Seeing success through the eyes of customers
In this interview, Jon Triggs, Head of Customer Success at Fluent Technology, talks about how CS has grown in alignment with sales, product, marketing, and engineering teams. This alignment involves strategic thinking, quantitative analysis, and a line of sight in improving the customer's bottom line.
Business perspectives
With the rise of subscription-based technology comes the Customer Success function. This business model, Jon notes, ensures that customers are successful not only in the work they do but how satisfied they were when using the solution/platform.
This shift from on-premise to a subscription-based model pushes SaaS businesses to be more proactive and laser-focused on customers changing needs, business challenges, and meeting their expectations.
In the transcending years, CS becomes a multi-faceted position that bridges all teams towards achieving a common goal. That is to deliver the success that customers aspire and expect in the organization. No wonder Customer Success is gaining momentum and trust among business executives, investors, and stakeholders.
Preconceived expectation
When customers or prospects reach out to us, they already have this expectation of what they want in a product. We must do our best to showcase the differentiated capabilities of our software/solution. Why? Because customers are already halfway through their buying process.
There is only a small chance to change or sway their decision. It is about addressing their remaining questions (or reservations) if we are the most reliable business partner to solve their pressing business needs/challenges.
We must be confident in ourselves, Jon asserts. Customers should see us as an expert in our space. To sell our product or allow customers to realize the value of the partnership, we must listen and recognize their needs and embrace their objections.
When we obtain any critical information from potential or existing customers, we can make strategic decisions to improve our brand focus based on the stated requirements, needs, and desired outcomes/success.
CS is not just about providing support or upselling the service. It is always about proving, establishing, and promoting the relationship's value (and why the solution is necessary and a great fit). Keeping customers will not help achieve mutual success if our product/solution won't meet or satisfy their needs.
The key to a successful relationship
Organizations should (1) prioritize customer success, (2) continuously provide value and deliver the success customers expect, (3) help them achieve their business growth, (4) invest in their success; however, they define it.
With various shareholders involved, finding a balance between each user's desired outcomes is critical (to prevent misalignment).
To ensure that organizations are not going to miss any changes within the customer organization, they should always involve other internal and external stakeholders when making strategic decisions. It helps straighten out business commitments and achieve both long-term successes (customer and organization).
Organizational balance
Jon observes that some of the organization's challenges are that some internal teams do not see each other eye-to-eye. It can lead to confusion and a lack of direction (which need to be solved first).
It does not mean we have to beat the Product or Engineering teams to develop some features customers want. Instead, we must relay the feedback we have taken from customers and be transparent about how valuable it is for them.
Having a customer perspective that blends in and supports the overall strategic goals and business objectives; gives us a better understanding of what we need to do next. Aside from the evolution of how technology is being sold and utilized, customer feedback helps organizations effectively manage their expectations and grow their relationship the right way.
Remember, when you make changes based on customer suggestions and recommendations, you empower other customers to share their opinions and sentiments. Achieving success is not just having a good strategy in place. But seeing mutual success through your customers' eyes and applying what you have learned in every interaction.
If you are looking for new ideas about how you can transform your CS organizations into a brand that customers think is right and appropriate for them, my third book on CS will discuss it. I will share new concepts on how this can be done. This book will be available before the end of the year (2020).
