TTEC
APAC Blog

When it comes to customer service, customers expect fast and accurate support through the channel of their choice. It’s up to businesses to figure out how to best meet those expectations. This typically means choosing between omnichannel versus multichannel support.

Digital-first: it’s top of mind for many brands that want to meet modern customers’ demands and keep up with (and surpass) competitors. Yet many companies still aren’t grasping what the concept truly means.

When it comes to engaging customers, the terms multichannel and omnichannel are often used interchangeably. However, there are significant differences between these terms and recognising those differences could determine whether a business successfully meets customer expectations.

Customers want to reach brands on their own terms, whenever, wherever. Chatbot and messaging capabilities are the essential tools needed to provide this 24/7, personalised customer service. But these two platforms aren’t interchangeable.

Outsourcing and managed services are appealing options for many companies at a time when workforces are stretched thin. But don’t be fooled—these terms aren’t interchangeable. Both involve receiving business services from a third party but determining which of the two options is the better fit could make the difference between a thriving company versus just staying afloat.

It’s a common experience in inefficient omnichannel call centres – you have to tell a customer service rep your information moments after you already inputted it into the IVR system. Or you must explain to a call centre agent about the unsuccessful live chat experience that prompted your customer support call. Or you respond to a direct mail or social media promotion, only to find a clueless representative on the other end of the line.

Does your business need a call centre or a contact centre? Although these terms are often used interchangeably, there are key differences between these common business communication models. Understanding the difference between a call centre and contact centre, and how they apply to your business needs, is a critical first step to building an efficient, differentiated customer experience that drives loyalty and customer satisfaction.

Let’s face it: customers hate using Interactive Voice Response systems (IVRs). They particularly dislike having to enter a seemingly endless series of prompts, wondering if they’ll ever be able to have an issue resolved. It’s hardly surprising that the majority of customers are dissatisfied with their IVR experiences.