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Results of Research -
e.Support & Knowledge Management

Conducted June 2001 by
supportindustry.com and STI Knowledge

survey technology provided by CustomerSat.com


Size of Company
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Small (0-999 employees)
77
  53.1%
 
Medium (1000-9999 employees)
33
  22.8%
 
Large (10,000+ employees)
35
  24.1%
 
Total Responses: 145 100%  


Are you responsible for your company's
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Internal Help Desk
42
  30.9%
 
External Support Center
64
  47.1%
 
Both
30
  22.1%
 
Total Responses: 136 100%  


What Vertical Industry is your Company in?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Finance/Banking
14
  9.7%
 
Insurance
2
  1.4%
 
Healthcare
7
  4.8%
 
Technology
68
  46.9%
 
Consumer Goods
6
  4.1%
 
Transportation
2
  1.4%
 
Entertainment
0
0%
NA
Beverage
0
0%
NA
Tobacco
0
0%
NA
Restaurant
0
0%
NA
Government
11
  7.6%
 
University/College
4
  2.8%
 
Other
31
  21.4%
 
Total Responses: 145 100%  


What are your 2001 Support Strategy Projects? (check all that apply)
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Improve Service Levels
116
  21.8%
 
Lower Support Costs
85
  16%
 
Implement e.Support
82
  15.4%
 
Implement Knowledge Management
88
  16.6%
 
Centralize/Consolidate Support Operations
41
  7.7%
 
Call Tracking/Problem Management
72
  13.6%
 
Integrate Change Management into Problem Management
27
  5.1%
 
Converge Call Center and Help Desk
20
  3.8%
 
Total Responses: 531 100%  


Did your support operation budget increase, decrease or stay the same from last year?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Increase
51
  36.2%
 
Decrease
35
  24.8%
 
Stay the same
55
  39%
 
Total Responses: 141 100%  


If your support budget decreased, by what percent?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
0 - 2.4%
10
  17.2%
 
2.5% - 4.9%
9
  15.5%
 
5.0% - 7.4%
8
  13.8%
 
7.5% - 9.9%
3
  5.2%
 
10% - 14.9%
12
  20.7%
 
15% - 19.9%
5
  8.6%
 
over 20%
11
  19%
 
Total Responses: 58 100%  


Has the demand for your services increased or decreased compared to last year? (If decreased or remained the same, go to question 14)
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Increased
100
  70.9%
 
Decreased
13
  9.2%
 
Remained the same
28
  19.9%
 
Total Responses: 141 100%  


By what percent is the demand for your support increasing?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
0 - 2.4%
9
  8.7%
 
2.5% - 4.9%
10
  9.7%
 
5.0% - 7.4%
11
  10.7%
 
7.5% - 9.9%
15
  14.6%
 
10% - 14.9%
16
  15.5%
 
15% - 19.9%
14
  13.6%
 
over 20%
28
  27.2%
 
Total Responses: 103 100%  


What is the main reason for this increase?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Supporting ERP back-office applications
10
  10.3%
 
Supporting CRM front-office applications
7
  7.2%
 
Supporting other business functions like HR/Facilities/Operations
13
  13.4%
 
Supporting new technologies such as PDA/Wireless
19
  19.6%
 
Supporting eBusiness or Internet Self-Service Initiatives
27
  27.8%
 
Centralizing and Consolidating Support Operations
21
  21.6%
 
Total Responses: 97 100%  


Do you formally survey your customers to determine their needs and expectations for Support?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Yes
94
  66.2%
 
No
48
  33.8%
 
Total Responses: 142 100%  


Is eSupport a top priority in your organization?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Yes
84
  59.2%
 
No
58
  40.8%
 
Total Responses: 142 100%  


Is your company currently benefiting from a successful eSupport implementation?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Yes
56
  40%
 
No
84
  60%
 
Total Responses: 140 100%  


Has your organization implemented an eSupport solution before and failed? (If no, go to question 19)
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Yes
11
  7.9%
 
No
129
  92.1%
 
Total Responses: 140 100%  


What was the primary reason for the failed eSupport Initiative?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
No senior level sponsorship
5
  33.3%
 
No cross functional support
3
  20%
 
Selected the wrong technology
1
  6.7%
 
No cooperation from employees to share knowledge
0
0%
NA
No planned maintenance
1
  6.7%
 
No one knew about it so it did not get used
1
  6.7%
 
Lack of training on how to use it
1
  6.7%
 
Other
3
  20%
 
Total Responses: 15 100%  


Do you plan to create an eSupport strategy in the following timeframe:
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Next 3 months
36
  27.5%
 
