The Benefits and Perils of Team Scheduling

| Penny Reynolds

Although these self-directed work teams are most often implemented in manufacturing environments to turn out a better-quality product more efficiently, many customer service organizations have also embraced this concept. But while some of the concepts of work teams have resulted in delivery of better, more efficient service to the customer, other components have created service problems.

Is Your Website Talking to Your Call Center?

| John Federman

Most multichannel merchants do a fine job of branding across channels. But few are leveraging the information gathered across business units to enhance their multichannel strategy. For too long, companies have separated their online channels from their contact centers without realizing that the two units can work in unison to boost overall sales and improve customer experience.

An education in ops

| MCM staff

Adam Schwartz is vice president/general counsel for Colchester, CT-based S&S Worldwide, which sells education and recreation products to schools and institutions.

TIDBITS

| MCM staff

Hanesbrands closing DCs Apparel manufacturer/marketer Hanesbrands, whose catalogs include Champion and One Hanes Place, wasted little time following through

This call is being recorded

| Bennett Voyles

Until a few years ago, contact center agents were monitored only infrequently. But advances in technology mean that more and more agents are being recorded

CAPTURING PHANTOM DEMAND

| Tim Parry

For many direct merchants, recording phantom demand can be as elusive as capturing an actual ghost. Advancements in contact center and Website technology

Get Vocal about Self-Service

| MCM staff

The world has lost patience with poorly designed self-service solutions. But you need automation to handle growing call volumes and to provide 24-hour

First Person: Managing an “Essential” Website Overhaul

| MCM staff

As a principal consultant with Latitude Associates, I was the project manager for the recent upgrade of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) Website. Certainly Website upgrades are nothing new, nor are they always newsworthy. But I thought this case study was worth sharing in part because of the dramatic increase in orders received by the ACC online store