New figures from the National Retail Federation point to sales increasing by 3.6% over the course of 2016 holiday shopping season in the US, hitting $655.8 billion. Ecommerce should grow between 7-10%, totaling as much as $117 billion. In the UK, retailers will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2015 festive season where heavy discounting hit margins in many parts of the sector.
One of the most talked about current trends in customer experience is the rise of chatbots, with many companies investigating using them to interact with customers on messaging apps. Is it really time for your company to embrace them?
Like many industries, insurance is being disrupted by digital technology. Nearly 80% of consumers want to use digital channels such as the web, email, social media and chat to interact with insurers – yet under a quarter of businesses say they are fully digital, according to Accenture. Traditional insurers face major challenges...
National Customer Service Week (NCSW) will soon be celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic. Running between October 3-7, it highlights the importance of customer service to every organization, and provides the opportunity to learn from best practice and to celebrate success across the sector.
Consumers are constantly undergoing new experiences, but very few leave a lasting impression, with only those that are truly memorable remaining in our brains. These tend to be experiences that drive strong emotions – either of delight or anger. This is particularly true when it comes to the experience consumers receive from brands, with the majority quickly forgotten.
According to new research, consumers now believe it takes six different interactions to resolve an issue - how can companies reduce this?
Over the past few years we’ve seen whole industries transformed thanks to digital technology. From publishing to retail to transportation, new entrants have shaken up mature markets, and unseated existing leaders through innovative business models.Recent research from Fujitsu points to insurance being next in line for digital disruption.
Many organizations are embracing digital transformation, making investments to enhance the customer experience they deliver on these digital channels, such as email, chat, the web and social media. However, new research from Accenture Strategy underlines the importance of offering a full range of channels to meet all consumer needs.
It may seem like a long time in the future for consumers, but as every retailer knows Christmas is coming – fast. Now is the period for finalizing plans and ensuring that the vital holiday season goes as well as possible. Customer service and the experience you offer consumers is a critical part of this, so what should companies be doing NOW to ready themselves?
Recent research highlighted by customer service guru Shep Hyken demonstrates the importance of delivering an experience that meets the needs of your customers. It found that businesses in the US are losing $62 billion every year, due to people switching following poor customer service. Just under half of customers (49%) said they switched after a bad experience....