In today’s multichannel world, providing service through the channels that customers want has never been more vital. Obviously you need to deliver a consistent experience across every channel, but with resources tight, how you split agent time can be a juggling act.So it is important to understand what channels your customers are likely to use most. There are a number of factors to take into...
Customer service directors face increasing challenges. They have to deal with a growing number of queries, calls, emails and tweets from consumers, who demand the highest levels of service, irrespective of channel. At the same time, they have to balance their budgets and ensure that they are delivering value to the business through efficient and cost-effective operations.Meeting these two objectiv...
In a previous post I looked at the biggest frustrations amongst UK consumers when they dealt with brands through digital channels such as email or social media. Research carried out by Epticahighlighted that a lack of understanding and a failure to acknowledge their feelings were not just holding back engagement, but actively causing consumers to switch supplier.The E...
New research from Ombudsman Services has found that retail is the most complained-about sector in the UK. According to the organization’s Consumer Action Monitor there were 18.5 million complaints to retailers in 2014, 28% of the UK’s total, split evenly between online and in-store transactions. Retail was far ahead of telecoms (15%) and energy (11%), when it came to attracting co...
The rise of internet and digital channels has radically changed how people research and buy insurance. It’s now extremely simple for consumers to shop around and get online quotes before renewing their policies – especially since the rise of price comparison websites.
Last week Google updated its search algorithm, rewarding mobile-friendly sites with higher rankings in search results. This is a further demonstration that we’re reaching a tipping point when it comes to how consumers interact with brands digitally. In fact, eMarketer estimates that this year UK adults will spend more time every day (2 hours 26 minutes) with their mobile devices, s...
Benchmarking against competitors and leaders in other sectors is all part of improving customer experience. However we live in an increasingly global marketplace, meaning that organizations need to learn from leaders across the world if they are to thrive. Obviously ideas have to match local cultures and expectations, but by scouring the globe for new ways of interacting with customers, compa...
In a previous blog post I highlighted the growing gap between customers and companies, and how this lack of understanding is undermining efforts to improve customer experience.This was demonstrated by the Eptica Study: The Power of Linguistics in Customer Service. Based on research with both consumers and agents, it sought to identify the frustrations that are undermining the UK customer...
The travel industry has been transformed by the rise of digital channels. Consumers now turn to the web first when researching and booking flights and holidays, using the reach of the internet to create tailor made itineraries, rather than visiting a high street travel agent. Sites such asTripAdvisor, along with social media, have also introduced a powerful way of sharing opinions about the s...
Customers today want to communicate with businesses on more and more channels – and the number is increasing all the time. The last few weeks have seen the launch of multiple new ways of communicating – all of which have the potential to impact customer service.Firstly, Periscope and Meerkat, two new live streaming services have been introduced. Sitting on top of Twitter, these apps al...