In the following we show you possible steps to make a first study on customer satisfaction.
Conception / Warmup
- Collect relevant internal data and find out the lack of information
- Definition and clarification of the precise task (target groups, performance criteria, survey method)
- Sensitizing the company’s internal staff on the necessity to measure customer satisfaction and to repair deficiencies perceived by the customers
Pretest/qualitative preliminary study
- Implementing individual interviews or group discussions with customers in order to determine relevant criteria for customer satisfaction and current problems in the eyes of the customers
- Wording and verifying a customized questionnaire
Implementation of a quantitative study
- Definition of the target population and the sample size
- Choice of the best survey form considering methodology and cost (telephone interviewing, personal interviewing, mail questionnaire or online-survey)
- Organisation, implementation and control of the survey:
- Determining the customers‘ requirements, expectations and needs
- Determining the total customer satisfaction as well as the detailed satisfaction of single items
- Determining the importance of the relevant criteria for customer satisfaction
- Input and control of the data
Analysing data and deducing recommendations for action
- Analysing data to determine strategic competitive advantages and disadvantages from the perspective of the customers
- Reveal reasons for dissatisfaction of specific target groups –> Identify potential for improvement for the business
- Elaborate precise recommendations for action to increase customer satisfaction
- Definition of objectives, measures and responsibilities for the implementation of these measures
- Presenting the findings to the staff to sensitize them
Implementation of the measures
- Concrete implementation and supervision of measures to improve customer satisfaction
- Optimisation of products and processes
- Continuous review of milestones