Categories
Call Center

Customer Since 1978

By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD

It was an emotional moment for me. After proudly carrying and using a Shell gasoline credit card for more than 20 years, I had just canceled it and was in the process of cutting it up. Not that I was angry or upset with Shell, but it no longer made sense to carry their card. You see, Shell, in conjunction with Chase Manhattan, had launched the Shell Master Card.

If I used it for my Shell gasoline purchases, I would receive five percent off my fuel expenditures on my next statement. For all non-gas purchases, I would earn a one percent rebate on future gasoline. Therefore, I could use the card for more than just gas and get discounts, too. In comparison, my old trusty Shell gas card was an absolute antique. The only practical thing to do was to cancel it.

Author Peter Lyle DeHaan

How did this long-term relationship with Shell start? It was 1978. I was attending electronics school and found myself changing jobs often and moving just about as frequently. During one such transition of both employment and abode, I found myself on the other side of town, far away from the gas stations whose credit card I carried. However, there was a Shell station around the corner from my ramshackle apartment, one down the street from the TV station where I worked, and another next door to the school I was attending. Add to this a gas shortage, skyrocketing prices, and Shell’s tendency to not only have gas, but to be one of the less expensive options. This led to an easy decision to get a Shell credit card. It all began due to practicality, convenience, and frugality.

Of course, it wasn’t long before I finished school, got a “real” job, and moved again. To my delight, there were Shell gas stations both near the office and close to my new home. Soon thereafter, I married and it was a simple matter to order a second card for my wife. In the years that followed, through job changes and relocations, there always seemed to be a Shell gas station nearby. A habit was formed. By then, even at times when Shell didn’t have the lowest prices, little thought was given to going somewhere else. (This is a lesson for anyone selling a commodity product or service: availability, convenience, and consistency produce long-term customers.)

Fast-forward to a couple of years ago when the Shell Master Card was introduced. At first, I viewed their offer with skepticism, but there didn’t seem to be a downside. I could continue my Shell gasoline habit, reduce my overall gas costs, and have a more versatile card. We applied for the card and begin using it immediately. Even so, I anxiously awaited the first statement, worried about a hidden snag or unanticipated caveat. None appeared, just my rebate to be applied to next month’s gas charges. Still the cynic, I cautiously anticipated my second statement. Was there some fine print to let them wiggle away from the result I expected? No. The rebate occurred exactly as indicated and for the amount promised.

Even so, my old Shell card remained in my wallet – just in case. Finally, after a year of non-use, I realized the time had come to throw aside any emotional connection to my long-term companion. It was time to cancel the card. I glanced one last time at the words I had grown to delight in – “customer since 1978” – and cut the card into pieces.

Soon the Shell Master Card was used for all our household purchases and the ensuing rebates grew. Things went well for quite some time. Then a surprise came on our statement, a $29 late fee. My wife, Candy, called Chase Manhattan to inquire. Since our payment history was stellar and Candy can be most persuasive, it was a trivial matter to get the charge removed. We were admonished to mail the payment earlier in order to avoid future late fees.

The next month, Candy mailed our payment five days before the due date. Again, another $29 late fee appeared. This time she called to complain. “We don’t care when you mailed your payment nor do we consider the postmark,” came the arrogant reply. “We only look at the date we post your payment.” Apparently, this was a change in their policy. Plus it seemed a bit despotic, especially considering that our payment was applied eight days after it was mailed. “But we have no control over when you process our check,” Candy countered. The agent’s response was quick and terse, “We always post payments on the day they are received.” No amount of pleading or cajoling could get the late fee removed a second time. The complaint was escalated and soon the only remaining recourse was to submit our concern in writing.

Our letter of complaint was submitted as instructed and a series of automated written responses from Chase Manhattan followed. The last one promised the company would “notify (us) of our findings as soon as they become available.” That was nine months ago. There have been no further communications from them about this matter.

Since the late fees were exceeding our rebates, we stopped using the Shell Master Card and begin buying our gasoline using an existing Visa card. This afforded us a new level of flexibility since there was no longer any need to continue our routine of looking for a Shell sign. We could also shop for the lowest-priced gas. (When we used the Shell Master Card, the rebate would more than offset any higher price we paid for their gas.)  It soon got to the point that we were seldom going to Shell.

Over the past 24 years, I estimate that we have spent about $20,000 on Shell gas. Assuming that our future gas consumption will remain constant and projecting that prices will increase, we could likely spend another $30,000 on gasoline in our lifetimes. In line with this projection, a $50,000 lifetime customer and $30,000 in future business was lost due to a $29 late fee and the policies supporting it.

What are the conclusions we can draw from this experience?

The first is to be careful in pursuing strategic alliances. Yes, this is a business trend and, when properly done, it is a great way to retain clients and obtain new ones. I am sure that Shell saw these benefits, which is why they formed a relationship with Chase. The failure in their strategy is that they relinquished interaction with their patrons to Chase. Chase did not view me as a $20,000 customer or foresee a $50,000 lifetime value; they likely saw me only as an unprofitable credit card holder (since we always pay the entire balance each month and, until the end of our relationship, continually paid on time). Hence, when forming any kind of marketing, cross-promotion, or reciprocal business relationship, make sure you retain control over your clients; don’t leave such a critical element to someone else.

The second lesson is about policies. Certainly Chase’s policy to track late fees and interest charges by the date posted is practical and easy to follow (as well as being self-serving), but is it fair? Care must always be given to ensure that policies and procedures balance the needs of the company with the best interests of the client.

Lastly, consider your staff. The agents Candy talked to did not have the latitude to credit a late fee more than one time. Apparently, their supervisors didn’t either, nor did the managers. Yes, there is a place for rules and policies, but to make them absolute and intractable, unfairly handicaps agents and can ruin client relationships. The last words that a frustrated client or caller wants to hear are, “It’s our policy,” or “I can’t do that.”

Because of these problems, caused by a partner company, Shell, through no direct fault of its own, has lost me as an exclusive customer and has encouraged me to spend money with its competitors.

[Postscript: We have just received a notice from Chase stating in part, “Shell will no longer be participating with Chase in a credit card program.” Do you think that perhaps Shell has realized what I’ve just pointed out?]

Read more in Peter’s Sticky Series books: Sticky Leadership and Management, Sticky Sales and Marketing, and Sticky Customer Service featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Connections Magazine, covering the call center teleservices industry. Read his latest book, Healthcare Call Center Essentials.

Categories
Call Center

Shoot the Puck

By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD

It’s only been a few years that I have been following the sport of hockey. Before that, a myriad of other athletic diversions captured my attention. As a youngster, I did what many of my peers did and played Little League baseball. Not that I was good at it or particularly enjoyed it. In fact, after four years of mostly sitting on the bench or chasing an occasional stray ball in right field, I realized that I wasn’t having much fun. I was merely playing the game because I assumed that was what a kid was supposed to do. My attempts to play baseball did, however, lead to watching the big leagues on TV. In fifth grade, my teacher, a fanatic fan of the Detroit Tigers, planned our school day around the playoff schedule so that she – I mean “we” – could listen to the games during study time. The Tigers won the series and I was won over, becoming a devotee. I faithfully followed the Tigers until their next World Series in 1984.

Author Peter Lyle DeHaan

Shortly thereafter, I moved to Wisconsin. It was hard to be a Tiger fan in Wisconsin; in fact, in was hard to be a baseball fan in the shadow of the state’s beloved Green Bay Packers. In a place where being a “cheese head” is a compliment (note to the uninformed: “cheese head” is the proudly self-proclaimed moniker of the die-hard Packer fanatic) I soon adopted the Packers as “my” team. Although my tenure in the dairy state was short-lived, I continued to be a loyal Packer backer after returning to Michigan.

But it was hard for me to get back into baseball. The player strikes, lockouts, excessive hype, and salary escalations distanced me from the game and left me increasingly ambivalent. Disenfranchised with baseball, I segued to basketball. Although I closely followed the college tournament during March Madness, it was not the defensive prowess of college hoops to which I was endeared, but the faster-paced, higher-scoring professional games. But, then, as the showmanship became excessive, I began to seek alternatives.

