Active Stocks
Tue Mar 19 2024 15:58:41
  1. Tata Consultancy Services share price
  2. 3,977.55 -4.03%
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 148.65 -0.64%
  1. Bharti Airtel share price
  2. 1,227.85 0.23%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 258.95 -2.28%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 409.50 -1.89%
Business News/ News / India/  Focus on customer is key for startups to beat the slowdown, say experts
BackBack

Focus on customer is key for startups to beat the slowdown, say experts

The pandemic has increased the need for startups to invest in building customer loyalties and leveraging them to improve their business
  • There has seen a 30% jump YoY in companies that are investing in customer-centric technology, says Salesforce India
  • The pandemic is actually a good time to build intimate relationships with the customer, says Bain & Company partner Navneet Chahal.Premium
    The pandemic is actually a good time to build intimate relationships with the customer, says Bain & Company partner Navneet Chahal.

    DELHI: Startups will need to devise innovative strategies to increase customer engagement and technology will play is a key role in managing customer expectations, say experts.

    "The pandemic has increased the need for startups to invest in building customer loyalties and leveraging them to improve their business" said Shanthi Padmanabhan, VP, customer success, Salesforce India . “One thing that is making a difference for companies is leading through change with increased customer connect and enhanced customer experience," added Padmanabhan, who was speaking in the recently concluded panel discussion on startups, part of Mint's ongoing Pivot or Perish series.

    According to experts, the global crisis has led to changes in the customer’s experience for both consumers and businesses. As a result, only startups that invest in improving customer loyalty will come out successfully on the other side. Padmanabhan said close to 42% of Salesforce’s customers say their “biggest challenge" has been to keep up with changing customer experiences.

    “In the last quarter alone, we have grown by 30% year-on-year in terms of customers who are investing in technology for customer relationship management," she added.

    While customer centricity has “never been more significant" than in the past few months, technology is in the middle of the storm. Padmanabhan mentioned a startup called Startupwaala.com, which recently built a self service app that allows customers to follow their requests and track status. “It’s energising to see that they’ve seen a 55% uplift in sales, and 40% boost in customer satisfaction, pointing to improved productivity and efficiency," she said.

    According to Navneet Chahal, partner at Bain & Company, the trend is true for the B2C sector as well. “It’s actually a good time to build intimate relationships with the customer," she said.

    Chahal added that while there will be some depression and compression in consumer spending, that would translate to customers being more specific about which company or platform they spend their money on. “I think what that means for brands and companies is that they need to double down on the loyal customer base and generate more intimate experiences for these customers," she said.

    Building customer centricity will also entail a shift in how companies serve customers, according to Chahal. Companies may have to shift operating and business models so that they can translate to greater customer loyalty.

    Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Prasid Banerjee
    An engineering dropout, Prasid Banerjee has reported on technology in India for various publications. He reports on technology through text and audio, focusing on its core aspects, like consumer impact, policy and the future.
    Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
    More Less
    Published: 03 Aug 2020, 12:01 PM IST
    Next Story footLogo
    Recommended For You
    Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App