When is a Contact Centre, NOT a Contact Centre

Imagine asking 100 people to describe a Contact Centre. Most would likely envision a bustling office space with employees wearing headsets, sitting in front of computers, and handling phone calls. This common perception, however, limits our understanding of what a contact center truly is and inadvertently excludes other businesses from recognizing themselves as part of this ecosystem.

Yet, there’s a missed opportunity in this narrow perspective. Consider the remarkable advancements in Contact Center Technology.

Technology evolves rapidly, often leaving us struggling to keep up. Just think about the capabilities packed into your latest iPhone or Android device—it’s more powerful than the technology that once took us to the moon.

The ongoing technology revolution brings both complexity and immense capability. Unfortunately, the terminology itself sometimes leads to exclusion, preventing businesses from realizing the substantial benefits available.

Consider this scenario: A business leader or owner dismisses the idea of using contact center technology because their company doesn’t fit the traditional contact center mold.

Remember, every business relies on customers for survival. These very customers interact with your business, reaching out and receiving responses. Are you following so far? Excellent.

These customers are part of the same ever-changing cycle as we are. They, too, embrace technological shifts. Moreover, consider how the demographics of your customer base influence the transition from “real-time live voice” conversations to more digital, near-real-time, or asynchronous interactions—think WhatsApp and similar channels.

Ignore these changes at your peril, because we all know that customers will vote with their feet if you are not able to offer them the flexibility and choice that they demand of us.

This is not about Tech for Tech sake, but embracing the inevitable change that is happening with or without us. 

A word of caution, however. Do make sure that you plan this well and consider the fallout should you get this wrong. And some of the wrongest (I know, but it felt right to use the word) implementations are from some of the largest companies on the planet – why – I can only surmise that they feel they CAN, because they are the 400lb gorilla – but we all know they are wrong don’t we.

So my advice would be to dip your toe in the water and introduce these emerging DIGITAL channels into your NON-CONTACT CENTRE businesses and do it well. Making sure that you are not building them in siloes, but doing it in a joined up and connected way (Omnichannel) that keeps real people at the heart of the changes – your staff and your customers. 

Equally I would also investigate how AUTOMATION can better serve your customers – including Artificial Intelligence solutions using Generative AI. Although there is a place for less sophistication for some interactions 

Want some help and advice – just ask. I don’t bite, even as a Leicester Tigers 🐯supporter 😜

Easy in is easy out and no commitment means just that

I simply don’t understand why a business would sign partnership agreements with a new reseller on the understanding that if they deliver nothing you will “tear up the agreement”. What a waste of everybody’s time and effort.

If you don’t think it’s going to work as a partnership then, you’re probably right. Like all relationships a business partnership takes time and effort and commitment from both sides and usually a degree of planning and expectation setting doesn’t go amiss.

A few areas to look at in detail before you even think about signing a partnership.

Suitability of product/solution or offer
Why you’re taking this route
Margin chain – is there enough in the margin pot to feed all tiers?
Your resources to support this activity
Training/knowledge transfer
Sales
Marketing
Support
Operations/logistics
Finance
Affordability and impact on pricing and margins available
Potential for sales conflict with your current operations and sales teams
And most importantly how you will resolve them

Line up for success and remember that less is more. Fewer of the right partners is infinity preferable and scaling can follow

Merry Christmas from me to you

As we hurtle into the Christmas holiday period, I want to wish you all a very happy, and peaceful Christmas.

I am sure that most are heading home or to spend time with loved ones, family and friends and I sincerely wish you a wonderful, memorable time.

Do spare a thought for those, for whom this time of year is a very different propositions, for many individual and collective reasons. Do what you can and be kind.

As a family, we no longer send Christmas cards, but not because we don’t love the season, more because the money invested is for us, best invested with some of the many wonderful charities working tirelesly to make a positive difference to others’ lives. We salute you all.

This year therefore instead of cards, know that we are making contributions to Crisis and Blue Cross – and in so doing hope to make a small difference.

I do hope that you are able to enjoy your Christmas

Much love and respect

We’re going to grow our sales revenue by selling through partner resellers.

