Not so long ago, the phone system was the heart of the contact center. When customers wanted access to quick insights, empathetic support, and detailed guidance, the easiest option was to make a call. While many consumers still rely on phone calls to connect with businesses today, voice is no longer the only option for straightforward service.
Customers increasingly opt for other contact forms, searching for greater convenience, speed, and simplicity. This is particularly true among younger generations, with 73% of millennials saying they avoid phone calls entirely and many Gen Z customers following in their footsteps. For companies to deliver the excellent experiences customers expect, they need to be willing to explore new digital channels, from IM to social media.
The age of digital transformation has had a significant impact on customer expectations. Consumers want faster, more personalized service, and they expect the companies they work with to communicate with them on the channels they feel most comfortable and familiar with.
Adding digital channels to the contact center is how business leaders ensure they can connect with customers within the environments they use every day. Rather than having to research a company online and then switch to a phone call for communication, customers can reach out on the platforms of their choice. Not only does the freedom of choice here immediately boost customer experience, but digital channels also give customers more control over the service experience.
Digital channels allow customers to reach out at a time that suits them, in a convenient format, without having to deal with call queues and long waiting times. Popular solutions for asynchronous messaging are particularly valuable, allowing companies to:
In the past, implementing digital channels into a contact center strategy would have been a complex process requiring in-house developers or complex tech workarounds. Fortunately, innovative, flexible, and scalable solutions for the CX landscape have begun to emerge.
Companies can access solutions from Geomant to instantly integrate several channels, from telephony from Avaya and Cisco to video conferencing tools, asynchronous messaging platforms, and social media solutions.
This means all companies must do is implement their solution is choose the channels they want to integrate. There are options available for popular messaging tools like Viber and WhatsApp, SMS and RCS messaging, web chat platforms, and even social media solutions like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook DM.
Plus, with Geomant’s flexible tools, companies can easily implement their custom channels into the same ecosystem for a complete end-to-end omnichannel experience. Reach out to Geomant today to discover how easy it can be to include digital channels in your CX strategy.