In the digital age, consumer interaction channels are becoming more ubiquitous. While this offers endless opportunities for advertisers to interact with their customers, it also poses a challenge, as the customer journey becomes more fragmented and therefore more complex. To generate more sales and increase traffic to shops, brands need to think about new customer journeys and activation across diverse and relevant acquisition channels in an omni-channel approach.

In this respect, the digital channel plays a crucial role, expanding the number of points of contact with the consumer exponentially. Today, searching on a smartphone, seeing advertising based on the search criteria, receiving notifications from our favourite Apps or concerning our wish list are just a few examples of the journey that the consumer is now making.

Against this backdrop, the companies that are adapting best to this new reality are offering unique and seamless experiences to their customers.

The customer journey at the heart of an omnichannel strategy

The customer journey has become a major challenge for companies, as they need to opt for a customer-centric approach and optimise the customer experience throughout the buying process via an omnichannel strategy that includes all the channels that a potential customer may use.

According to a study* conducted by Tiendeo, a company that specialises in the digitalisation of the retail sector, 91.2% of marketers want to improve the customer journey within their marketing strategy.

“The study reveals how important it is for brands and retailers to optimise the customer journey that unites both the online and offline experience. Today, consumers expect to experience an integrated mix of touchpoints across both channels with no friction between the two. Companies that manage to create these experiences under this omni-channel approach will gain a competitive advantage in the industry”, explains Eva Martín, CEO of Tiendeo.

Loyalty based on experience

The customer experience is now, more than ever, as important as the items the consumer wants to buy. The average citizen has an infinite supply of information regarding products in the form of ratings, recommendations, or comments. We are now faced with a highly demanding consumer who expects not only to acquire the desired item at a good price, but also to enjoy a unique and frictionless shopping experience.

In fact, more and more consumers are taking their shopping experience into consideration when making their next repeat purchase with a particular retailer or brand. According to a study by Talkdesk, it only takes one bad service experience to reduce the loyalty of 68% of customers.

To this end, it is critical to identify the different stages in the sales funnel in order to ensure a smoother purchasing process, add value at every interaction (being relevant) and increase the conversion rate. Customer experience is emerging as a competitive and strategic advantage that needs to be managed as a matter of urgency.

Listening to consumers’ needs is still and will remain the top priority for businesses in 2022. According to the Tiendeo study, customer experience is the most relevant component of marketing strategy for 44.3% of marketers.