What’s the first thing a customer does when there’s an issue with his ecommerce order? He makes a call to your contact center. This interaction is often the first “live” experience your customer has with your ecommerce brand.
Getting this dialogue right typically leads to a happy, repeat customer. Getting it wrong could land you a lost customer, and a retelling of the situation could go viral.
How do you provide stellar customer service in your contact center? Listen more. Talk less.
“It’s our nature to want to help and solve problems,” explains Jenny Chavez, Speed Commerce’s learning, development, and quality assurance manager. “There’s a temptation to offer solutions without getting to the heart of the real issue.”
Chavez offers a straightforward three-step plan to uncover customer issues and deliver a resolution that works for the customer.
1. Let the customer do the talking.
Want to understand what the customer is most concerned about? Listen more.
“It’s easy to jump to conclusions, but we shouldn’t,” explains Chavez. “We guide our agents to hold off on providing solutions until hearing everything the customer has said,” Chavez says.
You may assume the first thing the customer says is the only problem, but it may not be the issue that’s concerning them the most.
2. Apologize, and then take action.
Whether it’s a damaged package or the wrong merchandise was delivered, a heartfelt apology goes a long way to improving this situation. This demonstration of empathy shows your ecommerce brand cares about them as a person.
Repeat their concerns and then take action on the issue of concern to the customer. Give the customer as much information so they know your ecommerce brand is actively resolving the issue.
3. Ask one more question.
Is there anything else I can help you with? Then stop talking and listen for more.
Solving customer issues isn’t always easy. But listening more and talking less will help you truly uncover the problem, find a good resolution, and keep a shopper for life.