9 Critical Components for A Successful Client Interaction Framework
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The document outlines nine critical components of a Client Interaction Framework (CIF) essential for successful client interactions and satisfaction in shared services. Key elements include account management, service partnership agreements, continuous improvement initiatives, and effective client feedback mechanisms to enhance service delivery. It emphasizes that a well-structured CIF is crucial for fostering collaboration between internal and external clients, ensuring clarity in roles and responsibilities, and enabling performance measurement.
9 Critical Components for A Successful Client Interaction Framework
- 1. 9 CRITICAL COMPONENTS TO DEVELOP A SUCCESSFUL CLIENT INTERACTION FRAMEWORK It’s not that complicated… mastering client satisfaction through a comprehensive framework Sustainable success hinges on satisfied clients. But this involves more than putting your staff through client service training and asking them to “play nice”. The solution is to channel your services and interactions through a well-structured client interaction framework. Here’s how. Shared Services is characterized by specialist teams that are geographically unconstrained and client- focused. Though often confused with “centralization,” the differentiator in Shared Services is that the internal client is provided with the same respect and service as the external client. External clients are typically treated well by providers because these clients have options and can go elsewhere for service. Internal clients can be treated poorly with few obvious consequences (at least in the short term), because they are often a captive audience. Successful Shared Services requires engaged clients, working in partnership with the provider. The Client Interaction Framework (CIF) provides these crucial implementation and control levers for service delivery. © Chazey Partners 2014
- 2. What are the critical success factors for Shared Services? The graphic below provides the four critical success factors to consider in any transformation, with detail provided from the perspective of Shared Services. Most Shared Services will focus on technology and processes, and typically some consideration is made to the people who will provide service. “ Often the reason that certain Shared Services are performing sub-optimally is due to the lack of focus on the needs of the client” What are the nine components of CIF? There are nine critical components to take into consideration in developing a best practice CIF (see below). 2 | Chazey’s Toolkit – Client Interaction Framework – January 2014
- 3. If you are not operating through a robust CIF, you risk confusion over roles and responsibilities; you won’t be basing your policies on relevant data; and your service will be characterized by “one-way traffic” - i.e., rather than the SSO and client listening to each other, both are focused on driving communications down one-way channels, not acknowledging the traffic and concerns flowing the other direction. The resulting strained relationships will by necessity prioritize fire-fighting over service, and are bad for morale. Conducting a root-cause analysis on the issues being experienced by a sub-optimal SSO will typically disclose that one or more of the nine components of CIF have been neglected. Leading practice Shared Services Organizations (SSOs) are aware that although they may only control a part of the processes, the end-to-end nature of processes means the real value-add often takes place at either end. A successful CIF strategy must, therefore, manage the impacts on both upstream and downstream processes. Here is an overview of the nine components of a successful Client Interaction Framework: 1 Account Management The key responsibilities of account management include facilitating successful internal and external client relationships; acting as the all-important key interface and internal escalation point between the client and SSO; reflecting the “voice of the client”; defining Service Partnership Agreements; and managing the governance and reporting framework. In addition the account manager engages with the client to improve upstream process performance, and fosters a dialogue based on facts, analysis and reporting to drive process improvement. Client Contact Management Client Contact Management defines how regular or daily interactions with clients are managed, how clients should contact the SSO to request service, and how requests are managed. 2 For normal day-to-day interactions a client will contact the SSO directly, however, in the event of more complex issues or problems, these requests are escalated to the Client Account Manager. Discussions on service expectations are not just about agreed delivery, but also about how the client needs to support service delivery. A key related issue regarding process performance is the need to effectively manage transparency and process compliance. An important tool in Contact Management is a governance framework that clearly defines, between SSO and the client, who does what, and the agreed targets/standards. Joint ownership of efficiency targets is especially important, and is achieved through clearly defined responsibilities and standards. 3 Service Partnership Agreements (SPAs) The Service Partnership Agreement between the SSO and the client represents a two-way agreement, in recognition of the partnership that is required for successful service provision. The SPA clarifies the relationship and expectations between the SSO and its clients. It identifies the services to be provided by the SSO to its clients, and the inputs that are required from the client that enable those services. It provides a framework for performance measurement and process improvement. SPAs allocate responsibilities for service delivery betweenthe SSOs, corporate departments, and the client, defining the appropriate level of service to meet the clients’ needs. The SPA exists to: • Clarify the relationship and expectations between the SSO and its clients • Provide a framework for performance measurement and process improvement • Increase the SSO and clients’ understanding of each other’s needs 3 | Chazey’s Toolkit – Client Interaction Framework – January 2014