Throughout these meanderings as an athletic couch potato, hockey was a sport that I viewed as anomalous. I treated it with disdain. It seemed to me that the only activity was skating back and forth, with few scoring opportunities and even fewer goals.  I just didn’t get it.

When my son, Dan, began following hockey, I didn’t immediately share in his interest and enthusiasm. To my dismay, he one day asked me to watch the game with him. Inwardly I groaned, but outwardly I agreed, because that’s what parents do for their kids. He made popcorn (okay, so maybe it wasn’t going to be so bad after all) and we plopped down in front of the tube. I watched the play move back and forth, right to left and then left to right. Soon the popcorn was gone, but the players kept up their incomprehensible dance with the puck. My eyes grew weary as one more journey up the ice began. Suddenly, Dan became excited. He jumped to his feet and exclaimed, “Watch this!” as the puck was guided past the blue line. To me it looked like the same play I had already seen a hundred times during that game. “They’re going to score!” he gleefully and confidently predicted. The announcers, too, amplified the tone of their play-by-play as they sensed that something important was about to happen. Play proceeded across the red line, then a pass and a slap shot, followed by total bedlam and an energetic high-five from my son. On the second replay, I, too, saw the puck go in the net.

I stared at my son in disbelief. “How did you know?” I stammered in amazement. “Come on, Dad, you could tell it was going to happen as soon as he got the puck,” Dan replied with incredulity. Obviously, there was more to this game than I could see. I began asking questions and for the first time in our relationship, the roles reversed and my son became the teacher. I was astonished with how much he knew and the subtleties he comprehended. Under his tutelage, my understanding of the sport grew and with it, my interest and appreciation followed. Over time, I learned about a one-timer, the five hole, power plays, a two-pad slide, and the poke check.

Soon, watching the Red Wings become one of our favorite father-son activities. Last year it was our delight to cheer the Wings throughout the session, into the playoffs, and to the Stanley Cup. During one game in that phenomenal year, we watched an uncharacteristically unproductive power play wind down. “Shoot the puck,” I earnestly implored the Detroit offense. “They didn’t have any good scoring opportunities,” Dan responded with matter-of-fact calmness.

“But they can’t score if they don’t shoot the puck,” I retorted. Dan paused and gave me a quick glance, followed by a brief look of comprehension before his attention was recaptured by the game. Perhaps I had blurted something profound. After all, it did make sense that if you don’t take a shot, you can’t score.

Regardless whether the sport is hockey, baseball, football, or basketball, playing it safe isn’t going to win too many games and is certainly not what championship teams are made of. How many times have you watched a team build a commanding lead, only to lose the game as a result of becoming tentative and mechanical as they tried to protect their lead rather than build upon it?

This example extends to business. While extreme, make-or-break risk taking is generally not advisable, tentatively protecting what you have built up will not position you to take advantage of new opportunities that present themselves. You could even squander what you have. Yes, many of your shots may miss the mark, but some will be on target. And those that are will keep you moving forward and propel you to the next level.

The same is true in life. If you expect to coast through your time on this earth, hoping that everything will work out, you will end up sad and disappointed. Intentional and deliberate action is what is needed to reach your potential and become the person you are capable of being. I once saw a poster of a large turtle. The caption read, “Behold the turtle; he only makes progress when he sticks out his neck.”

Whether it’s hockey, business, or life, you can’t score if you don’t shoot the puck.

Read more in Peter’s Sticky Series books: Sticky Leadership and Management, Sticky Sales and Marketing, and Sticky Customer Service featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Connections Magazine, covering the call center teleservices industry. Read his latest book, Healthcare Call Center Essentials.

Categories
Call Center

A Milestone

By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD

At the risk of appearing self-congratulatory, this issue marks my first anniversary at the helm of Connections Magazine. Normally, I would let such an event go by without fanfare, however, since so many readers have taken the time to ask, “How are things going?”

Author Peter Lyle DeHaan

I think it is appropriate to update you on the status of the magazine. Some of these inquirers seemed to be concerned about me personally, as if to say, “Are you happy you bought Connections?” or “Is this working out for you?”

Others, realizing the unique position and role of Connections in the industry, appeared to be seeking assurances of its continued survival.

First, let me say that Connections is healthy and on track to meet our business goals and objectives for the year. This is due to the support of our loyal advertisers, faithful readers, generous authors, and the strength of a professional publishing team that pulls it all together. To all of you, a hearty “thank you!”

When I bought Connections Magazine last year, I did not know print media advertising was in the middle of a severe slump nor that many magazines had ceased publication. In fact, in 2001, more than 100 magazines printed their last issue due to falling advertising revenues.

Also, when I signed the purchase paperwork last year, on September 10, I had no way of knowing that our world would soon be forever changed. The next day, terrorists commandeered passenger planes, as missiles, to attack the United States.

I spent the rest of that week not giving much attention to my new business, but rather drawn, in shell-shocked numbness, to the unfolding events on my television screen. The following week, I was convinced that my best and most patriotic response would be to attempt to return to normal life.

Therefore, I tried to refocus my attention on business in general and on Connections specifically. I soon learned that our advertisers, already skittish about the economy and worrying about their own sales numbers, now had the added concern of how this act of terrorism would affect them.

At the same time, they wondered whether the new guy at Connections could maintain the publication or would end up ruining it. As a result, advertising revenue for our first issue was off nearly 20 percent. It was not an affirming initiation for me.

Fortunately, with one successful issue under our belt, advertising rebounded for the following issue. Within two issues, we were back on track – our advertising revenue had returned to pre-Sept. 11-levels.

The feedback from readers was overwhelmingly positive and encouraging. I am still deeply touched by all of the notes and words of encouragement and support I received, especially during those first few nerve-racking months. It was and continues to be both affirming and inspiring.

As a business manager, one of my strengths is ongoing optimization, incrementally tweaking something to make it better with each iteration. That is exactly what my goal has been with every issue of Connections Magazine.

Based on your feedback, it seems that we have been successful in that effort. My pledge is to continue to focus on that objective in order to make Connections the best possible tool and resource for the teleservices industry.

I am also effective at innovation, thinking outside the proverbial box. This, however, does not come as easily for me and requires a bit more focus.

Nevertheless, new initiatives have occurred. More content has been added to the magazine, the website expanded, and fresh new services offered (such as the client newsletter, the outbound list serve, and the telemessaging locator site – see the sidebar for more information).

One area that is not a personal strength is original creativity and pure entrepreneurialism. I never would have tried to start a magazine from scratch. It is only because of the strong platform and sound legacy provided by Steve Michaels, the magazine’s founder, and the team at TAS Marketing, that we have been able to do what we have done. Steve, Chris, and Wilma from TAS Marketing served as consultants and more importantly as mentors during the initial issues.

Even now, Steve continues to provide much-appreciated advice and feedback. (To answer another frequently asked question: Steve has not retried; he and TAS Marketing continue to be active in the industry as business brokers and facilitating the sale of used equipment.)  I have been privileged to receive many compliments on the changes to Connections over the past year.

As I respond with heartfelt thanks and gratitude, I am quick to realize and point out that I am merely building upon the foundation already established. As the saying goes, one man plants, and another waters. I am simply tending to the crop that Steve Michaels planted. As a result, we have seen our advertising base stabilize and the print publication and our website grow.

Since its inception, Connections has been a bimonthly publication. I have received numerous suggestions and requests that it be published monthly. This is a huge undertaking as doing so causes production cycles to overlap. This means that you must begin working on the next issue before the current one is done.

Even so, in April, we took our first step towards that by publishing a special ATSI Convention issue. In December, we will present you with our first annual Buyer’s Guide. So, in addition to our normal six issues, this will make a total of eight for 2002. Next year, we plan to do 10 issues (monthly, except for combined issues in January/February and July/August). Will we ever go to 12? I do not know; 10 seems like a good number for now.

Although I have been writing for various publications for more than 20 years, I did not know too much about the publishing industry as a whole (and I still have much to learn). Interestingly, my lack of knowledge has been beneficial. I was not influenced by “standard operating procedure” nor discouraged by believing that “it can’t be done.”  

