Month: March 2017

At the heart of every business endeavor lies the basic need to deliver quality products or services. And though there is a myriad of ways to go about achieving this end goal, it’s still important to remember order processing is just as crucial. A fast, easy, and reliable system of order processing can make for an accurate and hassle-free experience, leading to customer satisfaction and continued patronage. So the need for a proper order processing system, especially in the Digital Age when products or services can be easily accessed online, should be prioritized and properly designed for smooth and seamless transactions.

There are key factors business owners should keep in mind to create an effective order taking and processing system, though they are usually overlooked and unappreciated, these are significant just the same. With online services continually improving and becoming more and more customizable, it’s easy to get wrapped up in all the tech, and forget about the main purpose of the whole transaction.

Standard Forms

Starting the whole transaction is the customer placing their order, and in comes the all-important order form. Whether via telephone, web, or in writing, the form should be simple and straightforward, for the benefit of both the customer and the company’s internal teams. All details and relevant variants of the service or the product should be present to easily provide an accurate account of what the customer wants from the company; and it’s in the representative’s best interest to make sure the customer properly understands the requirements and information for a smooth transaction.

The filled up form should be regularly confirmed with the customer. Double-check to make sure everything is in order, and reassure customers they are getting what they want, for the proper price agreed upon. Once the order is finally placed, the completed form would breeze through being processed and getting to the customer.

Order Confirmation and Status

Between the time of placing the order and receiving the product or service, customers would want to know the order’s status. As with the process of taking the customer’s order, representatives should confirm the details of the order placement, complete with a reference number and the receipt of the order purchased. Customers should also be duly notified by the delivery status of the order, if there are any delays or any changes as per the customer’s requests. It is imperative that customers know the status of the order, to reassure them their order has been processed and will be delivered.

Then, once the product or service reaches the customer, and the order has been completed, representatives should confirm if the completion of the order was delivered to the customer’s satisfaction. Communication with the customer is important when it comes to any business endeavor, since it is important for both parties to agree on the same thing, for all intents and purposes.

Customer Feedback

Many businesses tend to forget about this valuable factor when handling orders; they are missing out on the chance to discover what their customers think of their services, if there should be improvements made, or to take up suggestions that can make their future transactions run more smoothly, coming from a customer’s perspective.

By taking the time to reach out, businesses can come up with new ways on how to deliver their products or services better. And by valuing the customer’s comments and suggestions, customers will feel more inclined to trust in the business and rely on their products or services.

With the proper and effective order taking and processing system, the company can look forward to productive transactions, stable growth in the market, as well as a growth in loyal clientele. Going back to the basics of providing quality customer service and taking time to understand the clientele, their wants, and their needs will pave the way for an unparalleled customer service that will be sought after and appreciated.

Can you still remember music before the mp3 format? How about life before Facebook? What seems like the distant past actually happened a few decades ago; Millennials were the first generation to enjoy the perks of future tech. Now there’s something new released every month, rolling over the horizon with the craziest features and innovations. New technologies hardly surprise anymore. What will they think of next?

It’s a mistake to ignore the market of Millennials, and it can be fatal to corporations and small businesses alike. The market is insatiable, and this is a good thing because there’s always potential for growth. The challenge is in learning to adapt to an ever-adapting generation. If your business is leveraging staff leasing service to streamline operations, it’s likely the team you hire is mostly made up of Millennials. If you’re into consumer tech and applications, Millennials will surely carve a significant piece of your market.

How do you prime your business so it appeals to Millennials? Thankfully, Generation Y has three reliable characteristics you can leverage:

1. Millennials Love Anything Tech

This is an understatement, but must be mentioned. The generation grew up with technology that instantly gratifies needs and wants. You can purchase products without leaving your home, and you can watch anything in high-resolution on a five-inch screen. Recent surveys confirm that Millennials adore technology, they’ll flock towards anything that has barely any semblance of a cult following.

Engage your market where they gather. Millennials prefer mobile devices over desktop and laptop computers, so your brand should be visible, accessible on small screens. Anticipate new technologies like Google Glass and Oculus, and consider how you can leverage innovations to spread word about your brand.

2. Millennials Love to Socialize Online

Facebook should merely scratch the surface of your social media strategy. If you really want to earn street credibility at social media, scrape as much good reputation as you can on all platforms. Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat; there’s plenty more platforms to mention. You can’t underestimate the influence of a timely Twitter hashtag, or a Facebook post that for some fluke of reason goes viral.

The point is to approach your social media strategy the same way Millennials do: try everything until you find something that works. However, you need choose platforms that complements your campaign. What works on Instagram may not work on Pinterest, and hashtags don’t have as much impact on Facebook as they do on Twitter.

3. Millennials Love to Keep It Real

Case in point: Dove’s Real Beauty campaign appeals to women of all ages, but especially to Millennials feeling the pressure of unrealistic expectations. Dove utilized every media platform to push a relevant advocacy, which is also directly tied to a solid brand. Dove has become the brand synonymous to real beauty. You only need one great idea to start a great campaign.

Tug at your market’s heartstrings or pick its brain, whatever appeals to authenticity, social responsibility, or identity will catch on. You’ll know you’re onto something good when your campaign is growing on the social media channels.

Consider current and upcoming generations in your business strategy. Chances are most of the people on your team belong to the Y and Z generations, strong indicators the next generations should be priorities in your business development.