How to define, measure and improve First Contact Resolution (FCR)

Every 1% improvement in First Contact Resolution (FCR) adds a point to Customer Satisfaction, so the story goes. But how do you measure and improve this key metric – and does it really help customers get their problems solved faster? The SQM Group survey which found that 1% correlation between First Contact Resolution and Customer….

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Philippines outsourcing: the state of play in 2026

Despite the threat of automation and competition from other countries, the Philippines BPO (business process outsourcing) sector continues to thrive, comprising around 9% of the country’s GDP.  The industry peak body IBPAP counts 1.9 million workers in the workforce with CEO Jack Madrid predicting this to tip to 2 million by the end of 2026…..

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10 Customer Experience Trends to Watch

Analysts such as Gartner have estimated that customer experience innovations account for half of all consumer product investments.  To win – and hold onto – the hearts and minds of customers, companies are increasingly competing on customer experience rather than the traditional battlegrounds of product and price. Here are 10 trends unfolding in this space…..

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Product recall call centres – everything you need to know

It’s every brand’s dream turned nightmare: a hit product is found to be faulty, posing danger to the customer. A product recall is urgent. Once the product recall is announced, the call avalanche begins – after all, speaking to a human is the first thing people want to do in a state of panic or….

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Creating a resilient workforce by reducing everyday stressors

We each face challenges across our day, be they at work or at home, and each of us often thinks that our challenges are unique to our industry. Some also believe that we are all so different that our thoughts are different. This is not necessarily the case. Here are a few common challenges and….

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Fiji and Malaysia: two growing customer service hubs

Australian companies have a veritable smorgasbord of location options when it comes to business process outsourcing. Two Asia-Pacific locations – Fiji and Malaysia – are emerging as customer service hubs and alternatives to larger, more established markets. We examine the value proposition of each country. BPO industry size and growth trends  Fiji The BPO industry….

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The rise of call centres in the health sector

It used to be that health services were provided just in the four walls of a doctor’s rooms. But the Internet, consumer demands and an unfriendly pandemic have changed all that.  Call centres and online service delivery have grown exponentially, providing easier, faster access to health advice and information, 24×7. Since the turn of the….

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How AI can help in customer experience

AI (artificial intelligence) is one of the most hyped technologies around, no more so than in the customer experience, customer service, and contact centre space. So, let’s take a step back and look at how AI is currently being used to help deliver great customer experiences, and what some of its applications will be as….

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The potent CX formula at Prospa

Since this interview, Prashant Mohan has moved to a new role as CMO at Sharesight. Please consult LinkedIn for up-to-date information. Online small business lender Prospa is blitzing the market with a potent CX formula of speed, simplicity and seamless channel integration. Leading Prospa’s direct customer acquisition strategy and marketing is Prashant Mohan, who gave….

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Customer feedback systems: what to look for

Customer feedback systems are evolving rapidly, from static single-channel surveys to multi-channel customer engagement platforms, offering rich analytics. Here’s what to look out for if your company is in the market in the next year.  Core features and functions Mid-to-large companies should have a checklist of “must-haves” when evaluating a new feedback platform, and it’s….

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Call Centre & Back Office Outsourcing to the Philippines: 81 Essential Facts

Most businesses have heard about the benefits of outsourcing back office and call centre services to the Philippines, and many have taken the leap. But throughout my 30 years’ experience helping businesses go offshore, I’ve continued to find a large section of the market poorly equipped with the knowledge or connections needed. Think of this….

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New Year, New Vendor

A new year brings opportunities for new partnerships.  Maybe you’re not happy with your incumbent, or your in-house model is not working…or perhaps you have an exciting new offering, and want to partner with a vendor to support your growth. No matter which category you fall into, we recommend supplementing an RFP process with a….

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10 reasons you should consider outsourcing to New Zealand

Australians may think of New Zealand as their little sibling, but there are big benefits which Aussie businesses can gain from outsourcing across the Tasman. Let’s look at the top 10 benefits relevant to two specific areas of outsourcing: contact centres and shared services.  20-25% Cost Savings Aside from exchange rates, which go up and….

