Customer effort score (CES)

CES is designed to assess the ease and simplicity of the customer experience. It seeks to answer the question: "How much effort did the customer have to put in to achieve their goal or resolve their issue?" CES surveys typically ask customers to rate their level of effort on a scale, often from "very easy" to "very difficult" or a numerical scale, after specific interactions or transactions with a company.

How is CES calculated?

CES is calculated based on the responses to a CES survey question. The exact format of the question may vary, but it often looks like this: "On a scale from 1 to 7, how easy was it to [complete the task/resolve your issue]?" The average score provided by customers is then used to determine the CES score, typically on a scale from 1 to 7 or as a percentage.

Significance of CES

CES holds significance for businesses for several reasons:

1. Customer-centric focus: CES is centered on the customer experience and their perception of ease or difficulty. It shifts the focus from just meeting customer needs to making those interactions as effortless as possible.

2. Predictor of loyalty: Research has shown that customers who find interactions effortless are more likely to remain loyal and continue doing business with a company. Reducing customer effort can boost customer retention and lifetime value.

3. Identification of pain points: CES surveys often include open-ended questions that allow customers to provide qualitative feedback about what made the interaction easy or difficult. This feedback can highlight specific issues that need attention.

Practical applications of CES

CES data can be utilized in various ways to improve the customer experience:

1. Process streamlining: Companies can use CES scores to identify bottlenecks or areas of friction in their processes. By streamlining these processes, they can reduce customer effort and enhance satisfaction.

2. Website and app optimization: For online businesses, CES can help identify navigation and usability issues on their websites or apps. Improvements in user interfaces can make interactions smoother.

3. Customer support training: If customers frequently rate customer support interactions as high effort, it may signal a need for additional training or better tools for support staff.

4. Product improvements: CES feedback can inform product development by identifying features or functions that cause customer frustration or confusion.

5. Channel preference: Analyzing CES scores across different channels (e.g., phone, email, chat) can help companies understand which channels are the most or least efficient for customers.