by Lea Strickland | May 9, 2026 | Customer Relationships
As artificial intelligence reshapes nearly every corner of business, customer service has become a battleground for automation. Chatbots, voice assistants, and AI-driven help desks promise 24/7 availability and lower costs. Yet, beneath the efficiency lies an...
by Lea Strickland | May 9, 2026 | Customer Relationships
In today’s hyper-connected business world, technology promises to streamline everything—from customer service to sales and operations. If you want to improve internal efficiency or external relationships (CRM, etc.), you need to proceed with caution. For many...
by Lea Strickland | Oct 2, 2025 | Business Growth, Customer Relationships, Small Business
Customer retention is the backbone of sustainable growth for small businesses. Keeping existing customers engaged is not only more cost-effective than acquiring new ones, but it also boosts profitability—studies show that a 5% increase in retention can lift profits by...
by Lea Strickland | Aug 12, 2025 | Business Articles, Business Growth, C.O.R.E. Business System, Customer Relationships
As business owners, we are all familiar with interruptions, especially those of the unwelcome variety. Think about it: you’re enjoying your favorite TV show, and suddenly, an emergency broadcast interrupts with an amber alert or a weather warning. For some,...
by Lea Strickland | Jun 21, 2025 | Business Articles, Business Growth, Business Plans, Customer Relationships, Operations
Onshoring Customer Service and Beyond In an era where global supply chains, outsourcing, and offshoring have become the norm, many businesses are beginning to look closer to home for key operational functions, including customer service, manufacturing, and...
by Lea Strickland | May 22, 2025 | Business Articles, Customer Relationships, Operations, Resources, Vendor Relations
The Challenge of Punctuality A Missed Appointment You set an appointment with a vendor for a meeting via telephone call for 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday. At 9:24 a.m., they still haven’t called. You attempt to contact them. You have provided the number they are to call. You...
