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Cision Communications Cloud vs. Genesys PureConnect (discontinued)

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Cision Communications Cloud

    Score8 out of 10
    N/ACIsion Communications Cloud is used for identifying key media and influencers, connecting with audiences, monitoring traditional and social media, and analyzing outcomes.N/A

    Genesys PureConnect (discontinued)

    Score9 out of 10
    N/AGenesys PureConnect was an omnichannel contact center platform that offered cloud-based or on-premise deployments. It featured a SIP-based architecture with VoIP capabilities, allowing companies to connect legacy voice systems and use existing phones. A legacy product, new users are encouraged to investigate Genesys Cloud.N/A
    Pricing
    Cision Communications CloudGenesys PureConnect (discontinued)
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Cision Communications CloudGenesys PureConnect (discontinued)
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Cision Communications CloudGenesys PureConnect (discontinued)
    Considered Both Products
    Cision
    No answer on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    92%
    Would buy again
    45 Answers
    60%
    Would buy again
    6 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    86%
    Delivers good value for the price
    32 Answers
    88%
    Delivers good value for the price
    7 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    90%
    Happy with the feature set
    44 Answers
    90%
    Happy with the feature set
    9 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    93%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    37 Answers
    80%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    4 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    97%
    Implementation went as expected
    36 Answers
    57%
    Implementation went as expected
    4 Answers
    Features
    Cision Communications CloudGenesys PureConnect (discontinued)
    Contact Center Software
    Comparison of Contact Center Software features of Cision Communications Cloud and Genesys PureConnect (discontinued)
    Feature
    Cision Communications Cloud
    -
    Ratings
    Genesys PureConnect (discontinued)
    7.9
    64 Ratings
    7% below category average
    Agent dashboard00 Ratings6.755 Ratings
    Validate callers00 Ratings7.548 Ratings
    Outbound response00 Ratings8.541 Ratings
    Call forwarding00 Ratings7.756 Ratings
    Click-to-call (CTC)00 Ratings8.043 Ratings
    Warm transfer00 Ratings8.357 Ratings
    Predictive dialing00 Ratings8.036 Ratings
    Interactive voice response00 Ratings8.045 Ratings
    REST APIs00 Ratings7.037 Ratings
    Call scripts00 Ratings8.539 Ratings
    Call tracking00 Ratings7.755 Ratings
    Multichannel integration00 Ratings9.044 Ratings
    CRM software integration00 Ratings8.038 Ratings
    Workforce Optimization (WFO)
    Comparison of Workforce Optimization (WFO) features of Cision Communications Cloud and Genesys PureConnect (discontinued)
    Feature
    Cision Communications Cloud
    -
    Ratings
    Genesys PureConnect (discontinued)
    5.5
    54 Ratings
    41% below category average
    Inbound call routing00 Ratings6.551 Ratings
    Omnichannel inbound routing00 Ratings6.539 Ratings
    Recording00 Ratings4.552 Ratings
    Quality management00 Ratings4.546 Ratings
    Call analytics00 Ratings3.043 Ratings
    Historical reporting00 Ratings5.052 Ratings
    Live reporting00 Ratings6.548 Ratings
    Customer surveys00 Ratings8.035 Ratings
    Customer interaction analytics00 Ratings5.030 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Cision Communications CloudGenesys PureConnect (discontinued)
    Small Businesses
    Help a Reporter Out (HARO)
    Score5 out of 10
    Zendesk Talk
    Score8.2 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Critical Mention
    Score8 out of 10
    Genesys Multicloud CX (discontinued)
    Score8 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Meltwater
    Score7.6 out of 10
    Bright Pattern Contact Center
    Score8.4 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Cision Communications CloudGenesys PureConnect (discontinued)
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.0
    (280 ratings)
    5.3
    (116 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    7.0
    (17 ratings)
    8.6
    (12 ratings)
    Usability
    8.0
    (54 ratings)
    7.3
    (12 ratings)
    Availability
    9.1
    (2 ratings)
    9.1
    (3 ratings)
    Performance
    9.1
    (2 ratings)
    8.8
    (3 ratings)
    Support Rating
    9.0
    (192 ratings)
    4.0
    (12 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.2
    (4 ratings)
    Online Training
    8.0
    (3 ratings)
    8.3
    (3 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    10.0
    (3 ratings)
    6.1
    (7 ratings)
    Configurability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (2 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.1
    (2 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    7.3
    (1 ratings)
    8.2
    (3 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    8.8
    (3 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    8.8
    (3 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Cision Communications CloudGenesys PureConnect (discontinued)
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Cision
    For a small start-up, the cost-benefit to add lift to press releases [and] particular milestone accomplishments is definitely there with the Cision [Communications] Cloud. Much of what we do, by necessity, is done internally without the benefit of outsourced press folks, so the Cision [Communications] Cloud ease of use and reporting is very important.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    CIC is best suited for business models that rely on heavily leverage Data Integration especially one like ours that require real-time and high-speed data access for billing and customer integration. CIC is not well suited for small organizations < 50 where they are only answering phones in the course of doing business VS. the business is the phone.
    Read full review
    Pros
    Cision
    • Their upgraded press release templates and ability [to] pull in an entire, completed release makes the [process] faster and easier, and allows for more graphics, such as company mastheads, [are done well].
    • The media tracking offers the ability to find relevant placements across the entire country.
    • The journalist database streamlines the process of finding relevant reporters to directly connect [to] on news releases that are relevant to their beats.
