In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, exceptional customer service can set a business apart. We’ve gathered insights from CEOs and founders to offer you fifteen specific ways to enhance your customer service experience. From implementing real-time package tracking to transforming service with automation tools, discover how industry leaders recommend improving your e-commerce business.
- Implement Real-Time Package Tracking
- Adopt Proactive AI-Powered Customer Service
- Enhance Web Content for Informed Customers
- Optimize Site for Streamlined Checkout Experience
- Embrace Negative Feedback for Service Improvement
- Speed Up Order Fulfillment and Delivery
- Reduce Average Speed of Answer (ASA)
- Invest in Knowledgeable Support Teams
- Offer Interactive Video Support
- Provide Accessible Phone Support
- Display Contact Information Clearly
- Implement Comprehensive Follow-Up System
- Prioritize Human Touch Over Automation
- Integrate Live-Chat for Immediate Assistance
- Transform Service with Automation Tools
Implement Real-Time Package Tracking
As the head of business operations at Canada’s best e-commerce shipping company, Stallion Express, I’ve worked in logistics and shipping for years. I ensure businesses do well by making cross-border, domestic, and foreign shipping easy.
E-commerce companies can greatly improve customer service by letting customers track their packages in real-time. This feature makes customers happier and more likely to trust us.
Imagine being a customer who can’t wait for their package to arrive. Real-time tracking gives customers peace of mind by letting them know where their package is and when it will arrive. This transparency makes people feel less anxious and builds trust in the business.
I’ve received many positive comments from customers who appreciate knowing when their orders are coming. One customer said that real-time tracking helped them plan their day better so they wouldn’t miss packages or have to deal with the hassle of rescheduling.
By adding advanced tracking systems, e-commerce companies improve customers’ shopping experiences and earn their trust over time. It’s a simple but effective way to keep people happy and informed.
Jen Seran, Director of Operations, Stallion Express
Adopt Proactive AI-Powered Customer Service
One of the most effective methods we’ve used to improve the customer service of our e-commerce business is adopting proactive customer service through AI-powered chatbots and predictive analytics. By using AI chatbots, we can offer our customers immediate responses to their queries 24/7, so they get the help they need without any delay. These chatbots learn and improve over time and provide personalized interactions, making customers feel valued and understood.
Predictive analytics can also help us anticipate and address potential issues before they arise. By analyzing customer behavior and purchase history, we can notify customers well in advance of any potential problems, like delivery delays or out-of-stock items. This smoothens the shopping experience and shows our commitment to customer satisfaction.
Ben Donovan, Founder, Brand Builder University
Enhance Web Content for Informed Customers
Content-as-a-service is a powerful way to enhance your customer service experience, drawing on my decade-plus experience in the e-commerce industry.
Your web content—from product descriptions and sizing charts to return policies, shipping offers, and the FAQ section—is essentially one of your first opportunities to serve customers effectively. An informed customer is less likely to encounter issues, and when they do have questions, these are easier to address and resolve quickly.
So, while your agents work on enhancing their communication skills and you focus on those KPIs, use all the data at your disposal to improve your entire digital presence. This includes everything from price lists and sales notifications to the fine print at the bottom of your webpage. Each element should serve a purpose, aiming to keep your customers happy and engaged.
Your primary goals in communicating through your content should be clarity, transparency, and simplicity—ensure your messages are clear and straightforward. Adopting this customer-centric approach to content will not only keep your customers satisfied but also help your e-commerce business thrive and navigate the complex waters of the industry for years to come.
Amir Elaguizy, CEO and Co-Founder, Cratejoy, Inc
Optimize Site for Streamlined Checkout Experience
With e-commerce, ensuring that your site provides the ultimate user experience means everything. From speed to design, everything needs to be considered and built in order to facilitate a streamlined purchasing experience. Pay close attention to your site’s checkout process, and make sure that it’s simple and transparent. If you find that customers are stopping at a certain point in the checkout process, that could be a strong indication that there is a point of friction that is bogging down the user experience and needs to be addressed.
Another key point that you should not ignore is accessibility. Getting your site ADA-compliant is crucial in obtaining business from everyone, regardless of their abilities. With a snappy design, a frictionless checkout, and ADA compliance, you show your customers that they come first.
