Webinar by Clickatell and Aberdeen Research explains how to begin, and why a customer-first approach is key with chat commerce
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., February 10, 2021 — Companies that deploy chat in commerce see higher revenue growth, stronger customer retention, reduced service costs, and increased marketing effectiveness than companies that don’t, indicates research from Aberdeen Research in partnership with Clickatell, a global leader in mobile communications and chat commerce.
Chat commerce—enabling customers to interact and transact with brands via chat apps—is being adopted globally, led by Asia, Europe, and Africa, and quickly followed by North America, the research shows.
The research is discussed in full detail in a just released on-demand webinar, “Leveraging Chat to Manage & Evolve a Customer-First Digital Transformation Program,” which is available here.
In the global multi-industry survey of 405 companies, Aberdeen found that at least two-thirds of firms use chat and that those that use chat in commerce achieve superior financial results while delivering a better customer experience. Highlights of the research indicate that companies using chat in commerce experience a:
75% improvement in annual revenue growth
48% bump in customer retention rates
27% improvement in ability to reduce service costs
21x improvement in marketing ROI
The research also shows that many forms of chat—including WhatsApp, live chat, and mobile in-app messaging—rank high in terms of planned adoption as companies seek more connection with consumers. Forty six percent of businesses have implemented messaging apps or plan to do so in the next 12 months.
“We are on the cusp of mass adoption of chat in commerce, and smart brands will create one holistic customer experience across all customer channels, including chat, the interactive channel of choice,” says Jeppe Dorff, Clickatell Chief Product and Technology Officer.
While many companies have pursued digital transformation efforts, many have fallen short of goals. By deploying chat—which is now used daily by eight in 10 adults, the research shows—companies can more quickly respond to changing consumer needs and preferences as they pursue their digital initiatives. This is especially critical in the wake of COVID-19, which hastened digital commerce around the world.
Chat-enabled data and insights
Chat also enables companies to gather more data and insight, more quickly, into the customer experience so companies can respond more readily. Lack of visibility into customer data was cited by eight in 10 companies as a key challenge, the research shows.
“Chat enables customer-friendly digital transformation and best practices are applicable in all industries,” says Omer Minkara, Aberdeen VP and Principal Analyst. “By making digital transformation efforts customer first, not business first and focused on internal needs, companies will see greater success in satisfying and delighting their customers.”
Companies who used chat in commerce, when compared to those who didn’t, were 84% more likely to improve the number of positive social media mentions for their brand, the research shows.
In the webinar, Minkara and Dorff also discuss how a brand may use chat to take a customer-first approach to digital transformation, including key first steps such as: focusing on frequent customer issues; devising metrics to measure success; iterating and improving chat initiatives as you go; and expanding use cases over time. The webinar also discusses issues such as key building blocks to use chat in customer-first initiatives and roadblocks and pitfalls to digital transformation.
To view the webinar, “Leveraging Chat to Manage & Evolve a Customer-First Digital Transformation Program,” click here.
About Clickatell
Today’s consumers choose chat as their preferred method of communication (e.g., Text, WhatsApp, Apple iMessage, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, etc.) and expect a convenient, efficient and engaging experience to purchase goods and services. Clickatell’s Chat Commerce Platform gives consumers the power to connect, interact, and transact with brands anytime, anywhere. With offices in the US, Canada, South Africa, and Nigeria, Clickatell has 15,000 customers, ranging from Fortune 500 organizations to well-known consumer brands and small businesses. Visit Clickatell at www.clickatell.com.
Media Contacts
Clickatell, Nadia Louw, louw@clickatell.com, +27-21-910 7700
Clickatell, Andrea Mahoney, mahoney@clickatell.com, 415-846-1543
About Clickatell
We create a better world through technology, making commerce in chat accessible for everyone, everywhere. Consumers can now connect with brands to find goods and services, make purchases, track orders, and resolve issues with a simple text or chat. No need for cash, phone calls, in-person interactions, or apps. Founded in 2000 with now over 10,000 customers, Clickatell is powering the digital commerce transformation. Clickatell is headquartered in Silicon Valley, CA and has offices in Canada, South Africa, and Nigeria (www.clickatell.com).
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