6 months - 12 months
43
  32.8%
 
1 year - 18 months
26
  19.8%
 
18 months - 24 months
10
  7.6%
 
2 years or longer
2
  1.5%
 
No plans to create an eSupport strategy at this time
14
  10.7%
 
Total Responses: 131 100%  


How much money do you have budgeted for eSupport projects in the next year?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
$100,000 - $249,999
34
  24.8%
 
$250,000 - $499,999
9
  6.6%
 
$500,000 - $749,999
3
  2.2%
 
$750,000 - $999,999
3
  2.2%
 
$1,000,000 - $1,999,000
9
  6.6%
 
$2,000,000 - $4,999,999
3
  2.2%
 
over $5 million
1
  0.7%
 
No money budgeted at this time
75
  54.7%
 
Total Responses: 137 100%  


Did you plan for eSupport professional services/consulting in the budget? (If no, go to question 23)
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Yes
49
  36.6%
 
No
85
  63.4%
 
Total Responses: 134 100%  


What professional services/consulting areas did you include in the budget? (check all that apply) :
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Assesment and justifying need for eSupport
16
  9.6%
 
Create the eSupport strategy & help sell it to senior mgmt
13
  7.8%
 
Implementation of eSupport
35
  21%
 
Integration of eSupport into other key systems and technologies
29
  17.4%
 
Defining and Mapping eSupport processes
17
  10.2%
 
Marketing and Communicating eSupport
9
  5.4%
 
eSupport Metrics and Reporting
17
  10.2%
 
eSupport Training
23
  13.8%
 
Other
8
  4.8%
 
Total Responses: 167 100%  


What is the primary problem that you are hoping your eSupport implementation will solve?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Redundant status inquiries
20
  14.7%
 
How-to questions
21
  15.4%
 
Password reset/ reminder
6
  4.4%
 
Application error/ configuration faults
4
  2.9%
 
Self service access to request templates
10
  7.4%
 
Reduce the need for Live Assistance
62
  45.6%
 
Other
13
  9.6%
 
Total Responses: 136 100%  


Have you been able to lower costs by implementing self-service technology?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Yes
66
  51.6%
 
No
62
  48.4%
 
Total Responses: 128 100%  


Is your company currently benefiting from a successful Knowlege Management initiative?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Yes
64
  45.4%
 
No
77
  54.6%
 
Total Responses: 141 100%  


Is Knowledge Management a top priority in your organization?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Yes
86
  61%
 
No
55
  39%
 
Total Responses: 141 100%  


Are you going to pursue a Knowledge Management initiative within the next:
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
3 months
37
  29.6%
 
6 months - 12 months
40
  32%
 
1 year - 18 months
22
  17.6%
 
18 months - 2 years
4
  3.2%
 
2 years or longer
2
  1.6%
 
Not planned at this time
20
  16%
 
Total Responses: 125 100%  


How much money have you budgeted for your Knowledge Management initiative?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
$100,000 - $249,999
31
  24.2%
 
$250,000 - $499,999
8
  6.2%
 
$500,000 - $749,999
3
  2.3%
 
$750,000 - $999,999
1
  0.8%
 
$1,000,000- $1,999,999
4
  3.1%
 
$2,000,000 - $4,999,999
2
  1.6%
 
over $5 million
0
0%
NA
No money budgeted at this time
79
  61.7%
 
Total Responses: 128 100%  


Did you plan for Knowledge Management professional services/consulting in the budget? (If no, go to question 31)
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Yes
40
  29.6%
 
No
95
  70.4%
 
Total Responses: 135 100%  


What professional services/consulting areas did you include in the budget? (check all that apply) :
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Assesment and justifying need
12
  7.4%
 
Create the KM strategy & help sell it to senior mgmt
11
  6.8%
 
Knowledge Management Implementation
30
  18.5%
 
Integration into other key systems and technologies
21
  13%
 
Knowledge identification and capture
21
  13%
 
Marketing and Communication
10
  6.2%
 
Metrics and reporting
20
  12.3%
 
Training
16
  9.9%
 
Knowledge Publishing
15
  9.3%
 
Other
6
  3.7%
 
Total Responses: 162 100%  


Has your organization tried to implement a Knowledge Management initiative before and failed? (If no, go to question 33)
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Yes
33
  23.9%
 
No
105
  76.1%
 
Total Responses: 138 100%  


What was the primary reason for the failed Knowledge Management initiative?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
No senior level sponsorship
13
  31.7%
 
