ISS 2020 Vision Future of Service Management | Page 61

Stimulation Consumption Reality Delivery Expectation Promise Figure 26: Non-stop user journey (Source: Deloitte, modified by CIFS, 2016) Consideration Reflection Evaluation While service interactions will occur over a variety of mediums, they will likely incorporate more social and emotional interfaces, and capitalize on applied behavioural science in the design process in order to match expectations with reality. Tactfully shaping user perceptions can generate significant additional value. As reported by McKinsey & Company: Leading researchers have identified the major factors in customer-journey experiences that drive customer perceptions and satisfaction levels. For example, savvy companies can design the sequence of interactions with customers to end on a positive note. They can merge different stages of interactions to diminish their perceived duration and engender a feeling of progress. And they can provide simple options that give customers a feeling of control and choice. One pilot study at a consumer-services firm found that improvements in net-promoter scores accrued from “soft” behavioural- psychology initiatives as well as from “hard” improvements in operations. 76 It is also important for service providers to prioritize the establishment of partnerships with local vendors and small businesses in order to gain more robust user insights and increase responsiveness. The relationship approach will allow service providers to better coordinate across different touch points throughout the user journey and ultimately improve service delivery. According to interviewed subject-matter experts, partnerships and a service ecosystem strategy are considered winning models. 77 Increased collaboration among those in the value network will lead to greater management over the touch points and user journey and more favourable outcomes for users. For example, “As FM, we are not in the ‘facility business’, but more in the ‘facilitation business’, thus in the ‘enablement business’, tasked with making things easy for businesses through a wide range of service offerings. We always have to ask the key question: What job needs to be done to make it easier for the customer (and/or his customer)?” 77 As a result, service providers will be responsible for developing innovative approaches to the service journey, creating positive service moments and improving the end-to-end user experience. 76 McKinsey & Company, The CEO Guide to Customer Experience, McKinsey Quarterly, 2016. 77 Coenen, C., ISS 2020 Vision: Future of Service Management, 2016. 59