Membership information for supplier partners
Our members really value the benefits of our membership and find that when their key suppliers are also members, they are better aligned in terms of methodology, structure and values…
In this new period of uncertainty, effective procurement is more essential than ever
By Jo Causon, CEO, The Institute of Customer Service The government’s announcement earlier this week of a raft of new coronavirus restrictions marks entry in a new period of challenge…
Owing a Debt of Gratitude – Interview with Derek Usher, Cabot Financial
Extract from Customer Focus Magazine: Issue 29 (May/June 2020) The state of many Britons’ finances is a parlous one to say the very least. Not only do a staggering 25%…
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Managing difficult conversations as the COVID-19 lockdown evolves
As the COVID-19 crisis evolves, organisations need to be agile and responsive to the changing environment, act quickly and communicate clearly with employees and customers. Many organisations have had to change the way they deliver service to customers, or offer reduced levels of service.
Top tips on how and why to conduct customer surveys during COVID-19
During the COVID-19 crisis many organisations have understandably been reluctant to run customer satisfaction surveys or research. Completing a satisfaction survey is probably not the priority for most customers at this time. By pressing ahead with a survey, organisations worry about appearing to be insensitive or out of touch. Or, if organisations have been unable to maintain accustomed service levels as a consequence of COVID-19, there is a concern that customer feedback only reflects the current context rather than the organisation’s broader service performance. However, as it becomes increasingly clear that measures to combat COVID-19 are likely to evolve but will be with us for some time, organisations need to recalibrate how they will gather and act on customer feedback.
Lead and engage your team during the COVID 19 crisis
Drawing on The Institute of Customer Service’s Academy ServiceManagement training and our research into leadership and employee engagement in a service context, we’ve put together recommended practices and tips to help you lead and engage your team.
Looking after the health and safety of your employees who cannot work from home
Throughout the COVID-19 epidemic, some employees are required to attend their workplace or travel to perform their role. Often they are delivering essential services that are essential customers and society as a whole. We have drawn on a range of global sources and The Institute’s research to provide an overview and guidance to help keep your employees safe in a range of working environments.
Top tips to serve your vulnerable customers better
Vulnerable customers can go unnoticed by organisations - if you’re not looking for the signs, you might easily miss them. It is important to assume that, potentially, all customers are vulnerable – there is no such thing as the ‘ideal’ customer. The CARE framework, for example, will help you to identify if a customer is vulnerable. Here are just some of the things you need to watch out for when you’re communicating with a customer: