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Media Contact:
Bill Bradley
978/715-2587

bbradley@omegascoreboard.com

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Omega Sets Global Standards for Service Excellence
with New Customer Bill of Rights Benchmark

New standards for B2B customer service excellence emerge from direct input by top
service industry executives. Benchmark points the way for organizations to boost
revenue, profits by following proven quality standards for customer service and loyalty.

BILLERICA, Mass.; June 23, 2008 Organizations striving for excellence in customer satisfaction and loyalty now have a template to follow with today s announcement by Omega Management Group Corp. of a groundbreaking new Customer Bill of Rights -- the first benchmark standard for the global services industry. Omega is a recognized expert in customer experience management strategies.

The Customer Bill of Rights is the result of research and analysis of global best practices in business-to-business (B2B) customer service and support operations conducted this year through a web survey of members of Omega s new View from the Top (VFT-500) Research Panel-500SM program. Announced in October 2007, the VFT-500 program consists of VP-level executives in customer-facing positions and/or chief customer advocates at 500 leading global companies, and is devoted to the continuous improvement of the global customer service industry.

Omega s Center for Loyalty Research conducted the survey -- the first ever based on customer responses exclusively -- and analyzed and reported the results. The survey examined best practices in virtually all customer-facing operations and methods of customer interaction. Companies sponsoring the initial VFT-500 research are Customer Relationship Management Institute; Anthony & Alexander Group, LLC; GoldMine TeleServices Group and ProSearch Services Group. Sponsorship includes contributing to the research process and/or providing other services to the VFT-500 program.

The new Customer Bill of Rights comprises 10 articles that define best practices for organizations to use when interacting with customers and employees:

  1. Deliver Quality Products and Services

  2. Provide a Supportive Workplace Environment

  3. Reward Employees for Customer Service Excellence

  4. Appoint a Senior Customer Advocate

  5. Measure Levels of Customer Satisfaction & Loyalty

  6. Report on Customer Satisfaction & Loyalty

  7. Take Corrective Action where Needed

  8. Benchmark Performance within the Industry

  9. Seek Independent Audit of Customer Service Processes

  10. Conduct Annual Review of Customer Service Processes

A Global Vision for Service Excellence

Loyalty is the result of consistently exceeding customer expectations, said John Alexander Maraganis, president, founder and CEO of Omega Management Group Corp. Our vision for the View from the Top Research-500 program is to build a global foundation encompassing customer-driven metrics for satisfaction, loyalty, service operations and good corporate citizenship.

Currently there are more than 130 global members of the VFT-500 Research Panel, with the goal of reaching 500 global members. From this group, 25 VPs comprise the VFT Advisory Board, which acts as a steering committee for the research and analysis agenda, such as the new Customer Bill of Rights. The VFT-500 operates as an online community, with a prestigious list of member companies.

Not since the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award has there been a structured methodology that promises to revolutionize the consistent quality of products and services delivered to customers, said Dennis Gershowitz, chairman of the VFT-500 Advisory Board. Given the direct impact of service quality on customer satisfaction, loyalty and bottom-line corporate performance, we expect this Customer Bill of Rights to have a profound and positive impact on the global business community.

Comments from members of the VFT-500 Advisory Board on the initial research agenda include:

  • Dan Wiersma, SVP, Service Platforms, Sony Electronics: This index tool, founded upon best practices, will help organizations with customer loyalty transition.

  • Karen Hartzell, Division VP, Customer Care; Comcast North Central Division: The importance of our work is to arrive at loyalty drivers that will allow companies to compare where they stand against the competition, and within their industry segment. This would become a predictor of future performance."

  • Angelo Rago, SVP Global Customer Services, Advanced Medical Optics (AMO): Put simply, this is an elite group of service thought leaders making a difference in our industry.

  • Michael Calderwood, VP Customer Relationship Management, Pitney Bowes: The significance of these standards is that they are based on customer-driven metrics that have a direct impact on your bottom line.

Members Benefit from Global Best Practices

Each VFT-500 member who participated in the research project received detailed reports on the data gathered and related analysis and recommendations. Each quarter, Omega s Center for Loyalty Research will issue a new VFT-500 survey that will further define specific benchmark metrics regarding best practices and industry dynamics in customer-facing operations. VFT-500 service executives express their opinions on survey topics related to the service business, and in return stay up-to-date on service business trends through a secure online community.

About Omega

Since 1984, the Omega Management Group Corp. has been a recognized expert in developing and implementing customer and employee experience management strategy (CEM) programs that lead to increased product and service revenue and profits. Services include customer and employee surveys, employee incentive programs, benchmark research and analysis, consulting, key account retention strategies, win-back strategies and communication plan of customer satisfaction results to employees, customers and the marketplace. For more information on Omega and View from the Top-500 program, visit www.omegascoreboard.com or call (866) 610-6700.

All trademarks, service marks and company names are the property of their respective owners.

Note to Editors: the complete Customer Bill of Rights is attached, and is posted on Omega s website http://www.omegascoreboard.com/customer_bill_of_rights_.shtml

Copyright 2008 by the Omega Management Group Corp. All rights reserved.