Have you seen The Customer Experience Factbook?

In this 180+ page report, you'll find all the information and support you need to build a profitable, effective CX Improvement Program that spans every part of your business. You'll be able to implement and manage meaningful and profitable change, and grow your bottom line despite a slowing economy.

Get it on Amazon (Kindle/Print)

Consumers still favour shops despite digital successes

Brands' misconceptions about 'showrooming' exploded

Contrary to increasingly common belief, the survey revealed that showrooming strengthens brick-and-mortar stores, with 36% of consumers buying in-store after exploring products online. Ninety-four percent of shoppers say a store associate's help is important in feeling confident they are buying the right product.

The results are from a web-based survey of 1,000 consumers in North America conducted by IDC to understand the changing landscape of the customer shopping experience and journey. IDC surveyed respondents on shopping expectations, preferences and deciding factors when shopping online and in-store. The findings are featured in a DXC-sponsored IDC InfoBrief entitled "Winning Over Shoppers in the Digital Age: A Guide for Retailers and CPG Companies", published in October 2018.

Beyond the showrooming misconception, the survey disclosed additional realities that go against common wisdom:

• Same-day or next-day delivery or in-store-pickup options are not key differentiators unless enterprises are trying to reach specific groups or segments of customers:
• Same-day or next-day delivery represents about 9% of total shopping, while Generation X and millennials use it more (33 and 28% respectively); and
• Buying online and picking up in-store also represents 9% of total shopping, while millennials and Generation Z again use it more (24 and 13% respectively).
• While some claim that traditional loyalty programs don't matter, 57% of shoppers say online promotions are important. Fifty-four percent of shoppers admit that their experience with promotions has improved over the last year.

Consumers surveyed are more likely to feel satisfied with their purchases when shopping in-store than with pure-play e-commerce retailers. In fact, more than 60% of respondents are confident with their purchases when they make them in-store and strongly appreciate the ability to return products conveniently and hassle-free to retail locations. More than half of respondents (54%) rate their overall in-store shopping experiences as emotionally satisfying, while 48% say they obtain good deals in stores (highest score in the category).

E-commerce retailers scored high on convenience. More than 50% of consumers surveyed described their overall online shopping experiences as convenient, quick and simple. They also noted that e-commerce players help them discover their likes and find what suits them.

"Winning the customer can be daunting so retailers should leverage their advantages and double down on their strengths," said Vijay Iyer, vice president and general manager, Americas Consumer Industries and Retail, DXC Technology. "If you are an omnichannel retailer, you need to tenaciously focus on in-store services that deepen and strengthen your engagement with customers. If you are an e-commerce retailer, you need to lead with the convenience factor and use artificial intelligence to predict consumer behavior."

The survey also highlighted different ways retailers can build strong engagement through services and process improvements, ultimately giving shoppers the confidence they need. According to the survey:

• Seventy percent of respondents feel confident they are buying the right products when stores offer free, no-hassle returns. This indicates an opportunity for retailers to enhance customer satisfaction by ensuring returns can be processed easily, even consider rewarding in-store returns with promotions and discounts.
• When making purchase decisions, most consumers rely on customer ratings and reviews (66%) and technical product data (55%). Naturally, there is a strong need to deploy in-store, multipurpose interactive devices with relevant, current and curated content.
• Useful and relevant search and navigation results were important for 59% of respondents, which challenges retailers to bring interactive navigation into the store through consumers' own devices and augmented reality signage.
• In examining next-generation shopping services, the survey found that only 38% of respondents have used personalized convenience services. Specifically, 24% have purchased subscription retail or meal kit services, 15% have tried augmented or virtual reality applications for additional product information, 11% have used personalized assisted online shopping services, and 8% have bought personalized products or tailor-made clothes fitted online.

Have you seen The Customer Experience Factbook?

In this 180+ page report, you'll find all the information and support you need to build a profitable, effective CX Improvement Program that spans every part of your business.

You'll be able to implement and manage meaningful and profitable change, and grow your bottom line despite a slowing economy. Grab this goldmine of easily adaptable and up-to-date strategies, walk-throughs, trends, technologies, research, suppliers and partners, plus all the supporting arguments you need to build a solid CX strategy.

While most marketers could list maybe a dozen key points for improving their brand's Customer Experience (CX), the researchers and writers at The Marketing Factbook have identified FORTY main 'CX Keys' which will help you drive your customers to new levels of delight, loyalty, advocacy and profitability.

The areas in which customers have direct contact with your organization are perhaps the most obvious places in which CX improvements can be made, and this report addresses all 24 of these 'Direct CX Keys', applicable to offline and online businesses alike.

At the same time there are many other areas that indirectly affect CX (such as the supply chain, policies and processes) in which every business can make simple but far-reaching improvements. This report guides you through the problems and solutions for all 16 of these 'Indirect CX Keys', many of which are often forgotten or under-played even in the best CX strategies.

Get it on Amazon (Kindle/Print)