Cloudshope Technologies Private Limited

What is an IVR?An Interactive Voice Response system (IVR number for businesses) is an advanced technology that allows organisations to manage both inbound and outbound calls efficiently using pre-recorded voice messages or text-to-speech tools. It evaluates the keyboard inputs of the user to route the calls to the right resources effectively for optimal customer experience and satisfaction.

How does the IVR Number Work?An Interactive Voice Response system (IVR for businesses) is an advanced automated phone solution used by organisations globally. An IVR system interacts with the callers using a preset menu and collects responses from their keypad inputs or voice responses. The IVR software can fetch information from the central database and trigger some actions like activation, deactivation, renewal, etc.

Picking the rightIVR Service ProviderBefore deciding on the best IVR service provider, you need to understand if your company needs an IVR service or not. You will be required to implement an IVR solution from a reliable IVR service provider, if you have multiple branches and clients from various parts of the country or if you provide multiple services or sell more than one product. You should definitely invest in IVR software if you have a strong online presence and social media accounts, and have multiple departments and wings to manage.
Now, once you have identified your requirements and are now set to get one, here is a detailed guide to help you choose the best system from the IVR service provider. Here is what you should do. The first thing to understand is whether you need an On-Premise IVR System or a Cloud-Hosted IVR System. In the case of a cloud-hosted IVR system, you don't need any hardware or infrastructure, whereas, for an on-premise IVR system, you may need some hardware and infrastructure based on the size of your solution.

Factors to consider before choosing an IVR Service Provider1. Understand if the IVR service provider offers a multi-level IVR system where you have multiple hierarchy levels and elevations.
2. You should always opt for a cloud-hosted solution to reduce the initial operational expense and access it from anywhere.
3. It must be easy to set up, configure, and use, and it must even be easy for novices to learn quickly.
4. Intelligent call routing , text-to-speech conversions, automatic call recordings, alerts and notifications, etc., are very important features of an IVR system.
5. Incorporate a click-to-call button to make it easy for potential customers to make calls quickly.
6. An IVR service provider must give detailed reporting, free demo and trial options, dedicated support over calls, email, and chat, and 24 X 7 customer assistance.

People who use IVR solutions (buyer persona)An IVR system from a reputed IVR service provider is a must if you receive hundreds of customer calls and queries on various services. If you can't manage your agents or customer service departments efficiently, you should get an IVR solution immediately. If you handle the below operations and receive too many inbound calls, it's time for you to consult a competent IVR service provider and get the right solution. It can quickly boost your brand image, improve department efficiency, and reduce operational costs considerably.
• Sales• Support• Technical Query• Marketing• Billing• Product Returns• Cancellations

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 567891
• Production Capacity: Unlimited
• Delivery Time: Unlimited
• Packaging Details: What is an IVR system? An Interactive Voice Response system (IVR number for businesses) is an advanced technology that allows organisations to manage both inbound and outbound calls efficiently using pre-recorded voice messages or text-to-speech tools. It evaluates the keyboard inputs of the user to route the calls to the right resources effectively for optimal customer experience and satisfaction. How does the IVR Number Work? An Interactive Voice Response system (IVR for businesses) is an advanced automated phone solution used by organisations globally. An IVR system interacts with the callers using a preset menu and collects responses from their keypad inputs or voice responses. The IVR software can fetch information from the central database and trigger some actions like activation, deactivation, renewal, etc. Picking the right IVR Service Provider Before deciding on the best IVR service provider, you need to understand if your company needs an IVR service or not. You will be required to implement an IVR solution from a reliable IVR service provider, if you have multiple branches and clients from various parts of the country or if you provide multiple services or sell more than one product. You should definitely invest in IVR software if you have a strong online presence and social media accounts, and have multiple departments and wings to manage. Now, once you have identified your requirements and are now set to get one, here is a detailed guide to help you choose the best system from the IVR service provider. Here is what you should do. The first thing to understand is whether you need an On-Premise IVR System or a Cloud-Hosted IVR System. In the case of a cloud-hosted IVR system, you don't need any hardware or infrastructure, whereas, for an on-premise IVR system, you may need some hardware and infrastructure based on the size of your solution.

