Medium of Customer Responses

The responses can be provided through any of the following media:

1. Face to Face Interaction - Face to face interaction is the most efficient medium and provides the probability to judge the emotions and body language of the respondent. When a customer visits the supplier’s premises and supplier receives him respectfully and spends some time with him, giving him all the attention, listing patiently for the purpose of his visit and determining feasible actions, then the customer feels high and confident towards the supplier’s gesture.

   Hence it is important that the supplier should pay full attention towards the customer. If in between he receives any call or indulges himself in other works, then it creates an indication to the customer that he is unwanted or the supplier does not want to attend him efficiently. Such a thing creates negative or wrong feelings in customer’s mindset towards the supplier and acts as a staggering block in future business relationship.

   It is also seen that most of the senior members of the organization does not find any time to interact with the customers face to face which is not the correct approach as customers are the key revenue generators of business and attention should always be given to them to understand their needs and make them satisfied.

   The way the suppliers present themselves during a face to face conversation or interaction reflects their sincerity and commitment to the customers. In case they fail to provide such interaction, they may have to pay a heavy price both in short as well in long run.

2. Telephone Communication - Telephone communication is also effective and plays an important role. A telephone call should always be answered when a customer calls, and if by any chance it is missed a return call should always be made.

   Sometimes the supplier does not want to entertain the calls from aggressive and irritating types of customers. This could also happen when the supplier has any sort of commitment with the customer which he is not fulfilling due to some unrealistic reasons. By doing this the situation does not tend to solve but aggravates in course time. The key is to talk to them and explain the actual situation and reasons by taking them into confidence. By doing this the customer will always think that supplier is promptly attending his calls and is concerned about him.

   It is also important to interpret the purpose of the caller, what the customer is actually asking for and then after patiently listening and analyzing the facts a correct and satisfied response must be provided. If the details asked by the customer over a call are not answerable instantly, then the call can be hung up by telling that details will be provided to him as soon as possible. Thereafter it is necessary to take those points of customer’s queries into consideration and analyze those to come up with exact details. These details should be provided to him by calling him again. Efficient telephonic interaction always pays off when responses are given effectively.

3. Writing Communication (Post, Fax, Email) - The writing communication should always be acknowledged immediately and should be replied in detailed format.

   The advantage of written communication over face to face and telephonic communication is that it is least misinterpreted as it is saved and can be read many times. But the disadvantage is that it lacks in total communication. Hence it is always important to send the written response in details so that any of the relevant point is not omitted in the response.