CRM-Written - Assignment Mokshith
CRM-Written - Assignment Mokshith
Mokshith
Learner name Date Batch Code
FIAT/BIN/23-
Reference id 24/521 21/03/2025 L6
You are required to have a verbal/ virtual chat transaction with the concerned service
provider with or without the purpose to actually purchase, but definitely with the
objective to record your experience in the process as an external customer as well as your
observation of the internal customer behaviour. You will focus on Customer behaviour,
the basic needs of a Customer, Customer Satisfaction and Customer delight aspects
including both external and internal customers. You may record your experience as a
CRM- ASSIGNMENT- Written Test
brief PPT presentation /MS word write up presentation in the following format:
Introduction
Acknowledgement
Reference
Conclusion
On the basis of the above project, you are required to answer the given Questions.
Guidelines: Students to attempt the below questions for getting PASS/ MERIT/
DISTINCTION
1. Write your responses in the space provided below the questions
2. Review your answers before submitting the Assignment
Question 1. Define Customer and Customer Service. Describe External and Internal
Customer, with examples from the project work. Identify different types of external
customer (PASS)
Customer Service: Customer service refers to the support and assistance provided to
customers before, during, and after the purchase of a product or service. This support can
be in various forms, including answering queries, solving problems, providing technical
support, and ensuring a positive customer experience. Good customer service aims to
meet customer needs and exceed their expectations.
Example from Project Work: In a project, if the design team needs inputs from
the marketing team for creating the user interface of a product, the marketing team
is considered the internal customer. Similarly, the project management team is an
internal customer for the development team, as they rely on the development
team's progress for reporting and decision-making.
Business Customers (B2B): These customers are other businesses that purchase
products or services to use in their own operations, to resell, or for production
purposes.
Government and Public Sector: This includes government bodies, agencies, and
organizations that procure products and services for public use or to carry out
government functions.
Resellers: Similar to distributors, resellers purchase products for resale but may
operate at a smaller scale or in niche markets.
o Example: A local bookstore buying books from publishers and selling them
to customers.
International Customers: These customers are located outside the country where
the company operates. They may represent both businesses and individuals, often
requiring specialized services such as international shipping or localized customer
support.
Ans: Identifying customer needs is crucial for developing successful products or services,
ensuring that offerings align with what customers truly want or require. This can be
achieved through a variety of methods and strategies. Let me walk you through some of
the most common methods used for identifying customer needs, and then we’ll break
down the basic needs of a customer with reference to a hypothetical project that you may
have done.
B. Market Research
Method: This involves analyzing the market trends, customer behavior, and
competition.
Purpose: By studying trends and what competitors are offering, businesses can
spot gaps or areas where customer needs are unmet.
Advantage: Provides an overall view of the market landscape and customer
expectations on a larger scale.
D. Observational Research
E. Empathy Mapping
F. Focus Groups
Now, let's focus on the basic needs of customers. Generally, customers’ needs can be
divided into the following categories:
A. Functional Needs
These are the most straightforward needs that customers have. Functional needs refer to
the practical aspects of the product or service.
Examples:
B. Emotional Needs
Customers often make purchasing decisions based on their emotions. These needs are
related to how a product or service makes the customer feel.
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Examples:
o A customer may purchase luxury items like high-end watches or cars to feel
prestigious or admired.
o A customer may choose a brand that aligns with their values, such as
environmentally conscious or socially responsible brands.
C. Convenience Needs
Convenience is a key factor driving many purchase decisions. Products or services that
make customers' lives easier are highly valued.
Examples:
D. Social Needs
These are needs related to social status or recognition. Customers may want products or
services that reflect their social identity or allow them to engage with others.
Examples:
E. Security Needs
These needs revolve around safety, stability, and protection. Customers want products
that help them feel secure in their environment.
Examples:
Let’s assume the project you've worked on is developing a new online grocery delivery
app. Here’s how customer needs can be identified and analyzed:
Emotional Needs:
Customer Research: Focus groups reveal that customers value the peace of mind
of knowing their groceries will arrive fresh and on time, without the hassle of
leaving their home.
Findings: An emotional need identified is the convenience of avoiding long in-
store lines and the comfort of receiving quality products directly at their doorstep.
Convenience Needs:
Customer Research: Observing users and reviewing feedback indicates that time
is a major concern for customers. They want fast, reliable service with minimal
effort.
Findings: Customers expressed a need for features such as saved shopping lists,
repeat orders, and easy reordering based on past purchases.
Social Needs:
Customer Research: Social media research reveals that customers like to share
their experiences and would appreciate the ability to share their grocery hauls,
recipes, or discount codes with their networks.
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Findings: A desire for social features, like sharing on social media or referring
friends for discounts, is apparent.
