As consumer demand for the digital channel continues to increase at an exceptional rate it has created an opportunity for businesses to serve the growing ranks of connected consumers. The most important thing is for businesses to ensure they are putting the consumer at the heart of the relationship.
Experian has been studying insights related to consumer behavior and business strategy throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. For the third wave of our Global Insights Report we surveyed 3,000 consumers and 900 businesses across the globe in January. We observed not only consumer demand for the digital channel increasing but that fact that these trends are persisting. We believe that what started as necessity has turned into a preference.
According to the report, 38% of consumers expect to increase their online activity in the next 12 months. Furthering our belief that the preference for digital transactions persists, 60% of consumers are using a universal mobile wallet to make digital payments. We also found that the two top activities among consumers online are personal banking (58%) and ordering groceries and takeout food (56%).
The report also shows that security remains at the top of consumers’ minds when they are transacting online. 55%of consumers say security is the most important factor in their digital experience – this is highest in the UK (65%), followed by Japan (64%).
All in all, the new research confirms that this shift to online activity, which continues to increase with no indications of slowing down, is a contributing factor to consumers’ growing appetite for digital. In this regard, we found that businesses have taken notice and are investing more resources around the digital experience. In fact, 9 in 10 businesses have a strategy in place related to the digital customer journey. 47% of businesses have put this strategy into place since Covid-19. In addition, more than a third of businesses are increasing staff or support for digital operations and experience. Fraud is the biggest challenge among businesses. However, 55% of businesses plan to increase fraud management budgets.
As we move towards a post-pandemic era, and more consumers start to prefer banking and shopping online, a digital channel strategy simply isn’t enough. There needs to be a re-imagined customer journey that connects identity, preferences, products, and service. And data and technology have the power to help transform your customer relationships.