- 4. 4 Client Feedback Client feedback is essential. Developing, monitoring and ensuring compliance through an effective client communication and feedback mechanism – between the SSO, its clients and its key stakeholders - is fundamental to the success of the SSO. This feedback mechanism needs to be adapted to meet, and be relevant to, the strategic, operational and day-to-day requirements. 5 Continuous Improvement Continuous improvement is key to any SSO that wants to remain effective – even if the initial goals have been achieved. It is important to define mechanisms that continuously identify areas for improvement and to develop appropriate solutions. Some examples of improvement initiatives are global methodologies like LEAN or 6-Sigma, which define, measure, analyze, improve, and control improvements. Some important pre-requisites for continuous improvement to become embedded: • • • • 6 Creation of a dedicated team for continuous improvement Senior Leader sponsorship Development of appropriate skill sets Taking an integrated approach to improvement initiatives – not a stand-alone approach Process Control Database The CIF clearly highlights the activity split between the Shared Services team and the clients of Shared Services. End-to-End processes must be fully documented and managed by the Shared Services team. End-to-End process ownership, roles and responsibilities, and hand-offs must be fully defined. 4 | Chazey’s Toolkit – Client Interaction Framework – January 2014
- 5. 7 Performance Measurement Within the CIF, the performance of each process is measured in terms of how it delivers on client requirements. It is important, however, that performance is measured on both sides of the service partnership. One side is the performance of the SSO in meeting its agreed commitments to clients. The other side is the performance of the internal client in supporting the upstream process input requirements. To track performance it is important to measure agreed input and output Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), as well as the more standard operational KPIs. Performance Reporting To ensure the SSO is performing to its optimum capacity, process performance should be reported in detail and reviewed (by the SSO and its internal clients) on a regular basis. These reviews also provide an opportunity for coments to be heard. 9 8 Recharging Methodology A pricing methodology defines the basis for charging for services by the SSO to its internal clients. While the method of charging can be adapted over time, it is important that there is agreement as to how services delivered are charged. Charging for services also allows clients to adjust their “consumption” of service where necessary, by creating more transparency into the cost of delivery. 3 | Chazey’s Toolkit – Client Interaction Framework – January 2014
- 6. For more articles on Chazey’s Toolkit, please visit www.ChazeyPartners.com/Resources or subscribe to our newsletters at www.ChazeyPartners.com/Subscribe Chazey Partners is a practitioners-led global management advisory business. We bring together a unique wealth of experience, empowering our clients to strive for world-class excellence through Business Transformation, Shared Services & Outsourcing, Technology Enablement, Process Enhancement and Corporate Strategy Optimization. We pride ourselves in having built, operated and turned around some of the world's most highly commended and ground breaking Shared Services Organizations, and for implementing many highly successful multi-sourced delivery solutions. Over the last 20 years, we have delivered numerous programs globally, in the US, Canada, UK, Continental Europe, Ireland, India, Eastern Europe, South America, Singapore, Australia, China, Middle-East and Africa. Our experience covers both Private and Public Sectors, providing expertise in a wide spectrum of business functions, including Finance, HR, IT and Procurement. Learn more about us at www.ChazeyPartners.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google+ Phil Searle CEO & Founder Chazey Partners +1 408 402 3008 [email protected] David O’Sullivan Co-Founder & Partner Chazey Partners +353 (0) 86 384 8573 [email protected] Grant Farrell Phil Searle CEO & Founder Managing Director United States Chazey Partners +1 408 767 1285 +1 408 402 3008 [email protected] [email protected] Chas Moore Managing Director, Canada Chazey Partners +1 855 692 6229 Ext 201 [email protected] Robert Towle Director East Coast, USA Chazey Partners +1 862 812 7851 [email protected] Anirvan Sen Managing Director, Asia, Middle East and Africa Chazey Partners +31 649 133 170 [email protected] Esteban Carril Managing Director, Latin America Chazey Partners +54 (911) 3085 5140 [email protected] Janey Jux Head of Public Sector Practice EMEA Chazey Partners + 44 (0) 800 644 0649 [email protected] Emer O’Kelly Regional Director, Europe Chazey Partners +44 (0) 7703 647360 [email protected] Christina Exarchou Head of HR Practice EMEA Chazey Partners +30 6944 525622 [email protected] 6 | Chazey’s Toolkit – Client Interaction Framework – January 2014