Describe the Call Center Environment
A call center may exist within a company and offer service to the employees of that company as well as to the customers of that company's products. Alternatively, a call center may be an independent business that sells computer support as a service to outside customers. In either case, a call center is a busy, fast-paced work environment, often operating 24 hours a day.
Call centers tend to have a large number of cubicles. Each cubicle has a chair, at least one computer, and a phone with a headset. The technicians working at these cubicles have varied levels of experience in computers. Some have specialties in certain types of computers, software, or operating systems.
All the computers in a call center have help-desk software. The technicians use this software to manage many of their job functions. Although it is not a complete list of most features of help-desk software, the following list provides more detail:
■ Log and track incidents: The software may manage call queues, set call priorities, assign calls, and escalate calls.
■ Record contact information: The software may store, edit, and recall customer names, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, locations, websites, fax numbers, and other information in a database.
■ Research product information: The software may provide to technicians information on the products they support, including features, limitations, new versions, configuration constraints, known bugs, product availability, links to online help files, and other information.
■ Run diagnostic utilities: The software may have several diagnostic utilities, including remote diagnostic software, in which the technician can "take over" a customer's computer while sitting at a desk in the call center.
■ Research a knowledge base: The software may contain a knowledge database that is preprogrammed with common problems and their solutions. This database may grow as technicians add their own records of problems and solutions.
■ Collect customer feedback: The software may collect customer feedback on satisfaction with the call center's products and services.
Your call center will have its own business policies for call priority. Table 10-9 is a sample chart of how calls may be named, defined, and prioritized.
|
Name |
Definition |
Priority |
|
Down |
The company cannot operate any computer equipment. |
1 (most urgent) |
|
Hardware |
One or more computers are not functioning correctly. |
2 (urgent) |
|
Software system errors. |
One or more computers have software or operating |
2 (urgent) |
|
Network |
One or more computers cannot access the network. |
2 (urgent) |
|
Enhancement |
Request for additional functionality. |
3 (important) |
Continue reading here: Describe Level One Technician Responsibilities
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