Security Needs:
When aiming to exceed customer expectations and enhance customer satisfaction, it's
essential to identify and understand the bottlenecks that affect the customer experience.
Bottlenecks are the obstacles or pain points in the customer journey that impede smooth
and efficient service delivery. These bottlenecks can arise from various factors such as:
1. Long Wait Times: Customers experience frustration when they have to wait too
long for products, services, or customer support.
2. Poor Communication: Ineffective communication or lack of timely information
can cause confusion and dissatisfaction.
3. Complex Processes: A complicated process, like lengthy checkout procedures or
hard-to-understand return policies, can frustrate customers.
4. Inconsistent Quality: Variability in product or service quality can create distrust
and confusion for customers.
5. Limited Availability: A product or service not being readily available, either out
of stock or difficult to access, can drive customers away.
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Once the bottleneck is identified, implementing targeted solutions can ensure customer
expectations are met or exceeded. Here's how:
Consistent Quality Control: Regular training for staff and stringent quality
checks help maintain product and service standards, ensuring customers receive the
same high-quality experience every time they interact with the company.
Customer Expectations: These are the preconceived ideas a customer has before
using a product or service. Expectations are influenced by past experiences, brand
reputation, peer reviews, and marketing messages. Meeting these expectations is
the baseline of customer satisfaction.
Customer Perception is how a customer feels about a service or product based on their
experience. It encompasses both cognitive (rational) and emotional (irrational) responses,
including elements like reliability, ease of use, and personal satisfaction. This perception
is crucial because:
Ans: Customer Satisfaction, Customer Delight, and Customer Retention are crucial
concepts in understanding how customers perceive a business and how businesses can
build long-lasting relationships with their customers. While these terms are closely
related, they have distinct differences. Let’s break down each concept:
CRM- ASSIGNMENT- Written Test
1. Customer Satisfaction
2. Customer Delight
3. Customer Retention
The Interrelationship:
Question 5. Assess the different Customer Service skills that you noticed (external and
internal) during your project. Evaluate your own aptitude towards serving another human
being. Demonstrate the customer handling skills with example in Rater Model
(Reliability, Assurance, Tangibles, Empathy & responsiveness) (DISTINCTION)
Ans: Assessing customer service skills, both external and internal, during a project is
essential to understand how well interactions are handled and how services are delivered.
I'll walk you through an evaluation based on the RATER model (Reliability, Assurance,
Tangibles, Empathy, and Responsiveness), explaining each aspect with examples and
evaluating my own aptitude for serving others.
1. Reliability
Definition: This refers to the ability to consistently deliver on promises and meet
customer expectations. Reliability builds trust between a service provider and the
customer.
Example in Action:
2. Assurance
Definition: This relates to the confidence and trust you instill in the customer,
demonstrating your competence and knowledge. Customers need to feel that you
understand their needs and can deliver effectively.
Example in Action:
3. Tangibles
Definition: Tangibles refer to the physical elements of the service experience, such as the
quality of materials, the environment, or even the online interfaces you use to interact
with customers.
Example in Action:
My Aptitude: I recognize that the tangible aspects of customer service can make a
lasting impression. I take pride in presenting work in a professional and accessible way,
but there’s always room to improve the look and feel of deliverable s, especially in client-
facing projects.
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4. Empathy
Definition: Empathy involves understanding and sharing the feelings of the customer.
It’s about being able to step into their shoes and respond to their emotional and practical
needs.
Example in Action:
My Aptitude: I’m highly empathetic, which allows me to connect with others and offer
support, but I could work on being more proactive in identifying potential problems
before they arise.
5. Responsiveness
Definition: Responsiveness refers to how quickly and effectively you react to customer
needs and queries.
Example in Action:
Final Self-Evaluation:
Overall, I believe I possess solid customer service skills across the RATER model,
particularly in Reliability and Empathy. I take pride in building trust, offering support,
and actively listening to others. However, there are areas where I can improve, such as
fine-tuning my communication for Assurance and improving the Tangibles (physical
CRM- ASSIGNMENT- Written Test
Question 6. If you were in the place of the service provider that you noticed in the
project, how differently would you render service to your customers? What changes
would you try bringing in and how would you implement the same? (DISTINCTION)
Ans: If I were in the place of the service provider, I would aim to enhance the customer
experience by focusing on several key areas to improve both service quality and customer
satisfaction. Here’s how I would approach the changes:
1. Customer-Centric Approach
Implementation:
o Personalized interactions: Take time to understand the specific needs and
preferences of each customer. Use CRM tools to track customer history and
provide tailored services or recommendations.
o Active listening: Encourage the team to listen carefully to customers’
concerns and feedback, ensuring that we address their pain points
effectively.
2. Efficient Communication
Change: Improve communication channels for quicker, clearer, and more efficient
service.
