There are a lot of B2B companies out there claiming to value and care about their customers. Think about it – nearly every business says they offer a one-of-a-kind customer experience, provide support around the clock, and know exactly when and how to care for their customers.
No doubt, the desire to provide great customer experiences is absolutely there for many of these businesses. So why do so many poor experiences still occur? It’s because the commitment isn’t there – it’s a lot of talk with little execution. As a result, businesses are missing out on a lot of additional revenue. In fact, research shows that companies prioritizing the customer experience generate 60% higher profits than those that don’t.
That is why the Customer Success Manager (CSM) role is so critical. A CSM is an individual committed exclusively to maximizing lifetime value across the entire customer journey experience.
There is a strong financial case to be made for investing in the CSM role, including:
CSMs are essential to more profitable and longer-lasting customer relationships. But how do you integrate an effective CSM strategy into your business?
Finding the Right People
CSMs are the front line in your customer relationships. They are the face of your company and the first people your customers turn to when something goes wrong. It’s important that you take the time to hire the right type of people for this role. Here’s are the top attributes we look for at ServiceSource when bringing on new CSMs.
Converting, Growing, and Retaining Successful CSMs
After finding CSMs with the right skillsets and attitudes, they need to be equipped with the appropriate tools and technologies to begin making an impact. At ServiceSource, we have taken this to heart and developed PRISM, our own enterprise-class sales management platform that lets our CSMs track every customer interaction, collect and analyze key data, and forecast the right plays and sales motions to expand customer lifetime value.
PRISM also provides our account team managers with an in-depth overview of every CSM on their team, measuring how they are interacting with customers and identifying the right training and coaching opportunities. A CSM development strategy is vital to ensuring that not only are your customers receiving increasingly higher levels of service as the relationship progresses, but also to retaining the best CSMs by offering them a clear path to growth and career fulfillment.
Interested in bringing a CSM team to your business? Learn more about ServiceSource’s Customer Success solution and discover how we help the world’s leading B2B companies build customer relationships that last a lifetime.