Understanding Internal Service Customers, Simply Put
- Internal customers are people within the organization
Internal customers are people inside the company, typically employees or other stakeholders. They are customers of in-house services which they get from another company, department, or employees.
- in contrast to external customers who pay for your services and are not directly connected to the organization
- the idea of internal customers comes from quality management approaches (Six Sigma) and IT service management (ITSM)
- distinguishing internal customers helps to improve internal service quality and inter-department communication
- treating everyone as a customer may also encourage employees to take each other seriously, just as if they were dealing with an external customer
Who Are the Most Common Internal Customers?
- Employees are internal customers of the IT department, which ensures all computers and other IT services run smoothly. Without IT support, employees can’t do their jobs or assist external customers effectively.
- Every employee is an internal customer of the HR department, which handles employee relations, training, benefits, and conflict resolution.
- Employees working in the office rely on office management for a well-organized and productive work environment.
- All employees use buildings, facilities, and work equipment, making them customers of the facility management department.