Without the shackles of conventional publishing wisdom and historical tradition, I have been free to be pragmatic and contemplative about how Connections is managed and produced. Indeed this has allowed us to be a lean organization with low overhead. We can keep costs down, while improving quality.

That is not to imply that we publish a perfect magazine. We still make typos, do not always cover things as well as we could, and definitely feel the pressure of “crunch time” as the deadline for each issue draws near.

However, with a great team leading the way, our loyal advertisers behind us, and you, our readers, faithfully cheering us on, we will continue to strive to make Connections better and better.

Read more in Peter’s Sticky Series books: Sticky Leadership and Management, Sticky Sales and Marketing, and Sticky Customer Service featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Connections Magazine, covering the call center teleservices industry. Read his latest book, Healthcare Call Center Essentials.

Categories
Call Center

Strategic Call Distribution

By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD

I will admit it – I have a propensity towards idealism. I think that life should be fair and that everyone, regardless of position or past, ought to be granted equality of opportunity. This perspective causes me to advocate impartiality when distributing calls in the call center, with each call handled in the order in which it was received, without distinction of origin or pre-determined importance. However, it seems that few teleservices companies concur with this conclusion; in fact, pragmatism and reality dictate a different course of action.

Author Peter Lyle DeHaan

The first deviation is often to give primacy to sales calls, client check-in lines, or the main company number. After all, the speed and efficiency at which these calls are handled will form the callers’ perception of the level of service provided. It is this perception that attracts new business and retain existing clients, thereby influencing the bottom line.

The second departure from call equality is also self-imposed, whereby certain account groups are deemed more important than others. Although the determining factors vary – client profession, caller urgency, dollar value of the call, or type of service provided – the results are a definite segregation of callers into a tiered call-distribution scheme. Though this is a natural development, there is little merit for doing so and it should be abandoned.

A third divergence is more insidious. This results from a natural reaction to the “squeaky wheel” syndrome. It is when the chronic complainers and those who are excessively demanding are given a higher call priority in order to appease their sense of self-worth or to mitigate their criticisms about the service level. This is the most ominous departure from ideal call-distribution – and most self-defeating. Examine the clients in this category. We have already defined them to be overly critical and implied them to be frequent users – and abusers – of customer service resources. Now dig a bit further. How do these clients treat your staff? Are they pleasant and a joy to talk to or do they challenge, threaten, and denigrate your agents with each interaction and at every opportunity? Are these the clients who take the joy out of your employee’s work and have the ability to reduce staff to tears? I suspect that this might be the case. If this is not enough, now look at their profitability level. If they badger both the customer service staff and the agent, they are likely treating accounting the same way, extracting credits, discounts, and other monetary concessions under the pretext of “poor service.” The conclusion is inescapable: these clients are given the highest level of service, treat your staff the worst, and are unprofitable! This is masochistic behavior; stop the madness!

I propose – in partial jest but with thought-provoking seriousness – that a different model be considered. If one must deviate from the idealism of universal call-distribution, do so with thoughtful analysis and self-serving diligence. First, implement call-distribution based on profitability. Perform a profitability analysis, dividing clients into five groups relative to your average revenue per minute. The top group is those clients whose revenue per minute is twice the average. This makes sense; you make a nice profit with every call you answer, so respond quickly and give it your best. Keep this group happy and retain them as clients. The second group will be those clients whose revenue per minute is 1.25 to two times your average. This, too, is an important group, which deserves prompt attention and above average service. The middle group will be those at the average revenue per minute and up to 1.25 times. This is the average group and they deserve – and pay for – average service. Although these three groups should include the majority of your client base, they will likely not comprise the majority of your traffic. Divide the remaining clients into two groups according to profitability. The exact cut-off point will be a result of how diligent you have been in attempting to make every client profitable. For the sake of example, assume that the fourth group will comprise those who are between seventy-five percent of the average and the average. Then the lowest call priority will be given to those with revenues per minute of under seventy-five percent of the average. Why not give these accounts the lowest priority? After all, it could be argued – on a micro level – that you lose money every time you answer their line! (On a macro level, it can conversely be argued that these accounts necessarily contribute to the overhead and the economies-of-scale of your organization.)

What I have advocated is likely a reversal of your current call-distribution configuration, thinking logically and tactically instead of being reactionary. Imagine if you will, handling yet another customer service call from a frequent complainer. “You took too long to answer my line,” the client asserts. “You are on our ‘economy’ rate plan,” you respond politely, “so your call is given a lower priority. You are getting exactly what you are paying for…now for an extra twenty-five cents a minute…”

If that sounds like fun, as well as being a good business strategy, take the concept to the next level. In the preceding discourse, I proposed five levels of service. Now expand that to eleven levels by inserting a grade between each of the original ones and by adding one at the very top and one beneath the lowest. The clients are still in the original five levels, but there is now a graduated step in between for fine-tuning. First, survey your staff. Which clients do they like and which cause undo consternation? For the nice clients – those who are kind and pleasant, who drop off a gift at Christmas, who treat your staff with dignity and respect – move them up one level in the call-distribution hierarchy. After all, these clients make your staff happy and a happy staff is an effective staff. Conversely, those clients cited for their undesirable characteristics – the ones your staff are afraid to talk to – move them down a notch. The clients will still be essentially ranked by profitability, but fine-tuned based on staff interactions.

Next, make a return visit to accounting. Look at payment history. Some clients will consistently remit payment soon after getting your invoice. Many will pay by the due date. Some will habitually stretch your terms out to 45 or 60 days and a small minority require an ongoing collection effort. Again, modify your call handling priorities based on payment history. Those who pay immediately are moved up one level; those who pay late, move down a notch. But those who present a constant challenge to collect, move down two steps. After all, it is likely that eventually they will leave you with an uncollectable debt, so why not give others a higher priority?

If this discussion has you excited – wonderful! If your mind is churning with revolutionary ideas to change client call handling priorities – great! However, do not attempt to implement these radical changes all at once, or even too quickly. The shock to your client base would be more than they – or your business – can tolerate. Rather, begin to think strategically about call-distribution, making small, incremental steps to prioritizing calls in the best interest of your organization; the change will be extraordinary.

Read more in Peter’s Sticky Series books: Sticky Leadership and Management, Sticky Sales and Marketing, and Sticky Customer Service featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Connections Magazine, covering the call center teleservices industry. Read his latest book, Healthcare Call Center Essentials.

Categories
Call Center

Where Can the Information Superhighway Take You?

By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD

Some embrace it, others spurn it, but most would agree that the Internet is part of everyday life today – and it is here to stay. Of course, some people will never use the Internet, but then there are still those who do not have a telephone or own a television!

Author Peter Lyle DeHaan

The Internet is a big part of Connections Magazine, too. In the past nine months, not a single letter to the editor has arrived via “snail mail”; all have arrived through cyberspace.

We now only accept press releases and articles in digital form and though these could be put on a disk and mailed, all contributors elect to simply email their copy. Though the telephone takes the lead in communicating with advertisers, email is an essential secondary channel.

Ad copy needs to be in digital form and even the layout and design proofs are transferred over the Internet. Last and not least, all articles and other relevant industry information are on our website which is updated every couple of days.

Yes, for a traditional business – print media – the Internet is playing an increasingly bigger and profoundly more critical role.

In the same manner, the Internet is – or should be – transforming your business. Are you a leader, a follower, or a naysayer? In what ways can you use the Internet to achieve greater success?

First, you can use the Internet to keep closer to and better serve your clients. Second, you can supply innovation and services that your competitors are not – or at least have the ability to match competitive offerings. Third, you can reduce costs and overhead, thereby increasing profitability. And fourth, you can open up new lines of business.

Jim Esser, Product Manager at Amtelco, helps put the importance of being Internet-ready into perspective, “Anyone who has asked questions or done business on the Internet recognizes that…eBusinesses aren’t equipped to provide their eProspects and eCustomers with the information and responsiveness that they need. It is not at all uncommon to wait days or perhaps never even get answers to questions asked on a eBusiness website.” This is the essence of opportunity that is presented to the teleservices industry. It is up to us to make the most of this occasion.

