The Waiting Game: How to Handle Delays in ACS Ticket Responses

August 15, 2024
A woman at her desk, poised and attentive, reflects the challenge of waiting for ACS ticket responses amidst delays.

Picture this: You've submitted a ticket to Oracle NetSuite ACS for an urgent issue, and now you're left waiting. Each minute feels longer as your business operations are on hold. Waiting for a response to your ACS ticket can be a frustrating and helpless experience, especially when your business depends on a quick resolution.

This frustration isn't just about impatience—it's about trust and perception. According to a study by SuperOffice, 86% of customers are willing to pay more for a better customer experience, which includes timely responses. When response times lag, customer satisfaction takes a hit, leading to a potential loss of loyalty and, ultimately, business.

Let's explore how to manage and reduce these delays effectively to keep your business running smoothly.

The Metrics That Matter

The Average First Response Time (AFRT) is a crucial metric that can make or break your experience with ACS. It quantifies how long customers wait for an initial response. Slow AFRTs can escalate dissatisfaction, whereas fast AFRTs foster loyalty. 

Equally important is the overall ticket resolution time—the longer it drags, the higher the risk of negative reviews and lost customers.

To counteract this, ensure you provide detailed ticket information and follow up regularly to keep the process on track.

The Scope of ACS Services

Oracle NetSuite ACS offers a broad range of services designed to optimize your NetSuite environment. These include:

  • Business Solution Advisement and Customization: Providing strategic guidance and helping tailor NetSuite to align with your business processes.
  • Remediation Support: Assisting with remediation efforts to address complex challenges and ensure smooth operation.
  • Development and Testing Guidance: Offering expert advice on development processes and testing to maintain system performance.
  • Release Guidance: Helping you stay ahead with updates and ensuring seamless transitions with new NetSuite releases.

Oracle ACS efficiently manages these services using a combination of automated processes, ticket prioritization, and AI-driven tools like chatbots. These innovations can positively influence ticket resolution times by swiftly assigning issues to the appropriate support teams.

Breaking Down Resolution Times

When it comes to customer support, resolution time is a critical factor directly influencing customer satisfaction. Here’s a comparison of resolution times between Atticus Solutions Services and Oracle ACS:

  • Atticus Solutions Services:
    • Critical Issues: Resolved within 2 hours
    • Severe Issues: Resolved within 4 hours
    • Minor Issues: Resolved within 8 hours
    • Information Requests: Addressed within 24 hours

We employ a severity-based model to prioritize issues, ensuring that critical problems are resolved promptly while less urgent matters are attended to within a reasonable timeframe.

  • Oracle ACS:
    • Complexity-Based Resolution: The time taken to resolve tickets depends on task complexity. While specific SLAs are not provided, more complex tasks require more time.

Optimizing Resolution Times

Understanding the factors contributing to delays—such as task complexity, mode of communication, and customer engagement—is crucial. Here’s how to manage these delays effectively:

  • Clear Communication: Ensure every ticket contains detailed information to reduce bottlenecks.
  • Leverage Support Tools: Utilize AI and other tools to streamline the resolution process.

Service Levels and Their Impact

Service levels defined by Service Level Agreements (SLAs) play a significant role in shaping customer experience. Clear and consistent SLAs set benchmarks for service delivery and impact:

  • Consistency: Reliable service helps manage customer expectations and enhances satisfaction.
  • Productivity and Engagement: Defined service levels guide service reps and ensure timely interaction with customers.

Atticus Service Levels vs. Oracle ACS Service Levels

Provider
Service Level
Description
Atticus
Standard
Varied support hours, SLAs based on ticket severity
Premium
Dedicated support managers, extra features
Oracle ACS
Advise
Basic support and advisement
Monitor
Ongoing system monitoring
Optimize
Focused on system optimization
Architect
High-level strategic guidance and support

Atticus Solutions offers clear SLAs designed to prioritize and resolve issues promptly. In contrast, Oracle ACS's variable resolution times depend on task complexity. By choosing a support plan with well-defined SLAs, you can better manage expectations and minimize wait times.

Download the Salary Guide to compare average salaries of top NetSuite ERP professionals.

Expertise and Support

The speed and efficiency of ticket resolution are directly influenced by the expertise and support available.

  • Atticus Expertise: Functional and technical support, advanced reporting, and customizations help resolve issues swiftly.
  • Oracle ACS Expertise: Solution advisement teams and NetSuite product experts navigate complex challenges effectively.

