Inside the Fifth Edition of the State of Service Report

May 25, 2023 - 4 minutes

 
Brenda Bown
CMO, Service Cloud

Service organizations have long played a pivotal role in customer experience. But technology like generative AI is about to take service operations to the next level. And as companies face stiff economic headwinds, new Salesforce research reveals how companies are using digitization and automation to drive efficiency, productivity, and cost savings.

In the face of economic uncertainty, teams are increasingly focused on metrics that signal efficiency. Case in point: The share of service organizations tracking case deflection — often achieved through self-service tools for customers or automated processes — jumped by 20% since 2020.

For the fifth edition of State of Service, we surveyed more than 8,000 service professionals across the globe to understand companies’ evolving strategies and the role played by technology. To give service professionals the insights they need to plan for the road ahead, we’ve compiled the top three customer service trends driving a strategic role in the customer experience.

WEBINAR

How to Scale Service with Generative AI and Einstein GPT

REPORT

Power Your Frontline with Field Service Management

DEMO

Generate Lifelong Customers With AI + Data + CRM

 
 
 

What do 8,000+ service professionals across 36 countries have to say about the strategic role of customer service today?

Read the Salesforce “State of Service” report for an in-depth look at the findings.

Fill out the form to get the report.

Enter your first name
Enter your last name
Enter your title
Enter a valid email address
Enter a valid phone number
Select your country
Agree to all disclosures below.
By registering I confirm that I have read and agree to the Privacy Statement.
This field is required.
 
 

Customer service trend #1: The best service strategies are connected, scalable, and digital-first

Considering that 80% of customers say the experience a company provides is as important as its products, it’s never been more important for companies to deliver efficient service. For customers, that means prompt attention and streamlined communications: 77% of customers expect to interact with someone immediately when they contact a company.

In practice, however, companies find it challenging to combine efficiency and engagement. Not only do one-third of service agents admit that they struggle to resolve customer inquiries promptly, another 37% say customers often have to contact them more than once to solve issues. Additionally, even though 79% of customers expect consistent interactions, 55% say it generally feels like they’re communicating with separate departments instead of one company. And perhaps what is most frustrating of all is that 56% of customers say they often have to repeat or re-explain information to different representatives.

To bridge the gap, many companies are investing in technology that delivers a holistic view of their customers. In fact, our research found that 62% of service professionals say departments such as service, sales, and marketing use the same customer relationship management (CRM) platform. Why does that matter? Unifying data on one CRM enables automation and artificial intelligence (AI), tools recognized to boost efficiency, agent productivity, and even customer satisfaction. And as generative AI begins to supercharge efficiency and personalization, this holistic approach will result in even larger gains for the business.

Here’s how. Automation and AI form the foundation of digital self-service experiences like chatbots, customer portals, and help centers. When customers can interact with a chatbot to get the answer to a question or use a guided journey to start a return, for example, live agents have the time they need to manage more complicated requests. That’s critically important for the 78% of service agents who report difficulty balancing speed and quality. But even better, our research shows that 61% of customers actually prefer self-service when they have a simple question or issue.

When it comes to more complex problems, voice is still the overwhelming favorite: 81% of service professionals say the phone is a preferred channel for complex issues, up from 76% in 2020. Yet even voice has evolved beyond the desk phone, with 52% of agents using an agent console or computer to take phone calls in lieu of a landline and 53% using digital call transcription to increase productivity.

Customer service trend #2: Field service is increasingly a critical component of customer service strategies

Field service is no longer the sole domain of utilities and communications companies. From professional services to life sciences and even retail, businesses across multiple industries view field service as an essential part of their operations strategy: 86% of decision makers whose organizations have field service call it critical to scaling their business, and 84% see major returns from their field service investments.

Frontline service workers, for their part, are reaching parity with their colleagues who work in the contact center: 90% of frontline service workers are satisfied with the timeliness, accessibility, and accuracy of the information they have in the field. In addition, 90% say the technology they have in the field gives them the same information as their contact center colleagues. That empowers agility and enables them to provide the same level of support. Yet challenges remain: As 33% of frontline service workforces are contractors, 80% of decision makers say equipping them adequately is a challenge.

Companies with field service organizations broadly recognize that delivering customer satisfaction requires specialized tools: 88% of field service organizations use field service-specific solutions. Significant differences are evident, though, between high-performing organizations that report excellent customer satisfaction and underperformers with fair or poor customer satisfaction. High performers, for example, are more likely to report benefits like better ability to offer contactless service (54% versus 30%), higher productivity (55% versus 32%), and improved job satisfaction (53% versus 31%).

Customer service trend #3: Organizations are investing in service talent

With research showing that a happier workforce leads to higher revenue, it’s no surprise that 85% of service leaders see a direct link between the employee experience and the customer experience. For an increasing number of employees, the future looks bright: 85% of agents see a clear career path, up from 67% in 2020. Yet companies are still concerned: 67% of decision makers say retaining employees is a major or moderate challenge. To keep them engaged, 81% of companies are making significant investments in employee training.
Companies aren’t stopping there. The shift away from the office as the default workplace has emerged as a key workforce strategy: 76% of service professionals say they’re allowed to choose where they work, with only 35% working primarily from a dedicated physical location like an office or a store. Organizations are still eager to bring employees together face-to-face, however, with companies planning to hold team-building (75%) and training (70%) events in person.

Uncover more insights from “State of Service”

These customer service trends are only a snapshot of what’s driving the strategic role of service today. The playbook has clearly been upended as customer expectations shift and companies refresh their focus on efficiency, productivity, and cost savings, all while maintaining a connected and seamless experience. Dive deeper into the findings and more as you plan for the road ahead with the fifth edition of the Salesforce “State of Service” report.
 
 
 

What do 8,000+ service professionals across 36 countries have to say about the strategic role of customer service today?

Read the Salesforce “State of Service” report for an in-depth look at the findings.

Fill out the form to get the report.

Enter your first name
Enter your last name
Enter your title
Enter a valid email address
Enter a valid phone number
Select your country
Agree to all disclosures below.
By registering I confirm that I have read and agree to the Privacy Statement.
This field is required.
 
 

About the Author

 
Brenda Bown
CMO, Service Cloud
Brenda Bown is the CMO of Service Cloud and the CMO of the Communications, Media, & Technology industries at Salesforce, where she leads teams focused on messaging, go-to-market strategy, campaigns and experiences. She has over 25 years of Marketing experience in global companies.
 

Blog

Guide

 
 

Get timely updates and fresh ideas delivered to your inbox.