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Paying for results: how to structure an outcome-based pricing model

Behavioural economics tells us that people will pay a premium for something once they are certain it will deliver what they want.  It’s no wonder then that outcome based pricing components are popping up in contracts for services ranging from outsourcing and consulting through to technology and marketing.  Let’s look at each of these service categories and how suppliers can assume or….

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Insourcing – the model that mixes in-house and outsourcing

What is insourcing? Insourcing is where a third party manages a business function, such as a contact centre or accounting, at your facility. In other words, it’s a blend of the inhouse and outsource operating models. The third party – typically a BPO – provides: recruiting some or most training management of staff best practice sales, service or back….

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10 Great Reasons to build a Mobile App

Consider this statistic: there are an estimated 18 billion mobile devices (phones and tablets) worldwide in 2025.  There are millions of apps on the Apple store and Google Play. If one of these is not yours, then maybe it’s time to consider getting some “App Appeal”!  Here are our top 10 reasons to build a….

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How to develop an organic B2B social media marketing plan

Looking to expand your B2B Social Media marketing organically, but not sure of the approach? Breaking the tasks into bite-size chunks will make it less daunting and reduce errors. Here are the steps you need to take.  Articulate your goals  Goals should contribute directly or indirectly to your business plan, for example, to: drive revenue….

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10 ways to differentiate your customer service

If you’ve decided you want to stand out from the crowd with a differentiated customer service offering, read on – we hope at least one of these ideas will resonate and make your customers (and your boss) love you!  Hire right One of the easiest ways to differentiate your customer service is with frontline contact….

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How REST Super is winning with smart CX

Since this interview, Beth Parkin has moved to a new role. Please consult LinkedIn for up-to-date information. With around 2 million members, REST is among Australia’s largest superannuation funds by membership.  When it comes to customer experience, REST is also one of the industry’s most progressive. We spoke to Beth Parkin, GM of Customer Service,….

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Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in contact centres – your questions answered

When most people hear about bots in contact centres, they think chatbots. These are the customer-facing bots that automate online conversations and give customers answers to their questions. However there’s another type of robot which can be deployed in contact centres, just “behind the scenes”! This is known as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and is….

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BPO Industry Trends in the Australian market

While there are many reports from analysts on the global BPO industry, there is a paucity of data around the Australian market. Matchboard analysed outsourcing requests received on its platform from Australian users, comparing data from 2015 and 2016. Here are the results. Click to see page 2 of our infographic, focusing on BPO location trends in the Australian market…..

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5 tenets of customer journey mapping

With the rise of customer experience as a boardroom imperative, Australian companies have embraced the concept of “journey mapping” to experience both the pleasure and pain of what it’s like to be a customer. Developing a journey map involves laying out the experience a customer has with a company across multiple interactions or touchpoints, all….

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Knowledge Management Systems for Customer Service

There are many types of Knowledge Management Systems (KMS).  When selecting a call centre knowledge management system, make sure the system is designed for customer service. KM systems for IT departments, for example, are unlikely to be suitable: they’re designed to encourage collaboration, and for scientists they enable deep research.  But in a contact centre,….

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After-hours call centres, and why they’re booming

At Matchboard, we get asked all the time for recommendations of the best after-hours or 24×7 call centre services. These requests are becoming more and more frequent, reflecting changes in society, demographics and consumer preferences. Let’s take a closer look! Product Support hotlines Software is eating the world, as Marc Andreessen famously said. We are all….

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The Contact Centre world’s best-kept Secret

As exchange rates and economies change around the world, so too does the list of countries vying for offshore call centre services and back office outsourcing work. One of the industry’s best-keep secrets is a country which boasts an array of advantages, it’s no wonder more and more businesses are outsourcing there – can you….

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Blending Digital with Intelligent Telemarketing for Conversion Success

In the last several years, marketers were encouraged to increase their use of digital marketing to appeal to the modern consumer. High mobile technology uptake and the rise of social media made digital marketing the logical next step. But where does that leave offline marketing, such as telemarketing and direct mail? You may be surprised….

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