Many companies outsource all or some of their CS regardless of whether they need to answer customer questions, assist with returns, or provide support for products. This lets them grow without the cost of hiring new representatives and upgrading their infrastructure, which can take time to implement.
A reputable agency to hire you is crucial to ensure an easy and regular experience for customers. Look for one with a proven track record, a public list of previous clients and tried-and-true processes. Beware of companies that offer prices that are too good to be true, as they could employ cheap staff and decrease the quality of your support.
Take into consideration your outsourcing partner’s industry expertise and knowledge of regulations in your area to avoid issues lack of knowledge could create. Also, if your business offers a variety of channels (phone support, chat and email), make sure the provider is familiar with working across these channels. This will reduce the cost and stress down the road.
A skilled partner can quickly increase staff to meet customer demand, so that you don’t have to wait for customers to receive assistance. They can also reduce staff when they observe a decline in customer inquiries which will allow you to keep your bottom line without losing service. Ideally, your service provider will analyse and collect information from every interaction to determine the most common issues that could arise. This information can be used for automating responses, surfacing knowledgebase articles, and even providing suggestions on how best to solve a specific problem. This will enable your agents to provide more customized and effective assistance to every customer.