Raising the status of outbound dialling in contact centres - a two-point plan from Puzzel

Outbound dialling sometimes has a dubious reputation but used properly, is a powerful outreach tool. The trick is to embed it firmly into agent culture and the customer journey - Christian Thorsrud at Puzzel explores the options. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) January 25, 2018 - London, UK - Whatever way you look at it, traditional outbound dialling has received bad press over the years. From simple calls for contact list updating, surveys or verification services to hard-sell telemarketing or fund-raising calls, customers often dread outbound dialling, complaining of time-wasting at best, harassment at worst and of course "silent calls".

However, FiveCRM cites five vital benefits of 'outdialling' as a valuable outreach tool,[i] particularly when put into the hands of the contact centre. Far more cost-effective than hiring traditional outbound sales teams, contact centres can reach a far larger geographical area than travelling sales people and connect with far more people in a single day.

So, why the disparity of opinion and what can be done to close the gap? Essentially, it's a case of joining the dots between agent culture and technical innovation. It's also time to raise the status of outbound dialling from tactical, second-class citizen to strategic enabler of a first-class customer experience.

Step One: Take the right approach
Far too often, agents make a half-hearted attempt at outbound dialling without any real thought behind it and then wonder why it doesn't work. Consider these three steps:

Be prepared and professional - understand the reasons for outbound dialling and establish the end results. For example, if it is sales, ask yourself how many calls you will need to make the campaign successful and financially viable. Know your audience: find out the name of the person you should speak to. Then, call at the right time - when people are more likely to answer the phone i.e. not during meal times. Finally, schedule agent breaks and training during quiet times to maximise productivity and campaign results

Measure what you do and act upon it - Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) need to be actively monitored and adapted to changing customer and business requirements. Make them relevant and use the results to plan for the future

Reward and train agents - they'll work harder if you do. However, be sure to set realistic targets and incentives for agents in the short, medium and long-term, with something they actually want (within reason) to keep them motivated. Help agents to understand the customer information being presented to them so they keep human interactions to a maximum.

Step Two: Make technology work for you
Now you have established the right culture, take a closer look at the technology underpinning your contact centre. It could be the perfect opportunity for a complete refresh. Automated cloud-based solutions bring many benefits: including preview, predictive and power modes for outbound dialling activities; skill-based routing to accelerate first call resolution rates; integration with CRM systems and support for new communications channels. The most recent innovations in outbound dialling take these benefits to the next level:

Efficient call scheduling - if customers do not have time to take or finish a call, agents can arrange a future outgoing call at an agreed time. Customers can also request callbacks online, specifying both a day and time for the call.

Easier integration of data - the flexibility of the latest technology enables data to be imported easily from CRM solutions, databases and campaign management systems. At the click of a mouse, customer contact details on imported lists can be added, deleted or edited without having to de-duplicate external lists prior to import. This saves time and guarantees the latest customer data is always used

Relevant reporting - different metrics are often applied to outbound activity, however, the most important are the most relevant to your campaign. Quality reports are more relevant than simply counting volumes.

Running an effective and profitable outbound campaign is all about combining skilled, dedicated people with efficient technology and giving agents the right tools to do their job. It might be time to re-assess your own approach to people and technology with this simple two-point plan. Be ready for the outbound challenge!

Christian Thorsrud is Product Manager at Puzzel

[i] https://fivecrm.com/5-crucial-benefits-of-outbound-calling

Press Contact:
Mary Phillips
PR Artistry
Lower Woodend Barns Fawley Henley-on-Thames OXON
44 1491 845553
mary ( @ ) pra-ltd dot co dot uk
https://www.puzzel.com/uk/

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