Manager’s Step by Step Guide: Call Center Key Performance Metrics

One of the most important tasks in call center management is utilizing Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to gauge the success of staff in their call answering and problem-solving capacity. These call center metrics are measurable values that show the level of effectiveness of your team in achieving the goals you set.

Call Center KPIs

Research conducted in 2017 by call center software provider Talkdesk showed that there were four impactful KPIs that should be included in the call center metrics of successful businesses. Their rates of occurring vary by industry and the company has noted the average benchmark across all industries as guidance for setting metrics for a successful call center (see chart below).

• • Average Abandonment Rate – The number of calls that are terminated between the Interactive Voice Response (IVR ) system and the moment an agent answers divided by the total number of inbound calls a call center receives – not including those callers whose needs are satisfied within the IVR system.
• • Average Time in Queue – The average amount of time the caller spends on hold in the queue while waiting to be connected to a call center representative. Customers experiencing long wait times are more likely to abandon calls and may choose to never call back. This is a missed opportunity to connect with your customer to ensure they are happy, promote your brand and potentially upsell.
• • Average Speed to Answer – The average time the agent took to answer inbound calls including the amount of time while the agent’s phone is ringing; however, this does not include the time the caller spent in the IVR system or waiting queue. This KPI is associated with efficiency and accessibility and is a contributor to customer satisfaction.
• • Service Level – This call center metric measures how accessible a business is to their customers and is a good indicator of a company’s ability to plan for call volume fluctuations and execute their staffing strategy. This is clearly tied directly to customer service quality and inbound call center performance; thus, this is usually at the core of a manager’s call center metrics toolkit.

Inbound Contact Center KPIs by Industry

Chart Source: Talkdesk

Given the benchmarks for your industry, it is important to set KPI standards and make certain that they are reached. Using a 24-hour call center such as Responsive Call Center can help you trim costs and efficiently and effectively set KPI standards, as well as ensure that all quality and call center metrics meet your standards.

Contact Responsive Call Center today to learn how we can help you maximize your KPIs.