The first response to a customer complaint is usually a call center employee. The default response is often an apology and a promise that the issue will be resolved. But, as the customer continues to complain, the call center employee’s responsibility may shift from handling the complaint to managing it. The escalation management process can be complicated and difficult for any company with multiple departments and employees who are not familiar with each other's responsibilities or workflow. These tools provide customers with automated escalation options that allow them to contact different departments in order to resolve their issues more quickly than if they had to do it themselves.