4 Things You Need to Know About Call Center Customer Service

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October 12th, 2020

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Call centers are a prominent feature in the business world, particularly for large or growing companies. Providing superior customer service is vital for a business to thrive; it’s also a significant means for companies to differentiate themselves from the competition. Coupled with the fact that most customers will find a new vendor if they receive poor service, customer satisfaction is a critical metric for long-term success. The following are some of the biggest ways call centers affect customer service:

  1. First point of contact. Company leadership doesn’t often get a chance for direct interaction with their customers. They rely on call center employees to serve as the face and voice of the business. Call centers aren’t just the initial point of contact, they’re often the only point of contact. If call center employees don’t deliver quality customer service, the business isn’t likely to have another chance at winning over the customer’s loyalty.
  2. Differentiation opportunity. Businesses need to make sure their call centers provide a smooth and easy experience for their customers, but they can also use these interactions to secure their customers’ commitment. Delivering superior service such as recommending a product better suited to the customer’s needs or addressing common questions that relate to their initial inquiry can make the difference between so-so service and standout support.
  3. Providing service at all hours. One of the biggest benefits of many call centers is that they allow a company to provide around the clock service. When a business’ office hours are the same as their customers’ working hours, it can sew frustration and discontent. When customers call with vital questions or concerns only to be met with an automated recording about business hours, it sours their relationship with the business. It also means they’re more likely to go looking for a new service provider that can offer expedient and timely solutions.
  4. Greater flexibility. Waiting on hold is often an annoying and inconvenient experience for customers. Modern call centers offer multiple channels to reach customer support including by phone, email, chat, text, and even social media. Providing customers with their preferred communication method reduces friction points that can derail a conversation before it even begins.

Actec understands that providing superior customer service is a dynamic element to make your business stand out from the rest. Contact us to learn more about how our nearshore call center services and flexible text and chat support can help your company achieve that goal.

5 Tips for Hiring the Best Call Center

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September 14th, 2020

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Many growing businesses turn to call centers to handle the influx of customer service calls. This allows their employees to spend more time on providing specialized services or focusing on other, high-priority tasks. However, switching to a call center represents a significant change in company culture and employee responsibility so businesses need to make sure they contract with a call center that best meets their needs.

The following are some guiding principles for identifying top tier call centers:

  1. Make security a top priority. Many call centers have moved to the cloud for several reasons. It’s easier to install technology and render services that way. It’s also a good fit for businesses that have agents operating at multiple sites. However, companies will want to make sure their data is secure as well as investigate what redundancies and data recovery the call center offers in the event of a disaster.
  2. Look for compassion. Businesses need more than a person to answer a ringing phone. They need a friendly voice to help answer customers’ questions or resolve their issues. This is particularly important in the insurance industry when handling calls related to a loss. First notice of loss (FNOL) is the single greatest opportunity for securing customer satisfaction. Having a compassionate agent can help achieve that goal.
  3. Ensure a call center’s services align with business goals. Businesses should identify what they need from a call center and compare providers that meet their established criteria. Creating this short-list in advance saves time by avoiding interviews with providers that don’t offer the necessary services. This is particularly important for businesses that require special features like chat support or around the clock services.
  4. Meet with the call center. A provider may check every box from security to friendliness to specialty services and still fall short of the mark. Several providers may look good on paper, but businesses need to perform their due diligence by taking a tour of the call center’s facilities. If the call center’s leadership and management style differ vastly from a company’s culture, there could be significant clashes later.
  5. Determine how much location matters. Call centers can be offshore, nearshore, or onshore. Onshore call centers often have restrictions on hours of operation either due to time zones or expense. While offshore call centers are often cheaper, there can be a significant cultural divide that can cause friction between customers and the company. Nearshore call centers offer the best of both worlds by having similar cultural experiences and decent proximity for business meetings while providing enough distance to cover more hours of service.

Outsourcing calls gives companies a competitive edge for several reasons. For example, if one business has a customer service line and the other does not, potential customers are more likely to opt for the option they can call with their questions. Customers also prefer businesses that offer extended hours for customer service calls beyond the traditional 9:00 to 5:00. Contact the experts at Actec to learn how investing in a nearshore call center can improve your business.