What is IVR?Interactive voice response is the abbreviation for IVR call. Callers can communicate with a computer-operated phone system using voice recognition and DTMF sounds input via a keypad using this technology. In simple terms, an IVR system plays a pre-recorded voice that asks people to respond by hitting digits on their mobile phone's keypad to select an option. Let's know how we are the best IVR service provider in India but first things first, let's know about IVR.
IVR service provider in IndiaEvery firm wishes to have a large customer base, which inevitably leads to a high phone call volume. Large voice call volumes have traditionally been difficult to handle, but with the IVR system, the process is simplified. An IVR service is a good technique to route calls because it settles the basic contact and, if necessary, forwards it to the appropriate agent. It helps to save time for both the agent and the customer.
Our IVR System Solutions are designed to cut the cost of phone calls to and from your company in half. At the same time, we provide your company with the combined strength of client service and a comprehensive marketing strategy. You can use our outsourced IVR Number for Business to acquire database access, adjust call flow, make call-backs, scale-up, and integrate with the web

Choose the best plan as per your need

IVR (Interactive Voice Response) is a technology that allows a computer to interact with people using DTMF tones and voice input from a keypad. In telecommunications, IVR allows customers to interact with a company's host system via speech recognition or a telephone keypad. All you have to do is search for an IVR service provider near me and you will find us. We can provide users with dynamically generated or pre-recorded audio to guide them through the process. Predictive dialer systems are not as intelligent as these systems. Banking Payments and Services, Retail Orders, Mobile Purchases, Utilities, Weather Conditions, And Travel Information can all be done with it.

Our IVR systems are used for outbound calling and are sized to manage big call volumes when placed in the network. The fundamental goal of an IVR call is to receive input, process it, and provide a call routing result from an automated attendant. You can set up your IVR system so that callers can either leave a recorded message or request a callback.

Advantages : Best IVR Services

Increased marketing and lead management proficiency.

Keep track of opportunities within a single database.

Manage leads & sales' lifecycle that accelerate ROI.

Give a top level of control over the business.

Streamlines all the business communication.

 

Auto Feedback, Reduce support request costs.

Why choose Cloudshope

We  provide one of the top IVR services in India, with round-the-clock support. We have a highly-skilled technical team that can assist you in resolving any concerns you may have. We have an ever-increasing number of dependable customers. Rather than selling you a good or service, we focus on providing high-quality services. We all know that in today's competitive environment if someone wants to improve their brand and commercial capabilities, quality work is the key to success. This is one of the reasons why we are regarded as one of India's leading Cloud IVR Solution Providers in India.

 

 

These days, IVR System Solution is very crucial, and we know how to give it on time and at a reasonable price. We have a lot of experience in this area such as servetel, fast2sms, free2sms, and we've worked with a lot of reputable big brands and small/medium enterprises for a long time.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 879649
• Packaging Details: IVR Services Features Auto Lead Assigning Report User Wise Dashboard Option Download Recording Lead Capture Maintain Client Profile Follow Up Call Recording Follow Up Notifications History Report Working With Lead Agent Forwarding Client Searching Lead IVR Feature (Sticky) Google Adwords Report View Lead / Client History How we as a top IVR service provider help You may acquire information about clients and route calls as needed with the correct use of IVR servetel. Our clever IVR system established through a virtual number give the optimal working versatility to save you as well as the customer's time. Our company is recognized as one of the best cloud telephony IVR Service Providers in India, for numerous years. We offer the advantages of its cloud services to help your company create more leads. You can even customize your IVR number to address customers by their first and last names. We have successfully served domestic clients to provide the best available IVR system cost, and we are currently one of India's leading Cloud IVR Solution Providers in India then servetel, fast2sms, free2sms and more. Everything is meticulously planned, and our special IVR System Solutions are available at reasonable pricing and for a limited time. The IVR software we offer includes all of the essential functions, such as IVR designer, self-service IVR, call queuing, and more. In short, whether you're a small business or a large corporation, we are your ideal partner for providing the most valuable IVR service. Finally, we look into each and every question about service updates and other pressing issues. We ensure that no part of the professional stairwell is overlooked. Even if you have no prior knowledge of the IVR system, our professionals will thoroughly explain them to you. Our organization adheres to industry norms of professionalism, and we have a clear policy for each IVR system cost. You can reach out to us at any moment for the best IVR

How To Get Toll Free Number in India? 

