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Difference between Occupancy and Utilization

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Difference between Occupancy and Utilization
What is Difference between agents Occupancy and Utilization and what is formula for both

Helper

Call Centre Helper

Occupancy and Utilization are used interchangeably
Occupancy and Utilization are terms that are often used interchangeably, but are different. This is very important in contact centres and BPO.

Difference between Occupancy and Utilisation
Have a read of this article:
https://www.callcentrehelper.com/difference-occupancy-utilisation-132518.htm

or see these two articles about how to calculate it:

https://www.callcentrehelper.com/agent-occupancy-89603.htm
https://www.callcentrehelper.com/how-to-work-out-how-many-staff-you-need-in-a-contact-centre-96591.htm#maxoccupancy

Occupancy differs from utilization
Occupancy differs from utilization, in that occupancy considers only live logged in time, but utilization considers total time at work (including logged out time such as training).

Occupancy


Occupancy = What percentage of time that my agents are logged in live, are they actually productively busy with a customer activity, or are they available to do more?

Utilisation


Utilization = What percentage of the time that I pay my agent, are they logged in and assisting or available to assist with a customer activity?

Occupancy typically will be calculated as:
(Talk+Hold+Wrap+Customer-related activities), divided by (Talk+Hold+Wrap+Customer-related activities+Available Time).

Whereas utilization is calculated as
(Talk+Hold+Wrap+Customer-related activities+Available Time), divided by (Paid Hours on-site / Total Shift Time).

Occupancy is especially important in schedule design, as it assists with measuring schedule optimization, so as not to have agents sitting and waiting for calls.

Utilization is important as input to shrinkage or overhead calculations, as it considers "non customer-related activities" that still get paid for, but that takes the agent away from servicing a customer, such as:

  • Training Time

  • Coaching

  • Personal Breaks

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