Here’s an alarming statistic: More than half (56%) of contact center agents say they’d think about leaving their jobs if they couldn’t work remotely. Our 2022 research study of contact center agents and managers revealed a big conflict between these groups: Despite most agents’ appetite for remote work, almost half of contact centers plan to…
“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” – Robert Burns As a contact center leader, you’ve done the work to create a stellar workforce management plan. You have all the “rights” in place – the right people, the right channels, at the right time with the right forecast, and the right schedule…
During my time as a workforce management (WFM) professional, I have implemented WFM systems into several departments within multiple companies. These implementations were either with a department or company that did not have a previous WFM system or they had one but were not using it to its potential. In some instances, the workforce management…
Try a quick web search, and you’ll find pages of content answering the question, “What is WFM?” But while many of the articles (and graphics and videos) provide some answers, they’re usually packed with industry jargon unfamiliar to most people. So, rather than help, all that information often leads to further confusion and misconceptions about…
There’s a lot riding on your contact center schedule. Does it have enough coverage for each channel? Does it meet your agents’ needs? Does it have the right tasks at the right times? Will customers get service in the time they expect? Even when you get it all set, making sure agents stick to your…
During the pandemic, customers turned to digital communications in droves for service and support. Contact centers quickly needed to pivot to add or enhance additional support channels such as chat, text, and email. Omnichannel support is now the de facto standard for many organizations, and this shift will continue to grow throughout 2023 and into…
The requirement to provide a better customer experience while improving agent productivity and controlling costs is paramount in contact centers in the best of times. During a recession, it could be the difference between survival and failure. Workforce management (WFM) continues to be one of the most important contact center agent productivity tools. By optimizing…
The customer experience (CX) benefits of effective Workforce Management (WFM) scheduling are clear. And, to get even more out of your WFM solution, leverage these five WFM scheduling tips and start the new year with positive momentum for lasting CX improvement. Done right, WFM scheduling also can be a critical strategy for boosting your customer…
If the last 24 months have taught us anything, it’s that long-term capacity planning is in dire need of an overhaul. Our world is dynamic. Business is dynamic. And hiring is dynamic. In the dynamic world of customer support and service, capacity planning, or the process of long-term forecasting and planning for staffing needs, can’t…
We all can quickly recall examples of when we’ve received gold-star service — and at the opposite end of the spectrum — when service has been disappointing. For example, think of how an amazing restaurant experience combines well-prepared, tasty food with promptness, friendliness, and food-oriented knowledge. Then think of an example when you’ve been stuck…
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Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 11:00 AM EDT