5 Reasons Why You Need to Outsource Your Call Center

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August 24th, 2020

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Customer service is a significant element of any business regardless of industry. Providing superior customer service can help improve customer satisfaction, referrals, and a business’ bottom line. However, it’s not fiscally practical to have a full-time team of employees to handle all of these calls. Many customers call outside of normal business operations as well, which further complicates the issue. To address these challenges, many companies of all sizes are looking to call centers as a solution.

The following are some of the best advantages of hiring a call center:

  1. Reduced costs. Businesses can utilize call centers to handle all of their calls 24/7. To pay a full-time team of employees to work on-call is often astronomical in comparison.
  2. Better use of time. Not all businesses can afford or need a full-time employee to handle customer service calls. As a result, team members in various departments often rotate who handles incoming calls. By diverting customer service calls to a call center, those employees can focus on their primary job without interruptions.
  3. Around the clock service. Many call centers offer their services 24 hours a day or extended well outside of usual business hours all year round. This is particularly useful for industries like the insurance sector whose clients may require customer service at unusual hours following an accident or loss.
  4. Superior quality of service. Call center employees receive training on how to provide excellent customer service. They are able to provide knowledgeable answers to customers’ questions and concerns while remaining polite and professional.
  5. Actionable reports and data. Many call centers monitor calls to ensure the quality and for training purposes. They can use these reports to improve their employees’ skills as well as provide insights to the company on common pain points for customers.

Call centers can improve customer satisfaction, reduce business costs, and boost productivity. Opting for a nearshore call center can amplify these benefits. Nearshore call center employees are located in a similar geographic location, which eliminates cultural barriers. Contact the experts at Actec to learn how our nearshore call centers can help lower your costs, improve the customer experience, and more.

Are Your New Adjusters Making These Mistakes?

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September 3rd, 2019

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There is a steep learning curve for new adjusters just as there is for anyone entering into a new career track. Insurance adjusting has a broad appeal due to how easy it is to enter the industry and how lucrative it can be straightaway. Once an adjust passes their state license exam, they’re good to get started. They also know they won’t get paid until they close their claims. This usually results in the mentality to close as many claims as possible. However, several hurdles impede an adjuster’s ability to close claims rapidly and these challenges can result in mistakes.

Insufficient Preparation for Estimate Writing

The vast majority of claims work is spent writing estimates. With hurricane season in full force, new insurance adjusters can expect several claims to come their way in the next few months. However, while they’ll be juggling several claims, which means a good deal of money is at stake, they’ll also be struggling to get a handle on accurate estimate writing.

Programs exist to assist with this, but learning them takes time that veteran adjusters won’t have when natural disasters strike. New insurance adjusters need to learn the ropes of estimate writing and understand the basics well in advance of known busy seasons for insurance claims. This will reduce how long it takes the new adjuster to close claims, meaning faster payouts.

Disorganized Processes and Procedures

New adjusters will need a systematic, step-by-step process for how they work claims. Failing to do so will often leave new adjusters bouncing from task to task, missing small details, or forgetting certain steps. Small mistakes can result in kicked back claims, which take up valuable time to untangle and resolve. Organization is key in keeping details straight and having airtight procedures for working claims can ensure they process smoothly from start to finish.

Actec understands the challenges involved in processing claims. Customer tensions are high and adjusters need to process claims quickly to keep everyone happy. Contact us to learn how we can help improve your claims life cycle from first notice of loss (FNOL) to closing the claim.

Advantages of Domestic Call Centers

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June 11th, 2019

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Call centers provide the backbone to a wide variety of custom service operations throughout the world – from tech support and insurance claims to account management and even emergency response. Yet not all regions share the same languages, cultures, and styles of communication. Support from domestic call centers has proven more efficient and effective as there are fewer communication challenges due to the aforementioned reasons.

But the advantages of leveraging local and regional talent to support your organization in its call center apparatus extend far beyond improved communication – employing call center staff in communities where your customer reside helps them to relate to one another, creating a bond of trust and empathy that can be difficult to find in the internet age. Further, labor rights and job protections in the United States are far superior to those in most of the inexpensive developing nations commonly used in call center outsourcing. This makes domestic call center staffing both practical and ethical.

When retaining call center services for your organization, think about the importance of your client relationships and brand integrity. Opting for domestic call centers says as much about your intentions as an organization as it does about the quality of the services you provide. To learn more about call center operations, outsourcing, and the advantages of domestic call centers, contact us.

