Terms

Escalations

Escalation is the process of transferring a customer issue to a more experienced or senior team member when the initial agent cannot resolve it. This transfer typically occurs when a problem requires specialized knowledge, a higher level of authority, or is too complex for the first point of contact. The goal is to ensure that every issue is addressed efficiently by the most qualified person, leading to a satisfactory resolution.

Common Causes of Escalations

Escalations can stem from a variety of factors, often when the initial point of contact hits a roadblock. These issues typically fall into a few common categories that prevent a swift, first-touch resolution.

  • Knowledge: The agent lacks the specific expertise or training required to solve the problem.
  • Authority: The request requires a decision that the agent is not empowered to make, such as a significant refund.
  • Complexity: The issue is too intricate or technical for the initial support tier to handle effectively.
  • Dissatisfaction: The customer is unhappy with the proposed solution or service and requests to speak with a manager.

Best Practices for Managing Escalations

Effectively managing escalations is crucial for maintaining customer trust and operational efficiency. A well-defined strategy ensures that complex issues are resolved smoothly without creating a disjointed customer experience. Here are some best practices to follow:

  • Training: Equip agents with the necessary product knowledge, soft skills, and de-escalation techniques.
  • Process: Establish a clear, documented escalation path so agents know when and how to escalate issues.
  • Documentation: Record solutions from escalated cases in an internal knowledge base to prevent repeat issues.
  • Automation: Utilize help desk software to streamline routing, tracking, and management of escalated tickets.
  • Monitoring: Continuously track escalation rates and review cases to identify systemic problems and areas for improvement.

Escalations vs. Exacerbations

While both terms relate to challenging customer interactions, they describe fundamentally different processes and outcomes.

  • Escalations: This is a structured process where an issue is passed to a more qualified team member. While it can extend resolution times, it ensures expert handling, which is crucial for complex issues in both enterprise and mid-market settings. The goal is controlled problem-solving.
  • Exacerbations: This refers to a situation being made worse, often through mishandling. It has no advantages and is never a preferred outcome. It signifies a breakdown in the support process, leading to increased customer frustration and potential churn, regardless of company size.

Tools and Techniques for Handling Escalations

Effectively managing escalations relies on a combination of specialized tools and structured techniques.

  • Automation: Use help desk software to route and track issues efficiently.
  • Workflows: Establish clear, step-by-step escalation paths for agents to follow.
  • Training: Equip teams with de-escalation skills and product knowledge.

Impact of Escalations on Business Operations

Escalations directly impact operational efficiency by diverting senior staff from their core tasks. This creates bottlenecks, increasing resolution times and straining valuable resources. The ripple effect slows down the entire support system, affecting more than just the initial issue.

For customers, the process feels disjointed and frustrating, which can erode trust and loyalty. A high escalation rate often points to deeper problems like insufficient training or process gaps. This can ultimately damage the company's reputation and lead to customer churn.

Frequently Asked Questions about Escalations

How can we reduce our escalation rate?

Focus on empowering your frontline team. Enhance their training, expand your internal knowledge base with solutions to common problems, and grant them more authority to handle requests like refunds or credits without needing manager approval.

Is a high escalation rate always a bad sign?

Not necessarily. While it can signal issues with training or processes, it can also indicate that complex problems are being correctly routed to specialists. A well-managed escalation path ensures experts handle the toughest issues, which is a positive outcome.

What’s the difference between a technical and hierarchical escalation?

A technical escalation routes an issue to a subject matter expert for specialized knowledge. A hierarchical escalation moves a case up the management chain, typically due to customer dissatisfaction or a request that requires greater authority to approve.

Other terms

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Positioning Statement

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Positioning Statement

Consumer Buying Behavior

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Consumer Buying Behavior

Messaging Strategy

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Messaging Strategy

Behavioral Analytics

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Behavioral Analytics

Sales Key Performance Indicators

Sales Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable metrics used to measure how effectively a sales team is achieving its key objectives.

Sales Key Performance Indicators

Nurture Campaign

A nurture campaign is a series of automated messages designed to build relationships with potential customers and guide them toward a purchase.

Nurture Campaign

Branded Keywords

Learn about branded keywords, including identifying your branded keywords, & strategies for optimizing branded keywords.

Branded Keywords

Lead Routing

Lead routing is the automated process of distributing incoming leads to the right sales reps based on predefined criteria.

Lead Routing

Marketing Mix

The marketing mix is the set of marketing tools a company uses to sell products, defined by the 4Ps: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion.

Marketing Mix

Demographic Segmentation in Marketing

Demographic segmentation divides a market into groups based on traits like age, gender, and income, allowing for more targeted marketing efforts.

Demographic Segmentation in Marketing

Territory Management

Territory management is the process of segmenting customers into groups by geography or other factors to optimize sales efforts and resources.

Territory Management

Sales Velocity

Sales velocity is a key metric measuring the speed at which your company makes money. It shows how fast deals move through your sales pipeline.

