2014 Contact Center Industry Award Winners
SQM benchmarks over 500 leading North American contact centers on an annual basis and has been conducting first call resolution (FCR), employee satisfaction (Esat), and customer satisfaction (Csat) benchmarking studies since 1996. SQM annually conducts 1 million surveys with customers who have used a contact center, email, website, IVR, or site contact channel service. SQM also conducts over 25,000 surveys annually with employees who work in contact centers. Our customer and employee survey benchmarking database is one of the largest in North America. SQM conducts business in 11 countries around the globe: Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia, Puerto Rico, India, the Philippines, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. Based on our contact center benchmarking studies, SQM awards excellence in FCR, and customer and employee satisfaction for the contact center industry. We have recognized top-performing contact centers for customer and employee satisfaction since 1998. SQM awards are based on customers who have used a contact center and employees who work in a contact center. SQM conducted the benchmarking studies for the period of January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014.
For each contact center that participated in our customer benchmarking study, SQM completed 400 post-call phone surveys, conducted by SQM’s telephone survey representatives. A sample size of 400 surveys provides a margin of error of +/- 5% with a confidence level of 95%. All customer post-call phone surveys have 12 or more questions and take approximately 5 minutes to complete. The surveys were conducted within 2 business days of the customer’s call to the contact center in order to understand their satisfaction with their contact center experience. SQM uses an in-depth post-call customer survey approach that consists of both rating questions and follow-up customer feedback questions that can be used to help the contact center improve its FCR and Csat performance.
In addition, for each contact center that participated in the employee benchmarking study, SQM completed a minimum of 100 customer service representative (CSR) surveys, or if the contact center had less than 100 CSRs, 90% of the CSR workforce completed surveys. All employee surveys had 50 or more questions and were conducted online at the CSR and supervisor levels. This confidential employee online survey took approximately 30 minutes to complete. SQM uses an in-depth online employee survey approach that consists of both rating questions and follow-up employee feedback questions. The employee survey focuses on the contact center’s FCR, Esat, and Csat performance from a CSR and supervisor perspective and provides opportunities to improve the contact center’s FCR performance in terms of people, process, and technology practices.
SQM has more than 50 different awards that recognize the top-performing contact centers. Based on the contact centers we benchmarked, SQM is honored to recognize the following Service Quality Award of Excellence Winners for 2014. These prestigious contact center industry awards were presented at our 16th annual conference, held in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, June 2 – 4, 2015.
Customer Experience Awards
Call Center of the Year
Criteria used for Call Center of the Year are based on having the highest combined customer FCR and employee overall very satisfied (top box response) rating.
Winner
Canadian Tire Financial Services (CRCC)
Finalists
- Arizona Public Service
- VSP Vision Care
Best Performing Small- to Mid-Sized Call Center
Criteria used for Best Performing Small/Mid-Size Call Center (under 100 CSRs) are based on having the highest combined customer FCR and employee overall very satisfied (top box response) rating.
Winner
Finalists
- Alberta Blue Cross
- BC Automobile Association (BCAA)
Call Center World Class Certifications
Criteria used for Call Center World Class Certification are 80% or higher of the calls are at the world class level for 3 months or more. SQM’s world class call criteria are based on the customer’s call being resolved, the customer is overall very satisfied (top box response) rating with their call center experience and the customer service representative (CSR).
- 211 Ontario
- 407 ETR
- BC Automobile Association (BCAA)
- BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont
- Canadian Tire Financial Services (CRCC)
- Enbridge Large Business Accounts
- ENMAX, Inc.
- FortisBC
- Insurance Corporation of BC (DTVI)
- Jackson
- Prime Therapeutics (Nebraska)
- Rogers Enterprise Service Delivery
- Scotiabank International (Dominican Republic)
- Scotiabank International (Jamaica)
- Scotiabank International (Mexico)
- Scotiabank International (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Sun Life Financial Group Benefits (Toronto & Waterloo)
- Sun Life Financial Group Retirement Services (Waterloo)
- VSP Vision Care (California & Ohio)
Call Center FCR Best Practices
These awards recognize the organization that has demonstrated they have improved or helped maintain high FCR and Csat performance. Organizations submit specific practices they have used to improve or maintain high FCR and Csat performance.
Category | Winners | |
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Quality Assurance Program |
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Desktop Application(s) |
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CSR Recognition Program |
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Career Advancement Program |
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Call Handling Practice |
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Real-Time CSR Support Queue |
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Performance Management System |
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CSR Coaching Program |
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CSR Training Program |
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CSR Hiring Process |
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Vendor FCR Best Practices
These awards recognize the vendor organization that has demonstrated they have improved or helped maintain high FCR and Csat performance for their clients. Vendors submit specific practices they have used to improve or maintain high FCR and Csat performance for their clients.
Category | Winner |
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Quality Assurance Program | Millennium1 Solutions |
Desktop Application(s) | Oracle Corporation |
Call Handling Practice | Genesys / Virtual Hold Technology |
Performance Management System | CallMiner Inc. |
CSR Coaching Program | Ulysses Learning |
CSR Training Program | C3/ CustomerContactChannels |
CSR Hiring Process | FurstPerson |
CSR of the Year
To be eligible the customer representative must be a World Class Certified customer representative. The criteria for a Certified World Class Customer Representative is 80% or higher of the calls surveyed are at the world class call level. Call center management must also send an example of a great customer service story that the CSR delivered.
