It’s no coincidence that companies with happy employees also have happy customers. Engaged and empowered employees understand the role they each play at work and more naturally want to help customers and provide an amazing experience. Research has even found that employees at companies that excel at customer experience are 1.5 times more engaged as employees at other companies. If you want to find best practices for a top customer experience, start by looking at a list of great places to work.
- Great places to work also often have great customer experiences.
- Investing in employees can create a strong culture focused on results and creating happy customers.
- Companies like Trader Joe’s and Zoom Communications value their employees and encourage them to share their happiness with customers.
- DocuSign and Wegmans streamlined their internal operations to remove red tape and simplify the customer experience.
- Employees at Navy Federal Credit Union and NVIDIA connect with their company’s purpose, which motivates them to serve customers.
Glassdoor is known for its employee reviews and transparency. Every year it releases a list of the best places to work based on employee feedback. These companies run the gamut of industry and size, but they all have one thing in common: their dedication to creating a great environment for employees. By investing in a high-quality employee experience, the majority of the companies are also building a strong customer experience.
Building A Strong Company Culture Of Happiness
Zoom Communications landed in the second spot on this year’s list of best places to work. Its mantra of “Delivering Happiness” applies to both employees and customers. The company culture values every employee and encourages teamwork and individuality to drive progress. Aside from perks and great benefits, employees feel appreciated at work and are encouraged to participate in the company’s growth. That culture spreads to customer interactions. Customers are a main focus at Zoom, and every employee works to make sure the product and brand interactions are positive and helpful. The CEO believes sustainable happiness comes from making other people happy and gives employees the tools and power to find unique solutions for customers.
Another standout on the list comes in at number 23: Trader Joe’s. The grocery chain is known for its incredibly happy employees and unique approach to shopping. Customers are valued with great benefits and pay, but they also want to play a role in sharing great products with customers and brightening their days. Employees want to spread their happiness to customers, and it creates a shopping experience unlike any other store.
Simplifying The Customer Experience
By simplifying its product, DocuSign improved its customer experience and created a reliable product that everyone can easily use. Employees feel the importance of what they are doing and are eager to contribute to continued improvements and growth with the product and accompanying services. DocuSign encourages employees to balance their work and personal lives and to simplify in what they’re trying to balance.
Wegmans has been on the best places to work list for 22 years in a row because it recognizes that in order to best serve its customers, it need to best serve its employees. Employees at all levels of the company earn competitive benefits and enjoy flexible scheduling. Simplifying the scheduling process with employees in mind connects to simplifying the shopping experience with customers in mind. Wegmans’ prepared food section is among its most popular and features fresh products and happy employees like the rest of the store. By listening to customers, Wegmans provides an experience that meets their needs without being overly complicated.
Delivering Work That Matters To Customers
Computer software company NVIDIA comes in at number 36 as a best place to work. At NVIDIA, technology rules supreme. Employees are challenged every day to find new technology solutions—the company’s motto even says it aims to “bring superhuman capabilities to some of the world’s toughest problems.” Employees love the challenging, technology-driven environment and ability to collaborate with some of the best minds in the industry. The future vision pushes employees to innovate and dream big. That emphasis connects with employees and customers. Employees are willing to challenge themselves because they know they are finding worthwhile solutions. NVIDIA’s customer experience revolves around technology and creating compelling solutions for customers.
Coming in at number 29 on the list, Navy Federal Credit Union is dedicated to its employees and customers. Employees are invested in the mission of serving military families with easy-to-use and competitive financial products and go above and beyond to find solutions for customers. Employees are also valued with development opportunities, great benefits and a strong community. Employees understand the importance of the work they’re doing, which makes them excited to come to work and deliver a strong customer experience. Navy Federal has been named the top multi-channel credit union for customer experience.
The connection between great places to work and great customer experiences is undeniable. Investing in employees pays off for these companies who aim to create a strong culture and deliver on their promises.
Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker and the author of two books including The Customer Of The Future. Sign up for her weekly customer experience newsletter here.