Published : May 24, 2024Call disposition, a crucial component of call center operations, refers to the categorization of outcomes following customer interactions. It provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of communication strategies, agent performance, and customer satisfaction levels.
By systematically categorizing call outcomes, call disposition facilitates efficient tracking, analysis, and improvement of service delivery processes within call centers. Let’s learn more about call disposition by diving into this informative blog.
What is Call Disposition?
A call disposition, also known as call center disposition, refers to a detailed record of the outcome or status of a call in a customer service or sales context. These details are typically recorded in a CRM (customer relationship management) system or call center software platform to facilitate the analysis and management of customer interactions.
Call dispositions are often categorized using predefined codes or labels, known as call disposition codes or call center disposition codes. Common examples of call disposition codes include “resolved,” “not interested,” “callback scheduled,” “escalated,” and others.
Consistently use clear and concise disposition codes to accurately capture the outcome of each call, enabling meaningful data analysis and actionable insights. Regularly review and update disposition codes based on evolving business needs.
Importance of Call Disposition in Call Centers
Call disposition is paramount in the efficient functioning of call centers. Every call handled by a call center is a valuable touchpoint, and how it’s categorized through call disposition is crucial for several reasons:
1. Performance Evaluation
Call disposition codes provide a structured way to evaluate agent performance. By categorizing calls based on their outcomes, supervisors and managers can identify areas where agents excel and where they need improvement. This data can then be used for training purposes and performance reviews.
2. Customer Insights
Analyzing call disposition data offers valuable insights into customer behavior, needs, and concerns. By tracking trends in call dispositions, call centers can identify common issues or pain points customers are facing. This information can then be used to improve products, services, and processes.
3. Quality Assurance
Call disposition codes serve as a tool for quality assurance. Supervisors can review calls and ensure that agents are following protocols, providing accurate information, and delivering excellent customer service. Disposition codes help in pinpointing areas where improvement is needed and in providing targeted feedback to agents.
4. Resource Allocation
Understanding call dispositions helps call centers allocate resources effectively. By knowing the types of calls agents are handling and their outcomes, managers can adjust staffing levels, training programs, and workflow processes to better meet customer needs and optimize efficiency.
5. Compliance and Reporting
In certain industries, such as finance and healthcare, compliance with regulations is crucial. Call disposition codes help ensure that call centers are following industry regulations by accurately documenting the outcomes of customer interactions. Additionally, call disposition data can be used for reporting purposes to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements.
6. Customer Satisfaction
Effective call disposition practices contribute to overall customer satisfaction. By accurately categorizing calls and resolving issues in a timely and efficient manner, call centers can enhance the customer experience. Customers feel valued when their concerns are addressed promptly and effectively, leading to increased loyalty and positive word-of-mouth referrals.
Call disposition is essential for the smooth operation of call centers. It not only helps in evaluating agent performance and understanding customer needs but also facilitates compliance, resource allocation, and ultimately, customer satisfaction. Implementing effective call disposition practices ensures that every customer interaction is handled efficiently and contributes to the overall success of the call center.
: 10 Best Call Center Tools & Features Used by Support AgentsTypes of Call Disposition
Understanding the nuances of each call disposition type and its implications for customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and organizational performance, call centers can optimize their processes, empower their agents, and deliver exceptional service experiences that drive long-term success.
1. Need for Nurturing
Some leads are not yet ready to finalize a sales transaction. Utilize the disposition to identify prospects needing further nurturing from your sales teams. By building strong relationships with these leads, you increase the chances of future business. Such relationships are vital in today’s competitive sales environment, where many competitors are likely employing similar strategies.
2. Disconnection or No Longer in Service
If marketing provides sales with numerous disconnected numbers, it suggests a problem with the lead source. Similarly, if many leads result in busy signals, disconnection notices, or voicemail, it’s time to evaluate and potentially change the lead source.
3. Appointment or Demo Booked
Metrics related to demonstrations are crucial for SaaS companies to gauge SDR success. For instance, if a significant portion of calls do not result in appointments, the campaign may underperform.
Conversely, if a high percentage of calls lead to appointments, the campaign is likely generating high-quality leads. Aim for at least 25% of calls turning into appointments. The same applies to scheduling demos; if demos aren’t being booked despite good performance by employees, you may need to improve lead quality.
4. Stopped at the Gate
If too many calls are ending with receptionists rather than key decision-makers, consider training your staff to overcome these obstacles. For example, referencing the company’s LinkedIn profile and objectives can demonstrate that you are offering valuable discussions, not just trying to sell products and services.
5. Lack of Connection
Staying connected with the local community is crucial for salespeople. Consumers often seek local products and services, so becoming a local authority and providing valuable local information can enhance your value. However, if you experience many rejected calls from local buyers, it might be time to revise your call scripts and lead generation methods. This can improve connection rates and reduce the number of unanswered or rejected calls.
: How to Calculate & Improve Customer Retention Rate? [With Formula]How Do Call Dispositions Work?
Call dispositions function as a structured system within call centers to categorize and document the outcomes of customer interactions. When a call is concluded, the agent assigns a disposition code to signify the result of the conversation.
These codes typically reflect various scenarios such as issue resolution, escalation, follow-up requirements, or specific outcomes like sales made or customer satisfaction survey completion. The disposition codes are then recorded in the call center’s system, allowing for easy tracking, analysis, and reporting.
