For Customer Experience Professionals

Mapping The Customer Journey

Best Practices For Using An Important Customer Experience Tool

by Bruce D. Temkin, February 5, 2010

Left to their own devices, companies often neglect customers. But they don't need to. We recommend that organizations use customer journey maps to examine interactions from their customers' points of view. Mapping the customer journey requires five steps: . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Consumers' Likelihood To Recommend 133 Firms

How Likely Are US Consumers To Recommend Firms Across 14 Industries?

by Bruce D. Temkin, February 2, 2010

Forrester asked more than 4,600 US consumers about their likelihood to recommend 133 companies across 14 different industries. As an industry, retailers were the most recommended, while utility providers, health insurance plans, and TV service providers . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Rating Customer Service Experiences, 2010

Consumers Evaluate Customer Service At 92 Companies

by Bruce D. Temkin, January 28, 2010

Forrester asked more than 4,600 US consumers about their customer service experiences with companies across 14 industries. Barnes & Noble and Kohl's received the highest rating, while Charter Communications fell to the bottom. Kaiser, on the other . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

The Customer Experience Index, 2010

Consumers Rate The Customer Experience Across 133 Large US Firms

by Bruce D. Temkin, January 11, 2010

Forrester asked more than 4,600 US consumers about their interactions with a variety of companies, gauging the usefulness, ease of use, and enjoyability of those experiences. Based on these consumer responses, we calculated the Customer Experience Index . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Customer Experience Index 2010: Retail

Barnes & Noble Once Again Tops The List Of 25 Retailers

by Bruce D. Temkin, January 11, 2010

Forrester asked more than 4,600 US consumers about their interactions with a variety of companies, scoring those experiences in three areas: meets needs, easy to work with, and enjoyability. Based on these consumer responses, we calculated . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Customer Experience Index 2010: Banks

Credit Unions And SunTrust Bank Top The List Of 13 Banks

by Bruce D. Temkin, January 11, 2010

Forrester asked more than 4,600 US consumers about their interactions with a variety of companies, scoring those experiences in three areas: meets needs, easy to work with, and enjoyability. Based on these consumer responses, we calculated . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Consumers Expect Poor Service Experiences

Customer Service Expectations Across 10 Industries And Five Generations

by Bruce D. Temkin, December 2, 2009

Most customers say they prioritize service over price when choosing to do business with a company. But consumers expect a poor experience when trying to resolve a customer service issue. Expectations are not the same across industries. Consumers expect . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Sixteen Voice Of The Customer Recommendations

Insights From 40 Companies With Voice Of The Customer Programs

by Bruce D. Temkin, November 11, 2009

To understand the best practices in voice of the customer (VoC) programs, Forrester analyzed the 40 applications it received for its Voice Of The Customer award. When we examined the advice that applicants listed for other companies, we found 16 recommendations . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

The Customer Experience Generation Gap

Customer Experience Index Scores Across Five Generations And 12 Industries

by Bruce D. Temkin, September 30, 2009

Across most industries, Seniors give firms the highest marks for customer experience, and Gen Yers give them the lowest. The most significant exception is that Older Boomers give PC manufacturers the lowest scores. The difference across generations is . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Discount Retailers' Cross-Channel Experience, 2009

An Industry Look At This Year's Best And Worst Of Cross-Channel Design

by Bruce D. Temkin, September 3, 2009

As part of a larger analysis of 16 firms, Forrester evaluated the cross-channel experiences of four large discount retailers — Kmart, Sears, Target, and Wal-Mart. Overall, the discount retailers performed poorly compared to the other industries . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Service Seekers Are More Loyal Than Price Seekers

Examining Four Segments Of Consumers Across 12 Industries

by Bruce D. Temkin, August 31, 2009

In previous research, Forrester created four segments of consumers based on their interest in low prices and good customer service: Service Seekers, Price Seekers, Price & Service Seekers, and Others. We examined the loyalty of these segments across . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Who Wants Low Prices Or Good Customer Service?

