Everything you need to know about call blending

There is growing interest in the adoption of call blending, the practice of combining inbound and outbound call centre activities. This innovative approach aims to maximise operational efficiency by allowing agents to answer inbound calls and make outbound calls alternately, via the same platform. This article explores the benefits of implementing call blending in your inbound and outbound call centre.

What is call blending?

Call blending is a strategy used in call centres to combine the activities of inbound and outbound calls within the same team of agents. Unlike the traditional method, where agents focus either on inbound calls (receiving calls from customers) or outbound calls (initiated by the company), call blending allows agents to handle both inbound and outbound calls simultaneously.

Agents have free time when incoming call traffic is very low. The call blending approach aims to optimise the use of human resources and improve the operational efficiency of call centres by reducing downtime and increasing agent productivity. They will not only receive, but also make calls via a single system. They may, for example, handle customer complaints on inbound calls and then carry out prospecting or sales on outbound calls.

As well as improving human resources, call blending also helps to reduce costs. It also improves customer satisfaction by offering greater availability to respond proactively to customer requests. Current technological developments enable the simultaneous and efficient management of incoming and outgoing call flows to meet the latest trends in customer relations.

What are the challenges involved in implementing call blending?

Implementing this innovative solution in your inbound and outbound call centre presents a number of challenges.

Agent training

Agents need to be trained to handle both inbound and outbound calls. This approach requires a certain level of versatility and skill. Training aims to give them the skills they need to respond effectively to customer requests and to make outbound calls.

Workload management

Balancing inbound and outbound calls can be difficult, especially during peak periods. Contact centre managers need to put effective strategies in place to manage the workload and ensure that agents are not overloaded.

The right technology for call blending

To implement call blending, the company must have telephone systems and call centre software that are compatible with this approach. This means investing in additional equipment to upgrade existing infrastructures.

Managing customer expectations

Customers may have different expectations when they call a call centre. They can expect a fast and personalised response, whatever the type of call. Call centres must therefore ensure that they maintain a high level of customer service while implementing call blending.

What are the advantages of call blending?

Combining the activities of inbound and outbound calls offers a number of significant advantages for call centres and their customers.

Optimisation of human resources

By enabling agents to handle both inbound and outbound calls, call blending optimises the use of human resources. It reduces downtime and increases the overall productivity of the team.

Operational flexibility

Call blending enables call centres to adapt better to fluctuations in demand. Agents can be split between inbound and outbound calls, depending on the needs of the moment.

Reduced waiting times thanks to call blending

By integrating outbound calls, call centres can proactively contact customers to provide relevant information, resolve problems or assess customer satisfaction. This significantly reduces waiting times for customers who call in.

Improved customer satisfaction

By offering a more responsive and proactive service, call blending helps to improve the customer experience and overall satisfaction. Customers benefit from faster access to information and solutions.

Increased sales and retention opportunities

Outbound calls can be used for sales activities, customer follow-up or feedback gathering, which can lead to increased sales and better customer retention.

Thus, call blending enables call centres to optimise their operations, improve the customer experience and seize new business opportunities, making it an attractive strategy for many organisations.

What are the steps involved in setting up call blending?

There are several key steps involved in setting up this solution:

Assessing needs and objectives

Identify your contact centre’s needs and objectives. This includes analysing your call centre agents’ workloads, incoming and outgoing call volumes and customer service expectations.

Selecting the right technology solution

Choose a telephone system and call centre software that support call blending. Make sure that the solution you select offers the features needed to effectively manage inbound and outbound calls simultaneously. These features must also be accessible and easy to use.

Agent training

Provide in-depth training for agents to prepare them to handle both inbound and outbound calls. This should include advice on time management, task prioritisation and communication skills.

Workflow configuration

Define clear and efficient workflows to ensure a smooth transition between inbound and outbound calls. Develop strategies to manage the distribution of agents according to workload and operational priorities.

Constant monitoring and optimisation

Establish monitoring mechanisms to assess the performance, including response times, customer satisfaction and agent productivity. Use this data to identify areas for improvement and make adjustments where necessary..

ProContact, your expert for outsourcing inbound and outbound calls

Don’t let your in-house call centre be overwhelmed by incoming and/or outgoing calls. In addition to the call blending approach, outsourcing is a viable alternative for improving your call management. Choose ProContact for efficient handling of your customer interactions. Focused on customer satisfaction, our agents provide personalised responses, both when receiving and making calls, to ensure an optimal customer experience.

Contact us via our contact form or call us on (+33)1 84 76 24 03 to establish a quality partnership.