Easy peasy

We’re going to grow our sales revenue by selling through partner resellers.

How hard can that be?

Just recruiting a bunch of partners who are keen to make some additional margin?

Give them a price list with a buy and sell price and they’re away – right?

Wrong!

So, so wrong 😔

Easy in, is easy out.

Any focus on your solution here?
Nope. Opportunistic at absolute best.

Opportunity for miss-selling is huge – intentionally or unintentionally.

Who’s supporting them?
Oh the direct sales team will – yeah sure, cos they have a ton of spare time to nursemaid a greenhorn sales team chasing shadows, don’t they?

And when they miss targets for lack of time on their role, a flea in the ear and worse still, low commission months… Not happening is it!

The ONLY way is to do it properly

Start with the end in mind and plan backwards.

It takes

TIME
PATIENCE
INVESTMENT
ATTENTION
RESOURCES (FOCUSSED)
SUPPORT
HAND HOLDING
UNDERSTANDING
REPETITION
FIT FOR PURPOSE TOOLS
TRAINING
ETC

And so much more… and critically unlike your direct sales teams,
THEY DO NOT WORK FOR YOU.. YOU ARE NOT THEIR BOSS

So if you do want to do it properly, give me a shout, I’d be happy to help you

Might need your help

We don’t get asked for that

It’s not unusual to hear a business leader say that their customers do not ask for certain solutions.

So what does this tell us?

Should we rely on our customer to always ask us if we can help? It’s certainly a great place to be when we’ve become a trusted advisor.

But this isnt always the case. Often we’ve been pigeonholed as the network guys, or the desktop guys or whatever else.

Does this mean that they’re not seeing us as capable of offering something else? Probably. It could also mean that they’re engaged elsewhere with someone who has made an approach that’s caught their attention. The threat is that whilst they’re busy building trust elsewhere, they’re not spending time with us building trust.

So do you think you’re going to “stick to your knitting” or segue into positioning yourself as a trusted advisor where you’re always the “go to” guys?

Whenever you’re thinking about HOW TO GROW your business, just consider how you sell more things to more people, and start with those customers who’ve already said we trust you.

What is OMNICHANNEL and why would I need it

Omni-channel contact centre solutions are becoming increasingly popular for customer engagement because they provide a seamless experience for customers across multiple channels.

This means that companies have to think more carefully about every touchpoint they have with their clients. An omnichannel strategy will help you create a path for a smooth customer journey and move ahead of the competition when done correctly.

An omnichannel contact centre is a strategic hub within the business that allows brands to provide customer service across multiple channels in real time, providing a seamless customer journey. For example, a customer journey might begin on one channel, such as SMS, and seamlessly continue on another channel, such as a live agent conversation using voice (a traditional call).

Omnichannel customer service aims to provide a seamless customer experience across multiple channels by integrating them within a single system. This gives customer service agents a comprehensive view of a customer’s interactions; enabling them to answer queries more effectively and efficiently, and using other emerging technologies like AI, agents can also receive prompts and next-best-action information on-the-fly.

In summary, an omnichannel contact centre solution will help businesses improve their customer engagement by providing a seamless experience across multiple channels and enabling agents to answer queries more effectively and efficiently.

The Power of Voice: Non-Real-Time Communications for Convenience and Meaning

In the ever-evolving communications landscape, the human voice has always played a central role. From face-to-face conversations to phone calls, our voices have been the primary medium for conveying meaning and building connections. However, with the advent of technology, our use of voice has expanded beyond real-time conversations. Today, we find ourselves embracing the convenience and depth of non-real-time voice communications. In this blog, we explore how we now utilize our voices for non-real-time interactions, fostering both convenience and a deeper sense of meaning in our digital conversations.

Voice Messages: Conveying Nuances and Emotions:

One of the most popular non-real-time voice communication methods is voice messaging or voice notes. Whether through messaging apps, social media platforms, or dedicated voice recording applications, voice messages have become an integral part of our daily conversations. Unlike text-based messages, voice messages allow us to convey subtle nuances, emotions, and intonations that might be lost in written words. The warmth of a voice can enhance meaning, foster empathy, and create a stronger connection between individuals, even when physically distant.

