We’re in the new era of work, where interior-led home offices have replaced the tall glass facades of high rises. The most current data shows that we spent around 28% of our time working remotely.

With this shift comes the need for new tools. You’ve got to talk to colleagues as much as if they were at the next desk. That means using a collaboration tool.

In this guide, we’ll weigh up the benefits of Slack Vs. Google Chat.

Slack Vs. Google Chat: a Brief Overview

Slack Chat and Google Chat fall into a category of technology called collaboration tools. These have become a central feature of the modern workplace, allowing colleagues to converse digitally rather than in person.

Google Chat, as the name implies, is a subset of the Google suite of tools. It integrates with other offerings, like Google Docs and Google Drive.

Slack is a stand-alone market leader platform that offers many integrations with third-party tools.

Pros of Slack

Slack has excellent integration capabilities. So, it’s ideal in an organization where you already have crucial tools that aren’t from Google. Users also value Slack for a friendly and customizable interface.

Many find this helps improve the experience and aid productivity. It also has an excellent search facility and dedicated challenges.

These features allow users to keep their conversations organized. Finally, Slack has a massive online developer community, so it’s forever evolving.

Cons of Slack

Slack may have many business communication features. But it comes at a cost. The monthly pricing structure for small businesses may be unaffordable compared to free options.

The other disadvantage of Slack is that you need to set up the integrations. That may be easy for some highly technical teams but an overwhelming challenge for others.

Finally, some users find the notification system can become too distracting. Some people may find that constant interruptions hurt their productivity.

Pros of Google Chat

The most significant advantage of using Google Chat in your business is if you are already using other Google tools. The integration is already there, making it a hassle-free setup.

Google Chat is also cost-effective. Most businesses can begin using the functionality at no cost. You’ll only pay when you want more advanced features as part of Google Workspace.

Security is another plus point of Google Chat. It benefits from the expensive and state-of-the-art security infrastructure owned by Google.

Cons of Google Chat

Google Chat may have the advantage of linking with other Google products, but this can be a drawback if you have non-Google tools. It’s also not ideal if you don’t use any other part of the Google Workspace.

Secondly, Google Chat isn’t as customizable as Slack. It might not be what you need if you are after a particular setup to aid productivity.

For example, the notification system is more standardized, which may not suit you if you need granular updates on specific business areas.

What Chat Tool Is Best for Your Business?

When balancing the pros and cons of Slack Vs. Google Chat, consider whether you use other Google tools. If you don’t, a more customizable tool like Slack could be better.

At Xact, we have services to help your business be more productive, so contact us today to discover more.

Working nine to five, as Dolly opined, was but a way to make a living. But now times are changing. Businesses have adopted a new approach to staffing, one that embraces flexibility, technology, and a commitment to support staff.

At the heart of this change is workforce management scheduling. Read on about some trends driving recent changes in how companies manage their employees’ schedules.

AI-Powered Tools

AI technology has leaped into the mainstream in the last twelve months, including workforce management scheduling. It’s transformed business practices by creating the most advanced predictive capabilities ever.

That means a tool that can automate scheduling and predict staffing needs.

These AI-powered tools can analyze vast data sets to improve scheduling, like employee skills and availability. It helps to make an operating team more efficient and improve workplace satisfaction, all in a more streamlined fashion.

The Demand for Flexibility

Workforce scheduling was often about fitting into some rigid rules. That might be the hours scheduled or the working times. Businesses operated on an immovable daily calendar.

However, there has been a shift to a more flexible approach to the workforce. People nowadays want jobs that they can fit around their lives. That might be seniors wanting part-time roles or parents juggling work and the school run.

Workforce scheduling has adapted to this change. Many now offer a more fluid employee schedule to help attract talent to the workplace.

Tool Integrations

New scheduling tools are forever hitting the market, ready to tap into a need for a more efficient and organized approach. But as teams have dispersed remotely and grown, another challenge has emerged: integration.

These scheduling tools must link to other parts of a business’s IT setup. For example, you might want your workplace scheduling tool to connect to a time-tracking tool and your accounts software.

