The delusion amongst customer service and experience VPs - Interview with Micah Peterson of ProcedureFlow
Sep 19, 2023
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Micah Peterson, VP of Product Management at ProcedureFlow, talks about delusions in customer service at the VP level, the impact of followed procedures on AHT, the challenges of text-based knowledge bases, the importance of responding rather than reacting in customer service, visualizing concepts in knowledge management, remote work and the importance of human connection, the value of scenario-based training for VPs, and the importance of innovation in customer service.
Investing in training and knowledge management is crucial for providing excellent customer service and improving agent performance.
Employing scenario-based training and utilizing visual tools like ProcedureFlow lead to better customer experiences and quicker onboarding of new agents.
Traditional text-based knowledge bases tend to become outdated and dysfunctional, but visual knowledge management tools like ProcedureFlow offer a solution by providing easily navigable and updatable bite-sized logical paths.
Deep dives
Delusions around customer service and training
The podcast explores the delusions that exist in the service space, particularly at the VP level. It highlights the disconnect between high-level goals and the actual challenges faced by customer service agents. The delusion of introducing new channels or technologies without adequately preparing and training agents is discussed. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the short window of time agents have with customers and the need to make them experts quickly. The podcast suggests that focusing on training and knowledge management is crucial in providing excellent customer service and improving agent performance.
The importance of a playbook and scenario-based training
The podcast emphasizes the value of giving agents a playbook and employing scenario-based training. It highlights the limitations of traditional training methods, such as PowerPoint presentations, and advocates for a more innovative approach. The discussion explores the benefits of using visual tools like ProcedureFlow to create a playbook that guides agents through different call scenarios. It emphasizes the importance of providing agents with real-time support and enabling them to emulate taking calls from day one. The podcast suggests that investing time, money, and energy in playbook and scenario-based training leads to better customer experiences and quicker onboarding of new agents.
The impact of text-based knowledge bases and the need for a visual approach
The podcast discusses the challenges of maintaining text-based knowledge bases over time. It highlights the tendency for articles to become outdated or dysfunctional after a three-year cycle. The importance of making knowledge bases visually consumable and empowering agents to contribute to their upkeep is emphasized. The podcast suggests that visual tools like ProcedureFlow offer a solution by providing bite-sized logical paths and allowing agents to easily navigate and update the knowledge base. It emphasizes the role of visual knowledge management in improving agent morale, reducing handle time, and enhancing overall customer satisfaction.
The challenge of traditional text-based knowledge bases
Traditional text-based knowledge bases can become outdated, incomplete, and difficult to navigate over time. As companies add new articles without updating older ones, there is duplication, incorrect information, and a lack of trust. Companies often lack the resources to effectively manage and maintain their knowledge bases, leading to a decline in usability.
Procedure Flow's impact on improving customer service
Procedure Flow provides visual knowledge, making information easier to consume in real time. It helps break through the challenges of traditional text-based knowledge bases by providing navigable flow charts. By using Procedure Flow, companies have achieved significant results, such as reducing escalations by over 50%, improving customer satisfaction ratings, cutting hold times, reducing errors, and increasing proficiency. The platform creates an engaging training environment and empowers agents to provide efficient and effective customer service.
Today’s interview is with Micah Peterson, a member of the founding team and the VP of Product Management at ProcedureFlow, the next-generation knowledge management software that is designed to help companies visualize and navigate processes. We talk about two delusions that exist in the service space, particularly at the VP level, why followed procedures reduce AHT, how customer service can often be the dumpster fire of the company, and how text-based knowledge bases tend only to have a 3-year lifecycle unless they are properly cleaned and managed before they become completely dysfunctional.