Many vendors in the teleservices industry share this perspective and aggressively work to offer innovative and groundbreaking services, features, and options capitalizing on the acceptance, popularity, and ubiquity of the Internet.

These initiatives fall into five areas: agent tools, message dissemination, client control, remote access, and hosted services. Additionally, a few innovations defy categorization. Also, do not overlook the importance of having your own website as a critical part of your Internet initiative.

Agent Tools

Agent tools are services and capabilities afforded by the Internet to facilitate agent productivity, enhance quality, or increase efficacy.

Web Pop: A common implementation is the venerable screen pop to a website. For this application, a client’s URL (Web address) is preprogrammed into their account. With the touch of a key or two, the agent can access the site and enter call data or access client information. Although this can occur from a separate PC browser, it is often accomplished from within the call-processing application. Amtelco’s ePop is a prime example.

AccuCall’s Weblink provides a Web pop when a call is answered. The Web page can be viewed in either a window or full page on the account screen. One Weblink per account page means that up to 999 different Web pages per account can be accessed. Weblink also provides for the ability to access third party Web chat and appointment scheduling packages. Alston Tascom, AccuCall (CadCom), Startel, and other platforms can also pop Web pages.

In addition to accessing a client’s website, other valuable resources can be queried. These include tracking a caller’s shipping status from the delivery company’s website, accessing any one of the useful phone number lookup or reverse lookup site, and consulting a area code directory.

Szeto Technologies’, Call Linx platform can access a centralized database that is shared between the call center and its client so that the client can access the same database, through Internet, as is used by the call center’s agents. One common application is appointment scheduling. In fact, any database accessible on the Internet can be used by any platform that provides Web pop capability.

Instant Messaging: Instant messaging (IM) is another business tool of growing popularity. It can be used for intra-company communications for short messages or to broadcast urgent communiqués and even for interaction with key clients. At this time, the integration of IM into the call center is a homegrown implementation; no vendors surveyed offered it as part of their software package – yet.

Web Channels: Other services focus on alternate communication channels, such as integrated text chat, callback, and talk-to-me services. Each of the three provides ancillary means of communication, all from a client’s website. Coupled with this is the ability to “push” Web pages to the caller/surfer.

Amtelco’s eCallBack feature lets clients place an icon on their websites that allows a person who is browsing the site, and has more questions, to enter a telephone number and preferred time to receive a call (either right away or at a later time).

The Infinity system receives this request and then schedules that call and at the appropriate time delivers the request to an agent who can call the inquirer. Coupled with the ePush option from Amtelco’s Infinity, agents can access the list of Web pages that can be ‘pushed’ from a pre-programmed inventory of pages for the client. In similar fashion, the Tascom and Startel system can also handle Web callback.

For text chat, pre-written responses to common questions can be quickly pasted into the text window, allowing for ultra-fast response times. Amtelco’s eChat also allows clients to place icons on the Web page, which, when clicked on, opens a two-way, interactive text chat session with an Infinity agent. (The Infinity system distributes the text chat sessions to agents using its regular call distribution rules.)  A text chat can be used to give additional information to a person on the client’s website.

AccuCall’s Weblink provides for the ability to access third party Web chat and appointment scheduling websites. Whereas Alston Tascom provides for text chat capability within the Tascom system, allowing agents to engage in free-flow text chats and to add pre-programmed text responses for each client account. Agents can engage in multiple text chat sessions simultaneously if desired.

Email: Lastly is “email answering service.” The vision of email answering service is to be able to accomplish everything with an email message that can currently be done with a phone call: capture data, give out information, covert it into another form (an alpha-page, fax, or voice mail message), or redirect it to another destination.

Amtelco does this using eResponse. It is an Infinity feature that can ‘poll’ a client’s email server for messages, download them into Infinity, and then distribute them to agents as specified by call distribution. The agent can answer the email, either manually or with pre-written responses, or forward the email to another person. Also, eResponse can be used to place a client’s email into an Infinity message ticket to be dispatched as a fax or alpha page or to be recorded into voice mail.

For text chat, call-back, talk-to-me, and email answering service, though each can be independently implemented, it is critical for them to be fully integrated into a holistic message queue that manages all messages, regardless of source or form, in a unified and equitable call distribution.

Message Dissemination

Email: The Internet provides several alternate message dissemination options. Email is, of course, the premier means, quickly rising to “must have” status for the serious teleservice provider in order for them to remain competitive and viable.

Most current teleservice platforms have the means to send messages and orders to clients via email, including Amtelco’s Infinity, CadCom’s AccuCall, Alston Tascom, and Szeto Technologies’ Call Linx. AccuCall messages can also be exported in ASCII, comma delimited, and Excel formats.

In other implementations, an external message server can be utilized. The venerable FMDS system from Professional Teledata is one such system. Using a standard message communication protocol, FMDS allows most systems to provide the capability to email (as well as fax) messages to clients.

The Axon 8000 is one such system. Additionally, the Axon/FMDS interface is unique in that once a fax or email message is dispatched and accepted, the FMDS reports back to the Axon and the message is marked as delivered. This allows call center agents to have up-to-date and accurate status information about message transmissions.

An exciting option, prompted by many of the leading unified messaging vendors, is the ability to convert a voice mail message or other audio recordings into a wave file, sending it over the Internet to an email address.

The voice recording can then be listened to, replayed, responded to, copied, or deleted, just like any other email message. The email interface then becomes a cohesive message management machine.

Amtelco’s Infinity provides resources that allow a client’s text messages to be sent to an email address, either directly from the Infinity system itself or from the Infinity UltraComm message server.

The eVoicelink feature expands upon that by automatically sending voice mail files to clients as wave file attachments to their email.

Most current generation (that is, digital) voice loggers allow recorded phone calls to be sent as a data file to an email address. Record Play/Tek (RPT) is one such vendor. For obvious security and control issues, the files cannot be automatically delivered to an email address.

Someone at the call center must first review the message and, since RPT records audio continuously, mark the start and ends of the call. RPT’s Michael Stoll has explored the idea of remote access to their voice logger, but in user group discussions and repeated customer interviews the response has been overwhelmingly to not provide for remote access. The reason is consistent: security issues simply loom too large and problematic.

Wireless: Wireless PDAs and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) telephones free business people from their desktops and allow them to do business anytime, anywhere. Amtelco’s Infinity supports that by allowing message delivery and access to other Infinity client information.

Similarly, wireless connectivity allows users the ability to collaborate with the Tascom system database from most popular wireless devices. Startel also offers a PDA wireless interface that allows messages, on-call schedules, and directories to be accessed remotely.

Unified Messaging: Unified messaging platforms allow email, voicemail, and faxes to be retrieved from a single inbox, accessible from any phone or Internet connected PC anywhere in the world. Vendors, including Amtelco, Alston Tascom, CadCom, Hark, and Telescan offer aspects of unified messaging, typically in conjunction with messaging platforms.

Web Site: Messages and orders can also be posted on a secure, password-controlled website. Comparable to Web-based email portals, such as Yahoo and Juno, messages and orders can be sorted, stored, forwarded, deleted, organized, and saved. Szeto Technologies’ Call Linx system can provide a Web page where clients can pick up their messages from the Internet, as can Amtelco Infinity, and Alston Tascom.

Web Portal – The Client Control Interface

Taking the concept of the Web-based message portal to the next logical step is to allow clients to interact with your staff by changing the programming, parameters, and information within their accounts. Szeto Technologies’, Call Linx can provide clients access to the call statistics and various call traffic information via the Internet connection through a website.

Alston Tascom has developed the Tascom client Web interface. In addition to viewing messages, clients can create, update, and dispatch information (messages, on-call schedules, reaching information, and even database entries), listen to voice mail messages, and run pre-defined custom client reports.

Clients can access their accounts and message information via a standard Web browser or wireless Web via a handheld device. Each client can create multiple users with unique log on, password, and varying degrees of access to features and capabilities via the Web. Clients can also enter data or update information about their account into the Tascom server via the Web.