How to Improve the Insurance Call Center Experience

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January 7th, 2019

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When customers dial their insurer’s customer service number, they usually go through a phone tree before connecting with a live person. More often than not, customers make use of this number when they have a problem. This means they’re likely on edge and customer service representatives need to be prepared to handle the call with finesse. A knowledgeable and friendly representative is likely to yield better results than an inexperienced and aloof one.

However, every customer service representative has to start somewhere; without practice, they can’t improve. The following are several methods representatives can utilize to improve the customer’s experience:

  1. Build representatives’ confidence. A customer service representative who isn’t sure of him or herself is likely to stumble through many of their calls. Insurance companies need to provide representatives with the right tools to help them gain confidence in their ability to answer any question a client might ask them as well as offer creative solutions for customers’ problems. Providing onboarding training is a good start, but implementing quarterly training can help keep their skills sharp.
  2. Emphasize soft skills. Most customers become frustrated with customer service representatives because they can come across as uncaring or robotic. Soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and adaptability are just as important as technical know-how. Insurance companies should provide training for soft skills to teach representatives how to be compassionate while providing accurate information.
  3. Offer peer-to-peer coaching. Training can provide representatives with the foundation they need to offer quality customer support. However, they will encounter situations or develop questions they may feel uncomfortable discussing with their supervisor. This approach to coaching also fosters better relationships between employees.
  4. Focus on quality. Several key performance indicators (KPIs) can help an insurance company pinpoint areas to improve. For example, the industry standard for answering calls within 30 seconds sits at about 80-85%. If an insurance call center is taking longer than this to answer calls, they are already at a disadvantage regarding customer satisfaction.

Customer service representatives field dozens of calls each day. Making sure that each conversation is a satisfactory experience for the customer is vital to customer retention. To learn more about improving the insurance claims call center experience, contact the experts at Actec.

3 Ways to Improve Claim Intake with Enhanced Call Center Customer Service Practices

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July 23rd, 2018

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shutterstock_138016598 - CopyWhen customers call their insurance provider to make a claim or discuss an existing claim, the experience isn’t always smooth. After wending their way through a phone tree, customers often just want to speak to a knowledgeable person about their claim. Many of these interactions flow through a call center, which represents a prime opportunity to improve customer retention. The following are several ways to boost customers’ experiences with insurance claim call centers.

  1. Give representatives the tools and training they need. Customer service representatives (CSRs) need to feel confident that they can help any customer that calls. The best way to do this is a blend of quick thinking and expertise with systems and tools of the trade. Skimping on training or forcing representatives to work with outdated tools will yield average results at best, which isn’t a great start for improving customer satisfaction or retention rates.
  2. Foster a positive working environment. Unhappy customers need fast resolutions to keep them from searching for new providers. However, representatives often take the brunt of customers’ anger. Insurers need to make sure they’re taking care of their people as well as their customers. Keeping CSRs in good spirits is vital to processing claims without complaints or delays. Some ideas to boost the office mood include providing snacks in the cafeteria free of charge, raffling off free movie tickets, recognizing performance-based achievements, etc.
  3. Focus on soft skills. Most customers are hesitant to contact call centers because they don’t want to interact with a robotic CSR. Soft skills such as communication, adaptability, conflict resolution, and more are all vital to successful claims resolution. Call simulations or listening to recorded calls can help CSRs learn how to handle angry or upset customers without losing their cool or coming across as unfeeling.

Many insurers focus on closing cases as fast as possible, and they can sometimes lose sight of the customers on the other side of the claims. By investing in a quality claim reporting solution, insurers can spend less time on redundancies and focus their efforts on customer satisfaction, retention, and claims resolution instead. To learn more about claim reporting and outsourcing, contact the experts at Actec.

Hurricanes and Other Natural Disasters Substantially Increase FNOL (First Notice of Loss) Volume

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September 13th, 2017

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shutterstock_487910935s,With Harvey and Irma making landfall over the past 30 days and wildfire racing through the western states, all facets of the insurance industry are in overdrive. As Jose heads north and Maria further decimates the Caribbean, the importance of accurate first notice of loss can’t be overstated. Here at Actec we’ve had multiple Florida-based organizations move all of their calls to our center here in Atlanta. Some of them started as early as 7 days prior to the storm’s arrival.
Atlanta faced similar hurricane-related challenges on Monday as calls came in at a feverish pace. With schools closing throughout the state and our own employees having to stay at home, a strong remote workforce was critical to success during this time. We were able to ensure that no FNOL call would not go unanswered. Actec answered almost double our normal volume on 9.11.17.  In addition to our remote workforce, Actec put many members of the management team on the phone and even brought in some temporary workers.
First notice of loss is a critical component of running a successful insurance business. From strong customer service to prompt and accurate claim intake, life is better for everyone when the FNOL process goes smoothly. If your current FNOL provider failed to live up to expectations during Harvey, Irma, western wildfires, or other natural disasters in your area, consider giving Actec a call.

