There are no excuses for companies not to answer inquiries and complaints through the phone and even in the Internet. Service support is one of the responsibilities that every firm owes to its customers, whether they are existing or prospective. This fact alone should be the motivating force that will inspire them to do their duties effectively. Nowadays, this task is made even heavier due to the demand of the public for businesses to operate a 24/7/365 answering service. If firms really want to make their buyers stay and to create a positive image, then they will have to satisfy this need.
Well, you only have one response to this call and that is to implement an around-the-clock
live answering service. That is if your company values your customers. Establishing a sleepless customer care program allows your customers to get the help they need anytime the necessity arises. You might ask, "Why do it live when an answering machine can accomplish the task?" For obvious reasons, an automated answering service can provide only limited solutions to simple queries, like a credit card balance. Yet, complex situations like a defect in the product cannot be covered. Needless to say, customers feel comfortable spilling the beans to a live operator than to an insensitive and unresponsive recording.
Some companies think that
answering service is useful only in inquiry and complaint handling. Little did they know that it is an another efficient channel where customers can place and process an order, and for the agents to engage in cross-selling and up-selling. Selling is not only confined within the walls of your offices for it can take place anytime over the telephone and even in the Internet. Therefore, in addition to taking care of customers' issues, you can pump up your selling activities through the aid of the telephone. With this set-up, there is no way that your company will miss a customer call or order.
This is one situation that is easier said than done for it requires you to invest in costly infrastructure, labor and other overhead costs. In order to avoid the jaw-dropping initial set-up costs, you can contract a trustworthy inbound call center for a low price tag. With their trained and experienced live operators, specialized call center applications and client support all ready, you can start your customer care programs at the drop of the hat.
Read more...