As the owner of a business, we know that you are going to have a million different responsibilities to juggle at any one time. The last couple of years have hit us with a never-ending string of unprecedented challenges, and as we make our way into a brighter 2022, we all have our fingers crossed that we can finally move ahead with greater confidence. However, we have seen just how quickly things can change in the marketplace, and there are plenty of reasons why every business owner should be taking greater steps towards greater security.
When it comes to providing more stability in our businesses, there are a lot of different factors to consider, from the suppliers that we use to the latest technological innovations in our industry. However, there has always been one constant in business regardless of sector or size. We all need to think about how we could improve our customer service in the year ahead. With more and more people making the switch to doing all their business online, customers are spoilt for choice, and they are only getting savvier about what they can expect. What’s more, there are plenty of very public forums where they can voice their displeasure. With the market as competitive and challenging as it is right now, we all need to be making sure that our customers are satisfied. Here are a few tips to help you to improve your customer service this spring.
- Bring a Professional In
Now, this first point may not be an option for every business owner, but if you have the resources available then you should seriously consider hiring a dedicated customer service manager. Instead of customer service being the kind of duty that employees get around to when they have time or have no choice, find someone with experience in dealing with these issues who can anticipate problems before they arrive. A good customer service manager will know how to de-escalate situations and resolve complaints to everyone’s satisfaction.
- Improve Your Delivery System
Many businesses were forced to put a lot of work into being able to offer their goods and services online over the last couple of years, from clothing stores to bars and restaurants. However, the switch to online happened so suddenly that it seems fair to assume that a lot of businesses may still be operating with the same cobbled together system that they rushed into place. If you want to improve your customer service in the year ahead, then it is high time to commit to a proper delivery system.
Take restaurants for example. Having an efficient and high-quality food delivery system is about more than having a menu and a phone number on your website. The quality of your online and mobile ordering system will have a huge impact on your restaurant in the months ahead as take-out shows no sign of decreasing in popularity. To learn more about food delivery logistics and how you can improve your set-up, visit Yelp. Yelp for Restaurants offers a complete front of house system that allows you to talk to customers, manage reservations and waitlists, and track take-out orders.
- Make It Easy for Customers to Reach You
This is a simple point but an important one. If your customers feel like they can’t get hold of you, then they are going to look elsewhere. It comes across as deeply uncaring if you do not even have a contact us page on your website, if emails go unanswered, and there is no sign of anyone checking the social media channels. Customer service is about listening, so make sure that you give your customers and clients the opportunity to be heard.
- Think About Your Packaging
One of the most important elements of high-quality customer service is understanding what kind of issues they might be worried about. Now, we have all seen the impact of climate change over the last couple of years and the stories about what we might be facing in 2022. It seems fair to say that a good number of your customers and clients will be looking for evidence that you are committed to cutting down on your carbon footprint.
There are many steps that you can take to go greener with your business, and one of the simplest and most effective is improving your packaging. Make sure that you are using recycled and recyclable materials, and that you minimize the amount of waste that you use. If you need to provide packing support, think about using paper instead of polystyrene or plastics. Encourage your customers to arrange for their items to be delivered in one package instead of requiring several trips. Talk to your delivery service about the steps that they are using to go green and be sure to advertise any steps you are taking on social media.