Access to reports over the Internet allows clients to view, filter, sort, print, and deliver specified system and account-specific reports via alpha pager, fax, email, and HTML, as well as to upload and download database files.

Also, Tascom Evolution automatically creates HTML versions of all message forms and can provide immediate access to virtually all system data via the Internet.

In the same way, the Infinity client Web desktop offers a secure, password protected Internet website that serves as a central point where a call center client can access the resources of the Infinity system via the Internet.

From their desktop, clients can change their Infinity status, view messages, change their system automated on-call information, view the roster (status) of other employees in their organization, and even create messages that will be sent to other employees using Infinity’s message distribution.

Startel’s Web Text Retrieval feature similarly allows the end user the ability to manage their messages using an Internet portal.

Remote Access

Many teleservice platforms, such as the Amtelco Infinity, allow remote agent access via an Internet connection. When this is available and configured, any authorized agent can access the central system any place they have Internet access.

This allows for managers and supervisors to view information, research problems, update and program client profiles, monitor system performance, and perform basic troubleshooting.

Some systems allow audio access as well over the Internet using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). In these implementations, full agent functionality is provided, including the opportunity to take calls and monitor agent audio in real time.

There are some quality issues with VoIP and, although quality is steadily improving as technology marches forward, an alternative is to provide for the audio connection on a dialup basis using a regular phone line.

Using standard Internet IP telephony gateways and Axon 8200R remote operator terminals, Axon 8000 systems can establish complete remote operation from virtually any location.

System operation is completely transparent and toll-quality voice communication is achieved over standard DSL connections, avoiding long distance telephone charges.

Remote agents can also connect to the Tascom SQL digital system using a virtual private network (VPN) and have calls routed via standard telephone lines.

AccuCall remote agents can connect through cable modem or DSL lines to make the data connection; the audio path is established through a T-1 or PRI circuit. Future developments will enhance this capability with the addition of VoIP to allow the audio to be routed over the Internet as well.

Hosted and ASP Services

Some vendors are beginning to provide hosted services for their customers. These fall into two classes of purposes. The first is a temporary, “try-it-out,” small scales basis. The idea being that before a significant investment is made in hardware or software, a customer can use the hosted services from their vendor to serve their initial clients.

As they add more and more clients, a critical mass can be reached where the revenue from this new niche is sufficient to justify and pay for the purchase of the system or platform. Once the equipment is installed, clients are then migrated off the hosted platform on to the newly acquired, locally installed system, allowing for greater margins and increased control.

The other scenario of hosted services is where the hosting is continued indefinitely. This may be a result of the business model established by the vendor, or more likely, because of the preference or circumstances of the customer.

In this situation, the vendor in essence becomes an ASP (application service provider) for their customer. Although the customer will pay an ongoing fee for as long as they use the service, the vendor maintains the equipment, handles the software upgrades, and replaces hardware when needed.

This is a great alternative for a teleservice company that does not have a great demand for the service in question, has limited internal technical expertise, or wishes to focus investment dollars in other areas. Ken Coleman of TimeTrade Systems concurs, stating “the Web makes it easy for smaller teleservice companies to gain access to world-class software without purchasing, installing, and maintaining the software themselves.”

Amtelco offers three hosted services, which can be used either as a short-term, incremental step or as an ongoing solution. Their Infinity, eCreator, and IVR services are generally thought of as being located on premise, at the serving call center.

However, all three of those services can also be provided by Amtelco’s own servers located in Wisconsin and accessed over the Internet by call centers located anywhere.

Similarly, Alston Tascom offers hosted services for two of their popular offerings. One is Web-based appointment setting, on-call scheduling, and verification services. The second offering is interactive voice services, which features Web, email, and touchtone interfaces.

TimeTrade Systems saw that appointment and reservations scheduling was ripe for transformation using Internet technology. Before the Internet, it was inherently difficult for a call center to book appointments for a client. If the outsourcer takes an appointment, how is the schedule updated and synchronized with the client to avoid double booking and confusion?

TimeTrade solved that problem with Web-based software that allows call centers to view the available resources and timeslots of a service business and confirm an appointment for the caller in real-time. The schedule information is stored centrally, where it is accessible by all parties, using the Internet, and instantly updated whenever an appointment is made.

Businesses can book appointments in a number of ways – at their front desk, by call forwarding to a call center, or by enabling self-service scheduling for their end customers over the Internet. TimeTrade hosts its software as an ASP (Application Services Provider) and charges a monthly fee for software use and technical support.

Timeskeeper, Inc. also offers an appointment setting solution, as does Telescan, working in conjunction with Adjuvant Technologies of St. Cloud, Minnesota

Other Significant Developments

Account Networking: Amtelco’s enhanced order-entry call scripting product, eCreator, can be run entirely within a call center’s own network facilities but is also a Web-capable application that can be deployed over the Internet allowing multiple call centers to collaborate to handle accounts that are too big for any one of them to manage on their own.

Using Web resources, eCreator is also able access a client’s internal ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) compliant databases. This paves the way to provide many complex and intricate services to clients, which have been previously not feasible.

Email Bills: Sending bills by email is not a new development, but one advanced several years ago by Professional Teledata in their TBS billing platform. With the growing use of email, sending invoices in the manner has more accepted and with higher participation rates. Bill delivery outsourcer TASbill.com has found that clients are more likely to view an email bill immediately and pay it sooner.

In fact, experience has shown them that those who pay online pay within two or three days rather than two or three weeks when the invoice and payment are handled through the regular mail. Chris Twigg, shared this example: “If a teleservice firm invoices $100,000 each month and sends half of its clients an email bill, it could expect to bring forward around $25,000 in receivables by about two weeks.”

Sending bills by email has been common for medical, banking, and insurance companies for some time; these companies report that a major side benefit is sales of new services to existing customers – much easier than new sales to new customers.

Also, the bill can become a sales or customer service tool as Internet links can be embedded into the electronic invoice.

Credit Card Processing: QOS Merchant Solutions offers a number of Internet-based electronic payment solutions for merchants of all kinds. The first is their Virtual Terminal products that allow for processing credit card transactions over the Web.

They also provide WebLinks so you can add credit card processing to your website. WebLinks can also be used by all centers can accept checks by phone for their clients. Lastly, QOS Merchant Solutions allows customers to use Web-based reporting services for electronic payment transactions.

Website

Not to be overlooked in the discussion of the critical relevance of the Internet to teleservice companies is essential prerequisite of having a website. At the most basic level, a website is an on-line sales and marketing tool.

More significantly, it is rapidly becoming a necessary indicator of business viability and significance. Businesses without websites are increasingly being viewed as out-of-date and outmoded.

Web designers and developers are almost as ubiquitous as the Internet itself. Each local market likely has a plethora of self-proclaimed Web designers, offering services of varying quality and prices. Although it may make sense to select a local firm to design your website, there is also considerable justification to select an industry specialist.

Axon Communications operates ConnixUP Web Services, a separate operating department of Axon. ConnixUP offers a convenient one-stop location where you can confidently establish a website solution for your business that includes domain name selection and registration, website design, website hosting, search engine registration, and website management.

Read more in Peter’s Sticky Series books: Sticky Leadership and Management, Sticky Sales and Marketing, and Sticky Customer Service featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Connections Magazine, covering the call center teleservices industry. Read his latest book, Healthcare Call Center Essentials.

Categories
Call Center

An Eye For Customer Service

By Peter Lyle DeHaan, Ph.D.

It was an emergency run to the eye doctor. Being far-sighted and using a computer all day makes my glasses an indispensable tool – one that I treat with the utmost care.  Imagine my dismay when in the midst of my morning cleaning routine, I heard the frame snap and a lens landed in my hand. I was panic-stricken. How would I be able to get any work done?

Author Peter Lyle DeHaan

I arrived at my optometrist’s office, practically as the doors opened, glad that they would take a “walk-in.” I explained the situation and though they treated my disaster with matter-of-fact routine, I was comforted that they were willing to help. “We’ll need to order new frames,” the man concluded.

