Customer experience – the role of social media

 

According to a recent Gartner survey:

• 89% of companies expect to compete on the basis of customer experience by 2016 and
• social media is a key platform for customer experience. Sales, information, queries and complaints especially.

Traditional media such as TV and print is still key, but online is forecast to overtake them in the next 5 years. Businesses need to talk with their customers and need to be where they are.

The advantages. As well as being a cost effective, quick way to engage with existing and prospective customers, there are other significant business benefits –  recent research shows that customers who are engaging on social media spend 20 – 40% more with a company, and are  3 times more likely to recommend a brand to a friend (Harvard Business Review).

The disadvantages. Customer service expectations have increased and will only increase further as technology develops and makes communication even easier and faster. Already, 53% of customers on social media expect a 1 hour response. This rises to 72% if the original message is a complaint.

 

 

Source: Brandwatch

Social media is fast becoming a key customer service channel. DPD UK’s approach to social media focuses on “delighting our customers’ customers”. They are now handling an average of 60 enquiries a day via Facebook and Twitter.

They respond to complaints on social media in one hour and  encourage customers tweets. Their goal is to be number one in the domestic express parcels market. It has led to outstanding quotes from some of the UK’s most prominent online retailers:

“Our customers expect premium delivery to be as excellent as the products we sell. That’s why we use DPD” – Head of Operations, All Saints;

“’DPD’ another way of saying great customer service” – Supply Chain Director, Waterstones;

“Everyone goes that extra mile to delight our customers.” – International Director, ASOS.

 

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