2014 will be the year that we see web chat really starting to take hold in the contact centre – and not just for the younger generation. Here, Richard McCrossan, Strategic Business Director for Digital Channels at Genesys, gives 14 top tips to implement a successful web chat policy. These tips were compiled from a webinar hosted by Genesys where a record 256 attendees discussed the value of web chat and the ways to make it work. To hear the full webinar click here.
1. Always promote web chat: But be careful not to deflect the customer. It’s important to understand that some queries are more complex and therefore less suitable for web chat – so make sure the phone is still available as a communication channel.
2. Personalise chat: No one likes talking to a robot. A personalised customer experience encourages engagement and trust among your customer base, encouraging customers to use web chat again.
3. Always be professional: While the nature of web chat means that a less formal language style can be used, it is important that advisors ‘chat’ in a professional manner. Bad grammar and spelling reflects very badly on an organisation.
4. Call the customer directly if you can’t solve the query: Advisors can’t always deliver first contact resolution via web chat so it must be easy to seamlessly move the conversation from web chat to a phone call.
5. Have visible knowledge pages: Having more prominent knowledge pages and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on your home page will encourage customers to use self service and can reduce the volume of phone calls coming in.
6. Use timed pop ups: Avoid targeting customers as soon as they enter the page – it causes interruption and frustration. Targeted pop ups that analyse customer behaviour and pop up at the precise moment of need are more effective.
7. Always someone there to answer: It’s annoying enough waiting on hold on the telephone, so don’t make them wait for chat too! If all of your agents are busy, add a capability to grey out the ‘chat now’ button, instead of inviting customers into a long and frustrating queue.
8. Respond immediately: Web chat queries tend to be less complex so these queries can and need to be dealt with much more quickly and easily than email.
9. Use short paragraphs: Unlike a phone call, where people stay on the line, when using web chat people have a habit of drifting off mid chat. Use short snappy responses to keep the customers attention.
10. Have maximum chat sessions per agent: You should have a maximum of three simultaneous chat sessions per agent. Any more and the agent won’t be able to deliver a great customer experience!
11. Make it simple and easy to use: If you make web chat too complicated for the customer, there is no point in having it. Complex verifications and instructions will only frustrate the customer further.
12. Don’t make customers repeatedly confirm information: If the customer has already logged in to the website, the customer is already authenticated – don’t make them repeat information they’ve already confirmed.
13. Be aware of generational differences: Web chat is typically more popular with the younger generation – so be aware of generational differences. Some customers may not be as used to chat as others, so don’t deflect those customers who don’t want to use it.
14. Select the right advisors for the job: Not all phone-based service advisors are comfortable handling web chat. Assess the suitability of advisors to handle contacts and provide additional skills training as required.
Richard McCrossan, Strategic Business Director, Digital Channels, EMEA, Genesys
Richard McCrossan joined Genesys in 2007 as a voice self-service specialist and formed part of the team that created the Intelligent Customer Front Door (iCFD) solution, which ushered in a new way of delivering customer-centric, cross channel customer service.
Now, as Strategic Business Director for Digital Channels in EMEA, Richard is responsible for supporting Genesys’ drive into digital channels with new and innovative products and solutions, such as Genesys Social Engagement and Mobile Engagement. Richard is a passionate evangelist for simple, fast and great customer service, a subject on which he regularly blogs, speaks and tweets.
Richard holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Queens University, Belfast.
Reach him on Twitter: @dossan