What does it take to create a great customer service experience?

You might say it's well-trained agents, advanced technology, intuitive scheduling, or easy-to-use websites. And those are all important. But the truth is that none of those elements create great customer service on their own — they have to work together.

Whether a company is made up of 50 or 5,000 people, customer service is a difficult process to manage. There are tons of moving parts, from the complex to the routine. And they all have to work seamlessly to keep things running smoothly — and keep customers happy.

The Salesforce AppExchange has hundreds of apps that can help you improve every step of the customer service process, from employee scheduling to customer surveys. Read on to find out how these five apps could make your customers (and even your employees) happier:

ShiftExpert (Scheduling): Most scheduling apps focus on employee schedules. But ShiftExpert by ClickSoftware helps businesses plan, schedule, and organize all their resources — from people to meeting rooms and beyond. The app allows for skill-based, optimized employee scheduling, multi-channel shift visibility, and integration with mobile devices and wearable technology for on-the-go access.

inContact (Telephony): Maximize agent efficiency and delight your customers with a unified experience across all channels. inContact is a cloud contact center solution that includes a no-pause dialer, automatic call logging, and case routing. The app is also equipped with automated screen pop-ups and click-to-dial, which allows agents to stay in Salesforce and be more efficient.

HeyWire (Agent Productivity): While phone is still the primary method of contact, more and more customers are choosing to be contacted via text. HeyWire enables two-way texting, allowing agents to text customers from existing business phone numbers, as well as track and analyze cases and leads. The platform also integrates with existing knowledge bases for faster, more effective service.

FieldExpert (Field Service): Providing great service gets harder when it's spanned across multiple locations. FieldExpert makes it easier, connecting representatives in the field with managers in the office. The app includes real-time booking, work order management, and mobile field execution and reporting, as well as intelligent scheduling for more efficient appointments and greater customer satisfaction.

SurveyMonkey (Surveys): The best way to find out what your customers are really thinking? Ask them. SurveyMonkey allows businesses to tap into their customer bases in a more meaningful way, with customizable surveys and advanced analytics. Users can see responses in real-time, view SurveyMonkey data alongside Salesforce data, track customer satisfaction and Net Promoter scores and more.

All-star agents, the latest technology, and engaging content can help make your company's customer service experience great — but none of those things can do it alone. Check out these apps and others in the Salesforce AppExchange to see how you can improve your customer service — and get happier customers — every step of the way!