Why digital experience is vital for success

Technology continues to be an advancing force, amplified in recent years by the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing greater digital experiences into our daily lives. 

These technological innovations, with smart technology and intuitive devices appearing in our homes, as well as smarter methods of collaboration and communication in our work, have raised the bar when it comes to customer expectations.

As we move forward in this digital era, a positive digital experience is no longer "added value"; businesses should be offering this as a basic standard.  

In a survey conducted by PwC in 2022, 51% of consumers said they would switch brands based on a poor digital experience, and with customers more discerning than ever, this should encourage companies to review their interactions and focus on how to improve their digital engagement.

But what does a good digital experience look like, and why do they matter?

What is digital experience?

A digital customer experience (DCX) refers to how a customer interacts with an organization through its digital touchpoints: websites, mobile apps, or social media platforms. This also includes multiple interactions - for example, where a customer may have ordered a product online, and then spoken to the customer service team via a chatbot regarding the order.

It is very much part of the entire customer experience (CX) and it's important to consider how each individual interaction can contribute to the customer's overall perception of the organization

Why is digital experience important?

In brief, customers are demanding more. They're much more savvy when it comes to prices and products and where to get the best deals, so to stand out from the competition, it's the digital experience that needs to be the reason customers return.

A report from PwC found that 73% of customers rated their digital experience as the most important factor in their buying decisions, surpassing price and product quality, and Smith.AI cites that companies offering better experiences can gain 17% more growth than competitors.

Long-term, better customer experiences equate to higher customer retention, higher lifetime customer value, and greater brand equity, with consumers prepared to pay a 16% premium for a better service.

The costs of bad digital experience

But what happens if you don’t make digital experience a priority?

It’s important not to cut corners when it comes to creating the seamless, personalized experiences every customer expects, particularly when your customers are the whole reason your business exists in the first place.

And in an experience-driven market, you have to compete to stay afloat. According to Invesp, 89% of customers who are leading the way in customer retention and loyalty say it's down to the experience they provide.

And when 63% of customers will stop doing business with brands that don't get it right, the focus needs to be on enhancing those personal digital connections. UK brands that don't risk losing nearly £15 billion a year if they don't.

What are customers looking for in a good digital user experience?

Now that we’ve weighed the advantages and disadvantages of digital customer experience transformation, let’s take a closer look at what you should be trying to achieve with your transformation.

How customers perceive interactions with your brand is everything. You want them to come away feeling that they had an easy, frictionless, and delightful experience.

Interactions need to be consistent across all channels, whether physical or virtual because people perceive these various interactions as one experience. For this reason, it’s also important that each engagement is based on earlier ones rather than siloed, taking into account previous activity and purchases. This personalization is essential, with customers saying that ‘being treated like a person’ is important to winning their business.

Ensure that your interactions are also immediate and conversational. Don’t let too much time lapse after a sign-up, a purchase, or an email before you engage with your consumer in a real way. No one wants to feel like just another number, so make sure you have a comprehensive view of each customer to show them that they matter.

Your digital experience shouldn’t stop at how you interact with customers. Besides personal, seamless experiences to show customers they matter, you might take a look at what your business offers. Customers prefer brands that are constantly innovating, so consider how your company could find new ways to meet customer needs.

Next steps in your digital experience transformation

Despite increased expectations, about half of customers report that these expectations aren’t being met. The opportunity is there for the companies that are willing to jump into transforming their digital user experience and standing out in a crowded marketplace.

Now that we’ve broken down the reasons why you should consider this transformation, take a look at this quick guide on digital transformation quick-wins – simple steps that every business can try to quickly overhaul their operations, and their customers' experience.