Get All Access for $5/mo

63% of Indian Customers Prioritize Experience Over Material Benefits (Infographic) A recent Forrester-Epsilon report highlights that 63% of Indian consumers prefer personalized marketing and are inclined to purchase from brands that provide relevant content and offers

By Aastha Singal

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

graphicstock

The customer is the king. For every new-age business, the saying works appropriately as the penetration of data has shifted the power from business owners to business givers. However, the empowered customers are no more rooting for material benefits like discounts but instead are interested in garnering experiences, especially the mobile-first Indian customers.

While practical benefits hold major importance for the "bargain it' Indian buyers, internet-friendly users keep seamless and personalized experiences on a higher pedestal. In a recent study conducted by Forrester Consulting in association with Epsilon India, customers were found preferring both relevancy and personalized offerings for making their purchase decisions.

Apparently, 63 per cent customers are more likely to purchase from brands that provide relevant content and offers whereas the thirst for immediacy, instant discounts, mobile rewards and real-time offers also drive their loyalty towards a particular brand. The survey which included 405 Indian consumers has come up with various factors for judging customer engagement.

Digital Experience

Regardless of a buyers' age, gender, or social background, they have high expectations of the brand's digital experiences. Majority of online shoppers own smartphones and hence, expect their preferred brands to have a mobile app for easy and frequent access, 78 per cent to be exact whereas 68 per cent feel frustrated when a website is not mobile-friendly.

Tech-savvy customers are used meeting their requirements on a click and feel disappointed when the same is not the case for online shopping. Digital product reviews are one thing that the majority of new-age shoppers approve of. Even while shopping in physical stores, 71 per cent compare prices on their mobile phones, therefore pushing the marketers to develop a deeper understanding of modern consumers.

In the age when data privacy has become a hot topic, customers are overly cautious about sharing their personal information with companies but 60 per cent don't mind being contacted with relevant offerings. However, for the sake of practical benefits, 90 per cent Indian customers don't hesitate to part with their information, compared to only 66 per cent in the US.

Marketers Failures & Efforts

Customers expect too much from the marketers but the latter is hardly able to meet even half of their demands. Balanced values and volume of marketing communication from brands determine customers' preferred channel. Email is consumers' most preferred channel to receive marketing updates from a brand but 66 per cent have been disappointed by the performance as they receive too many of them.

Marketers have failed to smartly to utilize the medium for retention and engagement but are rather focused on new customer acquisition. Due to the increased privacy awareness, 55 per cent of them is already aware that companies buy and sell their information as marketers have failed to protect the customers' data for short-term benefit. Talking about the least preferred medium for receiving marketing updates, only 2 per cent of customers are interested in SMS services.

Given the scenario, personalization is the top marketing priority but marketers face challenges to achieve it and differentiate their brands. However, to keep up with the rising customers' demands, 92 per cent of Indian marketers' top priority is to improve personalization capabilities. Also, in the next 12 months, 60 per cent of marketers plan to increase their technology spend to develop real-time personalization.

Aastha Singal

Entrepreneur Staff

Former Features Writer

A business journalist looking to find happiness in the world of startups, investments, MSMEs and more. Officially started her career as a news reporter for News World India, Aastha had short stints with NDTV and NewsX. A true optimist seeking to make a difference, she is a comic junkie who'd rather watch a typical Bollywood masala than a Hollywood blockbuster. 

News and Trends

"45% of All Ongoing Hydropower Projects in India are Ours": Patel Engineering

Patel Engineering reported a turnover of INR 4,400 crore in the last fiscal year, with a projected 10 per cent growth for the current year.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Franchise

Kick-Start Your Small Business With These Cost Effective Strategies

Starting a small business is an exciting adventure, brimming with both opportunities and challenges. A key to success is effectively managing costs from the outset.

Leadership

Should I Stay or Should I Go? 8 Key Points to Navigate the Founder's Dilemma

Here are eight key signs that help founders determine whether to persevere or let go.

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.