Customer Service & Contact Center Team Categories

The customer service team categories recognize the members of individual teams within your overall customer service department or contact center organization. For example, the team may service a particular customer segment or a single client, or may work in a particular call center.
Nominations that won in the 2026 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service may be resubmitted for consideration in the 2027 awards. If they have been updated with recent achievements, they may be submitted to the same categories in which they won. If they have not been updated, they must be submitted to categories different from those in which they won.

Information required for entries in these categories include:

1. Written answers to the following questions, describing the nominated team’s achievements since July 1, 2024, OR a video of up to five (5) minutes in length that answers all of the same questions:

a. Briefly describe the nominated team: its history and past performance (up to 1,250 characters). Required
b. Outline the team’s achievements since July 1, 2024, that you wish to bring to the judges’ attention (up to 1,500 characters). Required
c. Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible, compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the team’s past performance (up to 1,500 characters). Required
d. Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 1,500 characters). Optional

2. Optional (but highly recommended), add to your entry up to 10 webpage links and up to 10 document uploads to support your case to the judges. These might be press articles, press releases, videos, or images, for example.

70. Customer Service Team of the Year – Recovery Situation
Recognizing service teams who have demonstrated exceptional skill in recovering either an individual case or in rebuilding an underperforming service department. This category is split into five separate categories:
a. Business Services Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in business services industries such as advertising, consulting, marketing, public relations, recruiting, etc.
b. Financial Services Industries: recognizes the achievements of teams in the accounting, banking, financial services, insurance, etc. industries.
c. Other Service Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in service industries such as healthcare, hospitality& leisure, legal, media & entertainment, real estate, retail, etc.
d. Technology Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in technology industries such as computer software, computer services, computer hardware, internet/new media, and telecommunications.
e. All Other Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in all industries not covered by the other Customer Service Team of the Year - Recovery Situation categories.

71. Customer Service Complaints Team of the Year
Recognizing service teams whose primary focus is to address and resolve customer complaints. This category is split into five separate categories:
a. Business Services Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in business services industries such as advertising, consulting, marketing, public relations, recruiting, etc.
b. Financial Services Industries: recognizes the achievements of teams in the accounting, banking, financial services, insurance, etc. industries.
c. Other Service Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in service industries such as healthcare, hospitality& leisure, legal, media & entertainment, real estate, retail, etc.
d. Technology Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in technology industries such as computer software, computer services, computer hardware, internet/new media, and telecommunications.
e. All Other Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in all industries not covered by the other Customer Service Complaints Team of the Year categories.

72. Front-Line Customer Service Team of the Year
Recognizing service teams that directly engage customers. This category is split into five separate categories:
a. Business Services Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in business services industries such as advertising, consulting, marketing, public relations, recruiting, etc.
b. Financial Services Industries: recognizes the achievements of teams in the accounting, banking, financial services, insurance, etc. industries.
c. Other Service Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in service industries such as healthcare, hospitality & leisure, legal, media & entertainment, real estate, retail, etc.
d. Technology Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in technology industries such as computer software, computer services, computer hardware, internet/new media, and telecommunications.
e. All Other Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in all industries not covered by the other Front-Line Customer Service Team of the Year categories.

73. Back Office Customer Service Team of the Year
Recognizing teams that provide service functions that do not directly engage customers, such as billing, credit and collections, payments, security and support services. This category is split into five separate categories:
a. Business Services Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in business services industries such as advertising, consulting, marketing, public relations, recruiting, etc.
b. Financial Services Industries: recognizes the achievements of teams in the accounting, banking, financial services, insurance, etc. industries.
c. Other Service Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in service industries such as healthcare, hospitality & leisure, legal, media & entertainment, real estate, retail, etc.
d. Technology Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in technology industries such as computer software, computer services, computer hardware, internet/new media, and telecommunications.
e. All Other Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in all industries not covered by the other Back-Office Customer Service Team of the Year categories.

74. Contact Center of the Year (Up to 100 Seats)
Recognizing call and contact centers that have no more than 100 seats. This category is split into five separate categories:
a. Business Services Industries: recognizes achievements of contact centers in business services industries such as advertising, consulting, marketing, public relations, recruiting, etc.
b. Financial Services Industries: recognizes the achievements of contact centers in the accounting, banking, financial services, insurance, etc. industries.
c. Other Service Industries: recognizes achievements of contact centers in service industries such as healthcare, hospitality & leisure, legal, media & entertainment, real estate, retail, etc.
d. Technology Industries: recognizes achievements of contact centers in technology industries such as computer software, computer services, computer hardware, internet/new media, and telecommunications.
e. All Other Industries: recognizes achievements of contact centers in all industries not covered by the other Contact Center of the Year (Up to 100 Seats) categories.

75. Contact Center of the Year (Over 100 Seats)
Recognizing call and contact centers that have more than 100 seats. This category is split into five separate categories:
a. Business Services Industries: recognizes achievements of contact centers in business services industries such as advertising, consulting, marketing, public relations, recruiting, etc.
b. Financial Services Industries: recognizes the achievements of contact centers in the accounting, banking, financial services, insurance, etc. industries.
c. Other Service Industries: recognizes achievements of contact centers in service industries such as healthcare, hospitality & leisure, legal, media & entertainment, real estate, retail, etc.
d. Technology Industries: recognizes achievements of contact centers in technology industries such as computer software, computer services, computer hardware, internet/new media, and telecommunications.
e. All Other Industries: recognizes achievements of contact centers in all industries not covered by the other Contact Center of the Year (Over 100 Seats) categories.

76. Customer Service Management Team of the Year
Recognizing the leadership teams of customer service organizations and contact centers for their achievements.

77. Customer Service Training Team of the Year - External
Recognizing teams that develop curricula and deliver training to external customer service organizations and contact center personnel (at organizations other than their own). This category is split into five separate categories:
a. Business Services Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in business services industries such as advertising, consulting, marketing, public relations, recruiting, etc.
b. Financial Services Industries: recognizes the achievements of teams in the accounting, banking, financial services, insurance, etc. industries.
c. Other Service Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in services industries such as healthcare, hospitality & leisure, legal, media & entertainment, real estate, retail, etc.
d. Technology Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in technology industries such as computer software, computer services, computer hardware, internet/new media, and telecommunications.
e. All Other Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in all industries not covered by the other Customer Service Training Team of the Year categories.

78. Customer Service Training Team of the Year - Internal
Recognizing teams that develop curricula and deliver training to internal customer service organizations and contact center personnel (within their own organizations). This category is split into five separate categories:
a. Business Services Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in business services industries such as advertising, consulting, marketing, public relations, recruiting, etc.
b. Financial Services Industries: recognizes the achievements of teams in the accounting, banking, financial services, insurance, etc. industries.
c. Other Service Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in service industries such as healthcare, hospitality & leisure, legal, media & entertainment, real estate, retail, etc.
d. Technology Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in technology industries such as computer software, computer services, computer hardware, internet/new media, and telecommunications.
e. All Other Industries: recognizes achievements of teams in all industries not covered by the other Customer Service Training Team of the Year categories.