Implementation:
o Multiple touchpoints: Offer various communication channels (phone, chat,
email, social media) and ensure that these are easily accessible.
o Automated responses: Use AI-powered chatbots for quicker responses to
common queries, freeing up human agents for more complex issues.
o Regular follow-ups: After service, send follow-up surveys or check-ins to
gauge satisfaction and address any lingering concerns.
o
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Change: Increase transparency in service delivery and build trust with the customers.
Implementation:
o Clear pricing models: Ensure that customers understand the pricing
structure upfront, with no hidden fees.
o Clear timelines: Be upfront about any delays or issues, and set realistic
expectations for service completion.
o Regular updates: Keep customers informed about the progress of their
orders or services through timely updates.
Change: Adopt a more proactive approach in identifying potential issues before they
affect the customer.
Implementation:
o Predictive analytics: Use data to predict and resolve common issues before
they occur. For example, if there's a recurring complaint about a specific
issue, address it proactively in future interactions.
o Root cause analysis: Instead of simply fixing problems as they arise,
analyze why certain issues keep occurring and address the underlying
causes.
Change: Ensure that all staff members are equipped with the knowledge and tools they
need to perform their roles effectively.
Implementation:
o Continuous training: Provide regular training sessions to improve technical
and soft skills. This would enable employees to handle complex situations
confidently.
o Empower employees: Allow employees more autonomy to make decisions
that directly benefit the customer, such as offering immediate discounts or
resolutions in certain situations.
o
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Implementation:
o Regular surveys and feedback requests: After every interaction, ask
customers for feedback on their experience. Use this data to identify areas
for improvement.
o Internal audits: Regularly assess the quality of service from both the
customer and employee perspectives. Adjust strategies based on audit
findings.
7. Technological Integration
Change: Integrate modern technology to streamline processes and improve the customer
experience.
Implementation:
o Customer portal: Provide a self-service portal where customers can track
their orders, request services, and find solutions to common problems.
o AI and automation: Implement AI tools to automate routine tasks and
provide more efficient service, like automating scheduling, payment
processing, or troubleshooting.
Implementation:
o Tiered rewards: Create a loyalty program with benefits that increase with
customer spending or frequency of use. This could include discounts, special
promotions, or early access to new products.
o Referral incentives: Encourage existing customers to refer others by
offering them discounts or bonuses.
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Implementation:
o Customizable packages: Allow customers to choose from a range of
service packages that best fit their needs, with the ability to upgrade or
downgrade as necessary.
o Flexible hours: If possible, offer flexible hours of operation or after-hours
support to cater to customers in different time zones or with varied
schedules.
Change: Integrate sustainability and corporate social responsibility into the service
offerings.
Implementation:
o Eco-friendly practices: Implement eco-friendly practices where possible,
such as reducing waste, using sustainable materials, or supporting
environmental initiatives.
o Social impact: Support local communities or charitable organizations, and
align the service offerings with customers’ increasing interest in ethical
practices.
Question7. How would you handle an angry customer? Explain with reasoning.
(DISTINCTION)
Listen Actively: The first thing is to let the customer express their frustration fully. This
shows that you value their opinion and are not brushing their concerns aside. It’s
important to listen without interrupting and acknowledge their feelings. For example,
saying something like, “I understand you’re upset, and I’m here to help,” can validate
their emotions.
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Stay Calm and Empathetic: It’s crucial to stay calm, no matter how the customer is
reacting. Getting defensive or upset will only escalate the situation. Showing empathy
like, “I can see why you’re frustrated, and I’d feel the same way if I were in your
position,” helps the customer feel heard and supported.
Apologize and Take Responsibility: If the situation warrants it, an apology is key, even
if the issue isn’t directly your fault. A simple apology like, “I’m sorry you had this
experience” can diffuse tension. Taking responsibility (without admitting fault if it’s not
yours to claim) shows that you care about resolving the problem.
Offer a Solution or Alternative: Once the customer feels understood and validated, shift
the focus to solving the issue. Offer potential solutions and involve the customer in
choosing the best option, like, “I can offer you a refund, or I can assist in getting a
replacement. What would work better for you?”
Follow Through and Stay Engaged: Once a solution is agreed upon, ensure you follow
through on your promise and keep the customer informed along the way. This shows
reliability and can even turn a negative experience into a positive one.
Know When to Escalate: If the customer’s needs are beyond your capacity, or if they
remain too upset, it’s important to know when to escalate the issue to a manager or a
higher level of support. This can prevent you from becoming overwhelmed and ensures
the customer gets the assistance they need.
Overall, the goal is to diffuse the anger, make the customer feel valued, and find a
resolution that satisfies their needs. Handling the situation with care can not only resolve
the problem but also strengthen customer loyalty.