Call Centers For Dummies

Tips on making your call center a genuine profit center In North America, call centers are a $13 billion business, employing 4 million people. For managers in charge of a call center operation, this practical, user-friendly guide outlines how to improve results measurably, following its principles of revenue generation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. In addition, this new edition addresses many industry changes, such as the new technology that's transforming today's call center and the location-neutral call center. It also helps readers determine whether it's cost-efficient to outsource operations and looks at the changing role and requirements of agents. The ultimate call center guide, now revised and updated The authors have helped over 60 companies improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their call center operations Offers comprehensive guidance for call centers of all sizes, from 20-person operations to multinational businesses With the latest edition of Call Centers For Dummies, managers will have an improved arsenal of techniques to boost their center's bottom line.

Introduction 1 Part I: From the Ground Up: An Overview of the Call Center 7 Chapter 1: A First Look at Call Centers 9 Chapter 2: Business Basics: Models and Drivers and Goals, Oh My! 19 Chapter 3: Developing the Cast of Characters 43 Chapter 4: Building a Call Center of Your Own 65 Chapter 5: Choosing the Outsourcing Option 85 Part II: The Master Plan: Finance, Analysis, and Resource Management 107 Chapter 6: Analyze This! 109 Chapter 7: Right People, Right Place, Right Time: Resource Management 143 Chapter 8: Call Center Scheduling: Not As Simple As 1, 2, 3 157 Part III: Making Life Better with Technology 185 Chapter 9: An Introduction to Call Center Technology 187 Chapter 10: Technological Enhancements: Getting the Newest and Coolest Stuff 209 Chapter 11: Using Home Agents 221 Part IV: Creating High-Performance Teams 241 Chapter 12: Hiring and Training 243 Chapter 13: Creating a Coaching Culture 257 Chapter 14: Creating a Motivated Workforce 265 Part V: Ensuring Continuous Improvement 281 Chapter 15: The Power of Process Improvement 283 Chapter 16: Mastering Change in Your Organization 299 Chapter 17: Quality-Control Programs and Certifications 313 Part VI: The Part of Tens 321 Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Improve Agents’ Job Satisfaction 323 Chapter 19: Ten Questions Every Call Center Manager Should Answer 329 Chapter 20: Almost Ten Ways to Decrease Call Center Costs and Increase Efficiency 335 Appendix A: Key Call Center Definitions and Concepts 341 Appendix B: Call Center Support Services 349 Index 353