In the past creating better customer service often involved rewriting scripts. In 2016, there’s a growing recognition that scripts are simply not responsive enough to meet customer demands. In fact, stilted scripts are now viewed with suspicion by many customers. After all, we live in a Web 2.0 world where seemingly everything else is customized to respond to our specific needs and interests. If web browsers can generate geared-to-searcher advertisements, why can’t a human customer service Continue reading →

Customer service positions—online, on the phone and in person—account for a large percentage of available summer jobs. While customer service positions are often assumed to be ideal for entry-level workers, this is not necessarily the case. Indeed, the assumption that new workers can be easily assigned to customer service positions presumes that customer service positions require little or no training, but  this is far from true. Customer service skills, like other work-related skills, are Continue reading →

Customer service training: just hearing the phrase sounds dull, outdated and ineffective, yet it’s not optional. Without customer service training you’re leaving yourself open to so many possible problems. With today’s Internet-driven culture, just one bad customer experience can spell disaster for your brand. Continue reading →

The Advantages of Customer Training

Customer training has many benefits, and with the rise of the availability of e-Learning and learning management systems, it’s more affordable, efficient and simple to deliver training. Customer training can be of particular importance as it pertains to companies selling software solutions. Continue reading →

In the mid twentieth century, sales staff (now more commonly known as “sales associates”) were trained to attend to customers’ individual needs and if required, to take as much time as needed to ensure their customers were finding everything.  Is such old-style customer service really a thing of the past? And if not, how can new technologies be used to support the revival of customer service excellence? Continue reading →

Trust is a pillar of good business. Indeed, building trust is one of the most important engines of business. After all, the decision to purchase a product or service is typically based on the fact that a consumer trusts the company from which he or she is making the purchase. As an example, consider the case of Volkswagen. Over the years, Volkswagen has established itself as one of the most trusted companies in the automotive sector. It has done this by creating well designed, safe and reliable vehicles under a tried and true brand with widespread popular appeal. Of course, when businesses are found to be untrustworthy (e.g., Volkswagen in the wake of the recent emissions scandal), customers quickly turn elsewhere, leaving the business in question to rebuild its reputation. Continue reading →

Prepare yourselves, because this is going to be a venting post. Whether you’re in HR, Training, Learning, or some other type of support personnel, this post is for you. I speak from experience, having spent over 20 years of my professional life in various support roles. Far too often, support personnel are expected to continually justify their own existence in the organization. In some cases, this is a good thing, as I’ve written about in terms of showing the business impact of eLearning (see eLearning as a Profit Center). But for all of you who find yourselves frustrated by that constant sense of being made to feel like you’re a drain on the organization, enjoy the venting. Continue reading →

Everyone loves a video right?

Of course, that would explain the popularity of sites like YouTube, and that popularity has led an increasing number of companies to ditch their live training demonstrations, and instead opt for videos. Videos are even easier to deliver through an eLearning system, because they can be incorporated with a variety of other tools and techniques to provide a rich, comprehensive training system.

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Is it really possible to train employees on providing top-quality customer service? We think so—look at companies like Apple. They provide extensive training to their employees, and the result is a floor staff that’s friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

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Apple is a global powerhouse—the brand is instantly associated with positive feelings from consumers around the world. A large part of that success seems to be not just their innovative products, but also their dedication to customer service.

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