How Marketers Can Achieve Omnichannel CX Success
In this guest post, Zendesk’s customer experience strategist, Malcolm Koh (pictured below) says brands need to develop an intelligent omnichannel for their customers and he offers his easy tips on how to do it…
Marketing has always been the custodian of a company’s brand and just as new technology has transformed entire organisations and business models, it has also revolutionised marketing’s role to one that defines, designs and deploys the customer experience. And that customer experience is now your brand’s thumbprint.
With today’s informed, connected and influential customers, offering multiple contact points is considered essential in the delivery of a seamless customer experience. However, there is a difference between providing support across a few channels and delivering an integrated and intelligent omnichannel support – one that offers a single view of the customer from all touchpoints, a complete record of past interactions, and the ability to adapt content as you learn more about your customer.
According to the latest Zendesk Benchmark report, an index of product usage data from 45,000 businesses in 140 countries, businesses simultaneously leveraging Zendesk for customer support across email, webform, chat, phone and self-service experienced better ROI and support experience for customers, compared to those without an integrated system.
Despite the obvious and quantifiable benefits, only 4.2 per cent of companies in the Asia Pacific region offer integrated omnichannel support. Dimension Data found nearly 70 per cent of organisations currently have none or very few channels connected, although 80 per cent plan to change this within two years. In the world of customer experience, that’s likely 729 days too long.
Marketers need to act now
Here are three ways you can start to build an intelligent omnichannel support function and gain valuable territory in the customer experience battle:
Get to know your customers
Customers have different needs and behaviours depending on the time of day, channel preferences and a host of other factors. For example, email and website forms tend to be used by customers who want a response in a timely fashion, though not necessarily instantaneously; while disgruntled customers are more likely to turn to social media to air their grievances. Phone, on the other hand, is still viewed as the fastest way to get a complicated issue resolved, with the Software Advice Survey finding that 79 per cent of respondents preferred phone support for complex financial questions.
While these trends exist, customer behaviour can never be assumed – as an example, shoppers of an online youth fashion retailer will have very different behaviours and preferences to, say, a bank. There’s no point assuming your customers want phone support only to waste an agent’s time when the lines run silent. Leverage technology to capture a single view of the customer from every touchpoint and adapt your omnichannel strategy to the who, when and how of your individual customer.
Tackle your weak spots
Do you have any self-service searches that always result in tickets? Or long phone wait times? It is important to identify your red flags, but curing your shortcomings should not be as rudimentary as hiring more agents.
An intelligent omnichannel function where every channel is integrated means you can do more with less. For example, help customers find what they’re looking for on their own by building out your self-service function. This frees up agents to focus on enquiries that truly require attention. Likewise, instead of making phone support available to every customer all of the time, potentially resulting in customers having to wait through long hold times, try using a request call model that empowers agents to escalate tickets to calls from any channel. For example, if a ticket has two touches, set up a trigger to automatically ask a customer if they want an agent to call them to resolve their issue.
By understanding your top issues and the average resolution time for each, you can identify better routing rules. This will allow you to get customers to the right agents sooner, and correctly match requests to the channels best suited for them.
Improve your live experience
The fastest growing customer support channels are live chat and social media. They outperform other support channels across key performance metrics of CSAT scores, number of re-opens, and first resolution time. More specifically, live chat and Facebook have the highest CSAT scores, fastest reply time, take fewest replies to resolve a ticket, and are the most efficient.
Phone and chat support see the lowest share of tickets get reopened, meaning customers who use those channels are much more likely to have their issues resolved on the first attempt.
As customer expectations shift toward wanting an always-on, streamlined experience across channels, live channels are essential to offering a seamless omnichannel customer experience. As you add these, remain focused on operational efficiency and ensuring channels work together for the benefit of your customers. You might explore limiting how many customers you offer live channels to at first, enabling you to work out any issues before offering real-time support to your entire customer base.
In summary, if you want to build the best customer experience, choose an intelligent omnichannel solution that is constantly responding to your customers’ needs and preferences. from a central point. At the end of the day, it will help you be the brand your customers want you to be.
