Should call center agents make customer service decisions?

OABPO Blog Team Published on June 3, 2014

happy-call-center-agents-team
How much authority should you grant your outsourced call center agents? Open Access BPO shares insights that could help you choose the right level of trust that you can put on your employees.


Many call center solutions in the Philippines are carried out by order-taking roles, but it is still inevitable for call center agents to encounter cases where their decision-making skills are put to a test. In these situations, it is commonplace for some firms to escalate the call to a higher-up with the authority to decide on the matter. Companies that practice this do so to ensure that the problems are dealt with properly. The assurance they want, however, can come at the expense of the customers’ time.

The price of indecisive CSRs

Part of the common customers’ definition of good service is having their concerns attended to within a reasonable amount of time. If their problem is not solved immediately, they may take this as a sign that your company doesn t value their time. Being made to wait, as attested by countless cases of customer service failures, can cause consumers to leave the brand they once supported.

happy-woman-holding-a-cellphone

This is the consequence that you may face if your frontline employees who receive complaints don t have the authority to settle concerns on their own. Since customer service representatives must pass the phoned-in problem for it to be resolved, the transfer will lengthen the process, snatching the satisfaction away from customers.

Granting authority

One way of rectifying this problem is to let your customer support agents deal with complaints up to a certain level. For instance, they can decide how much discount can be given to a buyer as long as the markdown is within the 20% limit. You can allow them to make refunds or replace products if the purchase was made during a certain period or if the price is below $100. If they come across graver, more sensitive matters, that’s when team leaders can be called to negotiate with the customer concerned.

happy-female-call-center-agent

You don t have to plunge right in if you feel that your agents are not completely ready to make decisions. They should be trained and tested first, or you may choose to implement the rule temporarily.

If you notice a dramatic increase in customer satisfaction, see a decline in average handle time, and observe that your customer service agents’ decision-making skill is consistent and fair, then it’s time to permanently trust them with their new responsibility.

Authorizing your frontline people to make independent decisions is a sign that you are confident in their ability. Knowing that they are empowered and entrusted with an important role, your agents can boost their morale, which is a main factor behind employee retention.

One response to “Should call center agents make customer service decisions?”

  1. Anonymous says:

    Superb post however I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic?
    I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more.
    Bless you!

Join us on facebook
Open Access BPO 11 hours ago
#SocialMedia has become an essential tool for brands establishing a connection with their customers.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮, 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻-𝘁𝗼-𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?

Find out some useful tips here: https://buff.ly/eK8cznZ

----------
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 #𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝟐𝟒/𝟕 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 #𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬.

Start elevating your brand's service standards today: https://buff.ly/E4ypAtc

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CX #CSat #CustomerService
#SocialMediaCustomerService
Open Access BPO Yesterday
Today, we celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of a month of reflection, prayer, and community.

We at Open Access BPO extend our warmest wishes to everyone celebrating.
May this Eid bring you and your loved ones happiness, peace, and prosperity.
We hope you enjoy this special time with family and friends.

Eid Mubarak!

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#OABPOholidays #EidAlFitr
#EidAlFitr2025
Open Access BPO Yesterday
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 #𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.

These statistics, pooled from various surveys among customers, show why every business needs a team to screen, evaluate, and manage all online content to ensure your brand maintains a good online reputation: https://buff.ly/MpBUNv4

----------
Outsource your #ContentModeration needs to a trusted partner: https://buff.ly/PRIUd8B

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
Open Access BPO 4 days ago
#CustomerLoyalty is a privilege businesses strive to achieve.
𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱?

Take a deep look at the stages of #CustomerLoyalty and see how you can shape your customer experience strategies and get your repeat buyers to continue supporting you: https://buff.ly/mNMdlGq

——————————
Let's create memorable #CustomerExperiences and keep your customers coming back for more: https://buff.ly/0mgDGzC

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerService #CX #CustomerSupport
Open Access BPO 6 days ago
A customer-centric support culture is built on a lucid and compelling vision.
A well-articulated 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮 is essential for bringing this vision to life, as it:

• Communicates the intended #CustomerExperience, fostering clarity and understanding.
• Standardizes agent interactions, ensuring consistent brand representation and customer engagement.

The following questions will facilitate the creation of a resonant customer service mantra: https://buff.ly/YMTI4r2

——————————
Get a reliable outsourcing #CX partner with empowered agents who can go the extra mile to deliver exceptional service: https://buff.ly/l4YDYb5

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerService #CustomerSupport
#outsourcing