The Power of Knowledge

Access to experts and well-curated resources such as knowledge bases, documentation, and support forums can significantly reduce resolution times. Both Atticus and Oracle ACS excel in providing these critical tools.

Pricing and Billable Hours

When considering a support service, pricing and billable hours are important factors to take into account.

Aspect
Atticus Solutions
Oracle ACS
Cost Options
Standard: $12,000 for 120 hours of support
Monitor:  $24,000 for 120 hours.
Premium: $21,600 for 240 hours of support
Optimize: $54,000 for 120 hours.
Architect: $180,000 for 180 hours.
Billable Hours
Transparent breakdowns and clear expiration
Quarterly limits, additional fees for overages
Delay Impact
Transparent billing helps manage costs better
Potential for higher costs with delays
Contract Terms
12-month subscription offers stability and predictability
12-month minimum with flexibility for NetSuite licenses
Responsiveness
Stable terms ensure consistent and responsive service
Flexible terms may offer more variable service speed


Cost Comparison

  • Atticus: Offers Standard and Premium packages. The Standard package includes email support and access to the knowledge base, while the Premium package adds phone support and a dedicated support manager.
  • Oracle ACS: The service levels—Monitor, Optimize, and Architect—have distinct pricing and features.

Billable Hours

  • Atticus: Provides clear breakdowns of billable hours and expiration schedules, ensuring transparency.
  • Oracle ACS: Enforces quarterly usage limitations and charges additional fees for exceeding hours, which can influence the overall cost.

Financial Impact of Delays

Slow response times can lead to increased billable hours and costs. It’s crucial to weigh the potential financial implications of delays when selecting a support service.

Contract Terms and Flexibility

Contract terms are key to getting consistent support.

  • Atticus Contract Terms: Atticus offers a 12-month subscription, which provides steady support throughout the year and ensures you get the most out of your investment.
  • Oracle ACS Contract Terms: Oracle ACS also requires a 12-month commitment and allows for flexibility only if the contract aligns with co-terminus NetSuite licenses.

Influence on Responsiveness

Flexible contract terms enable more tailored and responsive service, potentially leading to quicker ticket resolution.

Strategies for Managing Delays

To effectively manage delays in ACS ticket responses, consider these strategies:

  • Communicate Clearly: Ensure every ticket contains detailed information, including a clear issue description and relevant context. This minimizes back-and-forth and speeds up the resolution process.
  • Follow Up Regularly: Maintain momentum by setting up regular check-ins or status updates with your support team. This helps keep the resolution process on track.
  • Understand Service Levels: Knowing what to expect based on your service level helps manage your expectations and plan accordingly.

Main Takeaway

Managing delays in ACS ticket responses can be challenging, but it's crucial to assess your current support services to ensure they meet your business needs. Slow response times and complex pricing structures can impact both operational efficiency and costs. 

By choosing a support plan with clear service levels, predictable costs, and prompt issue resolution, you can significantly improve response times and enhance customer satisfaction.

Atticus Solutions offers transparent and efficient support tailored to your needs. Our Standard and Premium packages provide a clear commitment to resolving issues swiftly, ensuring your business stays on track without hidden costs or delays.

Don’t Let Delays Impact Your Business Operations

Contact Atticus Solutions today to discover how our transparent service levels and dedicated support can help you manage and reduce ticket response times effectively.

Aspect
Offshoring
Nearshoring
Outsourcing
Long-Term Costs
Cost-effective for skilled talent
Cost-effective but needs initial investment
High, offers control and flexibility
Investment
Moderate, reduces overhead
Initial training and technology
Highest initial and ongoing costs
Benefits
Access to nearby skilled talent
Large global talent pool
Maximum control over operations
Download the Salary Guide to compare average salaries of top NetSuite ERP professionals.
Key Differences
BPO
EOR
Not over PHP 250,000
Tax-exempt
Not over USD 434.49
Over PHP 250,000 but not over PHP 400,000
15% of the excess over PHP 250,000
Over USD 434.49 but not over USD 695.18
Over PHP 400,000 but not over PHP 800,000
PHP 22,500 + 20% of the excess over PHP 400,000
Over USD 695.18 but not over USD 1,390.36
Over PHP 800,000 but not over PHP 2,000,000
PHP 102,500 + 25% of the excess over PHP 800,000
Over USD 1,390.36 but not over USD 34,759.04

Frequently Asked Questions

SALARY GUIDE EBOOK

Compare NetSuite ERP talent salaries

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