Sales Velocity

ClickFunnels

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ClickFunnels

B2B Data Solutions

Learn about B2B data solutions, including unlocking the power of B2B data, & key components of effective B2B data solutions.

B2B Data Solutions

Site Retargeting

Site retargeting is a marketing strategy that shows ads to people who have previously visited your website but left without converting.

Site Retargeting

Account View Through Rate

Account View-Through Rate (AVTR) is the percentage of target accounts that see an ad and later visit your website without clicking on it.

Account View Through Rate

Sales Coaching

Sales coaching is a process where managers help reps improve their skills and performance through personalized feedback, training, and guidance.

Sales Coaching

Outbound Sales

Outbound sales is when reps proactively contact potential customers through cold calls or emails to generate leads and build a sales pipeline.

Outbound Sales

Account-Based Selling

Account-Based Selling is a B2B strategy where sales and marketing treat high-value accounts as markets of one, using personalized outreach.

Account-Based Selling

Account Development Representative

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Account Development Representative

Video Hosting

Video hosting is a service that allows users to upload, store, and share video content online, making it accessible for playback anywhere.

Video Hosting

Direct-to-Consumer

Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) is a business model where companies sell products directly to customers, bypassing traditional retail middlemen.

Direct-to-Consumer

Objection Handling

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Objection Handling

Below the Line

Learn about below the line, including key strategies for below the line marketing, & distinguishing above and below the line tactics.

Below the Line

Channel Sales

Channel sales is an indirect sales model where a company leverages third-party partners, such as resellers or affiliates, to sell its products.

Channel Sales

SQL

SQL (Structured Query Language) is the standard language for managing and querying data within relational databases.

SQL

Sandboxes

A sandbox is an isolated testing environment where new or untrusted code can be run safely without affecting the host device or network.

Sandboxes

Sales Strategy

A sales strategy is a comprehensive plan that outlines how a business will sell its products or services to achieve its revenue goals.

Sales Strategy

Net Revenue Retention (NRR)

Net Revenue Retention (NRR) is the percentage of recurring revenue kept from existing customers, including upsells, downgrades, and churn.

Net Revenue Retention (NRR)

Sales Dashboard

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Sales Dashboard

Sender Policy Framework

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Sender Policy Framework

Affiliate Networks

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Affiliate Networks

Email Deliverability Rate

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Email Deliverability Rate

Service Level Agreement

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Service Level Agreement

User Interaction

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User Interaction

Real-time Data

Real-time data is information processed and made available almost instantaneously, enabling immediate analysis and decision-making.

Real-time Data

Rollback Procedures

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Rollback Procedures

Digital Advertising

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Digital Advertising

Customer Retention Rate

Customer Retention Rate (CRR) is the metric that measures the percentage of customers a company has kept over a specific period of time.

Customer Retention Rate

Sales Development

Sales development is the process of identifying and qualifying potential customers to create a pipeline of sales-ready leads for closers.

Sales Development

Voice Search Optimization

Voice search optimization is the process of optimizing your content, SEO, and online listings to appear in and rank for voice-based searches.

Voice Search Optimization

Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open-source system for automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.

Kubernetes

Business to customer

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Business to customer

Firewall

A firewall is a digital barrier that protects a network by monitoring and controlling traffic, blocking unauthorized access and malicious content.

Firewall

Deal Closing

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Deal Closing

Enterprise

An enterprise is a large-scale organization, often a corporation, defined by its complex structure and substantial number of employees.

Enterprise

Consideration Buying Stage

The consideration buying stage is where potential customers have defined their problem and are now actively researching and evaluating solutions.

Consideration Buying Stage

B2B Marketing Channels

Learn about B2B marketing channels, including maximizing B2B channel effectiveness, & exploring digital vs. traditional channels.

B2B Marketing Channels

Workflow Automation

Workflow automation uses rule-based logic to run a sequence of tasks that would otherwise require manual human effort to complete.

Workflow Automation

Referral Marketing

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Referral Marketing

Cost Per Click (CPC)

Cost Per Click (CPC) is a digital advertising model where an advertiser pays a fee each time one of their ads gets clicked by a user.

Cost Per Click (CPC)

Analytical CRM

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Analytical CRM

Closed Won

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Closed Won

Account-Based Advertising

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Account-Based Advertising

Solution Selling

Solution selling is a sales approach focused on understanding a customer's pain points to offer a comprehensive solution, not just a product.

Solution Selling

Data Enrichment

Data enrichment is the process of enhancing raw data by adding missing information from other sources, making it more complete and actionable.

Data Enrichment

Sales Rep Training

Sales rep training is the process of equipping your sales team with the skills, knowledge, and tools to effectively sell and hit their targets.

Sales Rep Training

Channel Partner

A channel partner is a company that works with a manufacturer or producer to market and sell their products, software, or services to customers.

Channel Partner

Call Analytics

Call analytics is the practice of analyzing phone call data to extract insights, track key metrics, and improve overall business performance.

