Purchasing resources for Customer Service


Customer service software and solutions for small to mid-sized businesses. Research customer service information from providers of customer service outsourcing services. Browse resources for improving customer care and managing customer relations.

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Customer Service Software

Business directory to customer service software.

www.business.com/software/customer-service-software/
CRM Services

Directory of CRM services and vendors of small business client relationship management solutions. CRM consultants and customer management specialists.

www.business.com/software/crm-services/
eCRM

Vendors of eCRM solutions offering customer management online tools. Review online CRM companies offering online customer management software and services. Select an e-CRM solution provider that suits your business needs.

www.business.com/software/ecrm/
Customer Service Employment

Job boards, employment listings for customer service positions.

www.business.com/human-resources/customer-service-employment/
Consumer Purchasing Habits

Companies that monitor and provide services to help companies track purchasing habits.

www.business.com/sales-and-marketing/consumer-purchasing-habits/
Customer Service Training

It is highly important that businesses implement customer service as a cornerstone of its company values. Making sure that customer experience is optimized will allow the company to reap short and long-term benefits.

www.business.com/education/customer-service-training/
Virtual Customer Service

A popular alternative for companies is to implement virtual customer service, which performs all the tasks of a human representative.

www.business.com/business-planning/virtual-customer-service/
Customer Service Consultants

Directory of customer service consultants and customer retention consulting services. Hire an expert to assist with setting up a customer service department, or to update customer service policies.

www.business.com/sales-and-marketing/customer-service-consultants/
Customer Database Software

Customer database software enables business owners to store and organize basic customer contact information. Some customer management software will even record a history of the communication, events, and actions related to your contacts, such as rece...

www.business.com/software/customer-database-software/
Telecom Management

Telecom management vendors providing telecommunication billing and expense management software. Telecom cost management software allows companies to maximize their voice, data, and wireless expenses.

www.business.com/telecommunications/telecom-management/
Customer Service Basics

Source: /guides/customer-service-basics-23434/

Even online businesses can't eliminate human interaction from their business plan; do business for long enough and some sort of customer care will be necessary, whether it's fixing botched transactions or answering customer questions. For businesses in which employees have face to face contact with customers, good customer service is even more critical, often making or breaking your company's fate. Read More »

Training for Customer Service

Source: /guides/training-for-customer-service-23459/

Making sure your customer care staff is well-trained requires more than just putting the right customer service information in front of them. You must also present the information in such a way that your employees absorb it in the same way you want them to demonstrate it; and you need management to exemplify the same level of dedication to and enthusiasm for customer service that you expect from frontline staff. Read More »

Managing Customer Relationships


Your best source of additional revenue is the customers who are already doing business with you. Learn how to better serve them and you'll spare yourself the trouble and expense of constantly trolling for new prospects. Manage these relationships wisely and you'll be able to:
  1. Track the buying habits of your customers
  2. Detect trends so that you can tweak your products or services accordingly
  3. Decrease sales and marketing costs
  4. Increase customer retention

Invest in technology to help manage your customer database

CRM software can help you keep track of customer buying habits, cross sell more effectively, and target your marketing dollars. And costs have come down in recent years as more vendors focus on the small- and midsize-business market.

Create a loyalty program to reward your best customers

All customers are not created equal. Once you've identified your best customers, pamper them with special offers, exclusive discounts and personal communication.

Communicate frequently and meaningfully with customers

Keep your company's name on your customers' radar screens by sending out newsy emails or newsletters about your company. Selling is secondary here; the main goal is to keep in touch.

Develop a consistent policy for solving customers' problems

You can have the best customer service policies in the world, but once in a while, you're going to make mistakes. How you deal with them is the true test of your mettle.

Teach your employees about the lifetime value of a customer

All of your CRM efforts will be for naught if you aren't also teaching your employees about the value of great service and empowering them to deliver it.

Measure the effect of customer relationship management

You need to know which efforts are generating increased revenue, motivating employees, and delighting customers.
  • When you invest in CRM software, don't overspend on technology you don't need, but make sure that whatever system you choose is scalable as your business grows.
  • When communicating with customers, don't always default to email; there's also huge value in a hand-written note.
  • Keep all customer information you gather absolutely confidential and make sure customers know you're protecting their privacy.
  • Remember that you can't expect your employees to treat your customers any better than you treat them!