3CLogic's Contact Center Blog

What started as a few whisperings in early 2022 has become a near certainty — the U.S. is on the cusp of a recession. With inflation soaring, stocks tumbling, and consumer sentiment dwindling, it’s not difficult to see why a recent survey shows that experts predict there’s a 44% chance of entering an economic downturn within the next 12 months. 

Picture this — your call center experiences a huge surge in volume on Tuesday morning at 10am, a time that’s typically quiet. As the queue grows, average handle time (AHT) spikes, the abandon rate grows, and the first call resolution rate plummets. 

Have you ever joined a fantasy baseball league? Statistics are vital to knowing whether or not to draft a player or trade them. It can be the key to winning or losing. The same can be applied to business. Accurate reporting can analyze key data related to employee performance, customer profiles, and can often be targeted to extract the direct information that you need from the pile. In the SaaS industry, this is something that is becoming more and more complex as new innovations arise. But why is this so important, and what should you be looking for when it comes to analyzing your data?

Consider the Following:

- 20-40% of yearly sales for small and mid-sized     retailers takes place during the last two months of the year
- 40% of consumers begin shopping before Halloween
- Black Friday sales are expected to top $2.4 Billion this year, representing 28% YoY growth

And what does a rise in holiday shopping generally mean for businesses?  More sales, obviously. But it also tends to imply an increase in call volume tied to clients inquiring about purchases, requesting additional support, making inquiries, and also submitting the occasional complaint.