Schools:Call Center Metrics

Service level

Measuring service level in the call center: Expert advice <<previous|next>> :How to calculate service levels in call center settings

Ask The CRM Expert: Questions & Answers

Service-level agreement template to prepare for call center outsourcing

Service-level agreement template to prepare for call center outsourcing

By  Donna Fluss, President, DMG Consulting LLC

SearchCRM.com

I am planning to outsource to a domestic call center. I am having difficulty framing my service-level agreement (SLA) and the outsource contract. Could you offer some advice or a service-level agreement template?
Service-level agreements (SLAs) are critical for the success of any outsourcing initiative as they set expectations for both parties – the outsourcer and the customer. Many vendors have service-level agreements and you can ask your vendor for theirs, as a starting point. Keep in mind that an outsourcer's service-level agreement will prioritize their needs over yours. Use this as a service-level agreement template:

• Operating days and hours
• Definition of work
• Processes and procedures
• Agent quality
• Agent coaching
• Agent training
• Escalation procedures
• Technology
• Uptime requirements and performance
• Backup and contingency
• Reporting
• Transaction handling
• Security

The

To continue reading for free, register below or login

Requires Membership to View

To gain access to this and all member only content, please provide the following information:

By joining SearchCRM.com you agree to receive email updates from the TechTarget network of sites, including updates on new content, magazine or event notifications, new site launches and market research surveys. Please verify all information and selections above. You may unsubscribe at any time from one or more of the services you have selected by editing your profile or unsubscribing via email.

TechTarget cares about your privacy. Read our Privacy Policy

best service-level agreements are very detailed and address every aspect of your relationship with your outsourcer, including rewards and penalties for good and bad performance. They also include how to handle transitions when relationships end. I recently published a book called The Real-Time Contact Center. Chapter 12 includes a detailed description of the categories and activities that should be addressed in any service-level agreement, whether you are working with a domestic of offshore outsourcer.

One word of caution. Since negotiating a service-level agreement can be a relatively lengthy and involved process, many outsourcers will push you to sign a contract before you finalize your service-level agreement. While it may seem like a good idea in the short term – the outsourcer will try to convince you that doing otherwise would unnecessarily hold up the deal – it will hurt you in the long run. Once you sign a contract, you lose a great deal of negotiating power.