Personalized Communication:

In an era dominated by fast-paced digital interactions, personalized communication is often sacrificed for efficiency. However, non-real-time voice communication brings back the personal touch. With voice messages, we can tailor our tone, pace, and delivery to express our unique personality and connect with others on a deeper level. Whether it’s leaving a heartfelt birthday message or sharing a funny anecdote, the power of voice adds an element of authenticity and sincerity that written messages often struggle to match.

Multitasking and Efficiency:

One of the significant advantages of non-real-time voice communication is the ability to multitask. In a busy world where time is a precious resource, voice messages provide an avenue for productivity and efficiency. We can send voice messages while driving, cooking, or engaging in other tasks that would otherwise make real-time conversations challenging. This convenience enables us to maintain connections, communicate effectively, and share meaningful experiences, regardless of our busy schedules.

Overcoming Language Barriers:

Language barriers have long been a challenge in global communication. While translation tools have made significant strides, non-real-time voice communication offers an alternative solution. By speaking in one’s native language, individuals can effectively convey their thoughts and emotions, regardless of the recipient’s language proficiency. This creates a more inclusive and accessible environment, fostering understanding and strengthening relationships across linguistic boundaries.

Our embrace of non-real-time voice communication has ushered in a new era of convenience and meaning in digital conversations. Voice messages empower us to express ourselves authentically while overcoming language barriers and time constraints. This medium allows us to multitask, maintaining connections even in our fast-paced lives. As technology continues to advance, our reliance on voice for non-real-time interactions will likely continue to grow, enhancing the depth and quality of our digital relationships. Let us celebrate the power of voice as a tool that brings us closer together, facilitating both convenience and profound meaning in our communications.

Evolving Beyond the Contact Centre:

Embracing Omnichannel Customer Engagement

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, the way businesses interact with their customers has undergone a remarkable transformation.

Gone are the days when a “contact centre” referred solely to a physical location where customers made phone calls for support or inquiries. The advent of technology and the rise of multiple communication channels have rendered the term “contact centre” somewhat outdated. Instead, we now find ourselves in an era of omnichannel customer engagement, where businesses must adapt to effectively cater to customers across various platforms. In this blog post, we will explore the evolving nature of customer interactions and the need to embrace a more comprehensive approach to customer engagement.

Just logging on

The Expanding Horizon of Customer Engagement: 

In the past, businesses primarily relied on telephone communication to handle customer interactions. The term “contact centre” emerged to describe a centralised hub where agents managed incoming and outgoing phone calls. However, the rise of digital channels, such as email, chat, social media, and messaging apps, has expanded the scope of customer engagement beyond traditional telephony. Customers now expect seamless experiences across multiple channels, demanding prompt responses and personalized interactions.

The Limitations of the Traditional Contact Centre Model: 

The traditional contact centre model, designed primarily for voice-based interactions, falls short in meeting the demands of modern customers. Relying solely on phone calls limits the efficiency and effectiveness of customer service operations. Customers may prefer different channels based on their preferences, urgency, or the complexity of their issues. Failing to provide a cohesive and consistent experience across all channels can lead to frustration, dissatisfaction, and potentially losing customers to competitors who prioritize omnichannel engagement.

Embracing Omnichannel Customer Engagement: 

To adapt to the evolving landscape of customer interactions, businesses must embrace omnichannel customer engagement. This approach focuses on seamlessly integrating all customer touchpoints, whether through phone calls, emails, live chats, social media, or any other relevant communication channel. By doing so, companies can provide a unified and consistent experience across platforms, ensuring that customers receive the same level of support and engagement regardless of the channel they choose.

Benefits of Omnichannel Customer Engagement:

1. Enhanced Customer Experience: Omnichannel engagement allows businesses to provide a more personalized, convenient, and consistent experience to their customers. Customers can effortlessly transition between channels while maintaining the context of their interactions, leading to increased satisfaction and loyalty.
   
2. Improved Efficiency and Productivity: By leveraging the power of automation, artificial intelligence, and unified customer data, businesses can streamline their customer service processes. Agents can access comprehensive customer information across channels, enabling them to resolve issues faster, reduce handling times, and ultimately increase productivity.
   
