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In an ever-evolving digital landscape, businesses face both challenges and opportunities to connect with customers in unprecedented ways.
High levels of competition and an increased emphasis on customer satisfaction keep the bar high, so it’s easy to see the pressure on directors and entrepreneurs.
However, succeeding in the digital sphere only takes understanding and a customer-focused approach. Whether you’re thinking of starting a business or embarking on ambitious growth plans in 2023, it’s worth knowing how to impress from the start.
What does the current customer landscape look like?
In the digital age, customers are changing and growing in numbers too. The rise of e-commerce, commonly known as online shopping, means that it now accounts for a 38% share of all UK retail overall and creates over £133bn in revenue each year.
High street shopping still thrives in certain areas, but generally, focusing on online channels will bring you closer to a larger proportion of your target audience. Additionally, online shopping changes and shapes expectations in different ways too.
To help your business succeed, you’ll need a website that’s efficient, straightforward, and easy to navigate. Creating an e-commerce strategy is crucial in meeting the demands of the modern customer.
How to rise above e-commerce challenges
Address logistical challenges and see your customer satisfaction soar by implementing same-day delivery for ultimate fulfilment. If you can guarantee rapid communication and a strong relationship with your courier, this is one of the most foolproof strategies to minimise costs – especially when it comes to avoiding customer returns and complaints.
- Use the latest technologies
In any online business, technology is your friend. Try to understand the role of AI, machine learning, and complex data analytics to help you optimise your strategies across online shopping, delivery, and customer service.
- Focus on sustainable practices
In the midst of the climate crisis, you have a significant responsibility to be environmentally conscious. Be sensitive to the environment and local communities by implementing eco-friendly initiatives in every process you possibly can. Where delivery is concerned, for example, using emissions-free vehicles is a strong start.
How can I meet my customers’ expectations?
To give your customers an unmatched experience, you need to find out what they’re looking for. There are several ways to find out this information, but as a starting point, we’d suggest that you:
The only way to truly know your customer is to speak to them.
Try to conduct surveys to learn about your customer preferences, including their buying habits and preferences. You should include questions concerning what influences their shopping decisions, along with any positive highlights or concerns about their experience.
- Constantly review your site
There are so many decisions involved in the buying process, though they’re not always obvious – or even visible. By using detailed insights and conducting regular reporting on your own site, you can find out the information you need to constantly refine and improve your strategy.
- Understand the process involved
To truly understand how it feels to support your business, you need to understand the customer journey. Knowing the website and interface, along with its quirks, will help you to identify and remedy any issues or annoyances that your customers might find with your site.
Make sure your management staff and research and development team have tried shopping on your website, from first point of contact to order completion.
- Optimise your delivery strategy
At least 80% of customers find free delivery important, and 56% look for next-day delivery too.
If you deliver products, your courier and approach could make a huge difference. Same-day delivery means rapid fulfilment, and while this could keep your customers happy, it’s important to only offer it if your company can genuinely fulfil it.
Understand the correlation between rapid delivery and positive reviews. The longer your clients wait to receive something that they’ve already paid for, the more frustrated they’re likely to feel.
Regardless of your growth plans for 2023, it’s important to only commit to what you can afford – and make sure to use a trusted courier.
