How have your CS orgs established/maintained a solid relationship with Product?

Dan Maldonado
Dan Maldonado Member Posts: 12 Contributor
10 Comments
edited August 10 in CS Org Conversations

At my old company (Procore), I was a part of the Strategic Product Consultant team, which operated as the bridge between CS and Product. A few of our key responsibilities were: 

  • Being an extension of Product Managers in our knowledge of the roadmap
  • Consulting on GTM strategies
  • Monitoring customer feedback in UserVoice
  • Educating CS and clients on upcoming/new releases
  • CS resource as industry and product experts

Just curious about this group's experience and if this role is being utilized elsewhere!

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Comments

  • Jennifer Dole
    Jennifer Dole Member Posts: 10 Contributor
    5 Comments
    edited April 2020

    Client Success and Product both report into the Chief Experience Officer - she is constantly thinking about both teams!

  • Dan Maldonado
    Dan Maldonado Member Posts: 12 Contributor
    10 Comments
    edited April 2020

    Love that title! 

  • Gretchen Hustad
    Gretchen Hustad Member Posts: 6 Seeker
    edited April 2020

    I haven't worked at a company that had that type of team, but I love the idea.  I've had both really great and really terrible experiences with Product teams.  I do think, per @Jennifer Dole's comment, the reporting structure can make a huge difference in how the teams relate to each other.  In the worst case I was in, CS reported to the CRO and Product to the CTO and we were always at odds.  There was a lot of "my baby isn't ugly", if you know what I mean, and it was difficult to get them to listen openly to the feedback we were getting from our customer base.  In this case, the Support team also reported to the CTO, so we developed a communication strategy where much of our feedback was routed through Support as it was received more openly that way.  It was not efficient, in within 3 months of my departure, the entire CS team turned over due to the strain.

  • Dan Maldonado
    Dan Maldonado Member Posts: 12 Contributor
    10 Comments
    edited April 2020

    I hear you, Gretchen! We had the same reporting structure for CS and Product at my previous company. Now that I'm at an early stage startup, looking to have the right structure/relationship from the beginning!

  • Gretchen Hustad
    Gretchen Hustad Member Posts: 6 Seeker
    edited April 2020

    It is challenging because the reporting structure is really important, but so is the person in the leadership role.  While I don't generally think CS should align to the CRO, in my case, he was the best leader for my team and the most focused on positive client (and employee) outcomes at all stages of the process.  

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