To buy a Toll Free number in India, all have to do is to call on 1800-313-8282, and our Toll free number specialist will help you in getting a Toll Free number in minutes.

To buy a Toll Free number from CloudShope is pretty simple. Just follow the below given steps and your number will be up and running in minutes:

1. Book your number from the form given on the right side  
2. Choose a Toll Free number plan
3. Purchase the plan by making the payment.
4. Provide your KYC documents along with a Purchase Order
5. Upload an IVR script on the Cloudshope server.
6. Enter the forwarding number of your agents.

 

This is all you need to start your Toll Free number. Total processing time won't be over five minutes if you already have the KYC documents with you.

To buy a Toll Free number, you will require full KYC documents, i.e. ID proof, Address Proof, and Aadhaar Verification. Since it is an enterprise service, you will also need your company's registration certificate, MoA, AoA, and a Board Resolution.

Customer Support

24x7 ticket based customer support.

 Call Recordings

Listen to calls in future.

 SMS Acknowledgement

Send SMS based alerts to your callers.

 Real-time Alerts

Get alerts for Missed & Recevied calls on your mobile.

 Call Logs

Check call analytics in real-time.

 IVR Widgets

Ready to use widgets for Complaint management, etc.

 Multi-User CRM

Access to CRM for every agent.

 Cost Management

Blacklisting & Working Hours setup for cost management.

and more...  Cost SavingNo huge setup cost. Pay monthly or yearly with pay-as-you-go billing. Plan starts from Rs 999 per month.  Instant Activation Global Access

 

Premium Features

Free for callers, Advance call management, No CAPEX or infrastructure requirement with auto-fail over feature makes the Cloudshope Toll Free number offering best in the market.

Along with all the above features, Cloudshope also provide API access to manage the call flow and to integrate with different third party softwares and CRM. With CloudShope IVRS API you can link the calls with any Social Media platform, CRM, ERP or even to HRMS.

What is a Toll Free Number?

A Toll Free number allows the caller to connect with the called party (i.e. the business) without paying for the call unlike the normal person-to-person calls where the called party is charged as per their billing plan.

The call charges are not completely waived off, instead of the caller the called party is charged for the call and usually a premium rate because of the special arrangement.

 

In India a Toll Free number generally starts from 1800 followed by the operator code (The licensed telecom service provider and usually consists of three digits), which is followed by three to four digits issued by the Telecom operator to their clients.

How Toll Free Number in India Works With CloudShope Cloud Telephony?

Cloudshope not only just provide the Toll Free number but also enables your business number with an IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) along with the scalability and redundancy of very high end telephony infrastructure worth lakhs of Rupees in just few thousand Rupees billed monthly.

 

When you buy a Toll Free number from a mobile operator they will not provide you any IVR system and will ask you to deploy a PRI and a high-end EPABX system to receive the calls, which is not financially viable for everyone due to the CAPEX. Also, the number provided by the operator is like a raw vegetable, which you can eat without cooking i.e. you have to invest a lot to make it work.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 400561
• Production Capacity: Unlimited
• Delivery Time: Instant
• Packaging Details: Benefits of CLoudshope Toll Free IVR Number You will save cost... a lot of it. No ongoing expenses, No overhead, control your expenses and improve your agent's productivity with CLoudshope Intelligent IVRS. CLoudshope provides you redundant routes to accept and transfer your calls with 99% uptime S.L.A#2 a lot more then what any other service provider gives. CLoudshope deploys a nation-wide network of redundant connectivity with operators to provide best uptime, connectivity and scalability. With a moment notice you can increase the number of channels (simultaneous calls) to 1,80,000 per minute (depending upon your plan) without typing a single word on your computer. Since, you don't have to maintain any server, database, EPABX or network eventually it will save lot of your's time and money along with the man-power. To buy a Toll Free number you can also approach a Telecom service provider like Vodafone-Idea, Reliance, Airtel or BSNL, however, buying a Toll Free number from them is a cumbersome process and will take up a lot of your time and money. Just by buying a Toll free number from a service provider won't solve any of your business communication problems because you will still need a way to handle those calls like an IVR, infrastructure to manage those calls, e.g. EPABX and PRI, etc., which are a costly way of getting new leads. But, you can also get all these things done by just paying a small service fee to a Cloud Telephony Service Provider like CLoudshope to handle and manage your call flow.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR)Greet your callers with a custom greeting and an intuitive Interactive Voice Response menu. Simply by pressing a number on their keypad, callers can be connected straight through to the correct department or person for their query. IVR saves your business time redirecting calls and helps increase customer satisfaction by ensuring customers aren't left waiting for their call to be connected.

