4 Ways Multichannel Contact Centers Boost Customer Satisfaction

Posted by 3CLogic on Feb 25, 2016 9:32:04 AM

There was little need for multichannel contact centers before the advancement of technology, but with consumers reaching businesses through a variety of communication channels and touch points, obtaining one has become imperative. 

There are over 7 high-profile channels that allow people to stay connected with customers, and that number is only getting bigger. The ability to contact customers and have them contact you in a variety of forms improves the quality and brand of a company, so it’s important to understand the following 4 ways multichannel contact centers boost customer satisfaction.

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Topics: multichannel contact center, customer satisfaction

Why has customer satisfaction fallen four years in a row for call centers?

Posted by Rachel Brink on May 29, 2015 8:21:30 AM

The rise of the Internet and expansion of communication channels have given today’s consumers far greater power to explore alternative product/service options, putting customer experience at the forefront of purchasing decisions. In fact by 2020, customer experience is expected to overtake price and product as a brand’s competitive differentiator. And according to Dimension Data’s 2015 Global Contact Centre Benchmarking report, which surveyed 901 contact centers across 72 countries, 75% of contact centers recognize service as a competitive differentiator (up 18% over the past two years), and 57% say they can relate improving customer experience levels to revenue and profit growth. But despite the growing effort towards improving customer service to better meet rising consumer expectations, customer satisfaction levels have decreased for the fourth year in a row—which begs the question, where are businesses missing the mark when it comes to their service delivery?

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Topics: customer service, cloud based contact center, cloud call center, customer satisfaction, customer experience, cloud computing

Is Gamification the answer to employee engagement?

Posted by Rachel Brink on Feb 17, 2015 1:06:00 PM

Often considered an organization’s most valuable asset, employees are increasingly growing disengaged in the workplace, presenting businesses with a number of concerns relating to employee turnover, productivity, and customer satisfaction. In fact, a recent Gallup poll has found 70% of Americans are not engaged in their jobs, costing an estimated $350 billion in lost productivity each year—and the trend shows no signs of slowing down. As it relates to contact centers specifically, agent turnover rates currently average 35% across all call centers, 50% in larger ones, and 60% in those performing outbound campaigns, costing anywhere from 60-200% of an employee’s salary. And as employee satisfaction continues to play a pivotal role in both profitability and the overall customer experience, the need for call centers to create a more engaging work environment quickly becomes clear.

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Topics: customer satisfaction, customer experience, agent retention, engaging work environment, gamification, employee turnover, employee engagement

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

The Role of Self-Service IVR

Posted by Rachel Brink on Sep 5, 2014 9:06:00 AM

In a recent study, an astounding 67% of customers have stated a preference for self-service as opposed to speaking to a live representative (ZenDesk).  Previously viewed as a burden imposed on consumers, the self-service arena has today become an essential part of the average consumer experience.  And as one considers each major industry, the rapid adoption of self-service solutions is readily apparent everywhere.  Grocery stores have self-check out lines, airlines offer Kiosks (have yet to figure out how to apply it to Homeland Security lines, though), restaurants use self-service reservations – the list goes on. Each of these initiatives involves one person, and one person only: the customer. 

The importance of self-service in the contact center space is no exception. Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technologies are leading the charge, providing customers the ability to quickly and easily access any information by selecting options from a simple menu. What was at first an effort for contact centers to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs, has since become an industry standard.   And with 69% of customers equating a good customer experience to how quickly an inquiry is resolved, the need to adopt the latest technology facilitating their ability to do so has never been more important.

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Topics: call center, call center software features, multichannel contact center, contact center, call center software, cloud based call center, cloud customer support, B2C, best business practices, IVR technology, customer satisfaction

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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