Kathryn A Felke, Founder, All Digital Rewards
Embrace Negative Feedback for Service Improvement
One specific way e-commerce businesses can improve their customer service experience is by embracing the “negative feedback loop.” Instead of shying away from criticism, we encourage our customers to provide honest feedback—even if it’s negative. We then use this feedback to identify patterns and areas for improvement and make meaningful changes to our products and services.
This is the reason why at Festoon House, we’ve implemented a “Feedback Frenzy” program that rewards customers for providing constructive criticism. We offer incentives, such as exclusive discounts and early access to new products, to customers who provide feedback that helps us improve. By embracing negative feedback and using it as a catalyst for growth, we’ve been able to identify and address pain points that our competitors often overlook. This approach has helped us build a loyal customer base that trusts our brand and advocates for our products.
Matt Little, Founder & Managing Director, Festoon House
Speed Up Order Fulfillment and Delivery
One specific way e-commerce businesses can enhance their customer service experience is by improving fulfillment. The quicker you can package your orders and get them out, the more satisfied your customers will be. Given the prevalence of next-day delivery options today, failing to offer this can mean losing out on significant business opportunities. Of course, it’s understood that not all businesses, particularly smaller ones or startups, can manage next-day delivery. In such cases, considering an e-commerce solution like a fulfillment service to handle next-day orders can be a game-changer.
If next-day delivery isn’t possible for your business, focus on making your packaging process as efficient as possible to speed up order dispatch. Setting up a dedicated packing station, pre-packing popular items, and optimizing your storage for easy access can significantly cut down on the time it takes to get an order ready and shipped.
Patrick Beltran, Marketing Director, Ardoz Digital
Reduce Average Speed of Answer (ASA)
Improve your average speed of answer (ASA). Know that the benchmark for a decent ASA is around 20 to 30 seconds. Audit what ASA you currently have to figure out if yours is around that range so you can make necessary improvements. A few things you can do to improve your ASA, and, as a result, your customer service experience, include increasing the number of staff you have.
Take stock of the peaks and lows of your call patterns using historical data to prevent understaffing during your busiest periods. Another way you can improve your ASA is to leverage AI through chatbots. A chatbot can provide your customers with a self-service option to address surface-level or routine questions, allowing your customer support agents more time for more pressing or complex customer issues.
Shaju N D, Managing Director, Intellect Outsource
Invest in Knowledgeable Support Teams
One specific way e-commerce businesses can elevate their customer service experience is by investing in knowledgeable support teams. Imagine calling for help and talking to someone who genuinely knows the products inside and out. It’s a game-changer. When your support staff can confidently answer questions about materials, origins, and even design inspirations, it builds trust with the customer. People appreciate talking to someone who clearly understands and cares about what they’re selling.
Training your team thoroughly on what you’re offering ensures they can handle any query with ease. This not only resolves issues quicker but also shows customers that your company values expertise and quality service. Smart customer service goes beyond just resolving issues—it transforms a potential frustration into a positive, memorable experience. Make your support team your secret weapon, and watch your customer satisfaction soar.
Connor Butterworth, CEO & Owner, Southwestern Rugs Depot
Offer Interactive Video Support
E-commerce businesses can enhance customer service by offering interactive video support, where customers can connect with representatives via live video calls. These representatives can provide personalized product demonstrations, offer real-time troubleshooting, and guide customers through complex issues visually—especially if it’s a sizing question. This approach bridges the gap between online and in-person shopping experiences, making assistance more immediate and engaging.
Kristina Adel, Ecommerce Manager
Provide Accessible Phone Support
For e-commerce, I believe offering phone support is crucial in retaining customers. Over the years, I’ve seen how a brief, 10-minute phone call can completely turn around a negative customer interaction. While many customers might initially prefer written communication, the ability to discuss and resolve an issue through a voice call can often be what keeps a customer from leaving. If possible, it’s beneficial to integrate all your support channels into a single platform.
Remember, when customers can get help in the way they prefer—be it through a phone call, Facebook messages, or another method—they tend to feel more at ease starting a relationship with your brand. Making a positive first impression is key, and having effective customer support can be just what you need to convert first-time buyers into repeat customers.
Sam Hickson, CEO, TG Wireless – Wholesale Cell Phones
Display Contact Information Clearly
You’d think this would be a no-brainer, but some businesses make it surprisingly difficult for customers to find their contact information. Your customers end up on a wild-goose chase, clicking through endless menus and FAQs just to find an email address buried in the footer. It’s frustrating because customers shouldn’t have to become detectives to get in touch.
