As we enter 2022, it’s important to re-evaluate the changes you’ve made or will need to make to your business.
Here is how you can prepare your business for the unexpected
- Guard your customer-facing assets
- 2022: The year you close the loop
- Think big
- Customer and employee care
Guard your customer-facing assets
Encourage staff to serve customers more consistently and broadly. We must all ‘expect the unexpected’; the world is volatile, but not everyone welcomes change.
Anxiety and frustration can lead to unfortunate or dangerous situations for customers and sales staff. In the US, for example, ‘air rage’ incidents reached record highs this year, after the airline industry began tracking them.
When customers or employees are in unfamiliar situations, managers must find solutions.
This includes exploring ways to help customers navigate new processes and communicate new rules or options. Frontline workers like salespeople and counter staff need it the most. Not everything goes as planned, so what do they need to know?
Managers can work with others in the company. How can customers’ expectations be reset? What about the supply chain, high-stress situations, or key customer journey moments?
Managers can prepare by using root cause analysis and customer journey mapping.
2022: The year you close the loop
Customers frequently provide feedback that goes unanswered. Quality retailers not only hear their customers, but acknowledge their presence.
A retailer should act on customer feedback and ideas when appropriate, not just respond. Jewellery retailers may need to band together and involve staff.
Closing the loop also means thanking everyone who helped solve customer issues and improve outcomes. Commence by recognizing your staff’s achievements.
Customer feedback will continue to be important in future planning, but only if it is returned to the customer.
Think big
Don’t waste time on nonsense. Always consider how your customer experience goals can help your business achieve its objectives.
Short-term, urgent responses are becoming increasingly important. But retailers must look beyond staffing shortages and supply chain disruptions.
Invest in ways to improve your customer experience now and in the future.
Some retailers use centralized customer data to track past purchases. In this way, employees are more efficient in delivering information.
Customer and employee care
Uncertainty has caused a stress crisis. Managers can help customers and employees by proactively reducing stress and anxiety.
What do you expect to see in the next 12-18 months?
In order to achieve a company’s mission in 2022, customer experience managers will need to collaborate.