3. Deeper Customer Insights: An omnichannel approach enables businesses to gather valuable data and insights about customer preferences, behaviours, and pain points. These insights can be leveraged to develop more targeted marketing strategies, refine products and services, and identify opportunities for improvement.
   
4. Competitive Advantage: Embracing omnichannel customer engagement is becoming increasingly crucial in a highly competitive market. Businesses that prioritize seamless interactions across channels differentiate themselves, attract and retain more customers, and build a strong brand reputation.
   

The term “contact centre” perhaps no longer encapsulates the breadth and depth of customer engagement in today’s business landscape. To meet the expectations of modern customers, companies must evolve beyond the limitations of a single-channel approach and embrace omnichannel customer engagement. By seamlessly integrating various communication channels, businesses can deliver a superior customer experience, drive efficiency, gain valuable insights, and gain a competitive edge. The future of customer engagement lies in the ability to adapt and cater to customers wherever they are, on whichever channel they prefer.

This also means that for many organisations, a shift in thinking from:

“We don’t have a contact centre”, to:

“Yes, we absolutely engage with customers across many different channels and need to embrace technology to ensure we meet the customers’ needs and expectations”.

You hired good people so let them get on with it!

As a manager or business owner, one of the biggest responsibilities you have is to assemble a team of skilled and capable employees who can work together to achieve the goals of the organization. But sometimes, as the boss, it can be tempting to micromanage and control every aspect of your team’s work. However, this can actually be counterproductive and limit the potential of your employees.

When you hire good people, it’s important to trust that they have the skills and expertise needed to do their job. By constantly checking in on them, second-guessing their decisions, and imposing unnecessary rules and restrictions, you risk sabotaging their creativity and motivation. This can lead to a decrease in productivity, disengagement, and eventually, high turnover.

So why not let your employees get on with their work and give them the space and resources they need to excel? Here are some reasons why it’s important to trust your team and let them take ownership of their work:

1. Fosters creativity and innovation: When you give your employees a sense of autonomy and ownership over their work, they are more likely to explore new ideas, take risks, and think outside the box. This can lead to innovative solutions and fresh perspectives that can help your business grow and thrive.

2. Builds trust and loyalty: By trusting your employees to do their job, you demonstrate your faith in their abilities and create a sense of mutual respect. This can build a culture of trust and loyalty that can motivate your team to go above and beyond for your company.

3. Increases job satisfaction: When employees feel like they have control over their work and are trusted to make important decisions, they are more likely to feel satisfied in their job. This can lead to higher engagement, better morale, and reduced turnover.

4. Improves productivity: Micromanaging can be a huge time-suck, taking up valuable hours and resources that could be better spent on more important tasks. By letting your employees take ownership of their work, you can free up your time to focus on bigger picture tasks and help your team become more efficient and productive.

In conclusion, hiring good people is only half the battle – you also need to give them the space and trust they need to do their job. By fostering a culture of autonomy, innovation, and mutual respect, you can build a stronger, more engaged team that is motivated to take your business to the next level. So next time you’re tempted to micromanage, remember: you hired good people, so let them get on with it! And you’re free to support the business growth 😉

Here to help you.

No one is just TOO BUSY!

We hear it all the time, don’t we, and sometimes coming from our own mouths!

But what does it actually mean?

Life can be pretty hectic, with noise all around us and demands on our time and attention like never before. The digital world can become overwhelmingly distracting, with notifications pinging incessantly on our devices.

Ultimately though, we are in much greater control than we might think. It is also true that we make time for what is important to us. Or more accurately that which we believe should be important to us. After all, there is (for most of us anyway) nothing more important than our loved ones. But do we always make time for them, or do we succumb to the pings of our other attention seekers?
I often wonder if this is a self-induced state by building our importance so that we attract way more attention than is necessary. Should we instead, be ensuring that we are setting ourselves up better for getting out of the way, and reducing our personal involvement in matters that really do not need us?

It is worth asking yourself what you are currently involved in that you could easily step away from – you may just surprise yourself and your family and friends will thank you.