The most important place to start is to make it easy to contact you. E-commerce businesses should clearly display their contact information on every page of the website. This includes an email address, a phone number (if they offer phone support), and information about live chat availability. Also, make sure your “Contact Us” button is prominent. Make it readily visible throughout the site, ideally at the top of every page. This way, no matter where a customer is in their browsing journey, they can easily find a way to reach out with questions or concerns.
Gary Gray, CEO, CouponChief.com
Implement Comprehensive Follow-Up System
I firmly believe that one specific way e-commerce businesses can elevate their customer service experience is by implementing a comprehensive follow-up system. This involves reaching out to customers after their purchase to gather feedback, provide additional support, and offer tailored advice on how to use our products effectively—if they consent to it, of course!
Implementing this follow-up system is more than just a courtesy; it demonstrates that we value our customers’ satisfaction even after the sale. For instance, when a customer purchases a new supplement from us, we follow up with an email that includes detailed product information, tips for integration into their diet, and direct contact for our support team in case they have any immediate questions.
We also encourage our customers to provide feedback through surveys. This approach not only helps us enhance our products and services but also ensures that our customers feel heard and valued. This proactive communication has significantly increased customer satisfaction, repeat purchases, and positive word-of-mouth, which are crucial in the competitive e-commerce landscape.
Owen Burgher, Co-Founder, Nutri Peak
Prioritize Human Touch Over Automation
Be human, even if it costs more.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve had some seriously crappy experiences as a customer. With all these companies rolling out website chatbots and automated phone systems, it feels like they’ve forgotten what it means to actually treat people like human beings.
I get that automating processes can save money and make operations more efficient. But at what cost? When you strip away the human touch, you end up irritating and angering your customers. We all know an angry customer is way more likely to take their business elsewhere.
Instead of viewing customers as dollar signs, companies need to see them as living, breathing people with our own unique needs and frustrations. A one-size-fits-all bot experience just doesn’t cut it.
Humans crave that personal connection—someone who actually listens and responds like a real person, not a robot spitting out scripted lines and directing the customer through the same loop of automated replies.
At the end of the day, making your customers feel valued and understood is what breeds loyalty. Ditch the cold automation for some warmth and personality. After all, it’s cheaper to retain customers than it is to acquire new ones.
Alex O’Neil, Owner, City on the Hill Consultancy
Integrate Live-Chat for Immediate Assistance
One specific way e-commerce businesses can improve their customer service experience is by implementing a live-chat feature. Live chat enables real-time communication between customers and support teams, facilitating quick query resolution and providing immediate assistance. This interactive tool can significantly enhance the customer experience by reducing wait times and making support readily accessible.
For instance, at Titan Battle Gear, we integrated a live-chat function to assist customers instantly. This implementation not only improved our response times but also increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. Customers appreciated the immediate support, especially during peak shopping times, which led to higher conversion rates and a reduction in cart abandonment.
To maximize the benefits of live chat, it’s important to ensure that it is available across all devices and platforms, providing a seamless experience regardless of how customers choose to shop. Additionally, training customer service representatives to handle live chat effectively can further enhance the overall service quality.
Andries de Villiers, Founder, Titan BattleGear
Transform Service With Automation Tools
Automation tools can literally transform the ways in which customer service is provided to e-commerce businesses. These tools make it possible for businesses to provide quicker, more individualized, and more efficient customer relations.
The first major advantage of automation in customer service is the use of chatbots. Advanced AI chatbots from Intercom and Drift can respond to recurring queries within seconds, thus offering customer support at any given moment. For instance, if a customer has an issue or wants to make a clarification on the status of an order, the chatbot can connect to the order and offer information in real-time. This means that the time taken to serve customers is shortened, and the general satisfaction of customers is increased.
Automation is also utilized in collecting and analyzing customers’ responses and feedback. Tools like Zendesk and Freshdesk can sort and prioritize customer tickets or queries depending on the type and urgency of the matter. This allows for important issues to be processed as soon as possible while other less significant questions are put on the waiting list. For instance, a message conveying a complaint about a certain product would be categorically highlighted to be dealt with faster than a message that could be a general inquiry concerning a particular product.
Finally, the integration of automation with Customer Relationship Management systems like Salesforce or HubSpot ensures the smooth and uninterrupted transfer of information. This maintains a record of every single time a customer was attended to so that the support team can always be knowledgeable when responding to their queries.
Guy Sheetrit, CEO, OTT Inc