What is Interactive Voice Response (IVR)?An IVR system is an Interactive Voice Response that is set up alongside your business phone number. It provides an immediate reaction to customer calls, by providing more information about your services and directing callers to the correct location, helping them get their queries answered much more efficiently. As IVR through a virtual number is based in the cloud, it allows you to forward calls to any location in the world. Not only will you be able to send calls to traditional landline telephones or your call center, but you'll also be able to have calls forwarded to VoIP phones and even mobile devices.

How Can an IVR Phone Help Your Business?Frustrated customers who can't get through to sales or support staff are more likely to drop the connection - often meaning a lost sale for your business. An IVR system helps connect calls in a timely manner, taking callers directly to the department they need at the touch of a button. Our IVR systems come with custom greetings, so you can craft a calling experience that satisfies customers and saves your business time and money. If you're an international business taking calls from all over the world, it's also likely time differences will become an issue at some point. With virtual IVR allowing call forwarding to any location, you can ensure calls are sent to the right staff at the time the call is placed, improving efficiency and wait times across your business.

Why Choose Cloudshope.com?A virtual IVR system with TollFreeForwarding.com helps you streamline customer communications and improve efficiency across your business. But that's not the only great benefit that you can enjoy when you sign up for a virtual business number. Our virtual numbers are all based in the cloud, meaning you don't need any complicated hardware to get started - and it can take as little as three minutes! Your new number also comes with a range of additional features and benefits, including time/day scheduling, call recording, and real time recording.

How do I get an IVR system?You can get IVR activated alongside a virtual phone number from TollFreeForwarding.com. We have virtual numbers in over 100 countries. To get started, you can browse our virtual number inventory in the navigation.
How much does IVR cost?An IVR system is available with a virtual number package from TollFreeForwarding.com. Our call forwarding packages come in a range of different sizes so you can adapt to your business needs. Visit our website www.cloudshope.com for more information, or call our friendly support team who will be more than happy to talk you through your options.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 3001271
• Production Capacity: Unlimited
• Delivery Time: Instant
• Packaging Details: Why Integrating Toll Free Numbers with IVR System is a Smart Move? Connectivity with customers is the backbone of a business. Unless a business is available to customers who want to reach it, keeping them satisfied is out of question. While small entities have a few hundred existing and potential customers, the number can be massive for larger enterprises. Moreover, organisations expect these numbers to grow with the passage of time. The concern, therefore, is about being available to them all the time and managing their calls effectively. What you need is a robust communication system that is capable of providing excellent support, along with consistent availability. A toll free number, coupled with the conventional Interactive Voice Response system or IVR system, can serve as a reliable solution that you can trust for seamless communication and connectivity. Let us see how each of these elements serves value to a business and how their combination can drive exceptional benefits in the long run. Toll Free Number & IVR: Understanding The Basics The basic objective for any business in the competitive landscape is to excel in terms of customer service. You may have a great product to offer but will not be able to get high profits unless the buyers are happy with the services and support you offer. Therefore, you need to go the extra mile for being open to communication. Both toll free numbers and IVR system can get you closer to these goals. By availing a toll free number, you give your customers the option to call without incurring the cost of calling. These numbers are free for the callers, with the cost being borne by the business, which definitely is a motivating factor for the potential customers to call and connect. A virtual toll free number is free from geographical boundaries, thus opening the opportunity of building an international presence for an organisation. This also eliminates the need for changing phone numbers.

How To Get Toll Free Number in India? 

To buy a Toll Free number in India, all you have to do is to call on 90278-90278 OR 1800-313-8282our Toll free number specialist will help you in getting a Toll Free number in minutes.

