6 First Call Resolution Tips for Your Contact Center

Posted by Kristen Braun on May 27, 2015 8:53:38 AM

First Call Resolution has been the subject of many recent studies, which show that a high FCR rate is vital to the success of your contact center. In fact according to ICMI, 12% of cus­tomers leave if it takes 2 or more calls to resolve their issue. But while the concept of FCR may seem simple, “properly resolve customer issues on the first call,” putting this into practice and measuring this “metric” is a lot more complicated than simply focusing on a percentage. Here are a few tips to boost FCR, and to ensure the FCR percentage you are recording is an accurate reflection of your call center.

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Topics: first call resolution

Customer Service and your Contact Center: What you should know

Posted by Kristen Braun on May 14, 2015 8:52:00 AM

It has been well demonstrated that Customer Service can affect a business just as much as catchy advertising slogans or the newest innovative product. Take the new Apple watch. It has been advertised as the next big thing to the point where it’s impossible not to be aware of it. But as with any new form of innovative technology, people are bound to have general questions, troubleshooting needs, and bug issues. This is where a strong and robust customer service platform comes into play.

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Topics: customer service, crm integration, first call resolution, customer experience

Must Read 'First Call Resolution' Facts

Posted by Rachel Brink on Mar 19, 2015 12:19:09 PM

Eight out of ten consumers rate speed of service as the number one factor to a great service experience. But still, customer service representatives fail to answer their questions 50% of the time, causing first call resolution (FCR) rates to be extremely low. What is going wrong?

The primary culprits of low FCR rates:
  • Mismatch of agent skills with customer needs: 26% of customers report being routed from one agent to another without any resolution of their problem or inquiry
  • Inability to quickly access customers’ account information: 60% of low first call resolution rates are due to an agent’s inability to quickly access customer information
  • Inefficient processes and inadequate training: 60% of repeat calls are process or training driven
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Topics: first call resolution, FCR

6 Statistics highlighting how to make SaaS solutions work for your business

Posted by Rachel Brink on Feb 19, 2015 10:53:00 AM

As consumer demands and expectations continue to rapidly evolve, many businesses have turned to advanced software-as-a-service solutions (CRM, Ticketing, WFM, WFO, Telephony) to assist in the daily management of their client relationships and potential prospects. But while individually beneficial as stand alone solutions, many enterprise businesses are still finding it difficult to satisfy the expectations of their respective consumers. Why? Because SaaS solutions are not the answer –integrated solutions are.

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Topics: crm integration, crm software, SaaS, first call resolution, third-party integrations, database management integrations, saas integrations, contact center integrations

Improving Customer Service within Your Call Center

Posted by Rachel Brink on Nov 5, 2014 8:56:00 AM

Consider the Following: 

  • 70% of buying experiences are based on how the customer feels they are being treated.
  • Roughly 9 out of 10 U.S. consumers say they would pay more to ensure a superior customer experience.
  • 80% of companies want to use the customer service/experience as a way to differentiate themselves from their competition.
  • On average, loyal customers are worth up to 10 times as much as their first purchase. 

Today, it’s not just about servicing your customers—it’s about offering a memorable experience and creating a long lasting relationship. But while 80% of companies believe they deliver “superior” customer service, only 8% of customers agree. And when you consider 86% of consumers will quit doing business with a company following a single bad customer experience, the challenge facing contact centers quickly becomes clear.

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Topics: customer service, contact center software, call center, multichannel contact center, multichannel call center, contact center, customer satisfaction, first call resolution, self-service, workforce optimization, customer relationship

On-Premise vs Cloud Contact Center Solutions

Posted by Guillaume Seynhaeve on Aug 8, 2014 10:10:00 AM

Today technology is at the center of any discussion regarding competitive advantage, sustainability, and growth. As it specifically relates to the contact center space, the ability to deliver and communicate with customers using the latest channels has never been more important.  And yet, despite the emphasis on offering the latest in customer communications, the vast majority of businesses are still basing their service delivery on old, inflexible, and costly premise-based solutions. Which begs the very obvious question, why? 

For one, while there is no denying that smartphones and the age of social media are quickly transforming the communication landscape, the tried and tested concept of calling-in is still not dead. In fact, 73% of customers still prefer to speak to a representative, which is far greater than those choosing to use Twitter to communicate at 22% (Forrester). And this shouldn’t come as a surprise when you consider the generational breakdown of today’s customers, from Baby Boomers (79 Million), to Generation X (52 Million), to Generation Y (75 Million), to Generation Z (Still growing); with every one listing the phone as a primary means of contact except for the last. So, yes, premise-based solutions are surviving by virtue of those generations, but the trend is quickly moving towards email, social, media, and web, so keeping to the old way of things may not be the wisest of strategies. At the very least, it will not support any long-term competitive advantage your company may otherwise have. 

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Topics: cloud based contact center, cloud based, call center, cloud based solution, contact center solution, cloud based call center, best business practices, employee retention, SaaS, customer satisfaction, first call resolution, On-Premise

Contact Centers and First Call Resolution

Posted by Rachel Brink on Jul 25, 2014 10:22:00 AM

According to a recent study, customer satisfaction ratings are 35-45% lower when a second call or interaction is required to address the same issue (Customer Relationship Metrics).  And with 82% of clients rating speed-of-service as one of the primary drivers behind their satisfaction ratings, with 45% abandoning transactions when expectations aren’t met (Forrester Research), the challenge facing contact centers seems fairly obvious.  Provide quality service fast.   So why is that contact centers still fail to address 32% of all incoming customer inquiries and concerns on the first go-around (SQM Group) despite the clear need to do so? 

One has only to consider his or her own experience with a sales or support representative to quickly list how the service could perhaps be improved.  Granted, not all customers are reasonable, nor can every inquiry be easily addressed in a single call or interaction.  However, if someone wants to upgrade their service, follow-up on a support ticket, discuss their bill, or review a possible purchase it shouldn’t be painful or difficult.  But for those of you who need a little more to justify the value of first call resolutions (FCR) then consider the following:

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Topics: customer service, contact center software, crm integration, customer support, best business practices, SaaS, IVR technology, employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction, first call resolution

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