So, a big trend that will continue over the coming year is improved integrations between different platforms. Integration helps businesses create a more centralized setup.

Analytics

Modern technology gives businesses access to millions of data points. If companies can harness this data, it can provide an exciting advantage.

For scheduling, data-driven decision-making is one of the most powerful workforce management strategies. For example, a business can track historical scheduling and demand peaks to help with future staffing needs.

It reduces the likelihood you’ll overstaff and push up employee costs unnecessarily.

Real-time data is also valuable. It can mean a business responds rapidly to a staffing need instead of spotting it after the event.

Employee-Centered Scheduling

Scheduling used to be top-down, with the business driving the demand for when staff work. That’s beginning to change.

Companies want to improve how they support their teams – it helps attract talent and improve retention. So that means new scheduling practices driven more by what staff need.

It helps create a happier and more productive workforce.

Trends in Workforce Management Scheduling

If you want to attract talent to your team, you need to embrace these latest trends in workforce management scheduling. Focus on what your team needs, and invest in the best technology.

For a more productive team, get in contact with Xact to find out how our services can support your business.

About 91% of companies that have 10 or more employees use a CRM system.

CRM solutions have become incredibly popular in recent years. Companies all over the world make use of ERP software, allowing them to benefit from everything the technology can do. Among these tools, Salesforce is one of the most popular.

In this guide, we’ll go over three benefits that salesforce ERP integration can provide your business. Keep reading for more.

1. Easy-to-Access Customer Information

Various departments within your organization will collect and manage customer data. Keeping things organized is significantly easier when using Salesforce. It allows your entire company to work using a single system.

This means they’ll all record customer data in the same place, and this is where they’ll go when they need to access it. Having things set up in this way allows anyone within your organization to find the data that they need with ease. One team may record important information relating to supply chain activities, for example, and then anyone else who needs it will know where to locate it.

This streamlines operations, helping save a significant amount of time. It also ensures everyone is always using the most up-to-date information, reducing the risk of mistakes.

2. Build Trust With Customers

These days, there’s a lot of competition in every industry. You need to work to ensure your target audience favors you over your competitors. People put a lot of value on trust, so it’s important to maintain this if you want to foster brand loyalty.

Without this level of ERP integration, your team might struggle to help customers. This can be even more of an issue if they can’t find customer details. People will feel that your brand doesn’t care about its customers, which will push them towards alternatives.

Salesforce technology empowers your team so that they can provide the best level of customer service. Being able to access accurate customer data with ease and resolve issues incredibly quickly. This will help improve trust, customer engagement, retention, and more.

3. Saves Money and Time

For every company, the bottom line is vital. Being able to save money without compromising quality is always a plus. Improved efficiency will help with this.

A Salesforce ERP connection eliminates the need for double data entries. Your staff will spend less time on tedious tasks and can focus on more vital business processes.

Manual copying, for example, will no longer be needed. They also won’t need to manually check through databases to correct mistakes.

Human error is always an issue, but Salesforce goes a long way to reduce it. This allows your team to focus more time and energy on sales, business improvements, and whatever else is needed.

Salesforce ERP Integration

It’s important to make use of modern technology to improve your business where you can. Salesforce ERP integration will give you an edge over your competitors who are failing to advance in such a way. You should always make providing the best customer service possible a priority.

At XACT, we offer a range of customer support solutions that can help you serve your customers. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you achieve your business goals.

In 2019, 67.8 million people spoke another language from English at home, and that number continues to rise. The world communicates in so many languages that it’s hard to keep up with the changing business landscape. One way to ensure that you don’t fall behind the crowd is to use a bilingual answering service.

Not only do these services offer bilingual customer support to existing callers, but it help you grow your brand to reach more people. Non-native customers will feel inspired to use your business and reach out to the office support team.

So, what are the other advantages of bilingual telephone answering services?

The Future Is a Bilingual Answering Service

Globalization has made the world more connected than ever before, and technology is creating opportunities for bilingual people to live in different places of the world. That’s why a bilingual answering service is crucial in looking towards a global future of business and society.

