Utility Success with Data Analytics

Solution 1: Data Mining & Analytics

After 30 days, we introduce active data analytics to determine how treatments and strategies affect customer behavior, in particular – payments.

Data is analyzed from several sources:

• Account specific data such as area code, zip code, state, balance, age of account
• Treatment data such as contact results, payments, promises, broken promises
• Client specific data such as payment history, disconnection history, length of service, late payment charges
• External data such as credit score, recovery score, payment patterns

Our data analytics and operations teams review the analysis to create targeted strategies for all of the accounts in the inventory. For this utility company, our strategies include:

• Frequent contact attempts to customers with a high propensity to pay
• Offering financially appropriate arrangements for customers with a low propensity to pay
• Making attempts on all accounts in all states at least weekly
• Utilizing appropriate calling strategies, while mitigating risk (unattended, manual, automated.)

Data mining and analytics not only helps us determine which accounts to spend our time on, but also where an when to allocate our resources. At Radius, active data analytics is part of our overall collection strategy – not something that is one and done. Analytics continues throughout the lifecycle of our client relationships. Treatments are adjusted as trends with the portfolio change.

Having and using the data to determine our collection strategy is only one piece of the puzzle. Our collectors need to be effective when communicating with the customer and able to resolve any differences so we can deliver results.

Solution 2: Coaching & Mentoring

At Radius, we focus on training and coaching for success.

We know that hiring the right people, educating them, and giving them the tools they need to be successful creates a solid foundation. Coaching and mentoring takes it to the next level.

Supervisors are there to support our collectors through feedback, scorecard review, call monitoring, and overall coaching. Our key goal is to make every call a positive customer experience, a positive outcome for our client, and leaving the account in better shape. Supervisors are hands-on, engaged, and accessible. They work individually to make each collector successful, satisfied, and enthusiastic.

During the coaching process, we provide specific, actionable goals. We also challenge our collectors to self-identify where they believe their own weaknesses lie and what they can do to correct them. Involving the collector as an active participant rather than someone who is simply dictated to has resulted in better customer service and a greater sense of ownership.