Customer Service

Verizon customers make up more than a third of the U.S. population. They come from nearly every age group and they reach out to us in many ways. They visit our stores, find us online, call us on the phone — or use a combination of those touchpoints. As they pick their own path on…

The burnout crisis in retail is creating a ripple effect across the industry. As employees struggle under mounting job expectations and opt to leave, retailers are facing $19 billion in annual turnover costs. Business leaders and managers are now asking: How can organizations break this cycle? This question is particularly urgent in contact centers, where…

Conversational artificial intelligence is at a tipping point. Beyond customer support, these solutions are being embedded across marketing, sales, IT, and even on search platforms — hinting at a soon-to-be ubiquity. In 2023, conversational AI’s market share was valued at $5.8 billion. By 2028, it’s projected to hit $31.9 billion. These are not the stilted…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword; it’s a game-changer in customer service. Businesses are leveraging AI to transform contact centers from reactive support hubs into proactive, predictive engines that enhance customer experiences and streamline operations. With AI, companies don’t just respond to customer needs, they anticipate them. In this article, I explore…

Customer experience (CX) is king in the retail industry; nevertheless, when interacting with customers over the phone, CX tends to be lackluster. If the phone operator must ask the caller, “Can you give me your last name, order number, and phone number so I can find you in the system?” then the CX is not…

Service is key for virtually all kinds of businesses, with Salesforce research showing excellent customer service can result in 78 percent of consumers returning to do business with them again after a mistake. For retailers, every minute of unexpected facility downtime directly impacts the bottom line through lost sales, compromised inventory, and damaged customer loyalty.…

E-commerce is a tough business. The margins are often wafer-thin and competition is intense. Consumers have elevated expectations. Success demands a frictionless experience on the front end, along with hyper-efficient operations on the back end. For as long as anyone can remember, e-commerce businesses have tried to meet their efficiency and user experience (UX) goals by…

The success of Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year was monumental. Adobe Analytics reported record-breaking online sales of $10.8 billion and $13.3 billion, respectively — an impressive 10 percent increase from 2023. This surge wasn’t just due to deep discounts and deals; artificial intelligence was a gamechanger. AI-powered tools like chatbots and virtual agents…

As the holiday shopping season gathers pace, retailers are working extra hard to satisfy increased customer demand. There’s a strong emphasis on in-store teams, but contact center agents are also critical, serving as the touchpoint between retail brands and millions of customers grappling with online order issues, delivery delays and other complex questions. Artificial intelligence…

The holiday season is a double-edged sword for retailers — a time of immense opportunity and significant stress. Deloitte is forecasting sales growth of 2 percent to 3 percent this season, which will put pressure on retailers, their online platforms, and customer service teams. They will face a spike in questions, requests and returns. Add…