The first reason to start using bilingual customer service teams in the workplace is that you can understand your customers’ needs.

1. Builds Connections With Customers

Language is essential for expressing our needs and finding solutions to problems. If someone feels misunderstood or confused, it could lead them to use another business. You don’t want the reason that a caller invests their money into another brand because you don’t have a bilingual customer service department.

When it comes to helping customers, every piece of information is important. A bilingual answering service allows people to answer specific questions and speeds up the process of calling the business. Once you answer a customer call, you can move quickly to another request.

2. Welcoming Atmosphere

Creating a great first impression can be hard in the digital age when everyone is fighting for attention online. It’s the little things that help you stand out from the crowd. Bilingual agents are an excellent way to welcome new customers and make them feel like you care about their questions.

If those first impressions are memorable, the callers will likely want to keep investing in your business. Calls are the foundation of a customer-orientated service that builds lasting brand loyalty.

3. Opportunity for Growth

Every business has a solid target demographic that they aim to appeal to with their services or products. But, sometimes, your marketing efforts can be unsuccessful, and getting interested in your brand can take longer. Instead of spending more of your budget on marketing campaigns, you need to consider a bilingual answering machine.

The easiest way to connect with a caller is to be able to create informal conversations and get to know them through bilingual answering services.

Answering Every Caller With Bilingual Services

Finding a reliable bilingual answering service can help your business reach new goals and nurture a friendly customer environment. You must take the time to examine the qualities of the service before you outsource to another company. This is why looking over the onboarding process for employees is helpful.

Take a look at our onboarding processes to learn more about how we develop our teams and encourage long-term growth for business.

Let us know if you need more information; we’ll be happy to chat!

Americans are more upset with customer service than ever. This is concerning for businesses that are trying to grow their clientele.

Customer communication and client support play a huge role in the success of any brand. Maintaining a strong relationship with clients will determine how people perceive your reputation. It can even impact the general operations of your company.

Are you wondering how to keep your customers in the loop? Keep reading to learn four effective methods to enhance client communication and support. That way, you can ensure a seamless client experience and build long-lasting relationships.

1. Embrace Open and Clear Customer Communication

One of the fundamental aspects of client communication should be openness and clarity. Without these aspects, it’s all too easy to confuse or misdirect your customers.

You should always aim to provide clients with transparent information about products, services, and processes. This will help a significant amount when building trust.

Remember to use the many channels available to you. Emails, phone calls, and online chats help you answer client’s questions more quickly. Keeping clients informed demonstrates your commitment to their satisfaction.

2. Seek Client Feedback and Use It to Your Advantage

Instead of guessing what your clients want, you can ask them for client feedback. This valuable resource can drive improvements in client support and communication.

Encourage clients to share their thoughts, opinions, and suggestions. Conduct customer surveys on a regular basis. That way, you can gather relevant insights into their experiences.

Analyzing this feedback can help spot areas for improvement. It’ll be easier to tailor your services to meet their needs.

3. Use an Efficient Client Support System

Are you wondering how you can provide timely assistance? That’s where a robust client support system comes in. A customer help desk lets clients easily submit their questions and issues.

A web support platform makes it simple for clients to access information and more. To further streamline support, consider service dispatch tools. These tools route client requests to the appropriate teams.

4. Get Modern Technology for Seamless Communication

Think of customer relationship management software as your best friend for managing client interactions. It’ll also help you track your communication history and personalize interactions.

Feel free to use automation tools to send out updates and appointment reminders. It’s even great for follow-up messages.

You should also consider integrating chatbots on your website. This will provide instant responses to common questions. That way, you can improve the overall client experience by a significant amount.

Client Communication Is the Foundation for Success

Without client communication, it’s much more difficult to forge lasting relationships. The key is to have your clients come back for your products and services well into the future.

XACT has premier solutions for your customer relations and more. We provide chat and web support, telephone answering services, outbound surveys, and beyond.

Are you eager to take your customer relations to another level? Reach out to XACT to schedule a professional consultation. We look forward to upholding the high standards of your brand.