No cross functional support
2
  4.9%
 
Selected the wrong technology
8
  19.5%
 
No cooperation from employees to share knowledge
6
  14.6%
 
No planned maintenance
2
  4.9%
 
No one knew about it so it did not get used
3
  7.3%
 
Lack of training on how to use it
1
  2.4%
 
Other
6
  14.6%
 
Total Responses: 41 100%  


Do you plan to converge your eSupport and Knowledge Management initiatives at any point in time in the future?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Yes
108
  81.8%
 
No
24
  18.2%
 
Total Responses: 132 100%  


How do you educate customers to use your self-service/knowledgebase tools (check all that apply)?
Choice Number
Of Responses
Percent Graph
Training/Classes
46
  10.2%
 
Just in time training - on the phone
63
  13.9%
 
Documentation
71
  15.7%
 
Online Help text
74
  16.4%
 
Local expert in department
21
  4.6%
 
Webinar
13
  2.9%
 
e-mail
75
  16.6%
 
Marketing Collateral
36
  8%
 
User group
31
  6.9%
 
Other
22
  4.9%
 
Total Responses: 452 100%  

 

Participating Companies

  • Ace Hardware Corporation
  • Acer America
  • AICPA
  • AMD
  • Americasmart.com
  • Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention
  • Antenna Specialists
  • Applied Materials
  • Associated BankCorp
  • AT&T
  • Autodesk
  • AWS
  • B2E Solutions
  • Baltimore
  • BDM Information Systems Ltd
  • Best Software, Inc.
  • Blackie McDonald
  • Blue Pumpkin Software Inc
  • Boise State University
  • Borders Group Inc
  • Broadvision
  • Cayanta Canada
  • Celerity Corporation
  • Cendant Center7, Inc.
  • CIBC World Markets
  • City of Nanaimo
  • Comergent
  • Compaq Computer Corporation
  • Consultoria Aplicada y Servicios de Informatica
  • Danske Bank Dantz Development
  • Davis Boat Works, Inc.
  • DELL
  • Deloitte & Touche
  • Deutsche Bank AG Digital Goods
  • DISC
  • Documentum
  • DynCorp
  • Eaton Corporation
  • EDS edulinx canada
  • Enigma
  • Euro IT Services
  • FIU IRM Support Center
  • ForestExpress
  • Found, Inc.
  • Frank Russell Company
  • Fujitsu PC Corp.
  • Geac Computers
  • Geosoft Inc.
  • Getronics Government Solutions
  • Healthcare Management Systems, Inc.
  • HHS
  • Honan
  • Honeywell-POMS
  • humanvoice
  • IBM IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC
  • Information Builders
  • Intellution International
  • SEMATECH, Inc.
  • Iowa Public Television
  • J.D. Edwards
  • Jamcracker
  • JetForm Corp.
  • JT International
  • Kemper Insurance Companies
  • KnowledgeFarm
  • LaBounty & Associates, Inc.
  • Laidlaw Planning Solutions
  • LLNL
  • Logical Software Corp.
  • Long Beach Unified School District
  • MACESS Corp
  • MASS Dept Of Revenue
  • Micro Warranty Services
  • Microsoft Great Plains
  • Millennium Care Inc.
  • Mirror Image Internet
  • MITRE Mizuno USA
  • NetManage, Inc.
  • New Hampshire DHHS
  • Nimble Technology
  • Northwestern Mutual
  • Omicron Consulting
  • Ontario Systems
  • OOCL (USA) Inc.
  • Oxygen Business Solutions
  • Palm, Inc.
  • Paracom
  • Parkland Hospital
  • Perseus Development Corp
  • PRC Inc.
  • ProBusiness.com
  • Protection One, Inc
  • Qwest Communications
  • RightNow Technologies
  • SalesPlus
  • Salt Lake City Corp
  • ServiceWare
  • Siemens Health Systems
  • Social Security Admin
  • Softscape Inc Spherion
  • Technology
  • Spirent Communications
  • Sprint
  • Standard & Poor's
  • Sterling Commerce
  • Sunquest Information Systems
  • SupportDesk
  • Support Technologies
  • supportindustry.com
  • Talis Information Ltd
  • Techmorrow, Inc.
  • TeleDevelopment Texas Instruments
  • The CBORD Group
  • TOPAZ
  • Transversal TransWorks
  • Troutman Sanders Mays & Valentine LLP
  • Unifi, Inc.
  • University of Miami
  • uReach
  • US News & World Report
  • Vaid
  • VeriCenter
  • Veterans Administration
  • Wachovia
  • Walgreens
  • Webber
  • WEBMD
  • Whitehill
  • William M. Mercer, Incorporated
  • Wipro Net Limited
  • Wizard Int, Inc.
  • Wobeco
  • Zen Technologies



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