Service excellence is no longer just a competitive edge for businesses, it is the only competitive edge, according to leading South African customer service speaker and expert, Femi Adebanji.
He proposes that the days when businesses could compete solely on their products or pricing are gone, and that consistent service excellence is the only remaining powerful differentiator for businesses.
Service excellence is no longer just a competitive edge for businesses, it is the only competitive edge, according to leading South African customer service speaker and expert, Femi Adebanji. He proposes that the days when businesses could compete solely on their products or price are gone and the only edge businesses now have is the ability to consistently provide distinct service.
Research conducted by the Service Excellence Institute (SEI), headed by Adebanji, revealed that intentionally building a culture of service excellence that aims to exceed customer expectations is not only a strong competitive differentiator for businesses but also a powerful catalyst for business growth. Global studies have shown that by being more service focused, companies can gain up to 6% more in market share and according to a study by American Express, 58% of customers are willing to spend more on companies that provide excellent customer service.
“The bottom-line”, says Adebanji, is that people don’t buy products, they buy expectations and because customers are buying ‘expectations’, businesses have to go beyond “satisfying” customers and start looking for innovative ways to “wow their customers.”
Adebanji believes that merely meeting customer expectations or merely satisfying customers will not drive customer loyalty, improve customer retention or make a brand stand out from the competition.
“Building the business around the customer and exceeding their expectations, are what make a brand stand out.”
Consequently, it is imperative that businesses don’t merely meet client expectations but exceed expectations – if they are to survive and thrive. However, to exceed expectations, businesses must be aware of what customers’ minimum expectations are.
“One expectation that clients have”, he says, “is that the product or service they purchase from the seller will deliver as promised; the next expectation is that if the product or service does not deliver as promised, the business will take accountability, make good on that promise to ensure that the customer’s expectations are met; and finally customer’s expect the experience of doing business to be easy, pleasant and seamless. If you’re not easy to do business with, clients will quickly find someone else who is”.
He further goes on to highlight that, “businesses need to at the very least understand the minimum expectations of their customers and seek to exceed those expectations and ensure a smooth, seamless and hassle free customer experience. Now more than ever, customers are looking to have their expectations exceeded and looking to be wowed at every level and every touch point with the organisation. This is what drives brand loyalty. This is what drives customer loyalty. Ultimately this is what makes a brand stand out from its competitors and is a powerful predictor of whether or not a brand will be distinct or become extinct.”
Femi Adebanji is an author and sought-after international customer service speaker, trainer and consultant. As a dynamic and insightful keynote speaker, he has had the privilege or working with clients such as Mercedes Benz, 3M, Hewlett Packard, Barclays Africa, Tiger Brands, Unilever,and many more.
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