Genesys has shared the “State of Customer Experience” report, which examines consumer preferences and how businesses are approaching customer experience (CX).
First conducted in 2017, this report analyzes trends in consumer expectations, where businesses are getting it right — and where they’re getting it wrong. When it comes to customer service, the study found that the biggest disconnect between consumers and businesses is the desire to solve an issue the first time a customer contacts a company.
More than half (54%) of consumers want a company to solve their issues at first interaction, yet only one-third of businesses prioritize first-contact resolution (FCR). Businesses instead prioritize focusing on professionalism and friendliness (48%) in customer service interactions and being quick to respond to requests (38%).
Increasingly, businesses see customer experience as a main driver of consumer trust and loyalty, so much so that it has become a board-level priority for more than half (58%) of companies in the study. With 70% of consumers believing a company is only as good as its customer service, it’s clear the customer experience can be a significant business advantage when done well.
Yet, the fact that resolving a customer’s issue the first time isn’t a priority for more than two-thirds of businesses — and less than half (41%) believe they excel at FCR — demonstrates a significant gap in delivering the experiences consumers have come to expect.
In shedding light on consumer preferences, this report provides an opportunity for organizations to evaluate how they’re meeting consumer expectations to shift thinking from company-centric outcomes to customer-centric experiences.
“Businesses are missing the mark when it comes to fully understanding what it takes to meet customer expectations, especially of first-contact resolution,” said Ginger Conlon, Customer Experience Advocate at Genesys.
“We’re in a reality where consumers expect a company to know who they are and engage with the best agent that’s equipped to meet their needs. Moving beyond efficiency and focusing on delivering the right data and orchestrating the next-best action in the ideal moment and channel are paths to success.”
Highlighted findings from the State of Customer Experience report:
Loyalty is Fueled by Listening — 90% of Repeat Customers Scored a Business’ Ability to Listen as Their Most Important Attribute
With curated content from platforms like Instagram and TikTok at their fingertips, consumers have come to expect that brands understand them and are paying attention to their likes and dislikes. Tailored experiences that show a company is listening are being rewarded with brand loyalty and advocacy.
When consumers feel they’ve had a personalized experience, more than 80% said they would purchase additional items, recommend the company to a friend, and purchase repeat items — an increase of 10% from 2017.
