Our First Round Table Event – DDC Discusses
The British Library hosted the inaugural DDC Discusses event on Tuesday, 15th November. In the exclusive Boardroom suite, a select group of CX specialists gathered to discuss the world of conversation analysis and what research in this field can add to – or challenge! – our understanding of what constitutes effective customer experience. Keynote speaker Elizabeth […]
How Will ChatGPT Transform Customer Service?
For years now, artificial intelligence has been transforming the customer experience. The chances are you’ve already interacted with some form of AI solution when you’ve processed an order on a Shopify website or chatted to a bot on a website widget. As customer contact volumes have expanded, queries have grown more complex, and companies […]
A Year in Review with John Callachan
After the challenges of 2020 & 2021, this year was full of hope and curiosity for what the “new norm” might look like. Whilst we have now learned to live with Covid, the cost of the pandemic and political uncertainty has led to a global cost of living crisis. Nonetheless, there is much to be […]
Retail Peaks, they’re not just for Christmas.
The holiday season represents a crucial period for retailers both online and in physical stores. During October, November, and December each year, companies experience rapid increases in demand for their services as spending rises from a range of consumers. In the UK, 81% of consumers have said they’re planning to shop more during the Black […]
How the Energy Crisis is Affecting Retail and Ecommerce
It’s no secret that the last couple of years have had a phenomenal impact on the retail landscape. The pandemic caused the closure of stores worldwide, with around 8,700 British chain stores shutting their doors in 2021 alone. Surviving store owners have had to adapt at break-neck speed to new changes in customer demands and […]
The Impact of Customer Experience on Customer Lifetime Value
It’s easy to see CX (Customer Experience) initiatives as a drain on customer resources. By the end of 2022, global CX technology spending is set to reach a value of $641 billion, with organizations investing in everything from CRM tools, to cloud-based contact centres and AI. If your budget is limited, you might assume allocating […]
Part 5: Collaborating with an Outsourcer (A Supplier’s Guide)
As the way customers engage with their utility suppliers and general purchasing behaviours change, the rise of the contact centre world is showing no signs of slowing. By 2027, the industry is expected to reach a value of $496 billion (Statistica), and in turn, demand for outsourcing contact centre services is due to grow. With […]
Part 4: The Importance of Communicating Effectively with your Customers
Recently, customers have been worried and concerned around matters such as supplier of last resort processes and price increases, and it is during such times that communication is crucial. The changes have been confusing to those of us ingrained in the market, let alone the end-users, amplifying the importance of communicating effectively. Customer communication is […]
Part 3: Supporting Vulnerable Customers
There are a lot of challenges facing customers currently with the rising cost of living and the impact financial burdens have on mental wellbeing. That is why Ofgem’s directive – that the energy market ‘is accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all consumers, including those in vulnerable situations’ – is more imperative than […]
Part 2: Delivering Best in Class Customer Service
A big focus in Utilities, as in many industries, is the evolution of customer service offerings in a post-pandemic world. How have the customer expectations changed? Which communication channels are being used, and how effective are they? Moreover, where can innovation make life easier for providers and customers alike? As stated by Five9, the intelligent […]
Part 1: Utilities & The Customer Experience
The utility market has been experiencing unprecedented change; it is practically impossible to watch the news and not hear about the soaring energy prices and the knock-on effects on our economy and communities alike. The industry has a number of challenges to overcome in 2022, but that’s not to say that progress has not […]
Part Six – Collaboration and its Role in the Future of Retail
Modern Consumers Demand More There has never been as much choice as there is today; the world of e-commerce has ballooned, which means that there are seemingly endless options at the click of a button. The pandemic has only accelerated this trend, and, as a result, some of the best-known brands globally have seen a […]
Part Four – UX: Delivery and Returns
Due to rising demand, HGV driver shortages, and more expectant customers than ever before, it’s evident that the ‘Amazon Generation’ are pushing the industry to new levels of transformation. So, what can we learn from consumers’ new habits post-pandemic, and how is that already impacting the UX regarding deliveries and returns? The Rise of Digital […]
Part Three – What Next for the Accelerating World of E-Commerce?
The UK has the most advanced e-commerce market in all of Europe. This means that staying ahead of the game has never been more imperative; consumers expect a high level of service when buying products online. Consequently, retail businesses must work hard to deliver, literally… Flexibility in Delivery and Returns Perhaps one of the most […]
Part One – A Window of Opportunity
As we see the easing of Covid restrictions across the UK and a sense of normality return, we felt this was the time to look at how retail has had to adjust and what we might see moving forwards. Many retailers have had to quickly adapt to new forms of digital engagement and improve their […]
