Customer service standards in Australia will come under the microscope in the coming months following the launch of a revitalised AussieHost on the back of a significant injection of intellectual property and capital into the country’s only preferred Customer Service Standard.
Making the announcement, CEO of the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), Richard Evans, said that as the owners of the successful AussieHost Customer Service Training program the organisation has committed to raising the bar on customer service across Australia.
“A long-term License agreement commencing 1St June 2009 has been finalised with New Zealand Customer Service Training icon, KiwiHost.
“KiwiHost will take over management of AussieHost on the 1St June 2009 with a development plan that will see significant reinvestment in AussieHost, re-establishing it as the preferred Customer Service Standard for all of Australia. “
Mr Evans said that after reviewing what KiwiHost could offer it became clear that the resources, knowledge and experience of KiwiHost would provide ARA with the most effective solution to develop AussieHost to its full potential – something ARA could not do without reinvesting heavily and duplicating already proven resources
“KiwiHost will provide much needed innovation by transferring knowledge, support, expertise and new training programs. Their innovative and proven training programs include the most up to date learning materials and training techniques”.
“The programs focus on creating effective attitudinal and behavioural changes in participants, while retaining the core values of fun, friendly learning that delivers vital service skills and productivity improvements for Australian service businesses of all kinds”.
KiwiHost Director, Simon Nikoloff, said that service skills and communication training is KiwiHost core business and it is very exciting to be working with the ARA and AussieHost.
“AussieHost is where KiwiHost was five years ago; so our experience will be very valuable in expediting the development of AussieHost.
“We have some exciting innovations that will be perfect for the Australian vocational training market.In these challenging business times, customers are becoming more discerning about service. Businesses need to provide higher levels of service than ever before; it’s a great time to be in service skills training”.
The KiwiHost website (www.kiwihost .co.nz) provides an overview of the programs and developments to be made available in Australia soon.
Mr Nikoloff will be working from ARA’s Melbourne offices with AussieHost National Coordinator Caroline Mews, to provide much needed focus and experience to help grow the Training Provider network and introduce the extended range of programs that will make AussieHost an even more exciting range for Training Providers to promote and sell.
Final development plans and timetables are being worked through with details to be announced in the coming weeks.