Nominations Now Open: CDI Foundation 2025 Awards

We’re proud to announce that nominations are now open for the CDI Foundation 2025 Awards, celebrating excellence in the practice, application and impact of Conversational AI. These awards spotlight the assistants, individuals, and teams raising the bar — not only for what AI can do, but how it can be deployed with purpose, clarity and inclusivity.

Winners will be announced during the Beyond Boundaries Global Festival, taking place October 13–15 at the Maritime Museum of Barcelona.

Anyone can nominate — whether you’re submitting your own work, putting forward a colleague, or recognising a team whose contribution deserves wider recognition.

Submissions close Friday 25th July 2025 at 5pm CET.

1. Best AI Assistant

Recognising the most effective and impactful AI Assistant in customer support — one that delivers measurable business results while improving the customer experience.

Criteria:

• Automation & Coverage:
  How well does your AI Assistant scale support?
  Describe its scope, topic coverage, automation rate, and adoption across channels. What percentage of conversations are resolved without human intervention?

• Customer Experience & Satisfaction:
  Is your AI Assistant delighting customers?
  Share metrics such as CSAT, NPS, or CES, and how these compare to traditional channels like phone or live chat. Qualitative feedback and customer anecdotes are welcome.

• Business Impact & Cost Efficiency:
  How does your AI Assistant support the bottom line?
  Detail how it contributes to business goals — from cost reduction and operational efficiency to improved loyalty, retention or conversion.

• Vision & Future Readiness:
  Where are you heading next?
  Outline your roadmap for the next 12 months and your longer-term vision. How will your assistant evolve and continue to support customers in the future?

2. Best Conversational AI Team

Honouring the people behind the performance. This award recognises an enterprise team that has demonstrated outstanding strategy, collaboration and execution in deploying Conversational AI for customer support.

Criteria:

• Impact on Automation, Satisfaction & Cost to Serve:
  How has your team moved the needle on key outcomes?
  Share measurable results: automation rates, customer satisfaction (e.g. CSAT/NPS), and reductions in cost to serve. Extra credit for balancing efficiency with empathy.

• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Excellence:
  How does your team work across silos?
  Describe how designers, developers, data scientists, product managers, and business leads collaborate. What tools, rituals, or working methods keep you aligned?

• Capability Building & Education:
  How are you growing your team’s expertise?
  Explain your investment in learning — including certifications, internal academies, training programs, or mentoring. How does this commitment translate into success?

• Vision & Culture:
  What makes your team unique?
  Share insights into your team culture and long-term goals. What values drive your work, and how do they shape the customer experience?

3. Emerging Talent in Conversational AI

Celebrating a rising star who, early in their career, is already making a meaningful impact through Conversational AI — whether through design, development or internal advocacy.

Criteria:

• Measurable Contribution:
  How has the nominee contributed to real outcomes?
  Share examples where they’ve improved automation, enhanced satisfaction, or transformed specific parts of the customer journey.

• Learning & Growth:
  How is the nominee developing their craft?
  Highlight their engagement with education — including CDI certifications, external training, mentoring relationships, or contributions to community learning.

• Initiative & Innovation:
  How has the nominee gone above and beyond?
  Tell us how they’ve taken ownership, introduced new ideas, or championed Conversational AI within their team or organisation.

• Mindset & Values:
  What makes this person a role model?
  Describe their approach to collaboration, empathy, and inclusion — and how these values influence their work and team culture.

4. Outstanding Impact in Inclusive AI

Recognising a team or initiative that has made a tangible effort to ensure their AI Assistant is accessible, inclusive, and supportive of underserved or vulnerable audiences.

Criteria:

• Audience Understanding:
  Who are you designing for — and why?
  Define the specific audience or need your work focused on. What made this group underserved or at risk of exclusion from traditional support?

• Design for Inclusion:
  How did your team ensure accessibility, clarity or equity?
  Describe the design, language and interaction choices that ensured accessibility and dignity. What features or processes supported this audience?

• Impact & Outcomes:
  What changed as a result?
  Present evidence of success — from testimonials and qualitative feedback to quantifiable metrics such as reduced drop-off, increased engagement, or satisfaction uplift.

• Vision & Responsibility:
  How does this project reflect your broader values?
  Share your perspective on ethical and inclusive AI — and where you plan to take this work next.

We invite everyone working in or adjacent to Conversational AI to consider submitting. Whether you're part of a global enterprise, a not-for-profit team, or a small startup — or whether you're nominating a new colleague or seasoned leader — this is a chance to celebrate the meaningful work happening across the field.

To see our already announced speaker roster along with session overviews and secure your tickets to the Beyond Boundaries Global Festival, follow the link below: