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How do you successfully manage customer relations?

What does customer relations involve?

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a strategy for improving customer satisfaction and loyalty by developing long-term relationships with customers. Companies use technologies and processes to collect information about customers and analyse their buying habits in order to improve their relationship with them. The objectives of customer relationship management are to build customer loyalty, increase sales and reduce costs.

Customer relationship management is a discipline that focuses on the relational aspects of its activity. It also includes work in support of customer service.

Customer relationship management is not just about financial and commercial issues: it also involves socio-cultural, psychological and human aspects. It must therefore be adapted to each company and each specific situation it encounters.

Customer relationship management is your company’s state of mind, enabling you to create a positive image and exploit the best sales opportunities. It involves management, training and the sales team.

Customer relationship management makes it possible to :

  • optimise the use of resources in line with strategic objectives;
  • to take account of the expectations of customers and prospects in order to meet their needs;
  • develop a strong, credible image with potential buyers;
  • build customer loyalty.

How can you successfully manage your customer relations?

Customer relations are an essential part of a company’s commercial strategy. It’s the best way to stand out from the crowd and increase profitability.

Customer relationship management involves identifying, developing and distributing products and services that meet consumer expectations. Its aim is to develop customer loyalty to the brands that make it up. It also serves to ensure that consumers recognise your products or services.

The first step to successful customer relationship management is to take the time to get to know your customers and targets. Find out what they think of the products you market and assess their expectations. Make yourself available and answer questions about your product or service.

Next, you need to define an action plan to build loyalty and keep them as potential customers. For example, offer good after-sales service or run promotions.

What tools can help you succeed in customer relationship management?

Customer relationship management tools can help you build successful customer relationships. Here are a few examples:

  • a database of all customers;
  • process management software to improve your efficiency and productivity in terms of customer satisfaction;
  • an information system enabling employees to work together to manage their professional activities;
  • a customer data analysis tool that provides useful information for improving service and increasing customer satisfaction.

What communication channels do you need to master to successfully manage your customer relations?

Successful customer relationship management requires a mastery of communication channels. Communication channels are the means used to communicate with the customer. There are many of them, and some can be more effective than others. The use of communication channels depends on your objective and your targets.

There are a number of different communication channels: traditional media (press, radio and television); digital media (Internet and the Web); social networks (Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn); and telephone calls or text messages.

What qualities are needed for successful customer relationship management?

The quality of thecustomer-supplier relationship is determined by the extent to which the customer’s expectations are met, orders are fulfilled and the customer’s needs are satisfied.

Customer relationship managers need to be good listeners. They need to be able to communicate effectively in line with the situation. Customers are very sensitive to their expectations and they often have different expectations depending on the environment in which they find themselves.

The quality of service provided by customer services is an important criterion for companies. If you want to make progress in your sector, you should focus on this criterion and develop your customer management system.

How can I train in customer relationship management at INSEEC?

INSEEC is a business school offering both general and specialised courses. It offers courses that can be taken throughout the year, as part of a complete curriculum. It offers several types of courses, including professional and sandwich courses. INSEEC also offers courses that can help you enter the customer relations management profession. You can choose to specialise in business at INSEEC.

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