Latest News
History Has Arrived: It’s The Cairns Crocodiles Inaugural Shortlist
Pen the acceptance speech and ready your best thongs and muumuu, because the Cairns Crocodiles shortlist has arrived.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation Partners With VML To Boost Funds
Today the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and VML announce their partnership in Australia. Together they will create a future-focussed, connected marketing and customer experience strategy that will propel the not-for-profit’s ability to raise funds and continue to invest in world-class research towards their vision of Zero Deaths from breast cancer. The team will develop […]
Perry ‘Pez’ Lazaris Named New National Hit Network Announcer
The Hit Network has announced Perry ‘Pez’ Lazaris will be taking over the Hit Network’s regional Afternoon shift from Monday, 6 May. Pez knows a thing or two about radio with a career spanning over 15 years, working in Townsville, Adelaide, Western Australia and most recently, Newcastle. Now, Pez will take over the national regional […]
Before Adland: Garry Dawson’s Journey From Teacher To Marketer
Many know Garry Dawson as the prolific marketing manager behind the Hopeful Monsters team, but the story many don’t know is how a chance encounter at a local cafe just three years ago changed the trajectory of his entire life. Having worked as a teacher for six years at this point, Dawson was preparing a […]
Scott Cam Urges Tradies To Prioritise Sun Protection
New research from SafetyCulture has shed some light on the number of Aussies working outside without proper sun protection. The survey of more than 1,000 Aussie outdoor workers, which included the likes of tradies, landscapers, and road workers, revealed that almost all (93 per cent) are concerned about the long-term effects of working in the sun. […]
PubMatic Study: Advertising On Retail Media Is 50% More Effective Than Social Media
PubMatic has released a new study examining the influence of digital media on shopper behaviour at the top and bottom of the funnel. The research found that retail websites are approximately 50 per cent more effective at driving a response from shoppers than social media. Commissioned by Inside Retail and conducted by PubMatic, 500 Australian […]
From MOWING to life GROWING: Jim Penman launches ‘Life Coaching’ services
Jim Penman, founder of the Jim’s Group, has officially launched Jim’s Life Coaching and intends to help millions of Australians live their best life. “Life coaching is a powerful and effective way to achieve success in business and personal life. It helps people to set their own goals, and then work out how to get there. It has […]
Budweiser Brazil Turns Songs That Name Drop The Iconic Brand Into Spotify Ads
Budweiser has created a new way of advertising on Spotify to ensure that ads don’t ruin the vibe of your favourite playlists. UninterruptAds: a pioneering initiative, converts songs that mention the brand’s name into targeted ads within the platform in Brazil. When the Brazilian team identified that their name is present in more than 500 tracks […]
Effie Worldwide Strengthens Board With 6 New Members
Effie Worldwide, has announced six new members to their Worldwide Board of Directors, alongside three new co-chairs of the Future Council; a powerful injection of fresh talent as the organization evolves across all its programs to expand its mission to champion marketing effectiveness. The Effie Board contributes to the non-profit’s mission to champion effectiveness through […]
Special Enlist A Penguin Named Nigel In Latest Energy Campaign For Contact
After introducing “Flatties” a couple of weeks ago, Contact and Special have now enlisted the help of rule-stickler penguin Nigel to motivate all Kiwis to reduce their energy consumption during peak hours. Contact is investing heavily in creating more renewable energy sources to lead the way in decarbonising New Zealand, but to make an even […]
Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth & George Miller Ignite Sydney For Epic Mad Max Launch
The global promotional tour for Universal’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the much-anticipated return to the iconic dystopian world Academy Award-winning mastermind George Miller created 45 years ago, kicked off in epic fashion in Sydney yesterday. Anya Taylor-Joy returned to Australia, joining Chris Hemsworth, George Miller and producer Doug Mitchell at a fiery media call […]
IAS Launches First-To-Market Integration With Roblox To Provide 3D Immersive Measurement
Integral Ad Science, a global media measurement and optimization platform, today announced a market integration with Roblox, a global immersive platform for connection and communication. Available for advertising campaigns on Roblox later this year, IAS’s Viewability and Invalid Traffic (IVT) Measurement products will provide advertisers increased transparency into the quality of their Immersive Ads within […]
Fast And Furious: Top Gear Australia Launch Thrilled Motorheads, Car Entusiasts And Guests
B&T is still no closer to knowing who the new Stig is, except that she is a woman and a ridiculously fast.
