Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, but operating worldwide, Interactive Intelligence is a software company that provides unified business communications solutions for call centers, enterprise IP telephony and business process automation. They have partnered with large software and hardware companies such as Hewlett Packard and Microsoft to develop software that helps companies engage with their customers in a streamlined manner.
Interactive Intelligence offers opportunities for internships to qualified students in Computer Science and technology-related majors. Some of these internships currently take place on the third floor of Decker Hall at AU. Sophomore Kaleb Weddle, a computer science and math major, is an intern with the company. His internship extends into the summer, and it will take place at the downtown Indianapolis facility at that time.
“With working for Interactive Intelligence, I am learning real life applications of all the things I am learning in class,” Weddle said. “I am also learning a lot of problem solving, and I am interacting with a wide variety of people in the workforce.”
Founded in 1994 by Dr. Donald Brown, Interactive Intelligence has long been a pioneer in customer engagement services. Since that time, they have received numerous accolades, including 12 consecutive years on Software Magazine’s Global Top 500 Software and Service Companies, and being ranked 8th in Forbes’ 2011 list of “America’s 100 Best Small Companies.”
“So far I am loving my experience. I am so thankful that I am learning so much at an excellent company and at the same time earning excellent pay,” Weddle said. “This internship will definitely give me a lot of experience for a future career, working for such a great company looks excellent on a resume and possibly lead to a great career with a prestigious company like Interactive Intelligence.”
The company offers co-ops, as well as internships, which allow students to be involved in its internships during the schoolyear. In order to apply, students must be pursuing a degree in a technology-related field and be currently enrolled as a student. The typical internship experience runs for 12 weeks in the summer and offers many opportunities for developing skills and learning about other facets of the company. Internship locations are Indianapolis, Indiana; Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; Irvine, California; Annapolis, Maryland and Jacksonville, Florida.
The company’s most current project is the PureCloud technology, which expedites the customer service process including call centers, web-based interfaces, recorded voices, and automation, and allow for improvements on services that have been offered in the past. Interactive Intelligence is currently working out of the third floor of Decker Hall, where four student interns spend most of the day debugging the new program, PureCloud Engage. This software offers web interfaces that are simple, easy to use and look professional, as well as linking with Amazon Web Services to provide a smooth and cutting edge customer engagement service.
The company’s most popular product is the Interaction Center Platform, which streamlines multi-channel business interactions and business processes, and serves as the foundation for the additional Interactive Intelligence products. Interactive Intelligence also provides additional professional services, tech support and education services for how to use their software.
The company has more than 100 patent applications, as well as a number of industry firsts. With a large amount of experience in their chosen field, and a culture of excellence and innovation with the reputation to support it, it’s no wonder that Interactive Intelligence has been so well recognized for their work. To date, they have over 6,000 global deployments of their software, as well as being recognized by several analysts.
In 2010, Interactive Intelligence announced the creation of their first charitable organization: the Interactive Intelligence Foundation Corporation, which is designed to raise funds and promote volunteer work to improve the lives of at-risk youth. In support of these services, the charity hosts a silent auction and gala every year. In addition to their internship programs and company charity, Interactive Intelligence encourages its employees to volunteer for other charitable work. The most popular charity encouraged by the company is the local Julian Center, which is a women’s shelter that, since its inception in 1975, has dealt mostly with victims of domestic violence. The center provides counseling, a safe shelter, case management, advocacy, education, and transitional and affordable housing to these women.
Interactive Intelligence represents the reality that face-to-face business is a dying medium. On a global scale, that kind of personal interaction is just not feasible. However, companies like Interactive Intelligence are providing ways for companies to engage their customers on a global scale, without necessarily needing a global employee population.
In order to apply for an internship with the company, students can visit https://www.inin.com/careers/students.