Additional Information

User-generated content is one of the most prominent features of today’s Internet. Social networking sites, the "blogosphere" and a wide range of communities collectively know as "Web 2.0" sites all depend on and thrive off information generated by enthusiastic users and fans. To enable directory service providers to take advantage of this trend, Volt Delta has introduced 360 Ratings.

360 Ratings is a complete solution allowing directory service providers to introduce consumer ratings into their Web and voice-based directory assistance and yellow page services, including:

• Uploading and mapping of third-party ratings onto existing business listings or collecting ratings via your own contact centre
• Support for a wide range of rating types and formats, including overall ratings, ratings of business aspects such as price, free-text comments, tagging, picture upload, target-group recommendations and "rate the rater" functionality.
• Flexibility sorting allowing all ratings criteria contained in a business listing to be used to influence sort order: distance, location, rating, price or any other criterion
• Full searchability using ratings attributes. Any term contained within a rating, e.g. “real bargain,” can be combined with other search arguments, e.g. “hotel, downtown, Visa.”
• Support for mobile users, i.e. ratings can be included in sent SMS results or viewed on mobile Web sites.
• Support for registration, allowing service providers to differentiate between anonymous users and registered users
• Privileges and benefits assignment for preferred raters, "trend scouts" and others.  

360 Ratings from Volt Delta helps directory service providers:

• Modernise a traditional directory service by adding one of the most popular features of many Web 2.0 sites
• Enrich the depth and enhance the quality of information offered
• Provide paying customers with greater value, thus differentiating the offering effectively from other paid and advertiser-based services
• Generate increased customer loyalty
• Utilise their native assets and existing resources in creative ways. 360 Ratings can be implemented for both Web-based directory services and contact-centre based services.
• Maximise inherent advantages. Because directory service providers usually possess a complete national database of business listings, they are well positioned to compete with other ratings portals that specialise in certain products or industries.
• Evolve their service from the directory niche to the broader search market at large, in which ratings, communities, social networks and other Web 2.0 features are playing an increasingly dominant role.

For more detailed information about any of the products in our Directory Assistance portfolio, please request our product literature or contact us directly.