“Can’t you simply fix them?” I inquired.

“We could,” he droned, “but there is no guarantee…it might hold a day, maybe a few months. Don’t worry,” he added, “we’ll get you some loaner frames to use while you wait for your new ones.” Trusting his advice, I assented.

He disappeared into a back room and returned several minutes later. The look on his face braced me for bad news. “Your frames have been discontinued. We’ll have to fix your old ones…they can be soldered.” Now I have done my share of soldering over the years: in electronics to make an electrical connection and in plumbing to seal a joint. I was highly skeptical that solder would repair my damaged frames for more than a few minutes. I began to voice my apprehension. He smiled assuredly and clarified. “Actually, it’s more like welding.” Now I knew he was off base. During a stint working at a machine shop, I did more types of welding than most people know exist. I did not see any of those methods successfully repairing my delicate wire-rims. But I was out of options and reluctantly consented. He quickly outlined the details: the broken frames would need to be sent out for repair…they’ll be back in a few days, maybe by Saturday…it would cost twenty dollars.

He then set about finding a loaner frame. After an half hour with no success, he finally uncovered one old demo pair that, although not the right dimensions, would at least hold my lenses in place and keep them approximately positioned in front of my eyes – the temple pieces were much too short, which tipped lenses forward, throwing off the bifocals; I would need to adapt. Grateful for a solution, albeit uncomfortable and less than ideal, I reminded myself that it was only for a few days and gratefully thanked him. His parting promise was clear; “We’ll call you when your frames come back – let’s hope for Saturday.”

As I left, I confirmed the plan at the front desk, “Yes,” she affirmed, “We’ll call you when they come in.” I believed her.

Saturday came but without a call. Monday they were closed. I called them on Tuesday. I got an answering machine. Dismayed that they did not answer their phone in the middle of the day, I left a message imploring them to call. No one called. Wednesday I called again. “Sure, they’re here,” she said cheerfully. “You can stop in any time,” she added, as though getting my frames back and returning my life to normal was a trivial and incidental matter.

By now, the tops of my ears were inflamed and the bridge of my nose tender because of continual use of the ill-fitting frames. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” was my firm and somewhat terse reply.

The man greeted me soon after I arrived. “It will only take a few minutes to switch lenses,” he said with a smile. I reminded him that the screws holding my lenses in my frames have a tendency to loosen and fall out. “Don’t worry,” he assured, “I’ll put in special screws with ‘lock-tight’ on them.”

“No,” I responded firmly, “you’ve done that before and they fall out too. Last time you said that you ‘glued them’.” I was dismayed that this critical information was not in my file, as he has had to re-install my lenses four times in the past three years. He said nothing, but gave me a knowing look of comprehension, retreating into his work area. A few minutes later, he returned and I donned my restored glasses; what a great feeling, it was just like slipping into a comfortable pair of old shoes!

I thanked him and segued to my next goal. “Will you please put my old lenses in another frame – any frame,” I inquired, “so that I can have a back-up pair?”

“Your frames have been discontinued,” he said, telling me what I already knew.

“Surely someone makes a frame that will fit my lenses,” I prodded.

“I already looked, remember?” Now he was becoming irritated with me. “You’ll need to order new frames and get new lenses, and before we’ll do that, you’ll need an eye exam.”

“That will be almost five hundred dollars,” I said in dismay, recalling the cost of my initial introduction to glasses. “I can only afford to buy a second frame,” I embellished.

“You really should have an eye exam every year,” he lectured. “And it’s been fourteen months for you.”

“I just want to buy a back-up frame,” I pleaded.

His reply was curt, “Sorry, we can’t help you.” He turned and walked away.

Later, I casually mentioned my ordeal – and desire for a back up – to my mother. Mom took this on as a challenge and the next day surprised me with a list of businesses willing to assist. Two days later, I visited the top one on her list. Their office was closer, easier to get to, and had free parking at the door. I walked in, explained my plight to the receptionist, and shared my goal. I waited a few minutes and was greeted by a kind and empathetic young lady. She listened to my tale of woe, acknowledging that it, too, would have been their preference for an exam, new frames, and new lenses. Nevertheless, she said she would do her best to help me. She began to look for suitable frames and I realized her intent was to handle my request immediately. She came back with a frame that she thought would work with some adjustments or by grinding my lenses. I had not expected an immediate resolution and since there were several other customers being serviced at the time, I told her that I would be more than happy to come back later. She thanked me and promised to work on my glasses first thing the next day; I could stop by any time. I believed her.

I returned the next afternoon. She recognized me and immediately approached me, smiling broadly. “I have your glasses done,” she beamed with the pride of an artist. “I am really pleased with how they turned out.” Because of her genuine sincerity, I knew that I would be pleased as well. She had not had to grind my lenses down after all. I was only charged for the frames, there was no labor fee, and I got a free case and a discount, too. I thanked her profusely. She said that she was glad she was able to help me.

On my prior visit, I had noticed a sign that gave their repair rates. To solder frames was only five dollars. My optometrist had charged four times as much! I realized that five dollars would not even cover shipping, so I reasoned that repairs were done in-house; I suspected I would not have to wait eight days either. I had already decided that they would be my new optometrist, but took one more step to confirm my decision. “By the way,” I inquired, “how much is an eye exam?” It was fifty dollars less than what I had been paying! I promised her that I would be back.

By giving poor customer service, my eye doctor had lost a loyal customer; by going the extra mile, someone else had gained one.

How to Lose Clients:

  • Act apathetic toward their situation
  • Make promises you don’t keep
  • Don’t listen to them
  • Lose credibility by making recommendations that are self-serving
  • Fail to keep good records of previous interactions
  • Give them a reason to check out your competition

How to Gain Clients:

  • Be genuinely sympathetic, even if it is a routine matter for you
  • Only make promises you can keep
  • Take time to really listen to what they say
  • Gain credibility by going the extra mile
  • Make sure their interaction with you is pleasant and memorable
  • Give them a reason to never return to their old provider

Read more in Peter’s Sticky Series books: Sticky Leadership and Management, Sticky Sales and Marketing, and Sticky Customer Service featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Connections Magazine, covering the call center teleservices industry. Read his latest book, Healthcare Call Center Essentials.

Categories
Call Center

Nothing to Sneeze About

By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD

A few years ago, I had a strange revelation. It all began with a sneeze. In doing so, I realized that I sounded just like my dad. Not that there is anything wrong or strange about how my dad sneezes, just that it is distinctive. At first, I chalked this up to simple heredity. But why then did it take four decades for me to become cognizant of this similarity? A quick empirical look at how other family members performed this uncontrollable reflex did not support any sort of genetic connection. Indeed, everyone else did, in fact, have a unique sneeze.

Author Peter Lyle DeHaan

Since that time, I have become aware of other mannerisms and gestures that my dad and I share. My conclusion is that this is not a byproduct of genes, but rather environment. More succinctly, as I spend more time with my father, I become more like him. If this went no further than physical idiosyncrasies, this would be a trivial observation. But there are more valuable and influential characteristics that I subconsciously learned from dad over the years. A good, strong work ethic is a prime example. Dad never told me to work hard and diligently – he merely did so and I emulated his example. Others traits include integrity, honesty, caution, sound decision-making, carefulness with what I say, and an analytical prowess.

If I unknowingly learned these things by being around my dad, what sort of things do those who spend time with me discover and then model? While I hope they absorb good and positive traits, I fear that they may also be acquiring some less admirable tendencies. Each time a child, friend, employee, or client treats me in a less than desirable manner, I ask myself, “Did they pick this up from me?” “Are they mirroring what they have seen me do?”

When parents see things in their children that they do not like, they often do some soul searching and ask, “Where did they learn this?” and “What did I do wrong?” Although, children have many spheres of input and influence, parents are a key source. The saying, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” is accurate and correct. Words can influence and direct, but actions are the prime training tools. And when actions match words, a strong and consistent message is sent.