Examining Four Segments Of Consumers Across 12 Industries

by Bruce D. Temkin, July 23, 2009

In previous research, Forrester found that US consumers looked for good customer service more often than lower prices. To understand this dynamic in more detail, we created four segments of consumers: Service Seekers, Price Seekers, Price & Service . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Auto Insurers' Cross-Channel Experience, 2009

An Industry Look At This Year's Best And Worst Of Cross-Channel Design

by Bruce D. Temkin, July 10, 2009

As part of a larger analysis of 16 firms, Forrester evaluated the cross-channel experiences of four large auto insurers — 21st Century Insurance, Allstate Insurance, Geico, and State Farm. Overall, the auto insurers performed fairly well relative . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Customer Experience Boosts Revenue

Modest Improvements Can Bring In $177 Million To $311 Million Per Year

by Bruce D. Temkin, June 22, 2009

Forrester's previous research has shown a high correlation between customer experience and three key elements of loyal behavior: willingness to buy more, reluctance to switch, and likelihood to recommend. But how does that affect a company's bottom line? . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Customer Experience Index 2008 Snapshot: TV Service Providers

TV Service Providers Deliver Poor Experiences And Head In The Wrong Direction

by Bruce D. Temkin, June 11, 2009

Forrester asked more than 4,500 consumers about their interactions with a variety of companies, gauging the usefulness, usability, and enjoyability of those experiences. Based on these consumer responses, we calculated the Customer Experience Index (CxPi) . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Customer Experience Index 2008 Snapshot: Health Plans

Health Plans Rank Last In Customer Experience Two Years In A Row

by Bruce D. Temkin, June 5, 2009

Forrester asked more than 4,500 consumers about their interactions with a variety of companies, gauging the usefulness, usability, and enjoyability of those experiences. Based on these consumer responses, we calculated the Customer Experience Index (CxPi) . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Customer Experience Index 2008 Snapshot: Hotels

Hampton Inn and Marriott Top the List

by Bruce D. Temkin, June 4, 2009

Forrester asked more than 4,500 consumers about their interactions with a variety of companies, gauging the usefulness, usability, and enjoyability of those experiences. Based on these consumer responses, we calculated the Customer Experience Index (CxPi) . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Customer Experience Index 2008 Snapshot: Investment Firms

Vanguard And Credit Unions Top List, Despite Overall Decline In Industry

by Bruce D. Temkin, June 4, 2009

Forrester asked more than 4,500 consumers about their interactions with a variety of companies, gauging the usefulness, usability, and enjoyability of those experiences. Based on these consumer responses, we calculated the Customer Experience Index (CxPi) . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Engage Gen Y Online With Social Interactivity

by Bruce D. Temkin, June 2, 2009

Gen Y is a unique breed. Firms can't interact with these young consumers in the same way they do with older consumers. That's why Forrester identified four design approaches for reaching Gen Y online: immediacy, Gen Y literacy, individualism, and social . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Customer Experience Index 2008 Snapshot: Insurance Carriers

USAA Leads Okay Performance By Insurers

by Bruce D. Temkin, May 29, 2009

Forrester asked nearly 4,600 consumers about their interactions with a variety of companies, gauging the usefulness, usability, and enjoyability of those experiences. Based on these consumer responses, we calculated the Customer Experience Index (CxPi) . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

How Customer Experience Drives Word Of Mouth

Consumers Talk To More People About Their Bad Experiences

by Bruce D. Temkin, May 28, 2009

Forrester asked more than 4,500 consumers how often they talk about experiences with companies in 12 industries. It turns out that more consumers talk about good experiences than bad experiences with eight of the industries. Retailers and banks have the . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Customer Experience Index 2008 Snapshot: Credit Card Providers

USAA Easily Dominates The Rankings

by Bruce D. Temkin, May 22, 2009

Forrester asked nearly 4,600 consumers about their interactions with a variety of companies, gauging the usefulness, usability, and enjoyability of those experiences. Based on these consumer responses, we calculated the Customer Experience Index (CxPi) . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Executive Q&A: Net Promoter Score

by Bruce D. Temkin, May 19, 2009

Net Promoter has become a popular term. But many firms don't understand exactly what it is and how to use it most effectively. This Q&A document examines some frequently asked questions and should help companies that are wondering how and when to . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

How Loyal Are Consumers? Not Very

Repurchasing, Switching, And Making Recommendations Across 12 Industries

by Bruce D. Temkin, May 18, 2009

We surveyed more than 4,500 US consumers to find out about the strength of their relationships with companies across 12 industries. Our analysis looked at three areas of loyalty: the willingness to make another purchase, the reluctance to switch business . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Customer Service Trumps Price

US Consumers Pick Good Customer Service Over Low Prices In 12 Industries

by Bruce D. Temkin, May 15, 2009

Forrester asked nearly 4,600 consumers how they choose the companies they do business with. Across all 12 industries we examined, good customer service was more important than low prices; the largest gaps were uncovered for banks, investment firms, and . . .