    • The process of setting up, creating, and distributing a release is seamless, easy to use, and not labor-intensive.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • Purely Software Based System: On Microsoft OS. It is an all software-based system making it easy to manage, integrate and interface with other systems
    • One Vendor: All modules, IVR, ACD, Dialer, WFM are from one vendor. So, no compatibility and latency issues at all.
    • Superb Notifier Service: You don't have to restart any process or service for a change to take effect.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Cision
    • In the media influencer database, the classic Cision allowed us to do a zip code radius search to really drill down to the neighborhood level. That's because we do localized media advisories and press releases for events at neighborhood schools. One part of a big city like Chicago really doesn't care what's happening in another part of Chicago that's too far away. The zip code radius search was a feature in the classic Cision but not with the current Cision Communications Cloud. We've asked for this to be restored several times, but nothing's happened. In fact, we were told to use DMA — which actually goes wider in a search (bigger than a city), not more narrow as needed. This reflects a basic misunderstanding of what we need.
    • Another missing feature involves a merge field when sending out an email press release through Cision. This is the "select insert field" button in the upper right that's used to personalize a release with the media contact's name and other information. This is key for localization of the release. Many media outlets won't run a release unless it's local. While "county" is a feature in the influencer database when putting together a media list in Cision, "county" is not available to insert into a press release as a merge field. Counties are important because this is how many newspapers and health departments are organized and identify themselves. I've asked for this to be implemented, to no avail. As a workaround, we've had to use "contact city" or "outlet city."
    • After refining a media list in Cision using filters, I've had to download the list and take it offline to see the big picture, screen for duplicates, etc. While there is a button on the bottom left intended to help with this, it doesn't do the trick. That's because there may be multiple contacts with the same email address. In addition, one media contact may represent numerous media outlets, so this same contact could show up several times. It would be nice to have a better way to see the whole list online and eliminate both duplicates as well as those who previously opted out.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • Licensing can be challenging and very expensive.
    • Client templates are hard to administer and are built very different than the rest of the functionality.
    • Web desktop has been slow to come along and include all the features.
    • Optimizer is very sub-par product.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Cision
    While I am happy with the product performance overall, TrendKite's recent merger with Cision is cause for concern. When we first signed on with TrendKite, I spoke with several users and the best response I received was that the company was a startup and we could expect there to be hiccups along the way as the company grew and the platform got more robust. That has certainly been the case. However, now that they have merged with Cision — a company that has grown too fast, has not focused on improving its product and has poor customer service — I have concerns that TrendKite will lose some of the qualities that have made it a great company and great product to work with.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    We are so embedded on Pure Connect that we like to progress with it. For instance, we are looking into ways to provide different solutions to our customers, help our business to succeed, and work in a better CX.
    One of the biggest advantages is that all is in one platform.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Cision
    The flexibility and customization of Cision Communications Cloud (TrendKite)* is among its most important features. Changing the dashboards, using keywords in the saved searches to pull out the best stories and the integration with marketing automation tools gives me confidence that I will able to continue using this tool well into the future. The future implementation and integration of the media contact database will complete the suite, making list management and email marketing programs much smoother. *This review was written before Cision acquired TrendKite. TrendKite is now part of Cision Communications Cloud.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    The interface is only semi user-friendly on almost every front. Agent experience is lacking and we have found many limitations within the system. Workforce forecasting is not as robust as expected. Quality continues to be a struggle. Interaction searches are not robust.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    Cision
    Easily accessible 24/7.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    The application itself uses a hub and spoke model that can help isolate errors in one section of the application from the rest, creating a much more stable overall program. Of all of the outages that we've had with our contact center platform, I can count on one hand how often it was truly a Genesys issue rather than a network issue, server issue or issue with a platform relied upon for an integration (web services, db calls).
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Performance
    Cision
    Generally, Cision performs well day to day, but it's got some annoying bugs that slow down usage/require user workarounds which is inefficient. More seriously, a few months ago, as a result of a major system upgrade, certain critical functionality was not working and I was unable to use the service for more than a day when I had time-sensitive work to execute
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    Some of the client applications take a bit of time on initial load, but with the move towards web based applications that issue is alleviated. You can tell that effort really isn't putting into the desktop apps any longer and that the client development effort is being put into bringing Interaction Connect closer to feature parity with the desktop (and bringing wholly new features to Connect). As far as IVR operations, web service calls, database operations: they all operate reasonably.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Cision