Winner
Candace Pischetola, BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont
Finalists
Jordana White | 407 ETR |
Daniel Waterman | BlueCross and BlueShield of South Carolina |
Eric Marks | |
Erika Worthy | |
Anden Drolet | BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont |
Cindy Tilotson | |
Heather Young | |
Paula Miller | CareFirst |
Patty Nauss | Millennium1 Solutions |
Jerry Dormido | Nationstar Mortgage |
Heather Sundheim | Premera Blue Cross |
Leslie Wassmuth | Regence BlueCross BlueShield |
Trisha Wells | |
Anna Gizicki | Scotia iTRADE |
Melliza Beroy | |
Danielle Angus | Scotiabank International (Jamaica) |
Erica Kelloway | Sun Life Financial |
Genevieve Tees | |
Kerri Schebesch | |
Michelle Robinson | |
Davor Ilic | TELUS Sourcing Solutions Inc. |
Jennifer Ryan | |
Rachael Clarke | |
Kelly Durkee | VSP Vision Care |
CSR World Class Csat Improvement
To be eligible, a customer representative must have improved their WCC (World Class Call) performance by 10% from the previous year. SQM’s WCC criteria are based on the customer’s call being resolved, the customer is overall very satisfied (top box response) with their call center experience and very satisfied with the CSR. Call center management must also send an example of a great CSR Csat improvement story.
Winners
Name | Organization |
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Lori Guy-Robinson | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan |
Amy Duhamel | BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont |
Peter O’Meara | ICBC (Insurance Contact Centres) |
Abraham (Greg) Mucyo | Nationstar Mortgage |
Lauren Balzer | Sun Life Financial |
Supervisor of the Year
To be eligible the supervisor must be a World Class Certified supervisor. The criteria for a Certified World Class Supervisor is 80% or higher of the calls surveyed are at the world class call level, in which customers are overall very satisfied (top box response) with their call center experience, very satisfied with the person who handled their call and that the call was resolved . Call center management or CSRs must also send an example of a great Call Resolution or Csat coaching story.
Winner
Sue Fordyce, Rogers
Finalists
Name | Organization |
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Janalee Willett | BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont |
Dede Tobin | Regence BlueCross BlueShield |
Jefferian Thompson-Pratt | Scotiabank International (Jamaica) |
Alexandrea Roopram | Sun Life Financial |
Jennifer Riggle | VSP Vision Care |
Highest Customer Satisfaction for the Contact Center Industry
Winners | Category | Criteria |
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Scotiabank | Best Selling Customer Satisfaction | his award recognizes the call center with the highest Csat (top box response) rating for selling approach. |
Scotiabank | Highest IVR Customer Satisfaction Self Serve | This award recognizes the call center with the highest overall Csat (top box response) rating for a self-serve IVR. |
Highest Customer Service by Industry
Criteria used for Highest Customer Service by Industry is based on having the highest FCR for an organization in each specific industry/sector.
Winners | Category |
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Scotiabank International (Jamaica) / Scotiabank International (Trinidad and Tobago) | Banking |
Jackson | Financial |
Canadian Tire Financial Services (CRCC) | Credit Card |
VSP Vision Care | Insurance |
Sun Life Financial Group Benefits | Health Care |
Petro-Canada, a Suncor Energy Business | Retail/Service |
ENMAX, Inc. | Energy |
Cogeco Cable | Telco/TV |
407 ETR | Union |
CNH Industrial Parts & Service | Helpdesk |
211 Ontario | Government |
Jackson | Business to Business |
First Call Resolution Improvement
Criteria used for First Call Resolution Improvement is based on a 5% or greater annual FCR improvement from the most recent study within the last two years.
- Arizona Public Service
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts
- Highmark BlueCross BlueShield Delaware
- Nationstar Mortgage
- PerformRx
- Prime Therapeutics
- Scotiabank International (Peru)
Employee Experience Awards
Highest Employee Satisfaction for the Contact Center Industry
Criteria used for Highest Employee Experience for the Contact Center Industry is based on having the highest employee overall very satisfied (top box rating) with working in their contact center.
Winner
Highest Employee Satisfaction by Industry
Criteria used for Highest Employee Experience by Industry is based on having the highest employee overall very satisfied (top box rating) with working in their call center for each specific industry or sector.
Winners | Category |
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Arizona Public Service | Energy |
Canadian Tire Financial Services | Financial |
BC Automobile Association (BCAA) | Insurance |
Alberta Blue Cross | Health Care |
TELUS Sourcing Solutions Inc. | Outsourcer |
World Class Employee Satisfaction
Criteria used for World Class Employee Experience is based on 50% or higher of employees rate their overall experience of working in the call center as very satisfied (top box rating).
Winners
FCR Leadership
These awards are judged by a panel of SQM Client Account Managers who work closely with our tracking clients on an ongoing basis. Final award determination made by Mike Desmarais, President and Founder of SQM Group.
Winners
Name | Organization |
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Dave Difelice | Canadian Tire Financial Services |
Tom Band | Millennium1 Solutions |
Joanne Walch | Regence BlueCross BlueShield |
FCR Champion
These awards are judged by a panel of SQM Client Account Managers who work closely with our tracking clients on an ongoing basis. Final award determination made by Mike Desmarais, President and Founder of SQM Group.
Winners
Name | Organization |
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Emily Fair | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont |
Mauricio Ramos | Scotiabank International |
Laura Martin | Scotia iTRADE |
Previous Award Winners
Explore our awards archive to discover all the past winners of SQM's Call Center Customer Service Industry Awards, spanning from 2006 onwards!