The Ticket: Discover the Future of Customer Service, Support, and Experience, with Intercom

In this episode, Senior Director of AI Support Ruth O’Brien and VP of Support Declan Ivory take you inside part two of Intercom’s AI Agent Blueprint: "Scale it." They share lessons from being the first support team in the world to deploy a generative AI agent and dive into the organizational shifts that make scaling the impact of AI possible. From introducing new roles like conversation designers and AI ops managers, to keeping customer experience front and center, and rethinking support economics to prove long-term business value, it’s a candid look at what it really takes to scale AI in customer service.Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/zUw0IyehCuw?si=w5F8ElMVf1_-9nLvRead the AI Agent Blueprint here: https://fin.ai/blueprintNewsletter:Sign up for The Ticket on LinkedIn: A newsletter bursting with insights and advice for support leaders who are navigating the shift to AI-first CS. https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-ticket-7158151857616355328/Follow The Ticket podcast:Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ticket-discover-the-future-of/id996103731Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6zlcXgcd2kX9E4cbQTCsR9YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlCIldMZCaFrn43ZNAiw00icA-nRW5wVFRSS Feed https://art19.com/shows/inside-intercomSay hi:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intercom/X: https://x.com/intercomhttps://www.fin.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a captivating discussion, George Dilthey, Head of Support at Clay, shares insights on 'The Wheel,' a groundbreaking 15-month rotational program aimed at developing future tech leaders through customer service. He explains how this initiative hires fresh graduates, integrating customer insights into various departments. The conversation highlights the dual role of mentorship and AI in enhancing team engagement and service quality. George also illustrates how rethinking customer support can transform it into a strategic asset that drives value and fosters long-term career growth.

We've just launched "The AI Agent Blueprint" – a two-part strategic map for launching and scaling AI in customer service. It's designed to help customer service, CX, and AI transformation leaders deploy fast, scale with confidence, and achieve meaningful business transformation with AI.In this episode, Senior Director of Human Support Bobby Stapleton and VP of Customer Support Declan Ivory unpack what's in the Blueprint, sharing hard-won lessons from Intercom's own journey deploying AI, why it's not about AI for AI's sake, and what support leaders need to get right during this transformational time – from building a business case to rewiring their team structure. It's a grounded, behind-the-scenes look at leading a CS organization through AI transformation.Read the AI Agent Blueprint: https://fin.ai/blueprintWatch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ildUg7TrJfINewsletterSign up for The Ticket on LinkedIn: A newsletter bursting with insights and advice for support leaders who are navigating the shift to AI-first CS. https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-ticket-7158151857616355328/Say hiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intercom/X: https://x.com/intercomhttps://www.fin.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark Hughes, Co-Founder and CEO of SolidRoad, dives into the evolution of customer experience in the AI era. He discusses the diminishing role of tier-one support and the revolutionary shift towards simulation-based training for both agents and AI. Mark emphasizes the need for personalized training solutions, dynamic methodologies, and tailored scoring systems to enhance empathy in customer interactions. He also sheds light on the challenges of AI product development and the vital training that support teams require to navigate this complex landscape.

How do you keep your AI agent accurate when the product changes every week? Bobby Stapleton, Senior Director, Human Support, Intercom, chats with Ruth O’Brien, Senior Director, AI Support, Intercom, about how Intercom’s support team maintains 75%+ resolution rates - from the processes behind new product launches to the culture of continuous improvement across both AI and human teams.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7poemldqBjc?si=DQ8C4Z_0aqzLbzccFollow the peoplehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthieob/https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbystapleton/NewsletterSign up for The Ticket on LinkedIn: A newsletter bursting with insights and advice for support leaders who are navigating the shift to AI-first CS. https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-ticket-7158151857616355328/Check out our /ideas podcast: https://youtu.be/GPkDfauTz6I?si=oFDgt6Phe4jBG0ZUFollow The Ticket podcast:Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ticket-discover-the-future-of/id996103731Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6zlcXgcd2kX9E4cbQTCsR9YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlCIldMZCaFrn43ZNAiw00icA-nRW5wVFRSS Feed https://art19.com/shows/inside-intercomSay hiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intercom/X: https://x.com/intercomhttps://www.fin.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sam Miller, Customer Support Operations Manager at Dental Intelligence and a master of automation, talks with Ruth O’Brien about the innovative fusion of AI and human support. He shares insights on how AI systems like Finn are not only streamlining workflows, but also transforming customer interactions from transactional to consultative. They discuss the ongoing shift in customer support roles, the importance of trust in AI, and how balancing automation with the human touch enhances overall service quality.

Jared Ellis, Senior Director of Global Product Support at Culture Amp, discusses the shift from traditional CSAT metrics to the innovative Customer Experience Score. He shares insights on the limitations of CSAT and the need for real-time feedback to enhance support effectiveness. Ellis emphasizes the transformative power of AI in refining customer interactions and turning neutral experiences into memorable ones. The conversation also highlights the importance of balancing customer feedback with team performance in navigating the evolving landscape of customer support.

Join John Durocher, Chief Customer Officer at Calix, as he reveals the art of unifying the customer journey. He shares insights on breaking down silos and embedding customer success across teams. John explains how AI is revolutionizing frontline support, making interactions simpler and more trustworthy. He emphasizes the value of humor and engaging customer advisory boards, while also discussing the balance between feedback and experimentation. Ultimately, he champions a shift from mere product adoption to a holistic customer experience.

Isabelle Zdatny, Head of Thought Leadership at the Qualtrics XM Institute, joins VP of Customer Support Declan Ivory to explore the decline in customer feedback and its impact on businesses. They discuss how trust gaps and survey fatigue are affecting engagement. Isabelle highlights innovative techniques to bridge the feedback gap and the importance of smarter, AI-driven listening strategies. The conversation reveals how adaptive surveys and real-time insights are transforming customer experience management, ensuring that companies meet rising expectations effectively.

Maxime Manseau, VP of Support at Birdie, shares insights on effective customer support operations. He discusses the hidden costs of misdiagnosing customer issues, highlighting that prolonged resolution times lead to frustrated customers and exhausted agents. Manseau emphasizes the importance of AI tools, like Birdie’s unique reverse screen recording feature, to enhance issue understanding. The conversation also touches on the need for empathy in support roles and the irreplaceable value of human interaction in an increasingly automated landscape.