Outsourcing Email and Chat Support: What To Expect

Handle Large volume of queries effortlessly-

Initially the number of queries are less so you’d probably think that it can easily be managed in-house. However as your business grows so will the complaints and queries which eventually will be difficult to manage with the limited resources. Outsourcing is the best bet in such situations.
Outsourcing customer support to a reputed service provider will ensure prompt and quality service at all times. When you are doing business, you have to be
available for your customers 24/7. Once you outsource, you can be free from all these worries. Your outsourcing service provider will manage everything for you at their end so you and your team can concentrate on other core tasks.

Skilled Executives Used to Working on Email and Telephones-

When you outsource email and chat support function you can be sure that you will have skilled individuals who are experienced in customer service and know how to engage potential customers.
I know you’re probably thinking….but outsourced chat support executives may not in-depth knowledge of your product/services! Well….as with any employee you will have to give them some training about your business, products etc. With time and experience they
gradually gain expertise on the subject. Until then you can always have a procedure in place for escalations which you can handle with the help of your in-house team.

Cost-Effective and Hassle-Free-

Handle Large volume of queries effortlessly-

Outsourcing email and chat support function is no doubt a cost-effective and hassle-free alternative to developing a support team in-house. Cost of employment, infrastructure, software etc add to the overhead expenses which can prove to be costly affair for small and medium businesses.
It is always better to outsource the same to a reputed and reliable company so you can carry on with your business in a hassle-free manner. It may seem like an expense to you initially but delivering customer service through expert professionals will enhance customer engagement and boost conversions.
Drives Continuous Improvement – Outsourcing support functions ensure you have a separate team on the front end to deal specifically with all customer related issues. They would be professionals working at it 24/7 and will not let any issue go unnoticed.
Even the smallest of issues whether its website or service-related is caught and fixed instantly. Also continuous engagement with customers helps operators test different ways to develop the most effective customer support system for the business.
Having learnt about the multiple benefits of outsourcing support functions, it is important to understand the services included in customer support function so as to set reasonable and clear expectation from our outsourcing partner.

Services Included under Email and Chat Support:-

• Technical support – This includes any technical difficulty faced by the clients/customers regarding website/product. The technical support executives strive for timely resolution of all queries to the user’s satisfaction.

• Escalations – Handling all escalations effectively and forwarding it to the right department to ensure quick resolution.

• Remote IT Support – Outsourcing partner can also provide remote IT services to cater to your system requirement like Operating systems, Application, Programming, Security and Networking etc.

• Customer Support for E-commerce – Attending to queries related to order tracking, returns & exchange, order management, payments etc.

• Live Chat Support – Website live chat support system is a unique opportunity to engage anybody who lands on your website and help them through the complete customer journey like pre-sales, on boarding, product support, billing and payments, cross selling & up selling. They have access to advanced tools and software that help them manage live chat support function.

• Email support – This caters to a business’s non-voice call center needs. This includes real-time answering services, prompt and personalized responses to emails 24/7.

• Complaints Log – Support executives keep a log of all new, existing and old queries and complaints and customer feedback to track efficiency and improvement.

• Complaint Analysis – Your outsourcing partner also provide a thorough complaint analysis report which can be utilized to drive improvements in the business.

Qualities to Look for in your Outsourcing Partner-

Outsourcing an essential business function to a third party is never an easy decision. It takes a lot of research, discussion, negotiation on the part of the business before they can be fully convinced about the same.
It’s imperative to look for a good outsourcing company that will cover all of your requirements effectively. Outlined below are some of the essential qualities that you must look for in your outsourcing partner before you delegate your support function to them:-

1. Experienced Resources – This is probably the number one quality you should look for in your outsourcing partner. Remember the team working on your outsourced function will be an extension of your company’s workforce and should have similar values and culture.Therefore it is important to ensure that your remote team comprises of experienced professionals who can imbibe things quickly and can get used to your organization’s values in no time so as to deliver the best possible service to your customers.  Do make sure that the team members have prior experience in customer service and support functions.

2. On-Time Support-
   In order to ensure good customer service it is important that all emails are attended to in a timely manner within 24 hrs of their arrival and all queries resolved within the stipulated time.A good email and chat support team would ensure that email support executives are at it consistently so that no complaints or query go unanswered.

3. Reliable and Reputed – Always go for a reliable and reputed company for your outsourcing needs. Make sure the company has been in business for quite some time and have prior experience handling similar requirements. Make sure to check out their past reviews and portfolio of projects completed in the past.

4. Knowledge of the Job and the Product – Make sure the outsourcing partner you choose has completed similar jobs in the past or at least has employees who have prior experience of task. Also a basic knowledge of the product/service is essential although basic training will have to be provided by you. If the team has some prior knowledge of the product/service being offered it will only help them pick up thinks faster and perform their tasks more efficiently.

5. Good Communication Skills – Good communication skills are a must in support functions. A representative with good written skills will be able to communicate with customers effectively and provide specific answers. Also they will have an edge over other people when it comes to customer engagement.

6. Positive Attitude – Last but not the least, a positive attitude is a must. An employee with a positive attitude will always view every challenge as an opportunity to prove themselves. Therefore they will be driven to give in their best to the task. A positive attitude will also boost their productivity. When an employee has a positive attitude it will be evident in his attitude at work and will show in his interaction with clients as well. Therefore a positive attitude in employees will go a long way in driving customer engagement.

Outsourcing email and chat support functions these days are more of a necessity than an option because of the efficiency of the system when outsourced and the costs associated with managing it in-house.
A right outsourcing partner to manage your support function can be a boon to your business.  The key is to know and understand your requirements before you outsource and do your homework when it comes to researching the outsourcing companies. Choose the ones that fit your requirement. Schedule a call with the person concerned to talk about your requirement and expectation. That’s it! You’re good to go! Acelerar Technologies has been in the business of providing remote assistance to companies big and small from across the world in different areas. Get in touch with us now for any help