Do you know your clients’ pain points? Have you walked a mile in their shoes? An analyst suggests that the process of mapping out the customer’s journey can provide critical insight into what can go wrong, and help solve problems before they arise.
Tag(s): supportworld, customer service, customer satisfaction, customer experience
Date Published April 19, 2021 - Last Updated July 26, 2021
The pandemic has called into question traditional thinking on workforce management. Here is a case for why that may be a good thing for both employees and businesses. In short, flexible scheduling may help meet the needs of surging customer demand and fill small shifts at odd hours.
Tag(s): supportworld, business of support, employee satisfaction, employee engagement
Date Published April 14, 2021 - Last Updated July 26, 2021
Every change initiative may die a silent death unless it is clearly documented and the process solves the problems your workforce faces. Here is a look at the value of clearly documenting processes, and then checking to make sure that what is written is what is being done.
Tag(s): supportworld, business of support, business alignment, IT service management, IT-business alignment
Date Published April 14, 2021 - Last Updated July 26, 2021
The best way to retain customer loyalty is to avoid complications in the customer experience. Here is a suggestion for a hands-on approach for troubleshooting potential issues that customers may have experienced, with examples of how this approach has been implemented.
Tag(s): supportworld, costs, ITSM, IT service management, business intelligence, business of support, cost models, customer service
Date Published April 6, 2021 - Last Updated December 16, 2021
Too often sales and service were siloed from each other, but that should change, says one analyst. Ivan Moore argues that we need to adapt to be more agile, and train service teams to help cross-sell after fulfilling a customer service request.
Tag(s): supportworld, costs, ITSM, IT service management, business intelligence, business of support, cost models, customer service
Date Published April 5, 2021 - Last Updated July 26, 2021
Cybercriminals are targeting small- and mid-sized businesses more often than in the past. Don’t get caught flat-footed - scope out your vulnerabilities and decide on a plan of action before trouble hits to protect your bottom line and your business’ reputation.
Tag(s): supportworld, technical support, swot analysis, shadow-it, service strategy, security management, root cause analysis, problem solving and troubleshooting
Date Published March 31, 2021 - Last Updated July 26, 2021
AITSM is a confusing name for a confusing subject, but it’s a way of thinking of which service desks can be automated and which require a human touch. A systemic approach to implementing AI can help improve the customer experience, and make your team more efficient.
Tag(s): supportworld, technical support, technology, cost per ticket, costs, ITSM, IT service management
Date Published March 29, 2021 - Last Updated December 16, 2021
Here is an argument for creating a model of advancement that favors advancing the skills of the generalist over that of creating a specialist class. This approach, if implemented correctly, can help boost team morale and smooth out the processes around customer interactions.
Tag(s): supportworld, coaching, collaboration, communications skills, diversity, employee engagement, employee satisfaction
Date Published March 29, 2021 - Last Updated July 26, 2021
Every organization needs an IT department, but many smaller orgs can’t afford the cost of the staffing necessary to meet IT needs. Some organizations are employing on-demand, outside help to augment their internal IT needs. Here is a look at the possible advantages of this approach.
Tag(s): supportworld, business value, collaboration, cloud computing, remote support tools, rightsourcing, support industry
Date Published March 23, 2021 - Last Updated December 16, 2021
Change is hard, but it is harder when there isn’t a clear understanding of what change you are wanting and what risk you are willing to accept. Here is an approach toward streamlining the risk assessment of proposed changes to bring about better results.
Tag(s): supportworld, collaboration, business intelligence, change management, configuration management
Date Published March 23, 2021 - Last Updated July 26, 2021