Completing the FNOL Process with Value Added Services

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June 7th, 2016

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shutterstock_138016598 - CopyPeople are taught that when they get into a car accident the first thing they need to do is call their insurance agent. What your FNOL call center and adjusters do when customers call to report an accident will help make the entire claims process easy or just another part of their new nightmare.
Putting People First
When a person calls to report an accident, the call center agent shouldn’t just open their computer screen and start asking questions so they can fill out the necessary forms. The first question anyone asks when they hear someone has been in an accident is “Are you all right?”
Before an agent event touches a form, they should ask the customer if they are all right and tell them how sorry they are that this has happened to the individual. Put the person first before the claim and this will help your company make a human connection with the customer.
Immediately Send Important Details
In addition to filling out the necessary paperwork, the FNOL specialist needs to let the customer know everything that will happen in the next several hours, days, and weeks. Let them know if they qualify for a rental car, explain how the car will be inspected, let them know how quickly the claim will be processed, and when the customer can expect funds for repairs or to pay off a loan if the car is totaled.
After completing the FNOL process, the agent needs to send a written copy of this information to the customer. The person will have many things going on in their heads at that moment and may still be in shock. They may forget what the call center agent said five minutes after they hang up the phone.
Sending a copy of a list of next steps and customer responsibilities will help increase customer satisfaction and make sure the customer does what they need to do to complete a claim. Sending it in multiple formats, such as text and email, in addition to updating their online insurance information, will offer an added value that your customers will appreciate as they try to get their lives back to normal.
Be Proactive
The FNOL specialist, adjuster and anyone else who handles the claim should be proactive throughout the process. Contact the customer via phone or email on a regular basis to offer updates and to check on how the person is doing. This will reduce the customer’s stress and help them understand what is going on with their claim without having to log on to the company website or call the insurance agent.
Offering value added services doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive. Showing that your company cares about the individual, being proactive with claim updates and offering next step information across multiple channels are small improvements that will offer your company big rewards.
And to learn more ways your company can improve your FNOL process, contact the experts at Actec.

5 FNOL Terms You Need to Understand

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March 10th, 2016

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shutterstock_252811903 - CopyAs with any industry, insurance is filled with abbreviations. The abbreviations regarding FNOL call centers are important for businesses to understand if they want to improve customer satisfaction and handle claims efficiently. Here are five terms you need to understand for your FNOL Call Center.
ASA
ASA stands for Average Speed to Answer. This is the amount of time it takes for your intake specialists to respond to inbound calls. If your ASA is too long you may have issues with ATA.
ATA
ATA is an abbreviation for Average Time Abandonment. If a customer is on hold too long they will disconnect the call. If a customer hangs up because they receive a recorded message, the phone rings for a long time without being answered or the individual is left on hold too long you will have to deal with dissatisfied customers. Two reasons for increased customer disconnects can be ATB and CHT.
ATB
ATB or All Trunks Busy is a term used when all lines are engaged so the call center can’t receive additional inbound calls or make outbound calls. ATB often occurs when a company doesn’t have the right infrastructure to handle call volume.
CHT
Call Handling Time (CHT) is the total time it takes for a call center representative to handle a claim, including time on the phone with the customer and time after the call to complete the necessary paperwork. If an intake specialist takes too much time handling one claim, the ASA is increased, which affects the companies ATA. EDI may also impact CHT, thereby decreasing the quality of the entire intake process.
EDI
EDI is the Electronic Data Interchange used by all claim management parties. The more efficient a company’s EDI is, the faster a call center can complete a FNOL intake form. Efficient EDI also reduces penalties, fines and customer dissatisfaction.
Understanding these five terms and managing their impact on your call center will create an efficient FNOL intake process. Some companies have a handle on these five terms, while others need to find ways to improve their FNOL management. Contact the experts at Actec for more information about our proprietary intake solution, and how you can use it to improve workflow and improve customer satisfaction