The Modern Customer Podcast
The world of customer experience is constantly changing. To succeed, you need to give impressive presentations that win support for your customer programs. Jacqueline Farrington, author of “The Non-Obvious Guide to Better Presentations: How to Present Like a Pro (Virtually or in Person)”, shared her insights on the Modern Customer Podcast. Her tips can help you refine your presentation skills and champion your customer experience programs. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of the bestselling book The Customer Of The Future.
info_outline Want to invest in Customer Experience? Question the Downside of FailureThe Modern Customer Podcast
The key to better customer experience? Design interactions that are easy and straightforward, and prioritize understanding your customers. Matt Watkinson, author and CEO of Methodical joins us to discuss how his experience navigating uncertainty can be used to create exceptional customer experiences. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of the bestselling book The Customer Of The Future. Enroll in the ROI of Customer Experience course here: https://customerexperienceroi.com/
info_outline Why Customer Satisfaction is Declining (and How to Fix It)The Modern Customer Podcast
Customer satisfaction is on a downward spiral, according to data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Forrest Morgeson, ACSI’s Director of Research shares reasons behind this concerning trend. Enroll in the ROI of Customer Experience course here: https://customerexperienceroi.com/ Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of the bestselling book The Customer Of The Future.
info_outline From B2B to B2C Thinking: Elevating Client Experience with Surbhi Kaul at Juniper NetworksThe Modern Customer Podcast
Exceptional customer experience (CX) isn't just for B2C companies anymore. B2B organizations are now recognizing its vital role in their success. Surbhi Kaul, Vice President of Global Customer Experience at Juniper Networks, exemplifies this shift. With over 10,000 employees and $5 billion in annual revenue, Juniper Networks is at the forefront of networking innovation. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of the bestselling book The Customer Of The Future.
info_outline Wharton Professor Stefano Puntoni Offers Insights on Generative AI and Customer Experience Use CasesThe Modern Customer Podcast
Generative AI, a rapidly evolving technology, is poised to revolutionize various aspects of business, particularly customer experience (CX). A GBK Collective study reveals that over 50% of U.S. senior executives have already embraced generative AI, and this trend is expected to accelerate. Professor Stefano Puntoni, a leading marketing and AI expert at Wharton shared his insights on the impact of generative AI on CX during a recent podcast interview. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of the bestselling book The Customer Of The Future....
info_outline The Future of the Automotive Industry: Insights from AutoCar Trucks' CXOThe Modern Customer Podcast
The auto industry speeds through a transformation, driven by factors like electric vehicles, self-driving tech, and the increasing importance of customer experience. Craig Antonucci, Chief Experience Officer at AutoCar Trucks discussed his company's approach to customer experience and how they are leveraging AI to improve it. AutoCar Trucks, a manufacturer of heavy-duty vocational trucks, takes a unique approach by selling directly to consumers, giving them more control over the buying process and fostering closer relationships. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote...
info_outline The Power of the First 100 Days: Keeping Customers and Employees HappyThe Modern Customer Podcast
Retention is not just about keeping customers and employees; it's about creating experiences so compelling that they never want to leave. Joey Coleman, author of "Never Lose a Customer Again" and "Never Lose an Employee Again," shares how to transform your approach to customer and employee retention using his First 100 Days methodology. He has worked with Volkswagen Australia, Zappos, and Whirlpool. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of the bestselling book The Customer Of The Future.
info_outline Optimize Your Contact Center And Improve Customer Service With AI TechnologyThe Modern Customer Podcast
Most discussions on revolutionizing customer service in the digital age highlight the importance of technology and personalization. Jason Finkelstein, the Chief Marketing Officer of Gladly, shares how Gladly stands out as the only customer service platform built around people, not tickets, emphasizing personalized, seamless interactions at scale. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of the bestselling book The Customer Of The Future.
info_outline The Future of Streaming: Roku's Role in Shaping Customer ExperienceThe Modern Customer Podcast
The future of streaming is shaping a new horizon for customer experience. With its focus on data-driven personalization and interactive features, Roku is well-positioned to play a key role in shaping the future of the streaming world. Bridging the gap between viewers and brands, Sarah Monahan, U.S. Head of Verticals at Roku, reimagines how streaming ads can shape a whole new customer journey. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of the bestselling book The Customer Of The Future.
info_outline Customer Experience Challenges, Trends, and Opportunities with Steven Van BelleghemThe Modern Customer Podcast
In a saturated market, customer experience transcends price and product: it's the ultimate differentiator. Across the globe, brands are constantly innovating and refining their CX strategies to meet the evolving expectations of their customers. Europe, with its diverse markets and cultural nuances, presents both challenges and opportunities for customer experience (CX) practitioners. Steven Van Belleghem is a CX influencer, and he’s worked with leading companies like Disney, Mercedes, Heineken, and Booking.com. Immersed in customer-centricity thanks to his family's photography store, Steven...
info_outlineBefore Amazon became one of the world’s largest retailers, it was simply an online bookstore shipping items within the U.S.
But even in its early days, founder and CEO Jeff Bezos had a vision to build earth’s most customer-centric company.
That mentality still holds strong today and is a driving force behind Amazon’s continual success.
Colin Bryar joined Amazon in 1998, just four years after it was founded. Of his 12 years on the Amazon leadership team, he spent two of them working as Bezos’ Chief of Staff, where he had an inside view of what it takes to build a customer-centric company.
The early days of Amazon weren’t smooth sailing, but instead of focusing on stock price or what the press was saying, Bezos encouraged his employees to look at customer experience data. Focusing too much on stock price was a roller coaster—it could go up 30% one month and make you feel 30% smarter, but then drop 30% the next month and make you feel 30% dumber. Instead, the mentality at Amazon was to stay focused on the customer. Employees knew that if they did right with the customer, things would work out.
From the company’s beginning, customers came first. Bryar tells the story of how the customer service experience became even more customer-centric.
All leaders at Amazon spend a few days every two years in the contact center, listening to calls, responding emails and eventually answering phone calls. On one occasion, Bryar and Bezos were listening in on a call from a customer who had received damaged lawn furniture. The call center agent asked for the product number, and as the customer was looking for it, looked at Bezos and Bryar and guessed exactly which product it was of the millions Amazon sold. The agent was right and explained that they had received multiple calls about that particular set arriving damaged—clearly, there was an issue with the packaging.
Amazon’s typical process for that type of issue was to have the call center agent file a report, which would then be forwarded to the feedback manager for that area. But with the calls coming so spread out, it would be difficult for the manager to notice a pattern and take action to solve the problem.
Instead, Amazon took a page from Toyota’s book to create an Andon Cord. In manufacturing, anyone on the assembly line can pull the cord if they detect a problem. Bezos created a virtual Andon Cord for the call center. If a customer service agent notices multiple calls for the same item, they can press a big red button that immediately removes the option to buy that product on Amazon. Bryar explains that it is better for customers to not be able to buy something no matter how painful the revenue loss is for Amazon than to send a defective product and have to deal with it later. Once the issue is addressed, the product is able to be sold on Amazon.
The idea of the contact center Andon Cord seems simple, but it shows how Amazon is working to operational excellence, even in its early years.
Bryar believes that focusing on customers, especially the example set by Jeff Bezos, is what has propelled Amazon to such great success. The company shows that no matter the industry or size, putting customers first always pays off.
Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of the bestselling book The Customer Of The Future. Sign up for her new course here. For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here.