Contact Center Services

By Jimmy Sturo

In today's business environment, contact centers play a vital role in improving customer care relationships. They are expected to offer challenging customer care services and also retain high-value customers.

Services of a contact center can be broadly categorized into three - consulting services, implementation services, and business operations. The consulting services basically concentrate on workforce management, staffing policies and procedures, and various data management strategies. Some contact centers even provide quality assurance, process re-engineering, strategy development, and budget optimization services. They also conduct result-oriented training programs to improve the agents? performance.

By offering implementation services, the contact centers aim to create and deploy the right solutions to meet specific business objectives. Implementation preparation and management is the critical step in this phase. Once they clarify the various requirements for implementation, the contact centers plan and design an application that fully meets the objective. Installation of software solutions is their next step. Contact centers employ advanced networking and multimedia technologies to boost the productivity of existing service agents. Other implementation services include component testing at both user and system levels, and training and knowledge transfer. Finally, the contact centers hand-off the final project to the customer.

Most contact centers focus on every aspect of end-to-end business operations. Sometimes, they operate the business process on behalf of the client. They also help the clients to maximize efficiency and manage the ups and downs in business. Apart from these, the contact centers offer a wide range of inbound and outbound business services. Inbound service includes query and complaint resolution, billing and pricing information, product support, and warranty management.

Outbound services primarily focus on campaign management. As part of this, contact centers conduct loyalty programs and test drives. Telemarketing and survey and data collection are among other services.

Thus, the contact centers enhance flexibility, quality, productivity, and profitability in business.

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Customer Service Information:

Related Articles


What Every Manager Should Know About Seeing the World from Where the Customer Is Standing
It is important to remember that the customer doesn't necessarily see things in the same way we do. This point was brought home to me one day while I was shopping with my daughter, Stefanie, who was two years old at the time.
How To Keep Your Customers Coming Back -- Understanding Customer Retention
Why do some businesses offer points, stamps or every tenth coffee for free?These businesses understand that a customer retention program is a fantastic way to ensure that customers keep coming back. The most recognized customer retention programs are those loyalty programs used by retailers, but this same principal can be applied to any business that wishes to maintain a loyal customer base.
What Every Employee Should Know About Putting Positive Phrases Into Customer Service
If you were a customer on the telephone with a question or complaint and were ready to make big purchase, which of the following phrases by this employee would make you feel welcome and want to complete your transaction? Which would drive you away?* I'm sorry. I didn't get that.
The Logic of Emotion!
Homebuyers are an interesting study. Watching people make their home buying decisions has brought me to the conclusion that every decision that every one of us makes is based in emotion.
Ten Ways to Help You Improve Your Customer Service
1. Stay in contact with customers on a regular basis.
Wholesale Buyers Versus Retail Customers
Are wholesale buyers and retail customers really different? Frankly, there are two answers to this question: yes and no. Yes, because they are different from the buyers and those selling to buyers' point of view and no, because the principles that apply are the same for both types of buying.
Customer Service and The Human Experience
Historically, customer service was delivered over the phone or in person. Customers didn't have many choices, and switching to competitors was cumbersome.
Sorry, No Customer Service After 4:00 P.M.
A few months ago, I wrote about ingenious styles of customer service that every business should know about, mostly because their employees were inflicting them on their customers.For instance, I warned about "in your face customer service" and "run for cover customer service", two equally effective opposites.
Customer Service - A Lost Art?
Is customer service a lost art? Before you answer that question, take a moment and think about the last few times you have gone shopping or out to dinner. Okay, now that you have really thought about it, is your answer any different? Why is it that when we actually DO receive excellent customer service that it makes such an impression on us that we usually choose to go back? Why - because the occurrences are so few and far between!!! As a home business owner, it is imperative to my business that customer service is ALWAYS a top priority.
Everyone talks in code!
How often have you left a meeting with a customer or your boss telling yourself he likes my ideas. Only to find later that you didn't get the sale or your boss has told everyone that you are crazy.
Whats For Lunch?
As an entrepreneur, I'm always intrigued by small businesses, home-based or not, that exceed the expectations of their customers in a big way.Let me tell you about one of them.
Customer No Service - How to Lose a Loyal Customer!
So today was the day where I almost stopped going to my favorite supermarket here in Milwaukee. If you're in Milwaukee, you know the one I'm talking about: the cool one downtown that has 1000 different types of produce, and a whole aisle dedicated to gourmet coffee and teas.
Over Delivering Provides Big Results
Over promising is a problem only when you under deliver. There are a number of ways that you can overdeliver to your customers or prospects, and as a result create a win-win situation for you both.
Are You Giving Your Customers Enough Reasons To Return To Your Business?
Good customer service just isn't enough anymore in the marketplace in which we live. Times are changing and business owners are learning that they need to create such an awesome customer loyalty program that they are always at the forefront of their customers' minds on a regular basis.
All of the World of Business Is a Stage
One of the basics of acting taught to me in grade school was the important principle of "staying in character." Staying in character means holding the image and personality of the character you are assigned to portray without letting your own personality leak through.
Courting Customers - From First Date to Marriage
Landing a new client is like courting a potential spouse. The first date is usually a make or break situation and if the door is still open, the work has just begun.
How to Keep Customers
Who was it that said - "The customer is always right"? Wellfor those of you who can't get through the day withoutknowing, it was H Gordon Selfridge, the founder ofSelfridges's department store in London.The question I want answered is; did he ever work withcustomers on day-to-day basis and if so, was he some kind ofsaint?Let's face it; customers can be a real pain in the neck.
Dealing with People - Words to Avoid
You probably realise how the wrong tone of voice andnegative body language can cause problems when dealing withother people, particularly customers and staff. However,using the wrong words can also cause problems.
We Sell For Less and Our Stores Are a Mess!
What kind of image do you present when marketing your products? Are you professional and well organized or does your store/site/whatever scream, "sloppy!," to those who matter the most: your customers? Let's see how one leading retailer is winning the sales war, but losing an important battle: store organization.WalMart is dominant in so many categories with the various products that they sell.
Saying Thank You to Your Clients
"Thanking your customers" - Why you should do it and how..