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WaterRemarks -- October 2026

News and views from customer experience advisory firm Watermark Consulting

CONSULTING | KEYNOTES | WORKSHOPS

 
 

A Message From Watermark Founder Jon Picoult

Who loves AI customer service chatbots?


[Cue crickets]


Yeah, you're not alone. According to new research from software firm Five9, a majority of consumers find AI-powered customer service to be frustrating.


Four out of 10 say they're less likely to patronize a company that uses AI to provide customer service.


For the businesses using these automated service solutions, this is a problem of their own making. And as this month's lead story explains, it's largely due to a misstep in how companies are approaching AI-enabled customer experience improvement.


Best regards,



Jon Picoult

Founder, Watermark Consulting

Author, From Impressed To Obsessed

 
 

The AI Customer Service Strategy That Many Companies Overlook

There's a lot of customer frustration directed towards AI-powered customer service. Much of that negative sentiment is rooted in how companies are choosing to use AI to improve the customer experience. But a recent AI deployment from a Fortune 50 firm highlights a strategy that other businesses would be wise to emulate. [4 minute read]

 
 

The Trouble With Tariffs

To date, the U.S. government has refunded over $130 billion in tariffs it collected since the Supreme Court struck down the levies back in February. Companies are receiving the refunds... but what about the consumers who actually purchased the tariffed products? That's where things gets complicated -- and it creates quite a customer experience challenge for businesses large and small. In a recent interview with CX Dive, Watermark founder Jon Picoult shared his thoughts on how businesses can best navigate this thorny issue. [4 minute read]

 
 
The Best Service Recovery... Ever!

The Best Service Recovery Story... Ever!

With our lead story centered around the limitations of AI-powered customer service, it seems like an apt time to re-share this video, which is one of Jon Picoult's most-watched keynote clips. It's a classic story of service recovery that illustrates how great, memorable customer experiences often arise out of very subtle (but also very human) gestures. [8 minute video]

 
 
Calendar flipping

Missed The Last Edition Of WaterRemarks?

Did you miss out on our last edition of WaterRemarks? No worries, here's a link to access the newsletter and its lead story: "How To Grow Your Business 'On Purpose'"

 
 

THE LAST WORD

"It sounds touchy-feely, but it's profitable."


-- Steve Gund, CEO of the $400M Gund Company, describing his firm's leadership model which prioritizes the well-being of its 1,300 employees over short-term profits. Gund, which has averaged an 18% annual growth rate over the past decade, was recently featured by The Wall Street Journal.


Source: The Wall Street Journal (Oct 2026)

 
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