How to Create a 5-star Customer Experience
Want to develop a loyal following of satisfied customers who rate your business as the best? Then ensuring a great customer experience should be top of your priorities this year. In this blog post we look at some of the best ways to create a 5-star customer experience.
Be trusted, innovative and customer-focused
So how exactly do you go about creating a great experience for your customers? Well, a lot depends on the industry you’re in. If you’re in the tech sector, then innovation and certification are definitely important. But don’t forget about things like listening to what your customers want.
Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference to a customer’s experience with your company. Things like providing ongoing support, or following up a purchase with a feedback questionnaire. Here are a few other things to consider if you’re looking to take your customer experience to the next level:
- Listen to what customers want
Did you know that 92% of B2B buyers are more likely to purchase after reading a review? Don’t underestimate the power of customer testimonials when it comes to creating a 5-star customer experience. But there’s more to testimonials than just asking customers to review the products and services you provide. Companies ahead of their game know that responding to customer reviews and taking any necessary action is key. Nobody wants a negative review, but if there’s something your customers think you could do better, making those changes and communicating them to customers could guarantee their repeat business in future – not to mention improving your service for other customers. - Win awards
It’s not just customer testimonials that are important. If you’re providing your customers with excellent service, you may find yourself up for an award. In 2018, One Beyond (formerly DCSL Software) was appointed the #1 software development company in the UK by Clutch. This awarding body acknowledges outstanding service providers in various fields and an award from them (or a similar body) adds an extra level of trust for new customers who may be considering buying your products or using your services. - Get accredited
It’s easy to dismiss accreditation with various providers as ‘something you’ll get around to, someday’. Why not make that day today? Customers love accreditation as it helps you stand out as a trusted provider of products and services. For software developers, Microsoft accreditation is a great place to start. But there are also things like ISO quality certification to consider. Then there’s the issue of cyber security. Partnering with an external certifying body, such as Cyber Essentials, ensures your customers know their systems will be protected against the vast majority of cyber-attacks. Any accreditation you can achieve will set you out as a trusted authority in your field, ensuring a great customer experience. - Implement innovation
There’s no two ways about it – innovation in the software development sector is key. Things are constantly changing, which means staying ahead of current trends and predicting what’s going to be the next innovation is key. Whatever industry you’re in, don’t be afraid to be innovative. Being the first company in your industry to embrace new technology or implement new software keeps you a step ahead of your competitors. Customers love innovation and by combining traditional methods with new ones, you’ll always ensure that your customer experience is fresh, exciting and outstanding. - Develop talent
Giving your customers what they want means ensuring you have the right people on your team. There will likely be skills gaps in any team, which is why developing talent is so important. Invest in your people and encourage professional development and training, both at work and outside the office. Attend workshops and conventions in your field to ensure you’re at the forefront of what’s happening now and in the future! - Be reliable
There’s one last, but vitally important thing to consider when it comes to customer experience: trustworthiness and reliability. This means providing the service or products you say you will, and ensuring customers are left satisfied. But it’s also important to make sure that their whole experience with you is a positive one, and that’s where bespoke software development can help. The right software helps your team to be more productive while ensuring customers are satisfied too. No more glitchy websites, checkouts that crash or company intranet fails – you’ll have software that works for your business (and your customers).
Guaranteeing a 5-star customer experience
There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to creating a 5-star customer experience. Bespoke software that supports your business needs is a great place to start, so don’t be afraid to seek expert help.