    For Cision TrendKite in particilar, support always responded, but it was sometimes slow. For some of our booleans and search queries, we would need help refining and excluding terms/phrases that weren't relevant to our client or campaign. This sometimes took 1-2 days just to get a response back, which sometimes was too late when a last-minute report was due. This was only with the support staff, not necessarily our customer success manager or sales rep.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    Some cases are resolved quickly others are taking longer and the reseller sometimes has to chase support several times and explain the issue seen several times. While being a direct customer before, I recognise this and it seems that when a case moves to another engineer they don’t read the previous case notes or don’t understand what has been done. This, from a customers perspective, slows down resolution times.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    In-Person Training
    Cision
    No answers on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    I liked the setup of the whole class. The instructor knew the topic well enough to answer questions from entry level to a more advanced one.
    Instructor encouraged participation of the whole class and was able to engage every one. Also provided "real live" examples so everyone can relate to it.
    Incentivized
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    Online Training
    Cision
    The online training sessions available for the Cision Communications Cloud are helpful and informative. There's more than one option - initially, I signed up for the live webinar classes on basic functions and that is what I recommend other new users do as well. If I have specific questions or something I want to learn more about, I can search the online database and find article or online training videos to get the information I need.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    The online training itself is good. You are provided resources and can self study to a certain point, but the pacing always felt off. Either snails pace or like trying to drink from a fire hose. I think this easily could have had to do with course material and my personal preparations, though. I would say my main gripe is that since the acquisition the team responsible for actually booking training is very unresponsive and often not knowledgeable about the courses they offer. Booking my last training was a real chore.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Cision
    There is no implementation at the customer's end so this doesn't really apply to my instance of Cision (possibly to all instances of it).
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    Don't try to go the perfect solution as a first target. Work on answer the more needs with a simple solution. Then analyse and try again to answer the most needs with adding a bit if complexity only if require. No needs to customise straight from the beginning or deployment takes too long.
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Cision
    It's a similar product. I think Meltwater sells itself as being a bit more niche, but I have not found many significant differences between Meltwater and Cision. Meltwater's sales process is a very high pressure and their prices are inflated.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    Call Manager, you had to buy all the components that are out of the box for PureConnect. The licensing model is more expensive on the Cisco side vs the Genesys PureConnect side. Lastly was on the Cisco side since you have to connect/integrate all the components on the cisco side you have to have so many vendors to install those parts. This drives the cost up even more so it was not worth going that route for our organization.
    Read full review
    Scalability
    Cision
    Easy to use, but still room for improvement.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    Genesys PureConnect's core and adjunct model allows for fairly easy growth in satellite locations via off site session managers, remote located media servers, remote content servers, etc to allow you to spread the infrastructure out while not pushing as much network traffic to your core data centers.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Cision
    • Cision has a net positive impact on time savings for staff so we can be quicker to market
    • Cision has a positive impact on internal savings as it is used internally across multiple accounts and with the internal PR team
    • Cision is extremely useful when it comes to resourcing and conducting outreach in those DMA's where our agency doesn't have a physical presence
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • We're improving our CX by optimizing our call centers, using additional attributes and keys to identify the best rep for the job.
    • We are also streamlining the journey of each individual customer by using PureConnect as the central interface for omnichannel interactions, allowing us to pick up the conversation where we left off.
    • Using additional attributes that start with the contact center interaction, we're able to track a student journey and proactively step in - increasing our individualized support to focus on the student outcome.
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Cision Communications Cloud Screenshots

    Screenshot of Media Monitoring and Analytics are just part of the complete Comms Cloud. It combines deep data dive with a database of journalists and influencers, and a media relationship management tool.Screenshot of Track brand mentions in real time across the millions of online stories on the internet. Monitor millions of stories and breaking news happening daily across the web. Professional services consultants teams are in place to ensure best practices while setting up a monitoring account.Screenshot of Cision’s media and influencer relationship management tools include audience insights, combined with a pitchable database that enables brands to uncover the best media contacts and social influencers to reach their target audience.Screenshot of Identify the social conversations and influencers that are impacting a brand. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube monitoring capabilities track brand mentions across all major social channels. Analyze results for social mentions or campaigns on the fly with its reporting features.

    Genesys PureConnect (discontinued) Screenshots

    Product screenshotProduct screenshotProduct screenshotProduct screenshotProduct screenshotProduct screenshot