Mixing customer service and customer experience seems rather logical. At first glance, the two terms seem very similar.
However, contrary to appearances, their aims are distinct and should not be confused, even if sometimes the line between the two can become blurred.
With the constant advance of digitalization, there are so many different ways to interact with consumers.
It’s important to differentiate between the two terms, and we’ll see why.
Customer Service
Customer service isall the advice and assistance provided by a company to its customers during their interactions with the brand. The aim of customer service is to increase customer satisfaction by responding to their requests. Quite often, the consumer will have questions or queries, and customer service aims to answer them.
Customer service is usually provided in response to a customer request, and often when the customer is dissatisfied with the service provided. Customer service will help them to use the product better, solve their problems and ensure a good buying experience. Although customer service usually takes place after the purchase has been made, it can also take place before or even during the purchase , for example with a salesperson answering a customer’s questions about a garment.
Let’s take the following example: You receive a damaged parcel. You call or contact the company responsible for delivering it to you, and customer service responds to your problem so that you retain a positive experience of your interaction with the brand.
Call centers like the one in the photo below are usually imagined to represent customer service.
The customer experience
Customer experience is the sum of all interactions with your customers. The aim of the experience is to increase customer satisfaction. However, it differs from customer service in its approach. Where customer service is there to respond to consumer complaints, customer experience aims to be proactive.
The customer experience will seek to contact the customer even before they ask for something, and create a link between the brand and the customer. The company will try to really get to know the customer and integrate them into the brand experience as an important person, providing them with benefits and making them feel listened to and important.
For example, in contrast to customer service, the people in charge of customer experience will be able to call a consumer to ask if his day went well, if he agrees to carry out an experience with the company for his birthday, or if he wants to be part of a premium group by receiving samples in advance.
This last option has been successfully chosen by Sephora, which has created a community around its products by giving exclusive advantages to its most loyal customers with the Beauty Insider program.
Create a memorable customer experience every step of the way
From prospect to loyal customer, our sheet guides you to offer a fluid and personalized purchasing path.
Anticipate your prospects’ needs to turn every interaction into a loyalty-building opportunity.
The customer service aspect is extremely important: however, a company should aim to make the whole customer experience more integrative and create true fans of its brand who will themselves advertise the products.
Take care of your customers and they'll take care of you back
A company’s best ambassadors are its most loyal customers. They are attached to the brand and will want to recommend you to their friends and family. According to Nilsen, 92% of consumers believe the recommendations of their friends and family, who are then 4 times more likely to buy.
By being proactive in managing your customers, you can generate positive publicity that will convert new customers much more effectively.
You can use a CRM, ERP or ERP system to manage all your customer interactions, so you know exactly what to tell them at the right time. They’ll get the impression that you’re listening to them more than your competitors, and that you take a genuine interest in your interactions.