For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Inquiry Spotlight: Consumer Wireless Strategy, Q3 2009

by Julie A. Ask, Seth Fowler, November 19, 2009

Mobile is rapidly expanding as a medium for interacting with consumers, and it will only continue to do so. Many of Forrester's nontelecommunications clients — from the travel industry to consumer product goods to automotive companies to financial firms . . .

For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

Travelers Are Cashing In On Loyalty Programs

How US Online Travelers Redeem Travel Loyalty Points And Rewards

by Henry H. Harteveldt, Elizabeth Stark, November 16, 2009

Travel loyalty programs may be old news, but that old news pays the bills and generates revenue in the billions of dollars every year for travel companies. Forrester data shows that half — 52% — of all US online travelers actively use travel loyalty programs, . . .

For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

Case Study: Hunter Douglas Europe Grows Via Distributed Content Management Platform

ChannelNet Solution Improves Network Of Web Sites For Local Dealers

by Chad Mitchell, November 16, 2009

Hunter Douglas, a leading manufacturer of window coverings and architectural products, distributes its products through thousands of local dealers. Hunter Douglas saw an expanding online consumer retail market in Europe and wanted to use eBusiness to . . .

For Vendor Strategy Professionals

Consumer Security Market Trends, 2009 To 2010: Evolving Threats And Defenses

by Jonathan Penn, November 12, 2009

As the nature of cyber threats has evolved, consumers' definition of security and their expectations of solutions have been changing as well. With the rise of account compromise and identity theft as a primary and highly profitable goal for hackers, protecting . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

US Internet Access Forecast, 2009 To 2014

Broadband Reaches Maturity, While Dial-Up Goes Gentle Into That Good Night

by Doug Williams, November 9, 2009

Nearly 16 million new US broadband subscribers will emerge over the next five years, but more than half of those will come in the next two years. Due to slowing organic growth, the Internet access market will be characterized by shifts across platforms. . . .

For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

Online Retailers' Adoption Of Online Video Content Is Ahead Of Consumers' Preferences

by Patti Freeman Evans, November 5, 2009

Sixty-eight percent of the top 50 Internet retailers use video content on their Web sites, compared with 18% in 2008. Online retailers are committed to making product videos central to their merchandising and marketing strategies because of the positive . . .

For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

Depicting European Shoppers' Complex Purchasing Decision Path

Retailers Must Implement Strategies That Facilitate Research And Purchase Across Channels

by Lauriane Camus, Patti Freeman Evans, November 5, 2009

There is no longer a clear purchase path for consumers. Thirty-nine percent of European consumers begin their research process online when making a considered purchase. Those consumers who begin their research process online are also likely to ultimately . . .

For Consumer Market Research Professionals

Technographics® Survey Highlights: US Mobile Investing  (663 KB PPT)

by Jacqueline Anderson, November 5, 2009

This highlight deck summarizes the key findings related to incidence, interest and barriers to mobile investing. This is the first survey highlight in a series from the North American Technographics Investments And Insurance Online Survey, Q3 2009 (US).

For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

Outlook For European Online Christmas Sales, 2009

A Bright Spot In An Otherwise Uninspiring Retail Marketplace

by Patti Freeman Evans, Lauriane Camus, November 4, 2009

This year, the crucial run-up to Christmas shows more optimism compared with last year. Still, consumer sentiment remains fragile, and most retailers remain cautious: Most European Net users are worried about the state of the economy and their own personal . . .

For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

US Online Holiday Retail Forecast, 2009

by Sucharita Mulpuru, November 2, 2009

Forrester expects online retail sales to reach $44.7 billion during the months of November and December 2009, an 8% increase over 2008. Despite the lingering effects of the global financial crisis, the online space remains the retail industry's growth . . .

For Customer Experience Professionals

Health Plan Provider Search Tools: It's Time For An Upgrade

by Elizabeth Boehm, October 29, 2009

Consumers tell us that online provider directory tools are convenient and reasonably easy to use but still fall short of helping them make decisions regarding where to get the best care for themselves and their families. To bring provider directories . . .

For Consumer Market Research Professionals

Technographics® Survey Highlights: US Online Consumers' Investment Behaviors  (549 KB PPT)

by Jacqueline Anderson, October 28, 2009

This highlight deck summarizes the key findings related to consumers' investment behaviors. This is the third survey highlight in a series from the North American Technographics Investments And Insurance Online Survey, Q3 2009 (US).

