ID Number: G00162246




Dataquest Insight: Product Support, the Next Generation
27 November 2008
 
Rob Addy  

What is the role, if indeed there is one, of the support function of the future? Vendors must plan for the fast-approaching point at which support revenue disappears, as the discipline is absorbed into other business streams.







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Pages: 47








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Table of Contents



    
Analysis

    
Science Fiction as a Means of Predicting the Future
    
Decline Is Inevitable for Traditional Support Models
    
The Customer's Emotional Journey
    
Factors Influencing the Customer Experience

    
The Relationship Between Satisfaction, Delivery and Expectation

    
Background and Context

    
The Focus and Role of the Support Function

    
Real-Life Use Cases to Become Driving Force for Measurement
    
User Experience Management Becomes the Primary Focus
    
Product Supportability

    
From Post-Failure Analysis to Failure Prediction and Avoidance
    
Context-Sensitive Guidance to Promote Use of Available Capabilities
    
Support Technology

    
Predictive Analytics Will Drive Prevention-Based Initiatives
    
Reactive and Predictive Capabilities Will Take Second Place to Prevention
    
Automation Will Continue to Drive Support Efficiency
    
Telephony Will Become More Than a Means of Communication
    
Knowledge Management Maturity Will Drive Intelligent Support Systems
    
Support Web Sites Will Become an Integral Part of the Support Process
    
Delivery Models and Process

    
People Are the Driving Force for All Support Processes
    
Support Bridges the Gap Between the Real World and the Technical Experts
    
Relinquishing Control to the User Community
    
Embracing the Channel
    
Taking the Game to the Users
    
Education as a Marketing Opportunity
    
High-Touch, High-Value Delivery Mechanisms Return to Raise Quality
    
The Cultural Shift From Chaos to Proactive Prevention
    
Process Level Support for Variation Will Become Common
    
Alternative Product Delivery Methods Will Drive Alternative Support Methods
    
Commercial Arrangements

    
Increased Use of Pricing That Rewards Customer Commitment
    
SLA's Focus to Shift to Overall Service Quality
    
Relationships

    
The Transient Nature of Customer Loyalty
    
Moving Beyond Measurement to Proactively Drive Customer Satisfaction
    
Expectation Setting and Commitment Tracking
    
Customer Intelligence Becomes Personal
    
But the Personal Touch Becomes Unnecessary

    
The Impact

    
The Customer Experience

    
Evolution of the Customer Experience Manager

    
Conclusion

    
Top 10 Things That Support Providers Must Do Now

    
Recommended Reading


List of Figures



Figure 1. 
The Customer's Emotional Journey
 

Figure 2. 
Influences on the Customer Experience
 

Figure 3. 
How Support’s Focus and Role Affects the Customer Experience
 

Figure 4. 
Evolution of Support's Focus and Role
 

Figure 5. 
Product Supportability and Its Effect on the Customer Experience
 

Figure 6. 
Anticipated Evolution of Product Supportability
 

Figure 7. 
The Impact of Support Technology on the Customer Experience
 

Figure 8. 
Changing Uses of Support Technology
 

Figure 9. 
The Maturing Role of Automation Within Support
 

Figure 10. 
Traditional Knowledge Management Pyramid
 

Figure 11. 
The Effects of Delivery Models and Process on the Customer Experience
 

Figure 12. 
The Changing Delivery Model Factor
 

Figure 13. 
How the Relative Proportions of Various Delivery Models Will Change
 

Figure 14. 
Advances in the Approach Taken to Support
 

Figure 15. 
Commercial Terms and Their Impact on the Customer Experience
 

Figure 16. 
Evolution of Commercial Support Offerings
 

Figure 17. 
Relationships and the Customer Experience
 

Figure 18. 
Progression of Relationship Management
 

Figure 19. 
The Customer Experience and Its Influencing Factors
 



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This document is published in the following Dataquest Market Insights:
 
Infrastructure Support Services Worldwide





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