7 Steps to Service Recovery

What is Service Recovery? Service recovery is the action a service provider takes in response to service failure. It is a thought-out, planned, process of returning aggrieved/dissatisfied customers to a state of satisfaction with a company/service. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_recovery

Why is Service Recovery Important? The cost of gaining a new customer usually greatly exceeds the cost of retaining a customer (it is often stated that it costs five times as much to attract a new customer as maintaining one). Four major findings on how service failure and subsequent recovery affect customers’ loyalty towards a service company: Service failure has a negative effect on customer loyalty intentions. Failure resolution has a positive effect on loyalty intentions. Customer satisfaction with the recovery has a positive effect on loyalty intentions. Outstanding recovery results in loyalty intentions which are more favorable than they would be had no failure occurred. https://designforservice.wordpress.com/understanding-service-recovery/

Different Types of Service Failure Missed pick-up Undelivered LBC Box/Supplies Shipment Status – No data/No update Unadvised ODZ Delayed delivery Misrouted Misreleased Pilferage Damage Missing Spoilage Personnel Related Complaint

7 Steps to Service Recovery It is your responsibility. If you have answered the phone on behalf of the company, you have indeed accepted 100% responsibility. At least that’s what the caller/customer believes. So get off the “it’s not my fault” syndrome. And get on with the “what can I do for you?” position. http://www.telephonedoctor.com/our_blog/7-steps-to-service-recovery/

7 Steps to Service Recovery 2. “I’m sorry” DOES work. Every once in a while, I hear from a CSR that tells me they don’t feel they should say “I’m sorry” when it wasn’t their fault. Well, as stated above, in the customer’s mind, it is your fault. Saying you’re sorry won’t fix the problem, but it definitely does help to defuse it immediately. Try it. You’ll see. http://www.telephonedoctor.com/our_blog/7-steps-to-service-recovery/

7 Steps to Service Recovery 3. Empathize immediately. When someone is angry or frustrated with your company, the one thing they need is someone to agree with them, or at least feel they’re being understood. Be careful, though: “I know how you feel” is NOT a good thing to say unless you have been through exactly what they have experienced. Try: “That’s got to be so frustrating” or “What an unfortunate situation.” http://www.telephonedoctor.com/our_blog/7-steps-to-service-recovery/

7 Steps to Service Recovery 4. IMMEDIATE action is necessary to make a service recovery. Don’t make a customer wait for good service. Get whatever it is they need to them immediately. Overnight service if it’s necessary. That’s recovery. REMEMBER: IT SHOULD NEVER TAKE 2 PEOPLE TO GIVE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE. http://www.telephonedoctor.com/our_blog/7-steps-to-service-recovery/

7 Steps to Service Recovery 5. Ask what would make them happy. In a few rare cases, the customer can be a most difficult one. If you have tried what you considered “everything,” simply ask the customer: “What can I do to make you happy, Mr. Jones?” In most cases, it may be something you’re able to do. You just may not have thought of it. So go ahead and ask them. http://www.telephonedoctor.com/our_blog/7-steps-to-service-recovery/

7 Steps to Service Recovery 6. Understand the true meaning of Service Recovery. Service Recovery is not just fixing the problem. It’s making sure it won’t happen again. It’s listening to the customer. It’s going above and beyond. http://www.telephonedoctor.com/our_blog/7-steps-to-service-recovery/

7 Steps to Service Recovery 7. FOLLOW UP. After you feel the problem has been fixed, follow up. After you’ve made the customer happy, make an extra phone call a day or so later. Be sure to ask them: “Have we fixed everything for you?” “What else can we do for you?” Be sure they’re satisfied. When you hear: “Thanks, you’ve done a great job. I appreciate it.” Then you know you’ve achieved SERVICE RECOVERY! http://www.telephonedoctor.com/our_blog/7-steps-to-service-recovery/

Dos and Don'ts of Service Recovery Do Apologize and Accept Responsibility Don't Blame Someone Else for the Problem Do Make it Your Problem if You Hear About it Don't Transfer People to Someone else Do Empower Frontline Employees to Solve Customer Problems Don't Require that Managers Have to Approve Service Recovery Actions Do Match the Apology Gesture/Gift to the Seriousness of the Situation Don't Offer a Cheap Gift to Pacify an Angry Customer Do Train Frontline Staff to Address Minor Customer Problems before They Escalate Don't Wait for a Customer to Complain or Fill Out Your Survey http://www.industryweek.com/customer-relationships/we-forgive-you-dos-and-donts-service-recovery

Thank you!