Self-service portals offer B2B customers a fresh, innovative way find valuable information, independently troubleshoot issues, and request services or support.
Essentially, self-service portals streamline the B2B customer experience by facilitating quick, independent service. Among other benefits, implementing a self-service portal can help administrative agents focus on more pressing matters rather than spending time answering FAQs and managing minor IT issues.
This article will break down four key ways self-service portal technology can improve the B2B customer experience, helping your organisation succeed.
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Give agents more time to resolve customer tickets
Often, customers will send tickets for issues that could be easily resolved with a few clicks. Unfortunately, problems like these can fill up an agent’s ticket queue, giving them less time to respond to complex queries that genuinely require their attention.
With a self-service portal, customers with simple issues can solve them independently using, for example, a video guide on your website. Include several guides for common issues to help B2B customers resolve problems fast.
With your new self-service portal in place, you’ll clear up space in the ticket queue for more complex queries. Customers who need help can now access it faster than ever before, significantly improving the B2B customer experience.
2. B2B customers can access 24-hour support
This benefit draws upon the above point. Customer service agents can’t work around the clock, but self-service portals can. Using your portal, customers can access services, help, and support at any time—even on weekends and after-hours.
This 24-hour access will be especially beneficial for your relationship with international customers.
3. Meet customer expectations
Today’s consumers aren’t used to waiting around for days or weeks to find answers to their questions. Most have learned to expect self-service technology—so implementing it will prove to your customers that your business is fresh, modern, and ahead of the game.
Meeting your customer’s expectations in this way also demonstrates your keen understanding of technology. In the B2B sphere, businesses that use technology well—and keep on top of new advancements—leave a lasting positive impression on customers.
4. Connect closely with customers
Implementing a self-service portal will develop stronger connections with customers in many ways. For one, you’ll have the opportunity to exhibit your products, services, and expertise in a customer-centric, intuitive style.
Similarly, using past customer data and insights, you can display information and products directly relevant to a customer’s needs and interests. Again, this will save time and energy for both your customers and your service agents.
When your customers have a positive experience using your portal—such as when they quickly find a highly relevant solution to a problem they’re dealing with—their overall impression of your business will rise enormously.
Conclusion
Self-service portal technology offers businesses an effective, affordable, and flexible way to streamline B2B customer relationships. Using a self-service portal, customers can find quick answers to questions, request services, and solve IT issues all from one central hub.
By implementing a self-service portal, you can save on administration costs and forge a stronger relationship with your B2B customers.
