Last Updated on February 4, 2025 by Holland Rocha
Live chat has become a crucial tool for businesses looking to provide fast, convenient customer support. When implemented effectively, it can reduce response times, improve customer satisfaction, and even increase conversions. But choosing the right chat setup and strategy is just as important as having the feature itself.
With Re:amaze, businesses have two flexible chat options: Real Time Chat and Classic Chat. Each is designed to support different communication styles, whether you want to engage customers in ongoing conversations or provide instant responses within designated hours.
Real Time Chat (Asynchronous Chat)
Real Time Chat functions like a messaging app, allowing customers to send messages at any time and receive responses whenever an agent is available. Conversations don’t have to start and end in one session, making it a great option for businesses that want to maintain a more natural, ongoing dialogue with their customers. Messages show delivery and view statuses, and if a customer isn’t online, they’ll get an email notification so they never miss a response.
Classic Chat (Live Chat)
On the other hand, Classic Chat follows a more traditional live chat format, where conversations happen in real time while both the agent and customer are online. This mode works well for teams that offer immediate support during set business hours. If an agent isn’t available, the chat session won’t begin, helping set clear expectations for response times.
How to Schedule Your Team for Live Chat Support
Once you’ve finalized your live chat strategy, the next challenge is figuring out how to schedule your team to provide effective support coverage. Unlike email support, where agents can respond at their own pace, live chat requires real-time availability. That means scheduling shifts strategically to keep chat online without burning out your team.
A well-planned schedule ensures that agents are available when customers need them most. Start by analyzing your website traffic and chat volume to identify peak hours. If most of your chat inquiries come in the afternoon, for example, you may want to schedule more agents during that time and reduce coverage during slower periods.
Coordinating shifts also means balancing workloads fairly. Assigning too many agents to chat at once can lead to idle time, while understaffing can overwhelm agents and cause slow response times. Some teams rotate chat duties throughout the day, allowing agents to split their time between live chat and other support channels. Others dedicate specific team members to chat-only shifts to ensure focused and fast responses.
Making Live Chat Work for You
Live chat is a powerful tool for providing fast, convenient customer support—but only when implemented effectively. Choosing the right chat mode, strategically placing the chat widget, preparing for common questions, and scheduling your team efficiently all contribute to a seamless support experience.
By using Re:amaze’s flexible chat options and following best practices, businesses can create a live chat system that not only improves customer satisfaction but also supports their team’s productivity and well-being.