AI Chatbots
Assess chatbot and conversational AI opportunities for customer service, sales, and support programs, including use cases, escalation paths, customer experience risks, and vendor fit.
The Connected Hive helps contact centers turn complex customer operations into smarter, scalable experiences with AI, automation, and proven BPO strategy. From chatbots and IVR to CCaaS, workforce optimization, and vendor selection, we guide technology decisions that reduce cost, improve compliance, and strengthen every customer conversation without losing the human connection that builds trust at scale.

Strategic automation consulting, technology selection, and implementation support for modern contact center operations.
Assess chatbot and conversational AI opportunities for customer service, sales, and support programs, including use cases, escalation paths, customer experience risks, and vendor fit.
Improve call routing, self-service menus, and voice automation with IVR strategies that reduce friction, increase containment, and connect customers to the right resource faster.
Evaluate and implement CCaaS solutions that unify voice, chat, email, reporting, workforce tools, and integrations while supporting scalable contact center operations.
Use workforce management and optimization tools to improve forecasting, scheduling, quality monitoring, supervisor visibility, and operational performance across distributed customer support teams.
Plan and coordinate new contact center technology implementation, from requirements and provider selection to utilization review, adoption planning, and operational alignment.
Review agent processes, systems, costs, and customer journeys to identify practical automation opportunities that support compliance, service quality, and measurable efficiency gains.
Intelligent automation works best when technology decisions are tied to business goals, customer expectations, and operational realities. The Connected Hive evaluates your current contact center environment, identifies where AI and automation can create measurable value, and helps source compliant, scalable solutions from proven providers so your team can reduce cost, improve service, and avoid costly technology misalignment.

Experience shaped by complex programs for healthcare, finance, government, insurance, retail, technology, and consumer products teams.
Work with a trusted advisor who understands technology, operations, vendors, and customer experience.
Led by Tim Austrums, bringing twenty years of executive contact center and BPO experience.
Access an extensive network of vetted contact center, BPO, and technology providers.
Guidance includes HIPAA and PCI considerations for regulated customer engagement environments.
Holistic assessments align automation decisions with budget, culture, service goals, and growth.
Strategic guidance from experienced contact center leadership.

Founder and CEO
Tim Austrums is the Founder and CEO of The Connected Hive, bringing over twenty years of executive and leadership experience in the BPO and contact center industry. Based in Edina, MN, Tim has built a distinguished career working with leading organizations such as Humana, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Discover, Ameriprise, and government agencies including FEMA and the State of Louisiana. He specializes in healthcare member experience, contact center strategy, and negotiating multi-million dollar client and vendor relationships. A sharp strategist and skilled closer of $5–6 million dollar deals, Tim founded The Connected Hive to serve businesses with the personalized, expert guidance they need to navigate the complexities of the contact center and BPO landscape. His commitment to impeccability, transparency, and human connection drives every client engagement.
Intelligent automation combines technologies such as AI, rules-based workflows, chatbots, IVR, analytics, and integration tools to streamline repetitive contact center tasks. It can route customers faster, support agents with real-time information, automate simple requests, improve workforce planning, and reduce avoidable handle time while preserving escalation paths for complex or sensitive customer issues.
Get practical guidance before choosing your next automation solution.
Regional contact center leadership and industry involvement.
Member of a leading customer engagement association.
Healthcare technology association membership supporting regulated CX.
Share your contact center goals, current technology stack, and automation priorities. We’ll help clarify options, risks, and next steps.
For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at +1 952-500-0806.
For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at +1 952-500-0806.