To buy a Toll Free number from Cloudshope is pretty simple. Just follow the below given steps and your number will be up and running in minutes:

1. Book your number from the form given on the right side  
2. Choose a Toll Free Plan
3. Purchase the plan by making the payment.
4. Provide your KYC documents along with a Purchase Order
5. Upload an IVR script on the Cloudshope server.
6. Enter the forwarding number of your agents.

 

This is all you need to start your Toll Free number. Total processing time won't be over five minutes if you already have the KYC documents with you.

To buy a Toll Free number, you will require full KYC documents, i.e. ID proof, Address Proof, and Aadhaar Verification. Since it is an enterprise service, you will also need your company's registration certificate, MoA, AoA, and a Board Resolution.

Premium Features

Free for callers, Advance call management, No CAPEX or infrastructure requirement with auto-fail over feature makes the Cloudshope Toll Free number offering best in the market.

 

Along with all the above features, cloudshope also provide API access to manage the call flow and to integrate with different third party softwares and CRM. With cloudshope IVRS API you can link the calls with any Social Media platform, CRM, ERP or even to HRMS.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 400128712
• Production Capacity: Unlimited
• Delivery Time: How to get toll free number
• Packaging Details: How to get toll free number What is a Toll Free Number? A Toll Free number allows the caller to connect with the called party (i.e. the business) without paying for the call unlike the normal person-to-person calls where the called party is charged as per their billing plan. The call charges are not completely waived off, instead of the caller the called party is charged for the call and usually a premium rate because of the special arrangement. In India a Toll Free number generally starts from 1800 followed by the operator code (The licensed telecom service provider and usually consists of three digits), which is followed by three to four digits issued by the Telecom operator to their clients. How Toll Free Number in India Works With Cloudshope Cloud Telephony? Cloudshop not only just provide the Toll Free number but also enables your business number with an IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) along with the scalability and redundancy of very high end telephony infrastructure worth lakhs of Rupees in just few thousand Rupees billed monthly. When you buy a Toll Free number from a mobile operator they will not provide you any IVR system and will ask you to deploy a PRI and a high-end EPABX system to receive the calls, which is not financially viable for everyone due to the CAPEX. Also, the number provided by the operator is like a raw vegetable, which you can eat without cooking i.e. you have to invest a lot to make it work. With.you will get an intelligent IVR system, which makes your call flow more efficient and your team more productive. Many of the tasks can be automated or distributed depending upon the user's input. For example, when a caller presses 1 the call will be forwarded to Sales, when pressed 2 the call will be transferred to Support. Also, in every option call can be forwarded to multiple users at a time or can be forwarded depending upon the availability of the agent. It can also be configured to automatically create support ticket.

TollFree number is one of the best and inexpensive ways for your customer to reach you in a professional way. So now let your callers connect with you at zero cost. Whether you want to increase the sale, handle huge traffic with ease, increase credibility or whatever, toll free number solution is there for you. A powerful platform that caters all your business needs.

TollFree Number Features (Cloud Telephony Suite)Multi-level IVRMulti-level IVR allows users to create sophisticated and powerful call flow with more menu options. You can make changes to your IVR flow at any time.
 WebhooksWebhook helps to fetch the data and perform multiple actions. Integrate webhook into your current workflow.
 Agent Wise ReportReporting in Sarv dashboard is customizable. Custom reporting lets you view any specific agent’s call report. Track the performance.
 Sticky AgentCall get disconnected while in conversation with an agent? Sticky agent will connect you with the same agent when you redial.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 444213
• Production Capacity: Unlimited
• Delivery Time: Instant
• Packaging Details: What is a Toll Free Number Solution? Your customers can reach out to you for free on your 1800 business toll free number. Ensure seamless interaction between the agents and customers for query resolution, upcoming promotions or events. Increase Lead Conversion Toll free numbers drive greater call rates, which results in significant lead conversion rates for businesses. Build Brand Recall Value 1800 toll free numbers are easier to recall, enabling customers to engage effortlessly across multi-touchpoint campaigns.

