Final answer:
Customer service is the ability of knowledgeable and capable employees to deliver products to their external and internal customers. It plays a crucial role in maintaining positive relationships, improving business performance, and opening up opportunities. Outsourcing of customer service and other services is a growing trend due to the availability of skilled individuals in different countries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Customer service refers to the ability of knowledgeable and capable employees to deliver products to both their external and internal customers. It involves providing assistance, solving problems, and ensuring customer satisfaction. External customers are individuals or organizations that purchase a company's products or services, while internal customers are individuals or departments within the same organization.
Exceptional customer service is important for maintaining positive relationships with customers and improving overall business performance. It can lead to increased customer loyalty, repeat business, and positive word-of-mouth recommendations. For example, if employees treat their manager as an important internal customer, offering professional and resourceful assistance, it can lead to positive feedback, job satisfaction, and potential career growth opportunities.
The practice of outsourcing customer service and other services is becoming more common as skilled individuals are available in other countries, not just for manufacturing and related work. This trend has expanded the range of services that can be outsourced, including customer service, due to the availability of technically skilled individuals in different locations.