Whether it’s reducing customer effort, evoking the right emotions or focusing on success, everyone has a definition of good customer service.
But how do leaders in the field define great customer service?
Here are some thoughts from our panel of experts and leading companies that aim to boost the customer experience on what makes best customer service.
In their contributions, concise responses were given in less than 140 characters, in accordance with the old Twitter rule.
It looks like it isn’t there…
It looks like it isn’t there, because you never need it.
James Lawther @SquawkPoint
Efficient and effortless
Efficient and effortless – the best customer service provides a simple and straightforward path for customers to get things done.
Interactions @interactionsco
Listening and then responding
Good customer service is about listening and then responding to a customer in the way they choose and at a time to suit them.
Sytel
First Contact Resolution
Best service means zero waiting time combined with First Contact Resolution and the agent takes full ownership of your issue & resolution.
injixo @injixo
Timely – Easy to Use…
Timely – Easy to Use – Personable Delivery – First Contact Resolution – Knowledgeable Agents – Excellent Performance.
Linda Davis @AllClear2
Twin smiles
Great customer service looks like twin smiles – one on the provider’s face and the other on the recipient’s.
Rostrvm Solutions @rostrvm
Convenient
Good customer service is responding to a customer in a way and a time most convenient to them, whether SM, IM, email or on the phone.
Genesys
Consistent
Good customer service = providing a consistent experience across all channels and touchpoints, and over time by using data from every interaction.
NICE @NICELtd
Effortless & seamless
Effortless & seamless from a customer’s point of view. Efficient, empowering, delivering FCR & building advocates for the company.
Karen Wenborn @BearskinNy
Accountable and speedy
Accountable and speedy resolution of problems when something goes wrong.
Bright
Customer first
Customer first: Fix what stops customers enjoying your product and, as in a supermarket, stop everything if asked to show where the eggs are.
The Forum @ForumOnline
Engaging
An engaged agent, who has been empowered to make decisions perceived as ‘not the norm’ and who treats you as a customer not a process.
Business Systems @BSLHQ
Understanding of customer needs
Understanding your customers’ needs and going over and above to deliver world-class service.
Julie
Personalised
Personalised. Personalisation stimulates customer behaviour, encouraging them to buy more, stay longer & evangelise the experience to others.
NewVoiceMedia @NewVoiceMedia
Right first time
Right first time, efficient, consistent and low effort for the customer.
CallMiner @CallMiner
Not failing customers
Good customer service is making the interaction seamless and effortless and not failing your customers when things go wrong.
Enghouse Interactive @EnghouseInterac
Courteous and quick
Good customer service is when a client feels they have been treated quickly, courteously & efficiently with high NPS.
David St.J Richards @dstjrichards
Proactive
Good service requires swift, expert resolution, an experience that’s joined up across channels, along with proactive, appropriate follow-up.
IFS | mplsystems @mplsystems
Anticipation of customer needs
Great customer service delivers value through powerful insights, authentic conversations and proactive anticipation of customer needs.
Zendesk @Zendesk
It’s all about joining up the dots…
Customer service should be brilliant. It’s all about joining up the dots. If I start online and need help, I don’t want to start all over again.
Sabio @sabiosense
Accessible, attentive…
Accessible, attentive, helpful, knowledgeable and above all, courteous!
Netcall @Netcall
High CHEFT factor
Good #custserv = high CHEFT factor (Competence – Helpfulness – Enthusiasm – Friendliness – Time).
Christophe De Clercq @ChriDeClercq
Communicating with a customer in a way that suits them
Good customer service is communicating with your customers in a way that best suits them – whether it’s online or by phone.
West Unified Communications @West_UC
Happy staff
Good customer service is being able to talk and listen. Happy agents sound happy, are calm and have a better rapport with customers.
Jabra @JabraBusiness
Quickly meeting customer needs
Amazing customer service is created by quickly meeting customers’ needs – the basis is rapid communication.
8×8 @8×8
Never having to explain or complain
In excellent customer service the customer never has to explain, never has to complain and, just occasionally, feels the centre of your universe.
Dougie Cameron @addzestDougie
Communicate in the customer’s language
Sticking to channel preference and enabling customers to communicate in their preferred language; lowering effort is key.
Lionbridge @Lionbridge
Easily accessible
Seamless – a low effort experience, anytime, anywhere through any channel and any device.
Puzzel @Puzzelsolutions
AI powered speed, but human
Great customer service is AI-powered – as fast as a bot, but personal, like speaking with a human.
DigitalGenius @DigitalGeniusAI
Originally published in June 2013. Recently updated.
Author: Jo Robinson
Reviewed by: Megan Jones
Published On: 11th Dec 2017 - Last modified: 23rd Jan 2026
Read more about - Call Centre Management, 8x8, Bright, Business Systems, CallMiner, Customer Service, Dougie Cameron, Enghouse Interactive, Genesys, IFS, Interactions, Intrado, Jabra, James Lawther, Linda Davis, Management Strategies, Netcall, NiCE, Peopleware, Puzzel, Rostrvm, Sabio, Sytel, The Forum, Vonage, Zendesk
‘Giving’ in the true sense, with Humility and Enthusiasm.
Good Customer Service is – “Taking Care of People” – because at the end of the day, it’s not what you sell, or, what service you provide, it’s all about making people feel good.
Good Customer service feels right – you can’t necessarily define it but you know when you feel it.
I had a bad experience in a coffee shop this morning and it made me feel cross and dissatisfied with how I was treated. It took me about ten minutes to analyse the process that made me feel the way i did.
So what does it look like may be the wrong question.
Good customer service is treating customers with a friendly and respectful attitude and having thorough knowledge and experience of the products or services you are offering in order to be able to efficiently help customers to make the best choices. Thus, always leaving them with a smile and no unanswered questions.
Good customer service is understanding a customers wants, needs and expectations, meeting and exceeding them in a sincere and thoughtful way. With the end goal always in mind – being the best option for them to return to.