Customers combine digital and physical retail experiences

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Consumer expectations and behaviours have continued shifting as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the ‘2021 Data-Driven Insights Into Evolving Customer Experience Report’ from CX design company Tallwave. This article is copyright 2021 The Best Customer Guide.

More than 1,000 individuals aged 24-65+ were asked about their perceptions, behaviors and customer experience, and the survey found that consumers want a choice for how they can interact with a brand, making retail hybrid experiences more important than ever.

The report highlighted the most influential components of customer experience, satisfaction and loyalty, and how organizations can transform experiences for a digital-first, hybrid, and hyper-personalized world.

Key findings from the report included:

• 50% of survey respondents reported at least one experience they won’t return to in person after the pandemic is over, signaling a shift to digital-focused consumer behaviors.

• 41% of respondents reported convenience as the primary benefit of using digital experiences during COVID-19. Price and cost savings still played a factor, averaging 20% of respondents’ primary vote.

• Older customers were more likely than younger to choose “safer” as a primary benefit of digital experiences.

• Interest in exclusively digital experiences decreases with age, typically dropping off starting with the 45-54 age demographic. Of respondents 55 and over, 66% reported no desire to continue any type of digital experience in a post-COVID world.

“Brands that shifted quickly to digital models during the pandemic developed a more favorable impression with customers,” said Jesus Ramirez, VP of Strategy and Innovation at Tallwave. “As we move forward, the data reinforces the importance of meeting customers where they are, and giving them the option of digital and/or in-person experience.”

Whether consumers return to pre-pandemic behaviors or if the digital shifts we experienced over the past year are here to stay, the trends point to consumers seeking a seamless and personalized customer experience that they can control. Going forward retailers can win by redefining the role of the physical store and integrating CX technology at the right points in the customer journey to enhance the shopping experience.

The full report from Tallwave has been made available online at https://tallwave.com

This article was first published by Customer Strategy Network. Permission to use has been granted by the publisher.