T-Mobile is trying to put a human voice to customer care with new 'Teams of Experts' for subscribers.

Dan Jones, Mobile Editor

August 15, 2018

2 Min Read
T-Mobile Bucks Automation Trend in Customer Service With Latest 'Un-carrier' Move

"Death to the IVR," was the unofficial catchphrase of the latest T-Mobile US Inc. "Un-carrier" announcement, as President and COO Mike Sievert, along with other execs, said that Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, bots and automation had helped turn service providers into some of the most hated companies in America.

And now the third-largest mobile operator in the US wants to break that down today with the launch of a human-led "Team of Experts" program that helps subscribers on the T-Mobile network.

The basic concept is simple: Each T-Mobile subscriber will have a team assigned to them to help with their customer service issues. Subscribers will be able to call, text message or schedule a call with their team at any time.

The aim is to cut the time using IVRs and being bounced between departments to answer simple queries. Sievert described this as "a massive digital fortress, designed to keep you away."

Speaking from the event held in Charleston, SC, T-Mobile CEO John Legere claimed: "This un-carrier move, by the way, is bigger than wireless." As usual, Legere says that T-Mobile is trying to drive the rest of the industry to follow T-Mobile down the same path.

The CEO claimed that the cable, Internet and telco industries are the three worst-ranked industries for customer service on a "consumer rage survey." [Ed note: Funny, you would have thought airlines and healthcare would be right up there.]

"Comcast is the most hated company in America," Legere stated. "There were 10,000 tweets last quarter that used the words: 'Comcast sucks.' "

Asked whether T-Mobile was "bucking the trend" of automation with the new strategy, Legere and others agreed, with the CEO saying they would need more employees, but that, in the end, "It's actually good for business."

Meanwhile, EVP of Customer Care Callie Field explained that the operator has been working on the Team of Experts program for a couple of years, having the teams sit together, and making call centers have more of a startup vibe -- with massage chairs and other perks -- to propagate better working conditions.

"Our employees stay longer," with 90% internal promotions, she said.

The company said each customer will have 24/7 dedicated access to a customer care team comprised of between 30 to 40 people.

— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading

About the Author(s)

Dan Jones

Mobile Editor

Dan is to hats what Will.I.Am is to ridiculous eyewear. Fedora, trilby, tam-o-shanter -- all have graced the Jones pate during his career as the go-to purveyor of mobile essentials.

But hey, Dan is so much more than 4G maps and state-of-the-art headgear. Before joining the Light Reading team in 2002 he was an award-winning cult hit on Broadway (with four 'Toni' awards, two 'Emma' gongs and a 'Brian' to his name) with his one-man show, "Dan Sings the Show Tunes."

His perfectly crafted blogs, falling under the "Jonestown" banner, have been compared to the works of Chekhov. But only by Dan.

He lives in Brooklyn with cats.

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