We managed a programme in a retail bank where there was a need to improve the efficiency of the contact centre to enable growth in sales volumes within the proportionate increase in costs. This was combined with an aspiration to keep progressing on customer satisfaction levels.

The results: The programme was a success, through the engagement and capability build of front line colleagues there were a number of significant improvements that lead to improved capacity of 10% across the savings contact centre including a simpler, easier account opening process for customers which was reflected in satisfaction scores. This was delivered by the deliverables covered in the ‘implementation’ stage. These benefits are stated without considering the future benefits that will be delivered due to the long-term capability build of the colleagues.

The approach: This was a customised approach using elements of value stream analysis, capability build and OpEx programme design. We identified a team of client colleagues who were to be part of the improvement programme, an approach we encourage to ensure sustainability of improvements and capability build, and designed an approach that allowed us to identify the biggest opportunities for the Contact Centre and deliver these improvements well.

We worked through the following approach with the team to identify the areas of opportunity:

RELEVANCE TO ALL LEVELS

Deliverables:

  • KPIs that translated the objectives to metrics individuals could relate to & influence
  • Engagement at all levels
  • Clear scope & purpose

Colleague Capability Build:

  • How to construct improvement metrics using a KPI tree
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • How to structure an improvement initiative

DEMAND ANALYSIS

Deliverables:

  • Understanding of customer contact with the department including:
  • Why
  • When
  • How
  • First time resolution
  • Areas of focus for improvement that could return the biggest efficiency and customer benefit – savings sales identified due to process inefficiencies and potential for customer experience scores

Colleague Capability Build:

  • How to analyse customer demand
  • The importance of understanding demand
  • How to identify areas of the most significant opportunities
  • Understanding of various customer feedback loops and trend identification
  • Customer journey mapping

IMPLEMENTATION

Deliverables:

  • Suite of improvements including:
  • 15% reduction in the time taken to open a savings acc.
  • Improved multiskilling
  • Proactive work moved to the Store distribution channel where there was an issue of fixed resource with available capacity
  • Text messages to confirm customer investment, reducing inbound calls

Colleague Capability Build:

  • How to build the case for and deliver operational improvements
  • An increased self-belief in the ability to positively change the working environment