Call Center Scheduling Featured Article
October 26, 2009
Tips for Selecting Call Center Scheduling Software, Part 3
The benefits of using call center scheduling software -- also known as workforce management software -- are well-documented. These software solutions, which are increasingly being offered via the software-as-a-service or “cloud”-based model, offer advanced analytics capabilities which help call center managers forecast, with a high degree of accuracy, how many agents will be needed for any given shift.
Using call center scheduling software, managers can gain new efficiencies through more accurate scheduling of agents. They can improve schedule adherence, reduce shrinkage, boost agent productivity and improve schedule flexibility, which in turn boosts agent satisfaction.
However, in recent years the call center scheduling software market has seen a flood of new entrants, making it difficult to choose a system that’s right for your company’s needs.
Earlier in this three-part series we offered some basic questions you can ask any call center scheduling software vendor in order to determine if the solution it is offering is right for your company. In Part 1 we learned that it’s important to ask the right questions about the system’s forecasting and scheduling capabilities – and in Part 2 we covered the questions that should be asked with regard to the amount of time and resources it will take to implement the solution; as well as the total cost of purchasing, running and maintaining the solution.
Here are three more tips you should consider when shopping around for a new call center scheduling solution:
Usability
Usability is an important consideration. Is the solution easy and intuitive for non-IT people to use, making sure that you get the most out of it? Does it focus on your call center needs? Many call center scheduling solutions suffer from “feature overload” and include features that are actually counterproductive, especially for small and medium size call centers. On the other hand, you don’t want a system that doesn’t deliver certain functionality: Does it give you visibility into agent adherence in real-time? Can you produce performance management reports?
Risk
Remember that there’s a risk that whatever call center scheduling system you choose could end up being within the wrong one for your work environment -- and you should evaluate that risk. If, for whatever reason, the solution doesn’t work for you, can you “return it” or “turn it off” with no or limited financial risk?
ROI and Payback
The overall reason for purchasing a call center scheduling system is to reduce operational costs -- so it’s important to clearly understand how long added business or cost savings actually take to recoup the system costs. The sooner the solution begins working for you and the lower the upfront costs, the sooner you realize cost and business operational benefits.
Monet Software is a leading provider of SaaS (News - Alert)-based call center scheduling solutions. The company’s WFM Live offering is a fully Web-based workforce management system delivering advanced features and capabilities, including forecasting for accurate scheduling of agents.
To learn more about the Monet’s call center scheduling solutions, be sure to check out its newly-redesigned Website. Here visitors can access a Workforce Management Success Kit offering additional tips on how to select a call center scheduling system.
Using call center scheduling software, managers can gain new efficiencies through more accurate scheduling of agents. They can improve schedule adherence, reduce shrinkage, boost agent productivity and improve schedule flexibility, which in turn boosts agent satisfaction.
However, in recent years the call center scheduling software market has seen a flood of new entrants, making it difficult to choose a system that’s right for your company’s needs.
Earlier in this three-part series we offered some basic questions you can ask any call center scheduling software vendor in order to determine if the solution it is offering is right for your company. In Part 1 we learned that it’s important to ask the right questions about the system’s forecasting and scheduling capabilities – and in Part 2 we covered the questions that should be asked with regard to the amount of time and resources it will take to implement the solution; as well as the total cost of purchasing, running and maintaining the solution.
Here are three more tips you should consider when shopping around for a new call center scheduling solution:
Usability
Usability is an important consideration. Is the solution easy and intuitive for non-IT people to use, making sure that you get the most out of it? Does it focus on your call center needs? Many call center scheduling solutions suffer from “feature overload” and include features that are actually counterproductive, especially for small and medium size call centers. On the other hand, you don’t want a system that doesn’t deliver certain functionality: Does it give you visibility into agent adherence in real-time? Can you produce performance management reports?
Risk
Remember that there’s a risk that whatever call center scheduling system you choose could end up being within the wrong one for your work environment -- and you should evaluate that risk. If, for whatever reason, the solution doesn’t work for you, can you “return it” or “turn it off” with no or limited financial risk?
ROI and Payback
The overall reason for purchasing a call center scheduling system is to reduce operational costs -- so it’s important to clearly understand how long added business or cost savings actually take to recoup the system costs. The sooner the solution begins working for you and the lower the upfront costs, the sooner you realize cost and business operational benefits.
Monet Software is a leading provider of SaaS (News - Alert)-based call center scheduling solutions. The company’s WFM Live offering is a fully Web-based workforce management system delivering advanced features and capabilities, including forecasting for accurate scheduling of agents.
To learn more about the Monet’s call center scheduling solutions, be sure to check out its newly-redesigned Website. Here visitors can access a Workforce Management Success Kit offering additional tips on how to select a call center scheduling system.
Patrick Barnard is a contributing writer for TMCnet. To read more of Patrick’s articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Patrick Barnard