Relevance of Customer Service in a Business

Every business survives on the patronage of people. No business will exist without the input of the customers it targets or addresses. It therefore attests to the fact that these people or customers or clients are the backbone and reason for any business and that knowledge demands a strategic approach to fostering a profiting relationship with them.

 

It is a well-known saying in the business world that the 'customer is king'. A customer is simply a person that receives or consumes products (goods or services) and has the ability to choose between different products and suppliers. This tells us that a customer has the power to choose between or among several products or services and a smart business person on realizing this needs a sound customer attraction and retention strategy. 

Customer service on the other hand is simply all interactions between a customer and a product or service provider at the time of sale, and thereafter. Customer service is a vital tool to add value to a product or service and build enduring relationship. This means what a business does to or for a customer on the first meeting or interaction, how the business maintains communication after the customer leaves and their plans on ensuring that the customer continues to do business with them.

It is proactive thinking and advisable that businesses have a customer friendly approach as it benefits them immensely. Customer service covers the following areas;

1. How any customer is attended to when they contact the business.

2. Friendly and respectful ways of addressing customers.

3. Understanding what your customers want and giving them the best value for their money.

4. Keeping customers engaged and updated about products/services or benefits the business offers.

5. Respecting your customer's opinions and time.

6. Encouraging feedback or reviews from customers.

7. Offering before and after sales services to keep your customers satisfied and encouraged to continue transacting with you.

Customer service is a subtle marketing and sales tactic that benefits the business in both the short and long run. It yields more profit as customers become loyal and patronize the business repeatedly.

Conclusively, knowing that satisfied customers are loyal customers, customer service is unarguably a must for any smart business.

About the Author

Mary Ugonma Arhuere is a Natural Hair and Lifestyle Consultant at Tress Empire (a Curls, Coils and Kinks Haven). She is an entrepreneur, safety, women/youth empowerment, development activist and a change management enthusiast. She believes in innovation and thinking outside the box.

She is experienced in the oil & gas, retail and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.

She can be contacted via maryugonmaarhuere@gmail.com and on social media platforms as Mary Ugonma Arhuere.