What is First Call Resolution? And how do we improve the FCR rate?
For every 1% increase in the FCR rate, there is an equal 1% increase in customer satisfaction (CSAT) rate of the service and the company.
What is FCR? – First Call Resolution
First Call Resolution (FCR), also commonly referred to as First Contact Resolution, is an important contact center metric that helps to monitor the customer satisfaction rate (CSAT) in customer service.
Having a good FCR rate shows the company’s ability to handle customer queries from calls, emails, chats, and other social media platforms efficiently within the first reach out, without having the customer call back.
It is also a key factor that determines the Net Promoter Score (NPS). The more the number of FCRs handled or completed, the more likely the customer is going to promote the company or the service to others and use it more frequently by themselves. Thus, helping to contribute to a good Customer Retention Rate (CRR) as well.
Simple Steps to Improve First Call Resolution
The following are some best practices to Improve First Call Resolution.
Estimate and evaluate First Call Resolution rate
This is done by two methods:
1. Extrinsic Survey
This method of survey is usually done post the call through an email, text, or recorded and manual calls, where it is time-consuming and as well increases the operational cost.
It may lead to customer reluctance and fatigue and is an outdated method for this faster-moving world.
2. Intrinsic Calculation
This method of estimation is done using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology and software, where the resolved calls are identified through non-repeat and repeat callers during a specific time frame.
Through this method, the data is automatically gathered and computerized using the FCR formula given below to get one single accurate percentage at a lower cost and without any overhead cost.
This is an ideal method of calculation for improving your contact center and the business in a faster-moving world.
Identify the reasons behind repeated calls
There could be only a few possible reasons for a customer to call repeatedly.
It could be either their concern wasn’t solved due to
- Agent mistakes, or
- Miscommunications, or
- The concern cannot be resolved due to some organizational regulations and policies, or
- Wanted to check up on the status, or
- Maybe even they got disconnected from the call or were kept on hold for too long.
Such issues affecting the FCR rate are fixable through regular monitoring and integration of customized CRM tools.
Find ways and implement API and CRM tools to improve and solve the problems faced
Top business leaders and contact centers having a good customer reputation use a good Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.
The reasons for repeat calls are identified, then a plan of action is drafted, according to which the issues faced are improved and customized at ease with a faster repair management system.
Improvisations can then be implemented and go live instantly using the Kapture CRM software.
Importance of FCR
The importance of First Call Resolution (FCR) can be understood in terms of customer support and customer care.
Customer support is one of the most crucial departments in an organization or a company, whose main responsibility is to offer assistance to customers that can be either new or already existing.
But Customer care is much ahead of the field and a game-changer, where First Call Resolution for your customers plays an important role.
Customer care nurtures a culture that focuses on ensuring customer satisfaction (CSAT) with the help of several KPIs and automation of CRM software. It is a process of ease and a better experience, offering the right resolution, and providing care.
For customers who come up with a unique query, the one-size-fits-all solution doesn’t work in customer support. When your customers feel heard, supported, and cared for, they become your brand promoter and protector.
In that way, their concern being heard and solved in the first call creates a greater impression about the brand and lets them know that you actually care for your customers, which promotes the overall brand value.
Hence, the FCR rate has direct proportionality to customer satisfaction (CSAT), customer referrals, and customer retention rate (CRR).
Formula to understand the rate of First Call Resolution (FCR)
Formula to determine the FCR rate is straightforward, it is simply the percentage of the total number of customers’ issues resolved within the first call by the total number of customers’ calls with an issue.
First Call Resolution Formula
An FCR rate around 90% is considered as a high and good percentage, and an FCR rate around 40% is considered the low and poor end.
The average FCR rate is somewhere between 72-76%, which varies as per different industries and platforms.
A CRM software like Kapture not only determines such rates, but also helps to keep track of customer service provided in a much broader way, and will adequately help in managing to give a better overall experience to both the contact center and the end-use consumers.
Use of CRM software to measure FCR rate
FCR rate is measured using customer relationship software (CRM), which is a tool to manage your customer service efficiently and helps your business to step forward in terms of customer relationships. This software is specially built for contact center management.
When the FCR rate is high or low, so is customer satisfaction (CSAT). Keeping track of the FCR rate regularly can be challenging and complex.
Hence, with the help of Kapture CRM software, you can effectively measure and manage the matrices related to customer satisfaction and level up the overall customer experiences.
By utilizing the right Customer Relationship Management software, the customer relationship and retention for the brand and business can be improved incredibly.
Data suggests that a completely satisfied customer contributes 2.4 times more revenue to the company than a partially satisfied customer, so it is extremely important to maintain a customer satisfaction (CSAT) rate for substantial business growth.
About the Author | |
Shreeja C S | |
A professional blogger and a business writer, who specializes in various real-time industries and their research. A social worker and an aspiring engineer & business student from Manchester, United Kingdom, with the idea of making the world an easier place to live in. | |