TV Ratings (02/05/2024): Seven’s The 1% Club Wins The Night
The 1% club did not live up to its name when it comes to TV ratings last night.
TRA Welcomes Raft Of New Hires; Bolstering Expertise Across Markets
Insights and research agency TRA announces slew of new hires. Still no news on the return of marble wash denim, however.
CX Lavender Hires Boston Consulting Group’s Kim Verbrugghe as Chief Strategy Officer
CX Lavender announces new strategy hire and channels 'acoustic folk act at local RSL' for the publicity pic.
Opinion: Community standards, will they be the death of us?
This columnist is talking community standards. Sadly not those people who put dogs in trolleys in supermarkets.
Tegel gets heads bobbing with new free-range chicken platform
Sure, there's a lot of moral considerations when buying a chook. Yet, not as baffling as buying eggs or canned tuna.
Study: 66% of Aussie men believe masculinity is under attack
Two-thirds of Aussie blokes say masculinity's under attack. That said, sales of Solo lemon drink appear robust.
‘Equal Writes’: Canyon reveals new campaign and refreshed brand for women and non-binary writers
As this brand redesign again proves, nothing beats black on white. Well, white on black in this instance.
Icon Agency bolsters consumer and integrated offer with major hires
Icon Agency unveils new recruits. As press photo confirms office moustache competition now a lay-down misère.
Clemenger launches agricultural graduate program
Has Farmer Wants A Wife triggered an interest in dagging & hay balers? This grads program may resonate.
Levi’s Appoint UM As Global Media Agency For $217m Account
Levi's are the jeans for rockstars, models & the cool kids. Although that's not stopped dads from ruining their image.
QMS Nabs Sean Rigby From oOh!media
Things set to get spicy at the next Outdoor Media Association dinner and dance as a rival gets poached.
Bumble Reveals New Brand Identity To Usher In New Era Of Dating
It's ironic that all the dating apps market themselves as having no weirdos, freaks or mummy's boys like their rivals.
Stay In The House From Up! Airbnb Introduces Icons
Airbnb is now letting people stay in "iconic" places that sadly doesn't include the house from Silence Of The Lambs.
Changing The Conversation: The Role Of Media In Ending Violence Against Women
Governments are finally waking up to the DV crisis. Here, B&T chats with Jasmin Bedir on the role media can play.
“If You Want To Listen To Something Else, Go For It”: Fifi Box On Blocking Out The Noise & Focussing On What Works
No one is at the coal face of Melbourne radio like Fifi Box. Here, she chats with B&T without coughing up a lung.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Ferrari Signs Landmark New Title Sponsor
B&T continuing our series on sports sponsorships. And, yet again, there's little good news for the ten pin bowlers.
Choose A Path Less Trodden This Cannes In Cairns
Not since Wonka opened the factory has there been such a hot ticket in town. Here's how to make the most of Cairns.
Cannes In Cairns MC Keeva Stratton Shares Her Top Session Picks
Quip boss calls out her highlights of the Cannes agenda. We're assuming B&T staff b-boy demonstration was an oversight.
Here Are The Agencies That Made AFR’s Best Places To Work List And What The Industry Can Learn From Them
Did your office not make the list? Make sure your boss shouts at least two schooners at office drinks come Friday.
Get Ready, B&T’s Best Of The Best Is Back With The Top Holding Company Executive Leaders – Creative!
Want to know who the Grandest of the Grand Poobahs in the industry are? Look no further than this exhaustive list.
How A Glittering Campaign Helped The Australian Museum Sell 400,000 Tickets
B&T thoroughly enjoyed the Ramses exhibition at The Australian Museum, despite thinking we were going to the Archibald.
TV Ratings (30/04/2024): A “Shoey” Straight From A Fish’s Mouth Launches The Cheap Seats Into 2024
Last night's TV saw horny farmers beat Lego nerds, who beat fame-obsessed home cooks, who beat a chap with a large fish.
Spotlight Extends Partnership With Starlight Children’s Foundation
B&T always happy to promote the excellent work of the Starlight Foundation. Less so the Starfish Fanciers Foundation.