You wouldn’t think that the simple act of hiring a car would be such a great customer experience would you? But it is, and it was. Not just once but consistently 3 times in a row. Now not many companies can boast of that.
Leading on Service
In a previous incarnation, I worked in the fleet and leasing industry. For the benefit of those people who are unfamiliar with it, as a company we provided fixed term finance to businesses who wanted to provide company cars to their employees (so lease rather than buy).
State of the Nation: UKCSI results are out and it’s not pretty!
The most recent results of the UKCSI are out this month and they don’t make for good reading as to the state of the nation for UK Customer Experience.
The executive summary can be found here if you want to read it but I’ll cover the key highlights and trends for you here.
Indifference or inertia isn’t customer loyalty
After sending an unrecognised 0808 telephone number to voicemail recently I foolishly answered the phone after the third or fourth call. As I suspected, it was my mobile phone network provider who initially claimed they were calling to ‘thank me for my loyalty!’
Sack all the cleaners
Before we start let me just clarify that I’m not about to call for the wholesales removal of cleaners from their current employment. Nothing of the sort. But I do want to talk about empowerment and ownership in relation to … Continue reading →
Slides, friction and customer experience
I remember a couple of instances when I was young, when my Mum polished the slide in our local park. She actually took a duster and a can of polish in her bag along to the park when we played. Just standing on the top step was enough to give you butterflies, let alone the sliding experience that was to follow! It was a great experience. Fast, thrilling and without friction to slow me or my friends down and one we could repeat again and again until tea time. It’s the same with customer experience…
Honesty, expectations and reality
Amongst Richard Branson’s many quotes that have been published over the years, my most favourite has always been this one; “Customer service is about attention to detail and communication. Neither of which are difficult so naturally they’re the first things we forget!” It’s my favourite because he’s right.
Can you value and recommend a product you never use?
Not many people I know like having to pay car insurance. It’s perceived as a necessary evil and an additional expense and cost. I understand why we need it, but it always feels like an additional tax. And it’s not even a remotely glamorous or exciting purchase now is it? No insurance is.
Is ‘Easy’ The New Driver of Customer Loyalty?
Customers that get ‘easy to do business with’ types of experiences are significantly more likely to return than those that don’t. Sounds common sense doesn’t it and yet some businesses seems to go out of their way to do the opposite.
