Customer Service vs. Customer Experience
So how do you know if you received an ‘Experience’ or just a ‘Service’? How do you know if you have delivered an ‘Experience’ or just a ‘Service’. People use these words interchangeably. Is Customer Service the same as Customer Experience from an interactional standpoint? That is what this article will define: The difference between someone providing a ‘Service’ versus an ‘Experience’? Let’s break them down and see. |
What words & actions come to mind when you think of ‘Service’? Service is delivering the product or service as requested. We expect it to be on time, accurate, professional, as promised. It is reacting to a Customer’s request. It must be delivered, not optional; it is what the Customer is paying for, and the bare minimum. A service by itself is not unique; every one else is doing it, which makes it a commodity. A service is not memorable unless parts are done wrong or omitted. It is a transaction, unmemorable. The moment the ‘Service’ is complete, the Customer will never think about it again. ***Secret Service Summit video trailer and April BONUS Offer! What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘Experience’? An ‘Experience’ conjures up so many different things. ‘Experience’ evokes a reaction, a feeling; it is unique, uncustomary, and it sparks emotional senses. ‘Experience’ is by design, anticipatory, and is distinct. ‘Experience’ is entertaining, leaves an impression, is memorable, and creates a need to have it repeated. The Oxford Dictionary defines an ‘Experience’ as an event/occurrence which leaves an impression on someone. Let’s go back to the airport store. What if after the cashier greeted you, she So what makes a ‘Service’ an ‘Experience’? A great way to look at the difference between a ‘Service’ and an ‘Experience’ is: Customer Service is WHAT you do; Customer Experience is HOW you do it
Turning what was once a mundane transaction into a unique memorable moment means you have to re-evaluate everything you do, every way you interact with your Customer. Regardless of the length; it could be a one-hour face to face meeting, a conference call, a 10 second check-in, transferring a call, or replying to an email. ***Enrollment now open 2016 Customer Experience Classes The Art of the Experience You have to be an artist to build an incredible Customer Experience. Customer Experience is where process meets design and art. It is about creativity and innovation put into a system that allows you to build unique and memorable moments. However, an ‘Experience’ is still too big, too macro. We need to break down what an Experience is. A brand experience is the sum of ‘Experiential Interactions’ your Customers have, that leave an impression. Therefore, the focus needs to be on ‘Experiential Interactions’. ‘Experiential Interactions’ are all the micro moments during a Customer’s interaction with the employees of the organization. ‘Experiential Interactions’ are unique memorable moments
‘Experiential Interactions’ ‘Experiential Interactions’ should not add cost or complexity to your organization. ‘Experiential Interactions’ are what we call low-hanging fruit. When a company considers implementing ‘Experiential Interactions’, they should meet the following criteria:
Experiential Audit If ‘Experiential Interactions’ are unique memorable moments, how can you Turning a Transaction into an Interaction The most common interactions we have with our clients, multiple times a day, are answering phones, checking people in and out, sending and responding to emails, meetings, and conference calls. Besides the last two, meetings & conference calls, the majority of the other interactions are typically less three minutes. The most difficult interactions to add experiential actions would be the ones that are the shortest. So let’s look at how you can create experiential actions during quick interactions. Low Hanging Fruit Flight Attendant – Out of the hundreds and hundreds of times I have boarded planes, there have only been a few times that I handed the gate agent my boarding pass and they have said, “Welcome Mr. DiJulius.” Why can’t that happen every time? The passenger name pops up on the their screen. Also, on the major airlines, when flight attendants are coming down the aisle asking for your drink selection, why can’t they address you by name? They have the seating chart. Checking someone in – In professional service firms and corporate offices, someone who has an appointment scheduled should never have to give their name to the receptionist. The receptionist should be prepared with who has appointments and at what time. Email – Email has the ability to turn off the politeness gene in human beings. You should never respond with just an answer (five words or fewer). Use the Customer’s name every time. Open with something personal when dealing with an existing client. Close with a nice line, e.g., “It was a pleasure,” “Looking forward to working with you,” or “Let me know if there is anything else I can do.” Invoice – You might think this is a tough one to add experiential actions to, but there are some easy things that can be done. In the email that the invoice is attached to or a note on the invoice, personalize it. If nothing else, we know what city they are based in. You can write, “Hope spring has arrived in Denver.” On your invoices, you can have a message or a quote of the month. Make your invoice stand out. If you want to be really special, when they pay, send them an email saying, “Hi Alice, I received your payment and wanted to thank you for always paying on time and being such a pleasure to work with.” Think of how many invoices that accounts payable person gets per week, not to mention all the inquiries they get asking where their money is. How many people show appreciation to the Accounts Payable person? You can bet your invoice will always take top priority when you treat them like that. In Summary An ‘Experience’ is an event/occurrence which leaves an impression on someone. The focus needs to be on ‘Experiential Interactions’. ‘Experiential Interactions’ are all the micro moments during your interaction with the brand. ‘Experiential Interactions’ are unique memorable moments. In order for it to be more than just a Service or transaction, for it to be an ‘Experiential Interaction’, it must meet two or more of the following criteria: Action Plan – Review the following most common interactions with your employees and have them help you figure out how they can turn simple transactions into memorable ‘Experiential Interactions’. You will be shocked at what they come up with and commit to. Don’t forget the experiential audit. |
BONUS: Register Before April 30th!
As an additional BONUS, register this April and receive John DiJulius’ best seller “The Customer Service Revolution” PLUS a Live Keynote Video presentation. This offer only available online. Ends April 30th! |