NICE vs Qualtrics

NiCE Named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Agentic Contact Center-as-a-Service Platforms

NiCE has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Agentic Contact Center-as-a-Service Platforms, and also recognized as a 2026 Best Workplace for Innovators by Fast Company.

OutRival Appoints Shaun Sjolin as Chief Customer Officer

OutRival, a provider of AI-powered Digital Workers, has appointed Shaun Sjolin as its new Chief Customer Officer. Sjolin, formerly Vice President of Customer Success at NICE, a global leader in contact center software, will lead OutRival's customer organization. He will partner with brands to ensure consistent customer experiences across the entire journey, from initial engagement to long-term retention. His background includes roles at SAP, IBM, and Aon Hewitt. OutRival's AI Digital Workers handle calls, texts, and emails for brands, and the company serves industries like higher education, insurance, and travel. This appointment underscores OutRival's commitment to prioritizing customer care as a key differentiator.

• OutRival, Inc. appointed Shaun Sjolin as Chief Customer Officer.
• Sjolin previously served as Vice President of Customer Success at NICE.
• OutRival creates AI-powered Digital Workers for customer engagement.

Bidgely launches agentic AI CX suite for energy providers

Bidgely, a provider of AI-powered energy intelligence, has launched Agentic CX, which it claims is the energy industry's first agentic AI customer experience suite. The suite uses five specialized UtilityAI agents trained on over a decade of behind-the-meter data to provide appliance-level insights to utilities. It integrates with existing CCaaS and enterprise AI platforms, offering chat, IVR, and CSR co-pilot channels. The agents address high-bill calls, home energy audits, solar and EV impacts, and rate plan optimization. Bidgely reports significant client results, including a 50% reduction in high-bill calls and a 15% reduction in CSR churn. The launch aims to help utilities manage rising operational pressures and regulatory mandates.

• Bidgely launched Agentic CX, an agentic AI customer experience suite for energy providers.
• The suite includes five UtilityAI agents: High Bill Analyzer, Home Energy Audit, What-If Solar, What-If EV, and Best Rate.
• Agentic CX integrates with CCaaS platforms like NICE, Genesys, AWS Connect, and Poly.ai.

Zendesk Names Rachita Sundar as CFO

Zendesk announced the appointment of Rachita Sundar as Chief Financial Officer, effective September 28, 2026. Sundar, who brings over 20 years of experience in finance and operations at technology companies including Microsoft Azure, HubSpot, and Qualtrics, succeeds Julie Swinney, who transitions to Chief Administrative Officer and executive sponsor of Zendesk's Employee Service business. At Qualtrics, Sundar helped finance and close the $6.75 billion acquisition of Press Ganey Forsta. CEO Tom Eggemeier highlighted her financial rigor and operational expertise as Zendesk scales toward a multi-billion-dollar AI business.

• Rachita Sundar appointed CFO of Zendesk, effective September 28, 2026.
• Sundar has over 20 years of experience at Microsoft Azure, HubSpot, and Qualtrics.
• At Qualtrics, Sundar helped finance and close the $6.75 billion acquisition of Press Ganey Forsta.

Consumers Trust AI Advice but Not AI Purchases

A survey by ACI Worldwide of over 3,300 U.S. and U.K. consumers reveals that only 7% of fashion shoppers would allow an AI assistant to make purchases without approval, while 53% are uncomfortable with AI making purchases on their behalf. Consumers value AI for tasks like price drop alerts and cross-retailer comparisons, but want to retain control over final purchase decisions. The article highlights that retailers can build loyalty by embedding AI assistants in their apps for order tracking, returns, and promotions. Privacy concerns remain significant, with 53% of global consumers worried about AI-enabled support posing privacy risks, according to Qualtrics XM Institute. Experts suggest framing AI as a 'better editor' that narrows options rather than a decision-maker, emphasizing the importance of trust and transparency.

• Only 7% of fashion shoppers would allow an AI assistant to make purchases without approval.
• 53% of consumers are uncomfortable with letting an AI assistant make purchases on their behalf.
• The survey was conducted by ACI Worldwide with over 3,300 U.S. and U.K. consumers.