how would you measure the success of intercom's live chat feature?

Introduction

Measuring the success of Intercom's live chat feature requires a comprehensive approach that considers multiple stakeholders and metrics. To effectively evaluate this product success metrics problem, I'll follow a structured framework covering core metrics, supporting indicators, and risk factors while considering all key stakeholders.

Step 1

Product Context (5 minutes)

Intercom's live chat feature is a real-time communication tool that allows businesses to engage with website visitors and customers instantly. It's designed to improve customer support, increase conversions, and gather valuable user insights.

Key stakeholders include:

1. Businesses (primary customers)
2. End-users (website visitors)
3. Customer support teams
4. Sales teams
5. Intercom (as the service provider)

User flow:

1. Visitor lands on website
2. Chat widget appears (customizable trigger)
3. User initiates conversation or responds to proactive message
4. Support agent or chatbot responds
5. Conversation continues until resolution or handoff

The live chat feature aligns with Intercom's broader strategy of providing a comprehensive customer communication platform. It complements their other tools like email marketing and customer relationship management.

Compared to competitors like Zendesk or Drift, Intercom's live chat is known for its seamless integration with other Intercom products and its focus on personalization.

Product Lifecycle Stage: Mature - Live chat is a well-established feature in the customer support industry, but Intercom continues to innovate and refine their offering.

Software-specific context:

• Platform: Web-based, with mobile apps for agents
• Integration points: Website embedding, CRM systems, ticketing systems
• Deployment model: Cloud-based SaaS