How does a Philippine call center calculate agent workload?

OABPO Blog Team Published on April 23, 2014

-Philippine-call-center-
Statistics gathered by career resources site Salary Explorer revealed that Philippine call center agents work for an average of 8.4 hours each day. Like most jobs, inbound customer service representatives (CSR) have five working days and two rest days a week. However, there are no standardized ways to measure their workload because the assignment of their tasks can be random instead of sequential.

Call center staffing

technical-support-call-center--

Inbound call center staffing is different from the staffing schemes of jobs with fixed work patterns. To illustrate, we will compare the typical workload of a mail clerk with the daily tasks of a CSR.

Let’s say that the company needs to handle 400 pieces of mail per hour, with each piece taking three minutes to process. To accomplish this, the company needs 20 clerks working all at once; each one is tasked to process 20 pieces of mail per hour. Here, it is easy to determine the amount of work assigned to each employee because the arrival of tasks is set or sequential in nature.

This same scheme may not work for inbound call centers because the arrival of calls is not always predetermined. For instance, if a call center receives an average of 300 calls an hour, with each call taking four minutes to handle, having 20 agents may not be enough. One moment, there might be too many calls on hold, and the next, there might be too many agents idle. Since the calls placed by customers ebb and flow, the call center workload can indeed be random. As such, Philippine call center firms follow the cardinal rule of having more staff hours in place than hours of actual work to do.

Call center expert Penny Reynolds explained, “The number of ‘extra’ staff needed depends on how fast the center wishes to answer calls. Obviously, the more staff in place, the shorter the delay. The fewer the staff, the longer the caller will wait.”

Erlang C

Most call centers use the Erlang C formula to map agent workload. This method predicts call waiting times and calculates delays before callers reach a live agent. The Erlang C formula is based on these three factors:

•   The number live CSRs

•   The number of callers waiting

•   The average period it takes to handle each call

Another thing that Erlang C calculates is the resources necessary in keeping wait periods within the call center’s limits. This formula assumes no calls are lost and no lines are busy. Therefore, it fits with the cardinal rule of call center staffing mentioned earlier.  Using this formula is a path that will allow you to more accurately calculate the inbound volume and staff accordingly.

Join us on facebook
Open Access BPO 7 hours ago
To deliver great #CustomerExperience, you need a team of passionate employees.
But if your #CallCenter agents are suffering from 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 and 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, it's time for you to step in.

To heighten #EmployeeEngagement in the #ContactCenter, consider these coaching strategies: https://buff.ly/3LLT9YJ

----------
For quality #outsourcing frontlined by diligent, skilled #CX experts:
OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#EmployeeManagement #CXTraining
Open Access BPO 10 hours ago
As we zero in on tech-savviness and language proficiency as the most desirable qualities among #CallCenter reps, are we overlooking equally critical #CustomerService skills?

These are the 6 of the most underrated #CustomerService skills all #CX agents must have: https://buff.ly/3F1tiIq

----------
We hire, train, and manage for excellence.
Let us show you how our #CSat experts can help your brand skyrocket: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
Open Access BPO 12 hours ago
Exceptional #CustomerExperience is key to building brand loyalty and driving success.
Adding value takes it to the next level.

But what does that even mean? And what can you do to make it possible?
Find out now: https://buff.ly/46fYT5o

----------
Outsource now to give your customer the best #CX they deserve:
OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerSupport #CustomerService
Open Access BPO 3 days ago
𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 #𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺.

This week's #LinkRoundup lists down the ways #CallCenter leadership is instrumental in developing #CustomerSupport that empowers #CX for brands: https://buff.ly/3tfmzbq

• 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗮 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀
https://buff.ly/46ssJmB

• 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲
https://buff.ly/3PVKHYn

• 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆
https://buff.ly/3ZHL9xO

• 𝟭𝟬 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲
https://buff.ly/3ZxxwBf

• 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀
https://buff.ly/3PVKHHR

• 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽
https://buff.ly/3ZC4UXt

• 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀
https://buff.ly/3Zyx3Pd

----------
Open Access BPO's rigorous recruitment, training, and continuous development ensure that only the best specialists will work and lead your ops.

Contact us today: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
Open Access BPO 3 days ago
Receiving a negative performance review can be challenging, but it doesn't have to signal the end of the road.

Instead, it presents an opportunity for personal and professional growth, allowing you to return even more resilient and determined.

Read our blog post right now: https://buff.ly/469BCSj
And let's explore:
• the importance of recovering from a bad performance review;
• the causes of performance failures; and
• how to determine the best course of action to address these challenges

----------
Contact us today and find out how our 24/7 multichannel services (in over 30 languages) can upgrade your #CustomerExperience: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerSupport #CustomerService
Open Access BPO 4 days ago
Knowing what influences customer expectations is the first step to improving your relationship with your customers.

Here are 7 things that can guide you: https://buff.ly/3tfzni4

----------
Cultivate your customer relationships with our smart business solutions: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerExperience #CX
#CSat #CustomerSupport
Open Access BPO