I have seen this same principle carry over to the work place as well, to both with employees and clients. First, consider clients. Every business has a few “difficult” clients – the kind that one wishes would just go away. But if a company has all difficult clients, some tough introspection is warranted. Quite simply, one might wonder, “are my ‘bad’ clients merely treating me the way I treat them, according to what I taught them?” I once saw this dramatically demonstrated through an acquisition, where the prior owners were – well – less than honorable in their client interactions. Dealing with their client base was quite a challenge. It took several years to get those clients to stop yelling at managers, cursing staff, and aggressively challenging every bill. But who is to blame them? They were simply responding as they had been taught, according to how the former owner acted towards them.

From the employee aspect, I have seen this occur on several levels. First, through witnessing how a shift supervisor destroyed the effectiveness of the employees on her shift. Her staff became lazy, took extra long breaks, and lost all loyalty towards the company. The worst offenders were fired and replacements hired and trained; yet, they quickly fell into the same mode. Eventually the supervisor was investigated, revealing the reality that her position of authority was too much for her to handle. She had become lazy, took long breaks, and had no respect for her employer. Her charges were merely emulating the negative characteristics of their supervisor. A new supervisor was brought in and things slowly turned around.

More dramatically, I have seen this happen throughout an entire office. It seemed that a good employee could not be found in the entire city. Each new hire turned out to be a liar, a manipulator, and a denigrator of company policy and procedure. Alas, after endlessly turning over staff, the manager was scrutinized. Ultimately, the manager’s true colors were revealed, I found that she was a compulsive liar, shamelessly manipulated her staff, and had open contempt for company policy and executive directives. This manager was let go and suddenly good employees could be found. Though it took years to negate her damaging example, the office slowly began to function as it should.

Lastly, I have had situations where a company owner laments over his terrible employees. His staff continually falsifies time cards, steals company supplies and assets, and lodges complaints and files lawsuits on a seemingly continuous basis. The owner is truly perplexed at why this is happening, but to even a casual outsider the cause is clear. For the owner underreports income on his tax return, cheats his employees out of their rightful pay, and threatens to sue every vendor or client who causes consternation.

True, not all children, friends, clients, and employees are perfect, but when a consistent trend of unacceptable behaviors is evident within the entire group, it might be time to look at one’s self and one’s actions. After all, what we do is nothing to sneeze about.

Read more in Peter’s Sticky Series books: Sticky Leadership and Management, Sticky Sales and Marketing, and Sticky Customer Service featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Connections Magazine, covering the call center teleservices industry. Read his latest book, Healthcare Call Center Essentials.

Categories
Call Center

The Only Constant is Change

By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD

This special ATSI Convention issue represents something new for Connections Magazine. We took a step back and asked ourselves, what can we do to better serve the industry? Helping to promote the ATSI Convention was top on the list.

Author Peter Lyle DeHaan

Long-time readers of Connections Magazine will notice how it has changed. Over the years, there has been a steady migration of improvements and adjustments. During my tenure as Publisher, I have sought to build upon the magazine’s history and past success by making incremental improvements and stylistic enhancements with each issue.

Some of these changes have been methodically planned and mapped out well ahead of time, while others have been the result of creative inspiration during the layout and design phase by veteran graphic artist Dave Margolis.

This philosophy is seen in our website as well, where every page as witnessed a makeover. Additionally, there has been a 30% increase in Web content in the past six months.

Connections Magazine has a mindset for change. In fact, as we begin each issue, I share with the team (although not always as effectively as I would like) what will be new, exciting, and different about that issue.

The reality is, that no matter how good an issue is, how pleased we are with it, or the number of accolades we receive, there is always room for improvement and an opportunity to be better.

ATSI, too, is in the midst of change. They have listened to members and responded; they have sought out former members and brought them back; and they have cultivated a positive, can-do attitude to support members and advance the industry. This year’s convention should be no exception.

I think that in today’s business environment, a culture of change is essential for every organization. In my younger days, I would recommend change for the sheer fun of it. Now, older and wiser, I only advocate change when there is a compelling, necessary, or justifiable reason to do so.

The key reason for this is that for most people, change is difficult. Change takes something familiar and replaces it with something unknown. Each organization has people who are change resistant. And each leader, manager, and supervisor knows exactly who these people are.  

With such folk, their level of aversion to change varies from unspoken trepidation to being overtly confrontational. Regardless of the manifestation, we need to be compassionate, realizing that these reactions are merely their way of responding to fear – fear of the unknown.

To establish a change-oriented culture in your organization, the first step is to minimize employee fears towards change. Employees can accept change if: 1) the change is incremental or small, 2) they have a degree of input or control over the change, and 3) the change is clearly understood by all.

The key to this is communication. Address change head on. For every change, each employee wonders how it will affect him or her.

Could they lose their job? Might their hours be cut or changed? Will they be asked to work harder than they already are? Will they be made to do something that is unpleasant or distasteful? What will happen if they can’t learn the new skills?

These are all worries, worries about the unknown. As with most worries, the majority will never happen. But with a lack of reliable information and top-down assurances, these irrational worries take on a life all their own.

Successfully orchestrating change requires effective communication. Not once, but ongoing; not to key staff, but to all staff; not by one method, but by several: group meetings, written correspondence, and one-on-one discussions.

A true and effective open door policy helps, too. Also, it is critical that a positive attitude is set, at the beginning, from the top of the organization, which never waivers. Celebrate milestones, generously thank staff along the way, and provide reasonable rewards at the end.

Successfully taking these steps will send a strong signal to staff. Even though the change may still concern them, they will be comforted knowing they have accurate information and the assurance that they are safe and will be protected. And for each successful change, the next one becomes easier to bring about.

You will know that you have successfully created a change-friendly organization when your employees – all of them – get bored with the status quo and begin seeking change.

They will ask for larger or more challenging accounts, long for the next acquisition, or want to embark on a major equipment upgrade. At this point, the potential of your organization becomes unlimited; the personal growth of your staff, unshackled; and the future, inviting.

You don’t know what that future will entail, only that things will change for the better. So, sit back and enjoy the ride, fully confident that the only constant changes.

Read more in Peter’s Sticky Series books: Sticky Leadership and Management, Sticky Sales and Marketing, and Sticky Customer Service featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Connections Magazine, covering the call center teleservices industry. Read his latest book, Healthcare Call Center Essentials.

Categories
Call Center

We’re on a Mission

By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD

I am a bit of a movie buff. Among my more arcane interests is a fixation with memorable, unique, or humorous lines from films. Some phrases make their way into pop-culture, such as Clint Eastwood, pointing his ominous side-arm and snarling, “Go ahead, make my day.”

Author Peter Lyle DeHaan

Others transcend generations, as did Rhett’s infamous rebuff of Scarlet in Gone with the Wind. Then there was Jaws when the great white was first seen in its entirety and the sheriff intoned with deadpan seriousness, “I think we need a bigger boat.”

A passage from Twister produces a smile every time I recall it: “You know when you used to tell me you chased tornadoes?   Deep down, I always thought it was a metaphor.” The acclaimed and award winning movie As Good as it Gets has many memorable lines.

My all time favorite occurs when Melvin seemingly fumbles yet another effort to impress Carol, but then recovers nicely with his poignant confession, “You make me want to be a better man.”

For over twenty years, a reoccurring phrase from the Blues Brothers has left me bemused and perplexed. I am still not sure rather I should be offended or merely amused with the protagonist’s assertion, “We’re on a mission from God.”

The “mission” of this critically disparaged, yet once popular film, might seem to be simply to levy mayhem and destruction upon the city of Chicago. However, the dubious epiphany of Jake and Elwood is to “put the band back together.”

As mission statements go, this one seems trivial and unsophisticated. Yet it possesses both simple eloquence and empowering efficacy. When most organizations develop a mission statement, they spend months or even years creating the perfect blend of sentiment, intention, and promise, often presenting it in flowery or verbose fashion.

The result of this effort gets added to the employee handbook, printed on marketing pieces, and engraved on a plaque prominently positioned in the main lobby. In reality, these lengthy prose are often nothing but a thinly disguised marketing effort and not a mission statement at all.

