced professional looking to stay ahead, this guide will help you take the next step in your career.
In this quick start guide, we’ve gathered expert insights to help you. Each section provides actionable strategies, practical tips, and key takeaways that you can apply immediately.
Build a Retention Playbook Based on Your Employees' Most Fundamental Needs
Tackling employee retention is overwhelming when there are so many factors that influence employee engagement and commitment. Where to start? How to prioritize?
We turned to established psychological theories such as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Self Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan), and Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory to build research aligned retention guidelines that align with proven human psychological needs.















