Retailers face plenty of problems during the holiday season. Besides the obvious – staff shortages, shoplifting, and competitive pricing – there’s a different type of hurdle businesses should be aware of: the customer experience.
Consumers demand could be another issue for retailers to face. High demand without enough stock will lead to an uptick in delivery requests. And the timing of those gifts is everything.
Retail is Calling
Communication between retailers and consumers is needed for everything from shipments to returns to customer support. The best way to connect? The phone call, of course. Why do people prefer phone calls?
1. It's quicker to ask and answer questions on a call. Over half of people surveyed by First Orion deemed phone calls their go-to for anything urgent. A real person comforts those who are easily frustrated by a cold digital response.
2. Explanations are easier over the phone. Sure, typing out short and sweet messages is easy, but most people opt for a phone call when it comes to asking tough questions. In fact, 75% of people prefer a phone call when having long conversations or asking complicated questions.
3. Phone calls are more efficient! Taking the time to type out a message can take forever. With the time it takes you to detail your troubles and hopes for a quick resolution, you could have just called the customer service rep and talked it out together.
Know the Unknown?
Now, we know why people prefer phone calls, but what does that mean for consumers when their retailer uses an unknown number?
A missed phone call can lead to delays in delivery or fixing an order. It’s crucial for retailers to get it right with so much on the line during the holiday gift-giving season.
This missed connection (and a subpar customer experience) can make consumers consider switching to a retailer that will deliver on communication and their purchases.
Is the Unknown Good?
Some surprises are great this time of year … but not for phone calls.
When customers are expecting a delivery, they’re more likely to answer a call from an unknown number. And while that sounds fine and dandy, it can spell trouble.
Scammers are notorious for kicking it up a notch in the holiday season and catching customers at their weakest. You wouldn’t think they’d steal from a family, right? Think again.
Avoiding a Holiday Headache
Customer demands constantly change, and it’s a business’s job to think ahead of the game.
Branded Communications could be the best thing a retailer can do to protect their business and brand.
A Study in Retail Customer Experience
A success story for you:
A retailer came to us with an issue making calls for pre-delivery, delivery, and customer support. Calling back customers was easier said than done.
With INFORM® Branded Calling, the retail chain experienced a significant drop in their decline rates! Meaning the right calls were answered. They also experienced substantial growth in other key areas:
- 18% boost in answer rate
- 16% rise in contact rate
- 19% life in conversion rate
- 22% jump in engagement
Jump in Engagement
People were more likely to answer and engage with the retailer’s calls, resulting in happier outcomes for both company and consumer.
Nobody wants their holiday to be delayed. So much so, that if a consumer even thinks their gift isn’t coming in on time, they’ll move on to the next place that will deliver and communicate with them. Loyalty isn’t as important as the gift-giving season. In fact, nearly two-thirds of people would switch to a brand that properly identified outbound calls.
Don’t let unknown numbers keep your business from making magic during the holiday season. Unwrap the power of branded calling today.
