Endless hold music. Clunky bots. Repeating your story five times.

We’ve all been there. But what if customer service didn’t have to feel like a test of patience?

In this episode of Management Muse, Cindi Baldi talks with Rick DeLisi, author and lead research analyst at Glia, about the new frontline of support: AI-enhanced service that puts results over sympathies.

Rick shares how smart systems now handle simple requests, route complex issues with full context, and tee up human reps to actually solve problems instead of just soothing frustration. Not only is the experience better for customers, it also makes frontline jobs more interesting, more humane, and a whole lot less stressful.

Whether you're designing customer experiences or just tired of bad ones, this episode offers a look into a more efficient, effortless future.

Episode Highlights:

Why human reps and phone support aren’t going anywhere
A new definition of empathy in support roles
The one metric that actually predicts customer loyalty
How new centralized systems create seamless customer experiences
The impact of AI on employee experience and retention

About Rick DeLisi:

Rick DeLisi is a leading voice in customer experience strategy and the co-author of two influential books: The Effortless Experience and Digital Customer Service. As Lead Research Analyst at Glia, Rick brings over two decades of expertise in the psychology of customer interactions and their impact on loyalty. A former Gartner VP and award-winning journalist, his insights have shaped how companies worldwide train service teams, measure success, and adapt to the digital-first landscape. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, and he’s delivered keynotes in more than 25 countries.

Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XKIMyY4G8Ho

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Want to Go Deeper? Check Out Our Recommended Reading:

DeLisi, R, Dixon, M, and Ponomareff, L. “Kick-Ass Customer Service,” Harvard Business Review, Jan-Feb. 2017, https://hbr.org/2017/01/kick-ass-customer-service
Rose, Todd. The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness, HarperOne, 19 Jan. 2016, https://www.amazon.com/End-Average-Succeed-Values-Sameness/dp/0062358367

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