Home > Ask the CRM Experts > Call center software and metrics Questions & Answers > Using call center quality metrics to measure email, chat and phone interactions
Ask The CRM Expert: Questions & Answers
EMAIL THIS

Using call center quality metrics to measure email, chat and phone interactions

Lori Bocklund EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Lori Bocklund

Pose a Question
Other CRM Categories
Meet all CRM Experts
Become an Expert for this site


CRM and call center FAQs
Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


>
QUESTION POSED ON: 13 August 2008
We are an e-commerce company and have a team of 14 call center agents. We communicate mainly via email (70%), chat (20%) and the phone (10%). What quality metrics would best serve us?

>
EXPERT RESPONSE
Your question specifically focuses on call center quality metrics, so I will answer that first, but I also want to add some commentary on overall call center metrics with an emphasis on email and chat, given your media distribution.

Quality metrics for all media should consider key elements such as soft skills, process adherence, problem solving, systems use and accuracy. However, you need to make adjustments based on the media, given the nature of the interactions. For example, with email and chat, spelling and grammar are important, while on a call, tone of voice is important. Your quality considerations will also vary a bit, at least in weighting the criteria, if you are using substantial amounts of pre-written responses for email and chat. Then, the quality is based more on using the right text rather than crafting original content.

Other metrics that provide balance with email and chat include service level (chat) and response time (the service level equivalent for non-real-time media such as email). You will also want to consider cost per contact; understanding cost is always important, but even more so with a multi-channel call center. To further balance your overall metrics strategy, include a measure of customer satisfaction (for example, using a Web form).

Check out SearchCRM.com's call center metrics school to learn more about the top metrics to consider.


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


RELATED CONTENT
Call center software and metrics
What is an acceptable amount of call center break time?
Tips for calculating maximum occupancy in the call center
Developing a call center metrics strategy to reward call center agent performance
Measuring chat session average handle time (AHT)
Can interactive voice response systems recognize abandoned calls?
Volume metrics vs. call center performance metrics
Measuring individual employee performance in the call center
Managing call routing technology in the call center
What's the best ratio of employees to supervisor in the call center?
What type of call queuing is right for our call center?

Call center manager
How to measure customer satisfaction in the call center
Customer complaint management with Don Peppers
What is an acceptable amount of call center break time?
Ten ways to re-energize and motivate call center agents
Call center benchmarking best practices
Tips for calculating maximum occupancy in the call center
Measuring call center key performance indicators to optimize cost, quality
Five best practices for starting a call center
Managing call center stress: Three stress management training courses for agents
Customer value management with Don Peppers
Call center manager Research

RELATED RESOURCES
2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary



Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
Browse our Expert Advice



Expert CRM Reviews
CRM Webcasts
Sales force CRM

Find the right CRM solution according to your unique needs.
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides enterprise IT professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective IT purchase decisions and managing their organizations' IT projects - with its network of technology-specific Web sites, events and magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Reprints  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2000 - 2008, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts