FREE online courses on Mergers & Acquisitions - Chapter 6 - Retaining
Customers
Mergers will obviously create some disruptions. One area
where disruptions must be minimized is customer service. Once a merger is
announced, communicate to your customers, informing them that products and
services will not deteriorate due to the merger. Additionally, employees
directly involved with customer service cannot be distracted by the merger.
If customers are expected to defect, consider offering
special deals and programs to reinforce customer retention. As a minimum,
consider setting up a customer hotline to answer questions. Finally, do not
forget to communicate with vendors, suppliers, and others involved in the value
chain. They too are your customers.