In-demand business support and customer service skills in 2024

It has never been more important for companies to ensure that their business support team members are equipped with the best possible customer service skills. Many markets are saturated with competitors, so customer retention is vital for continued growth and success.

But in a tight hiring environment, just like many countries are faced with now, how can you make sure you’re getting the right people with the right skills? And as a professional, what areas should you upskill in to strengthen your career prospects? That’s where we can help!

As part of our new salary guide, we identified some of the most important skill sets that employers globally look for when hiring into their Business Support teams in 2024. Here’s what we found…

Key skills for customer service and business support:

Sales Order Processing

Sales order processing includes all the steps required to process an order request, right from billing to logistics. Attention to detail and the ability to process sales orders accurately and quickly are crucial for effective sales order processing. Knowledge of the technology tools used in modern sales processes is an additional advantage.

Customer Service/Support experience

Customer Service is crucial to the success of any company because it fosters client loyalty and trust. Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, along with empathy and problem-solving aptitude, are additional customer service skills required for enhancing business support.

SAP Skills

Bridging the gap between data and action, SAP skills help in anticipating customer needs, recommending optimal products, and proactively resolving issues within the CRM system. The skills extend to invoicing, managing supplier accounts, and creating purchase orders efficiently within the SAP ecosystem.

Reporting and Excel Skills

Strong reporting and Excel skills are important for providing impactful business support. They are used in translating complex data into clear, actionable insights that guide decision-making across all levels of the organisation. Skill in using Excel for dynamic data visualisations, automating tasks, and analysing information with precision, ensuring efficient and data-driven support for all business functions.

Clerical skills

From general administration and organisation of records to data entry and answering phones, clerical skills are crucial for preserving an accurate log of occurrences and keeping the business up and running.

Administrative experience

Administration requires a variety of skills, including strong time management and organisational abilities. A skilled administrator must also be aware of how crucial setting priorities and multitasking are in running daily operations.

Interpersonal, soft skills

As well as the more technical skills outlined above, there are a few key interpersonal, soft skills for Business Support that will help improve an individual’s success.

• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Excel (Look-ups and Pivots), Powerpoint
• Multiple languages
• Customer Centricity
• Commerciality

If you are looking to hire someone in Business Support, get in touch today.

Equally, if you are a professional in this area and are looking for your next career move, we have a range of jobs available - you can browse them here.