Ten Basic Principles Of Customer Service Excellence
Intellicon
A one window CX Platform comprising of Omni Channel Contact Center, Customer Engagement and CRM for Sales and Support
Customer service excellence is all about providing customers with a positive experience at every touchpoint. Businesses that prioritize customer service excellence reap the rewards of customer loyalty, positive word-of-mouth, and sustained growth.? Let’s dive in and see ten basic principles of customer service excellence that underpin outstanding customer service, supported by relevant data and facts.
Salesforce’s stated that 88% of buyers say experience matters as much as a company’s products or services with 73% of customers expecting companies to understand their unique needs and expectations across their journey.
1. Understand Your Customers
The first step to providing excellent customer service is to understand your customers. What are their needs and wants? What are their pain points? What do they expect from your company?
You can gain a better understanding of your customers through surveys like NPS & CSAT, customer interviews, and social media listening. Once you understand your customers, you can tailor your customer service approach to meet their specific needs.
2. Prompt Responsiveness
Customers expect companies to respond to their inquiries promptly. Whether they are calling, emailing, or chatting online, they want to know that their concerns are being heard and addressed. A missed interaction can become a missed opportunity and integrating every customer touch point in your CX strategy is crucial and this can be done by having an omnichannel contact center solution
According to Emplifi, 52% of consumers expect to get their question answered within one hour of posting it on a brand’s digital channels so aim to respond to customer inquiries within 24 hours, or sooner if possible.
If you are unable to resolve an issue immediately, keep the customer updated on your progress and let them know when they can expect a resolution.
3. Clear Communication
When communicating with customers, it is important to be clear and concise. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that they may not understand.
Be sure to explain things in a way that is easy to understand, and answer any questions they may have. If you are unable to resolve an issue immediately, let them know what steps you are taking to resolve it.
4. Empathy and Understanding
Customers want to feel like they are dealing with real people who understand their needs and concerns. When communicating with customers, show empathy and understanding.
Put yourself in their shoes and try to see things from their perspective. This will help you to better understand their needs and provide them with the best possible service.
5. Quick Problem Resolution
When a customer has a problem, they want to know that you are going to do everything you can to resolve it and enabling your customer with quick fixes plus self-service options can do wonders. By offering self-service solutions, businesses not only reduce customer service response times but also empower customers to find quick solutions on their own terms.
This proactive approach not only enhances customer satisfaction but also optimizes the efficiency of customer support teams, resulting in a win-win scenario for both businesses and their clientele.
?6. Consistency
Customers expect to receive the same high level of customer service every time they interact with your company. Whether they are calling, emailing, or chatting online, they want to know that they will be treated with respect and that their concerns will be addressed.
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A Salesforce report shows that 78% of customers said that they use multiple channels to start a complete transaction and they always want consistent customer service across all channels.
To ensure consistency, develop and implement customer service standards and a complete unified communication strategy. These standards should outline the level of prompt & consistent service that customers can expect from your company at every touchpoint of their journey.
?7. Continuous Improvement
Customer service excellence is an ongoing journey. There is always room for improvement. One of the most important ten basic principles of customer service excellence incorporates regularly collecting feedback from customers and using it to identify areas where you can improve. You can collect feedback through surveys, focus groups, customer interviews, and social media listening.
?8. Respect and Professionalism
Customers expect to be treated with respect and professionalism at all times. When interacting with customers, be polite and respectful, even if they are upset or demanding. Avoid using slang or informal language. Be professional and ensure empathy.
?9. Personalized Experience
Your clients anticipate agents to have thorough information on their prior interactions as well as a 360-degree view of their journey at all times. They don’t want to feel like a number in a queue; they want a customized customer experience based on their particular situation.
To provide a more personalized experience:
?10. Building Relationships
Customer service excellence is not just about resolving problems. It is also about building relationships with customers.
Take the time to get to know your customers and build rapport with them. This will help you to better understand their needs and provide them with the best possible service
Conclusion
Remember, satisfied customers aren’t just patrons; they become your brand advocates, driving growth and success. It’s an investment that will pay off in the long run.
Ready to enhance your customer service strategy? Put these ten basic principles of customer service excellence into action today and gain a competitive edge!
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