A good and effective mission statement has several important characteristics:

  • It needs to be readily understood by those to whom it applies.
  • It needs to provide direction and guidance in everyday decision making.
  • It needs to be short and concise, allowing all stakeholders to learn it, follow it, and internalize it.

Unfortunately, most organizations’ mission statements do not fit any of these criteria. The Blues Brothers’ mission does. Every time it is shared, it is immediately understood; it provides direction (albeit, often excessively) and it is easily learned, followed, and internalized.

Still their mission seems trivial and inconsequential. That is because behind every mission, there is a supporting vision. The vision of the Blues Brothers is to raise money and save the orphanage that reared them and has now fallen on hard times.

This vision is why their mission is so important. The mission is not the end, but rather a means to the end, that of saving the orphanage.

Mission and vision, however are still not enough. Just as the mission is supported by a vision, the vision is deployed through goals. The goals of the Blues Brothers are simple and progressive: contact former and prospective band members, get them to join the group, hold a benefit concert, and give the money to the orphanage.

Therefore, the Blues Brothers’ business plan might be summarized as follows:

Mission: Put the band back together
Vision: Save the orphanage
Goals:

  • Contact musicians
  • Form group
  • Hold concert
  • Give proceeds to orphanage

With this basic, yet effective example as a backdrop, now it is time for some introspection. Does your organization have a mission? A vision? What are your goals?

If you do not have a mission statement, now is the time to develop one. Start today; do not delay. Make sure your staff is supported by and directed through an effective and practical mission statement; do not let them flounder. Remember the wise saying, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

If you already have a mission statement, is it the hang-on-the-wall, marketing-ploy type or the succinctly worded axiom which directs daily actions and guides staff decisions? Maybe your stated purpose falls within this small minority of real, true mission statements.

If so, is it short and concise enough for your staff to learn, follow, and internalize? Is it readily understood by all? Does it really, in practical actuality, serve as a guide for daily decisions and actions?

The conventional wisdom is that creating a mission and forming a vision is a group activity, something that is done by a committee, with input and review throughout the organization. This is done to get the “buy-in” of all stakeholders.

Yet the reality is that when a mission is developed in this fashion, it becomes less relevant as turnover occurs and staff attrition takes its toll. Then, every few years, as the statement becomes increasingly meaningless and obsolete, a new committee is required and more meetings take place to craft a new declaration.

I feel this is the wrong approach. Yes, you do need to have the support of the rank and file for your mission, but I view its origin and construction to be a leadership issue. The mission must come from the top. Then it needs to be communicated, not once, not from time-to-time, but frequently and on an ongoing basis.

Over time it will be embraced by those it is intended to support. In due course, it will become understood and internalized. Via the example of leadership first, and management second, it will begin to permeate the entire organization and start to direct actions and guide decisions. With this as the expected outcome, make the drafting or review of your mission statement your top priority; your future may be at stake.

Oh, and for the record, Connections Magazine does have a mission statement; it is found on page five. Our mission is “To be the principal clearinghouse of relevant and practical information for the teleservices industry.”

Read more in Peter’s Sticky Series books: Sticky Leadership and Management, Sticky Sales and Marketing, and Sticky Customer Service featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Connections Magazine, covering the call center teleservices industry. Read his latest book, Healthcare Call Center Essentials.

Categories
Call Center

Going Virtual

By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD

As I wrote my column for the last issue, I was struck with the realization that I had structured Connections Magazine as a virtual company. This wasn’t intentional; it just worked out that way.

Author Peter Lyle DeHaan

Not only am I the only one working in the “corporate office,” there are no local vendors either. Indeed everyone who takes part in the production of the magazine is from out of state – different states!

Dave, our layout genius and designer extraordinaire is in Pennsylvania. His work gets sent over the Internet to our printer in Ohio. There they work up the proofs and put them on an FTP site for Dave and me to review and then approve.

The mailing list is maintained by myself in Michigan. For each issue, I output the file and email it to our list processor. They massage the data and sort the list, in turn forwarding it to our printer.

The printer merges the mailing list with the magazines and delivers them to the post office. An army of postal carriers deliver the finished package to your home or office.

The newest member of the team is Valerie Port, our media rep., in New York; she handles the display advertising sales. As editor, I plan, solicit, collect, and edit the articles and press releases. Finally, our website remains hosted by an ISP in Montana, but I update the content remotely from Michigan.

I have never met any of these fine people in person. We conduct business via telephone and make frequent use of email. Each issue is produced without any face-to-face interaction.

For our first issue, this was somewhat disarming and disconcerting, but I am convinced that the result is better than if we all worked together in the same office.

True, we miss out on some synergy, incidental communication, and camaraderie, but we are also each free to do what he or she does best and to do so with minimal outside distraction and interruption. As Bill Murray said in the movie “Stripes,” “We’re a lean, mean, fighting machine!”

Several years ago, I theorized that a teleservices company call center could similarly be configured as a virtual company. Not that I advocated it at the time, but it was an intriguing mental exercise. Over the years I have run into more and more situations where aspects of a center were outsourced.

Currently, I am aware of services who outsource their billing, accounts payable, and general ledger, who hire a computer support firm to maintain equipment, an ad agency to do marketing, and an independent sales agent (in the spirit of a “manufacturers” rep) to generate sales.

Not that any single company outsources all of these functions, but many companies outsource some.

Conventional wisdom says that you don’t outsource your “core competencies.” However, there are those who advocate that you can indeed, farm out your core competencies as well. What if someone else can do it even better – or cheaper?

What if your labor market has near zero percent unemployment or if you’re just plain tired of the HR aspect of the business? All of these are prime reasons to consider outsourcing your operations. In fact, I am aware of several companies which have done or are doing so.

Outsourcing the operations aspect for a start-up can solve many problems and conserve cash flow while a base of clients is being amassed; then it is all moved in-house. Others have opted to form permanent outsourcing arrangements either out of necessity or preference.

The result is that there are no agents working in their office!

Teleservices companies have essentially six areas of focus and effort: operations, customer service, sales and marketing, technical, accounting, and management. I have yet to see one company do all six with aplomb and excellence, yet any viable concern excels in at least one area.

Even the strong players master only two or three. In fact, some of the most profitable companies are, at best, average at five of the six, but because of a strong, visionary, and capable management, they consistently generate outstanding profits.

Since no one can master everything, it is pragmatic and even wise to consider outsourcing the weak areas of your company. Then you can focus on what you do best and your company will be better as a result. After that you can consider taking it to the next level and outsource the rest.

Ultimately, you too, could become a virtual company; a company of one.

As you begin looking for outsourcing partners, you must be careful in your selection. A bad choice can be costly or even crippling, but it can also be quickly corrected by merely finding a new firm to handle that aspect of your business.

(Those who have outsourced their operations did not put “all of their eggs in one basket,” but have divided the traffic between multiple centers. No more than 50% of your traffic should go to any one place; this gives you greater flexibility and minimizes risk.)

You should scrutinize an outsourcing partner just like you would any other vendor. “Look before you leap.” Referrals are valuable; check references. When outsourcing operations, unless they come highly recommended, visit them in person.

What does their facility look like? Are they big enough to handle your traffic? Are they small enough to care about your account and your client’s calls? Do you have a good rapport with and respect for the key people in their company? Is there the potential for a long-term business relationship?

Lastly, find out who will be your primary contact on a day-to-day basis. How well do you mesh with that individual? What is their anticipated future tenure with the company? Should this contact leave, will your satisfaction with the outsourcer’s service disappear as well, or will someone else be capable and able to take over without impacting your organization?

Certainly, no outsourcing agreement should be entered into lightly or without due diligence, but when it is properly executed and for the right reasons, the results can be both liberating and profitable.

This is not to advocate that everyone needs to look into outsourcing, but it does offer some intriguing opportunities and is certainly another option to consider as you look to the future and consider how to make your company better – and more profitable.

Read more in Peter’s Sticky Series books: Sticky Leadership and Management, Sticky Sales and Marketing, and Sticky Customer Service featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Connections Magazine, covering the call center teleservices industry. Read his latest book, Healthcare Call Center Essentials.