Only the best contacts count

Customer loyalty in times of crisis – all digital, all good?

Covid has completely changed the customer relationships of many businesses. Massive restrictions on personal contacts have interrupted familiar communication, so emotional ties have suffered. The good news: contacts via digital channels can turn customers into fans as well – but only under one important condition.

An invisible threat has changed the way we live and communicate around the world. Personal relationships with customers, business partners and employees have been severely curtailed. There can be no familiar greeting ritual, and in some cases no eye to eye at all – and even if there is, then only from distance via camera: There is often no shared tea or coffee at an important meeting, no handshake after signing a contract. The emotional bond, the closeness, the connection through personal contact has been abolished by decree.

This is where employees of companies and organizations are important. Because, if you want to be precise, there is no such thing as “digital contacts”. We are always talking about human-to-human relationships. Behind every digital channel, people are at work: a company’s website, for example, is made by people who can achieve an emotionalization of customers through an appropriate message. Provided they know the needs of their customers. The same applies to social networks, telephone calls, video messages, webinars, and so on.

Living in digitized times

Over the last years, people have gotten used to the digital world, they have adjusted to digital contacts. And they are realizing that it works. Homeschooling can work, so can home office, shopping at an online pharmacy is done quickly, flowers, herbs and new soil for the garden are delivered, and even the bookstore and the pub around the corner can deliver right to your home. Many a senior citizen has now had to venture into online banking and will probably save himself the walk to the bank in the future as well. Customers will get used to these digital offerings. And they will love them. And there will be no turning back. Because everything is so much easier.

All digital, all new?

Companies are now under pressure – but also have the opportunity – to adapt to these new habits and expectations. And they need to do so quickly – and professionally. If you digitize bad processes, you will only end up with bad digital processes. It is a matter of making real identification tangible for customers. Businesses need to know the relevant needs of their customers, especially now, before they invest in digital processes with a scattergun approach. It is precisely these needs that must be served excellently at every possible touchpoint. This satisfies customers, and even more: this turns customers into profitable fans.

Employees as Fan Makers

We know from hundreds of studies, that employee motivation and customer orientation play just as significant a role in digital channels, as they do in personal contacts. Customers have a very keen sense of how customer-focused the employees who are responsible for designing and maintaining digital channels really are. They are able to evaluate aspects such as “I feel at ease on a website” or “Those responsible find it easy to put themselves in the shoes of visitors/users” in a very precise and differentiated manner. And in customer surveys, these aspects regularly prove to be highly relevant for the overall perception of digital channels. Because only excellent digital contacts can make fans!

Speaking of fans: They are the customers who stay and are loyal even in challenging times; who buy more and more frequently; who are less price-sensitive and who – across all digital channels – are the best brand ambassadors.