For Customer Intelligence Professionals

Case Study: ING Delivers Personalized Product Offers Across Channels In Real Time

by Alexander Hesse, October 27, 2009

Dutch bank ING's marketing campaigns were losing effectiveness because many of them weren't relevant to the bank's customers. The bank's organizational structure, processes, applications, and heavy reliance on direct mail were not meeting the needs of . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Driving A Contactless Network Effect In The US

Supply Is Strong, But Only Marketing And Usage Rewards Will Drive Demand

by Edward Kountz, October 23, 2009

While recent years have seen increased issuance and merchant acceptance of contactless payments in the US, consumer usage remains low. Some institutions are exploring instant issuance and contactless payment stickers as steps to alter this dynamic, but . . .

For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

Seizing Insurance's Mobile Opportunity

Customer Adoption And Investment Grow As US Insurers Play Catch-Up

by Chad Mitchell, October 22, 2009

Smartphone adoption among US insurance customers is growing, and customers are beginning to engage with insurers via the mobile Web for policy administration, claims, and bill pay. eBusiness and emerging channel strategy executives at US insurers like . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

How To Rebuild The Media Industries

What Everything Will Look Like After Recovering From The Media Meltdown

by James L. McQuivey, Ph.D., October 9, 2009

We have proclaimed the death of the music industry, the decline of print journalism, and the radical overhaul of the TV and movie business. And while each industry is being remade in its own unique way, there is a fundamental similarity in the way that . . .

For Technology Product Management & Marketing Professionals

Rewrite The Netbook Story For Business Technology Buyers

Position Netbooks For Business Use — Especially In Emerging Markets

by Jennifer Belissent, Ph.D., October 9, 2009

For a device that originated in the concept of the $100-laptop, the netbook certainly hasn't been fully marketed to emerging markets. Nor have firms really marketed netbooks for serious business use. Netbooks have become known as companion devices for . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

European Paid Content And Online Activity Forecast, 2009 To 2014

Two-Thirds Of European Internet Users Will Be Watching Online Video By 2014

by Nick Thomas, October 8, 2009

Western European Internet users have embraced the Web as a place to read news, play games, listen to music, and, especially, watch video. Consumption of all these will continue to rise, but most users of most content will not pay for it directly. Monetization . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

The Next-Gen Product Convenience Challenge

Apply Convenience Kaizen Across Entire Product Portfolios

by Ian Fogg, October 6, 2009

Due to the speed of product launches and updates in the Internet era, companies no longer have the luxury of reflecting on product and service convenience at a time of their choosing. They must think continually about what benefits every product in their . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

European Digital TV Forecast, 2009 To 2014

Competitive Pressure In The Western European TV Market Is Going To Intensify

by Laurence Meyer, October 2, 2009

2009 to 2014 will see the end of the TV digitization process and an intensification of competition in the Western European TV market. Although the basics of TV reception in Europe will not change a great deal during that period, TV service providers will . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

WiMAX Services Are Both Complements To And Substitutes For Fixed Broadband

by Doug Williams, October 1, 2009

The wireless broadband technology known as WiMAX is slowly rolling out in markets around the US — and consumers have no idea what it is. But that's not a problem: Despite their lack of familiarity with the technology, consumers do understand the benefits . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

The Who/What/Where Of WiMAX In The US

by Doug Williams, October 1, 2009

After years of anticipation and temptation, true WiMAX has officially arrived. After a slow initial rollout to four US markets in the past year, network expansion has accelerated, with as many as 22 new markets expected to come online in the last four . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Social Media For Product Development

by Paul Jackson, September 29, 2009

While much has been written about the marketing potential of social media, we often overlook how firms are using the technology to help innovation and product development. How do you actually capture the "wisdom of crowds" and use "crowdsourcing" to drive . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Music Product Manifesto: The Product Features That Will Save Recorded Music

by Mark Mulligan, September 29, 2009

In 2009, the album celebrates its 100th birthday and yet remains the centerpiece of the recorded music product portfolio. The time has come for a radical overhaul of the recorded music product range. Forrester proposes a music product manifesto of consumer . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

To Deliver The Vodafone 360 Strategy, Vodafone Becomes A Social Network And A Handset Maker

by Ian Fogg, September 28, 2009

Vodafone 360 is a bold initiative that will affect every firm's Social Computing strategy. Vodafone aims to drive mobile Internet adoption, acquire new customers, and increase long-term customer retention. Vodafone 360 both aggregates leading social networks . . .