{"id":2525,"date":"2023-06-07T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/138.197.200.24\/resources\/blog\/customer-success-during-crisis\/"},"modified":"2026-08-06T10:22:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T10:22:18","slug":"customer-success-during-crisis","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.smartkarrot.com\/resources\/blog\/customer-success-during-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Customer Success is Critical during a Crisis like Covid-19"},"content":{"rendered":"
Embracing certain practices, knowing what the next steps are, and veering them in the right direction is how the customer\u2019s success during crisis should work. The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the churn rate and shook almost every industry. Nonetheless, you still have a say in how well your business performs through this period. There is still plenty you can do to increase customer engagement and retain the clients that you have worked hard to win.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This pandemic has erupted a massive impact on the economy that causes a lasting downturn in SaaS businesses. Research states that about major to severe revenue losses are expected to be seen across a handful of industries. However, SaaS industries are packing a punch to survive the battle. Here, in this blog, we address some of the ways to tackle these sorts of situations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When you are stuck by tough times like Covid-19, it is preferable to give your finance a thorough check. Think of it in this way, will the customers\u2019 go to the vendor who has been proactively reaching out to them even during these times. Or would it be the ones they haven\u2019t heard from long? Whose products are they going to cut first?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Customers will naturally build an affinity for the ones who are there for them through thick and thin. Be that for your clients and show them you really care. Because in the end, that is all that matters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Goes the old adage, customer success<\/a> is the combination of the outcomes a customer receives combined with the experience they own during the progress.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mathematically put, CS = CO + CX<\/strong><\/p>\n That means now is the time you champion and quantify your return of investment (ROI). Further, you can ensure that you are aligned with the company\u2019s mission and vision. Else, simply put, now is the time you verify the outcomes. Meanwhile, this is also the perfect time to fetch back the not-so-happy customers. Address them as soon as possible, as they say, \u2018Strike the iron when it is hot<\/em>\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n Of course, downturns can be harsh and can let companies lessen spending. So what do we do? One way is to negotiate bigger discounts by purchasing from fewer providers. This is your time to consolidate and expand into lasting, successful relationships. If some of your product lines are not performing well, this is your chance to grow your share within the enterprise.\u00a0<\/p>\n For instance, when Swiggy faced turmoil in India during the Corona crisis, and the orders took a stiff fall. It instantly reproduced Swiggy Genie<\/em> \u2013 an initiative that would deliver everyday essentials. And soon, the revenue bounced back. Similarly, you too can help them save and grow with you. All you need to do is plan ahead and consolidate your budget in the right direction.\u00a0<\/p>\n Well, to begin with, you can enhance the efficacy of the resources and build a personalized relationship with your prospects by segmenting them as per the Covid-19 exposure. You can do that by grouping them according to the location, size, industry, and level of COVID affectedness. Moreover, this can help customize your messaging patterns, and keep your engagement relevant and engaging to each prospect. Also, it allows you to communicate with many prospects at a time while delivering value and quality through personalization.\u00a0<\/p>\n When you are stuck with the tentacles of a crisis, the most invaluable solution is communication. Customer success during crisis can be battled by ensuring reaching out to the clients and being there for them. It not only pushes value for the customer to protect the successful connections but also increase customer retention, ultimately. Here are some of the tips you can curtail, to begin with:\u00a0<\/p>\n Needless to say, customer success during crisis could have taken a rough patch. In such tough times, it is expected to render some kind of relaxation and be more flexible. If you come across a client who is significantly affected by the pandemic and is at serious risks of churning out, you can step in. Offer flexibility via providing them with discounts, downgrades, maybe a free trial extension<\/a> or even temporary access to premium features would do. As stated earlier, adopting a few best practices<\/a>, and being there for a customer is all that matters.\u00a0<\/p>\n While KPIs figure out in which direction a company needs to direct at stable times, during turbulent times they put unwelcomed pressure on the team. With so many things at stake, measuring KPIs becomes secondary. Getting the team functional and supporting them becomes primary. And that is why you may wish to relax or even pause some of the KPIs during the initial period, be it NPS, CSAT<\/a>, or CES.<\/p>\n Ironically, this is the time you need to spend more time listening to your customers. Remember, during the crisis times, they want to be heard, they want to know that you are there and they want to be understood. Customer success teams that pay more heed to the clients will be in a better position to understand what they need, both as an individual and as a team.\u00a0<\/p>\n It needs to be seen that relevant and frequent team conversations help your team understand the changes that are happening so suddenly. The better they understand, the more they can assimilate the information and gather a sense of control in such tough times. Remember, customer success during crisis can be battled only when you are calmer and focused.\u00a0<\/p>\nCustomers envisage consolidating spending\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Strategies \/ Best practices to follow<\/h2>\n
Segment the Prospects<\/h3>\n
Communication is the key\u00a0<\/h3>\n
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A nod to Empathy and Flexibility\u00a0<\/h3>\n
How to lead CS teams during uncertain times<\/h2>\n
How about KPIs take a backseat<\/h3>\n
Render some compassion<\/h3>\n
Be ready to weather the storm<\/h3>\n