Call Analytics

ETL

ETL, short for Extract, Transform, Load, is a data integration process for moving raw data from various sources to a central data warehouse.

ETL

Sales Qualified Lead

A Sales Qualified Lead (SQL) is a prospect vetted by marketing and sales, deemed ready for a direct sales pitch after showing intent to buy.

Sales Qualified Lead

Lead Conversion

Lead conversion is the process of turning a prospect into a customer by getting them to complete a desired action, such as making a purchase.

Lead Conversion

Average Order Value

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Average Order Value

DMP

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DMP

Market Intelligence

Market intelligence is the process of collecting and analyzing data about your target market, competitors, and industry to guide business strategy.

Market Intelligence

Channel Marketing

Channel marketing is a strategy where a company sells its products or services through third-party partners, like resellers or affiliates.

Channel Marketing

Lead Generation Software

Lead generation software helps businesses automate finding and capturing potential customers' contact information to build sales pipelines.

Lead Generation Software

AI Sales Script Generator

An AI sales script generator is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to create personalized sales scripts for any outreach scenario.

AI Sales Script Generator

Sales Champion

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Sales Champion

Buyer Behavior

Learn about buyer behavior, including understanding the buyer's journey, influencing factors in buyer behavior, & buyer behavior and marketing strategy.

Buyer Behavior

Email Deliverability

Email deliverability is the ability for your emails to successfully land in your recipients' inboxes instead of their spam folders.

Email Deliverability

Kanban

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Kanban

Net 30

Net 30 is a common payment term where a client has 30 calendar days from the invoice date to pay for goods or services in full.

Net 30

Account-Based Marketing Benchmarks

Account-Based Marketing (ABM) benchmarks are key metrics used to measure the performance and success of your targeted account strategies.

Account-Based Marketing Benchmarks

Sales Workflows

Sales workflows are a set of automated actions that streamline the sales process, helping teams engage leads consistently and close deals faster.

Sales Workflows

Product-Market Fit

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Product-Market Fit

Sales Bundle

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Sales Bundle

Master Service Agreement

A Master Service Agreement (MSA) is a foundational contract that sets the general terms for an ongoing business relationship between two parties.

Master Service Agreement

Return on Marketing Investment

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Return on Marketing Investment

Closed Lost

Closed Lost is a sales term for a deal that didn't go through. The prospect decided not to buy, or the sales team disqualified them.

Closed Lost

B2B Intent Data

Learn about B2B intent data, including how B2B intent data enhances sales strategies, sources of B2B intent data, leveraging B2B intent data for competitiveness.

B2B Intent Data

Soft Sell

A soft sell is a low-pressure sales tactic that uses subtle persuasion and relationship-building to gently guide customers toward a purchase.

Soft Sell

Buying Signal

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Buying Signal

Brand Equity

Learn about brand equity, including understanding its importance, building strong brand equity, measuring brand equity, & real-world applications.

Brand Equity

B2B2C

Learn about B2B2C, including benefits of B2B2C model, key strategies for B2B2C success, & B2B2C vs. B2C vs. B2B: understanding the differences.

B2B2C

Forward Revenue

Forward revenue is the total value of all active, committed contracts that are expected to be recognized as revenue in the future.

Forward Revenue

Trusted Advisor

A trusted advisor is an expert who builds a deep client relationship by consistently prioritizing their best interests over any single transaction.

Trusted Advisor

BANT Framework

Learn about BANT framework, including implementing BANT in sales strategy, advantages of the BANT methodology, & BANT vs. other qualification models.

BANT Framework

Customer Experience

Customer experience (CX) is a customer's total perception of your business, based on every interaction across the entire customer lifecycle.

Customer Experience

Account Match Rate

Account match rate is the percentage of target accounts successfully identified and matched against a specific database or data provider.

Account Match Rate

Sales Funnel Metrics

Sales funnel metrics are key data points that track how effectively you're moving potential customers from awareness to a final purchase.

Sales Funnel Metrics

B2B Sales

Learn about B2B sales, including key strategies for B2B success, types of B2B sales models, & B2B vs. B2C sales: understanding the differences.

B2B Sales

Sales Development Representative (SDR)

A Sales Development Representative (SDR) is a sales specialist who finds and qualifies new leads, building a pipeline for the sales team.

Sales Development Representative (SDR)

No Spam

“No Spam” is a commitment to sending only relevant, solicited messages. It means avoiding bulk, unwanted emails to respect the recipient's inbox.

No Spam

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)

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Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)

Content Management System

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Content Management System

MOFU

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MOFU

Consultative Sales

Consultative selling is a sales approach where a salesperson acts as an advisor, focusing on understanding and solving a customer's specific needs.

Consultative Sales

Sales Pipeline Reporting

Sales pipeline reporting is the process of analyzing sales data to track progress, identify bottlenecks, and forecast future revenue.

Sales Pipeline Reporting

Single Sign-On (SSO)

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Single Sign-On (SSO)