Supervisors and managers can use this data to evaluate agent performance, identify trends in customer inquiries, and make informed decisions to improve service quality. Additionally, call dispositions serve as a reference for subsequent actions, ensuring that any necessary follow-up steps are taken promptly and efficiently. Overall, call dispositions streamline operations, enhance customer service, and contribute to the overall effectiveness of call center management.
Common Call Disposition Examples
Call disposition codes are vital for categorizing customer interactions efficiently.
Among them, “Resolved” denotes successful issue resolution, “Not Resolved” indicates ongoing issues, and “Callback Scheduled” arranges follow-up calls.
“Transferred” forwards calls, “Voicemail Left” records messages, and “No Answer” flags unanswered calls. “Wrong Number” indicates incorrect contacts, “Do Not Call” respects opt-out requests, and “Follow-Up Required” signifies further action.
“Sales Made” denotes successful transactions, while “Customer Satisfaction Survey Completed” gathers feedback. These codes streamline analysis and enhance service quality.
: What Is an Abandoned Call? And How to Reduce it.Call Disposition Codes List for Managing Inbound and Outbound Calls
Call disposition codes are essential for efficiently managing inbound and outbound calls in any call center or customer service environment. These codes are used to categorize the outcome or status of a call, providing valuable data for analysis, reporting, and improving overall customer service and sales processes. Below are detailed lists of call disposition codes commonly used for managing both inbound and outbound calls:
Inbound Call Disposition Codes
- Resolved: The caller’s issue or query was successfully addressed and resolved during the call.
- Escalated: The call required further attention beyond the current agent’s capability and was escalated to a higher level of support or another department.
- Callback Scheduled: A callback was scheduled with the caller to address their query or concern at a later time.
- Information Provided: The caller received the necessary information or guidance and didn’t require further assistance.
- Not Interested: The caller expressed disinterest in the product, service, or offer being presented.
- Technical Issue: The call was related to a technical problem or malfunction that needs to be addressed by a technical support team.
- Complaint: The caller registered a complaint regarding a product, service, or company policy.
- Follow-Up Required: The caller’s query or issue requires further investigation or follow-up action.
- Customer Feedback: The call was primarily for collecting feedback from the customer about their experience with the product or service.
- Sales Qualified Lead (SQL): The caller expressed interest in purchasing the product or service and is considered a potential sales opportunity.
- No Answer/Abandoned Call: The call was not answered by the customer or was abandoned before reaching an agent.
- Wrong Number: The caller dialed the wrong number or reached the wrong department.
- Language Barrier: Communication was hindered due to a language barrier.
- Call Quality Issue: There were technical issues with the call quality, making it difficult to communicate effectively.
- Other: Any disposition not covered by the above codes can be categorized under “Other” with additional notes.
Outbound Call Disposition Codes
- Contacted: The call was successfully connected to the intended recipient.
- Left Voicemail: A voicemail message was left for the recipient.
- Callback Scheduled: A callback was scheduled with the recipient for a later time.
- No Answer: The call was not answered by the recipient.
- Busy Signal: The recipient’s line was busy at the time of the call.
- Not Interested: The recipient expressed disinterest in the product, service, or offer being presented.
- Follow-Up Required: A follow-up call is necessary to continue the conversation or address additional concerns.
- Wrong Number: The dialed number was incorrect or outdated.
- Do Not Call Request: The recipient requested to be added to the “Do Not Call” list.
- Opted Out: The recipient opted out of receiving further communications.
- Sale Made: The call resulted in a successful sale or conversion.
- Appointment Scheduled: An appointment or meeting was scheduled with the recipient.
- Language Barrier: Communication was hindered due to a language barrier.
- Disconnected: The call was disconnected prematurely due to technical issues or other reasons.
- Other: Any disposition not covered by the above codes can be categorized under “Other” with additional notes.
These lists are customizable based on the specific needs and processes of each call center or organization. Regularly reviewing and updating call disposition codes can help improve data accuracy, reporting efficiency, and overall customer service quality.
: 5 Best Practices for Call Center Management: Trends & Top ProvidersConclusion
Call disposition serves as the backbone of effective call centre operations, offering invaluable insights into customer interactions and agent performance. By systematically categorizing call outcomes, it enables organizations to track performance metrics, identify trends, and refine strategies for enhanced customer satisfaction. As call centers continue to evolve, the role of call disposition remains pivotal in driving efficiency, improving service quality, and ultimately, fostering positive customer experiences.
FAQs
1. What challenges are associated with the call disposition list?
The challenges associated with a call dispositions list include ensuring consistency in usage across agents, accurately capturing complex call outcomes with limited options, and adapting the list to evolving customer needs and service offerings. Additionally, managing and analyzing large volumes of disposition data can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.
2. What are the call disposition categories?
Call disposition categories include Resolved, Transfer, Follow-up Required, Information Provided, Complaint Registered, Service Inquiry, Interested, Not Interested, Callback Requested, Voicemail Left, Wrong Number, and Sale Closed.
3. How many call disposition codes should you use?
Use a manageable number of call disposition codes, typically ranging from 5 to 15, to effectively categorize call outcomes without overwhelming agents or complicating analysis.
4. What is disposition in telephony?
Disposition in telephony refers to the categorization or outcome of a call, such as whether it was answered, transferred, or resulted in a sale.
Updated : December 10, 2024
Supriya Bajaj is a senior content developer with immense experience in the VoIP telephony domain. With a deep knowledge of VoIP systems and emerging technologies in the field, she provides insightful and targeted content. Known for simplifying complex topics and her thought-leadership articles, Supriya delivers actionable content for both technical and non-technical audiences.
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