Patent attributes
A method and apparatus for providing assistance to customers seeking assistance from agents of an enterprise is disclosed. The method includes receiving a signal indicating the caller's wish to speak with a live agent associated with the enterprise to seek the assistance from the live agent. In response to a receipt of the signal, it is determined whether at least one live agent from among a plurality of live agents associated with the enterprise is available for a voice interaction with the caller. Subsequent to determining that no live agent from among the plurality of live agents is currently available for the voice interaction with the caller, the caller is diverted to an asynchronous messaging channel. A textual messaging-based interaction is facilitated between a messaging agent and the caller on the asynchronous messaging channel to provide the assistance to the caller.