Turnover in call centers is often higher than in other departments, and that puts a great strain on managers who are trying to keep enough staff to handle the call volume. Agent attrition will always be a factor, but it can be reduced to manageable levels by taking control of the situation.

Manage Call Traffic

It's hard to come up with a workflow solution if you don't understand the process. Consider a manufacturing line. Managers can analyze inflow of raw materials, assembly processes and packaging tasks to see where production inefficiencies are. Call center analytics provide the same level of quantification for the less concrete world of the customer support industry.

Displaying current call center analytics on electronic wallboards allow managers to see what is happening in real time. It gives a feel for how much work is coming in and how efficiently it is getting done. They can see trends and staff accordingly, so that there are always enough agents to handle the volume, but not so many that people have nothing to do. Once the process is visualized, it's easier to find solutions.

Give Employees Goals And Rewards

Electronic wallboards provide valuable information to managers, but they are even more useful to employees. Working a call center can become overwhelming. There is simply an endless supply of calls and no real sense of progress or achievement. When agents have access to displays that track call volume, queue lengths, hold times and other statistics, it makes it easier for them to understand how they contribute to the success of the department.

Agents can adjust their work habits to the queue lengths. When call volume is low they can spend a little extra time with each client to improve customer relations. Once hold times start to climb, they can switch to a more efficient style that serves the customers while maintaining a high call handling volume.

Making An Effort Helps

It takes time to get a call center under control, but wallboards often provide an agent morale boost from the first day. They are a concrete sign that management is addressing the problem and trying to reduce workload and workplace stress. Seeing that managers are handling the situation instead of ignoring it motivates agents to stick with it until the effects of the changes can be felt.

Working in a call center can be a high pressure job, but there are many steps managers can take to reduce agent stress, raise morale and reduce attrition. As turnover falls, that also will serve to boost employee spirits and raise productivity. Electronic wallboards and call center analytics are valuable tools that allow managers to run an efficient and low-stress call center that will outperform competing organizations.