What is a Toll Free Number?A Toll Free number allows the caller to connect with the called party (i.e. the business) without paying for the call unlike the normal person-to-person calls where the called party is charged as per their billing plan.
The call charges are not completely waived off, instead of the caller the called party is charged for the call and usually a premium rate because of the special arrangement.
In India a Toll Free number generally starts from 1800 followed by the operator code (The licensed telecom service provider and usually consists of three digits), which is followed by three to four digits issued by the Telecom operator to their clients.
How Toll Free Number in India Works With cloudshope Cloud Telephony?cloudshope not only just provide the Toll Free number but also enables your business number with an IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) along with the scalability and redundancy of very high end telephony infrastructure worth lakhs of Rupees in just few thousand Rupees billed monthly.
When you buy a Toll Free number from a mobile operator they will not provide you any IVR system and will ask you to deploy a PRI and a high-end EPABX system to receive the calls, which is not financially viable for everyone due to the CAPEX. Also, the number provided by the operator is like a raw vegetable, which you can eat without cooking i.e. you have to invest a lot to make it work.With cloudshope, you will get an intelligent IVR system, which makes your call flow more efficient and your team more productive. Many of the tasks can be automated or distributed depending upon the user's input.
For example, when a caller presses 1 the call will be forwarded to Sales, when pressed 2 the call will be transferred to Support. Also, in every option call can be forwarded to multiple users at a time or can be forwarded depending upon the availability of the agent. It can also be configured to automatically create support ticket numbers or fetch data from a CRM and announce to the caller depending upon the caller's number.
Benefits of cloudshope Toll Free IVR NumberYou will save cost... a lot of it. No ongoing expenses, No overhead, control your expenses and improve your agent's productivity with cloudshope Intelligent IVRS.
cloudshope provides you redundant routes to accept and transfer your calls with 99% uptime S.L.A#2 a lot more then what any other service provider gives. cloudshope deploys a nation-wide network of redundant connectivity with operators to provide best uptime, connectivity and scalability.
With a moment notice you can increase the number of channels (simultaneous calls) to 1,80,000 per minute (depending upon your plan) without typing a single word on your computer.
Since, you don't have to maintain any server, database, EPABX or network eventually it will save lot of your's time and money along with the man-power.
To buy a Toll Free number you can also approach a Telecom service provider like Vodafone-Idea, Reliance, Airtel or BSNL, however, buying a Toll Free number from them is a cumbersome process and will take up a lot of your time and money.
Just by buying a Toll free number from a service provider won't solve any of your business communication problems because you will still need a way to handle those calls like an IVR, infrastructure to manage those calls, e.g. EPABX and PRI, etc., which are a costly way of getting new leads. But, you can also get all these things done by just paying a small service fee to a Cloud Telephony Service Provider like cloudshope to handle and manage your call flow.
What is the Cost of Toll Free Number?The cost of a Toll Free number depends on many factors like the number of simultaneous calls you want to receive on it, how many agents will be handling the calls, the number of expected monthly calls and what other cloud telephony features you want with it.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 6600345611
• Production Capacity: 1800 Toll Fee Number Provider with IVR
• Delivery Time: 1800 Toll Fee Number Provider with IVR
• Packaging Details: Businesses are investing in smarter and faster ways to reach out to their customer base. They are looking to enhance their customer experience with efficiency and lower operating costs. Take the leap to better customer accessibility with an easy-to-remember 1800 and 1860 number series that streamlines communication and offers 24/7 support. Providing consistent, quality customer service has never been easier. Toll free numbers are an easy, no-cost way for your customers to interact with you. Buy a toll free number for your business today, and let your customers call you for free. What is a toll free number? A toll free number is normally a 1800 series number that can be dialed by anyone across India without being charged. The business that owns the toll free number has to bear both the incoming and outgoing call charges. Toll free numbers usually have prefixes like 860, 855, 888, etc, and are used by businesses to enhance their customers’ experience. Get an 1800 Toll Free Number Rent a toll-free number from a toll-free service provider like cloudshope Opt for an easy to remember number so that your customers can remember it for a long time. Personalize the call flow and add call routing rules to ensure a seamless customer experience. Create an IVR greeting, add a voicemail option, set office hours, etc. Publish the number and start getting calls Once the call routing rules are set up, you can go ahead and publish the number on your website and marketing collateral. After this, your customers can start calling you for free – i.e the call charges will be borne by you and not your customers. Better brand identity A toll-free phone number is easy to remember and customers can easily associate this number with your brand. Additionally, by providing 24/7 customer service through a toll free number, your brand will be perceived as caring and customer-centric.