Two out of Three Consumers Switched Companies in 2011 Even Though They Gave Higher Marks for Service, Accenture Survey Shows

Published on Tuesday, 31 January 2012 08:34 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

NEW YORK-( Business Wire )-

Two out of three (66 percent) consumers switched companies – including wireless phone, cable and utilities – as a result of poor customer service in 2011 even as their satisfaction with the services provided by those companies rose, according to new research released today by Accenture (NYSE: ACN). The research findings pose new challenges for marketers as they focus on building customer loyalty and improving market share in a very competitive business environment.

The Accenture Global Consumer Survey asked consumers in 27 countries to evaluate 10 industries on issues ranging from service expectations and purchasing intentions to loyalty, satisfaction and switching.

Among the 10,000 consumers who responded, the proportion of those who switched companies for any reason between 2010 and 2011 rose in eight of the 10 industries included in the survey. Wireless phone, cable and gas/electric utilities providers each experienced the greatest increase in consumer switching – five percentage points. This includes consumers who switched entirely to another provider as well as those who continued to do business with their current provider but added services from another provider – a new, but growing trend. According to the survey, customer switching also increased by 4 percent in 2011 in the wireline phone and internet service sectors.

The survey also found that fewer than one-quarter (23 percent) of consumers surveyed feel “very loyal” to his or her providers, while 24 percent indicated that they had no loyalty at all. And, only half (49 percent) indicated that they are strongly influenced by at least one loyalty program offered by their service providers.

At the same time, however, consumer satisfaction with their providers’ customer service actually increased in 2011 in 10 attributes measured by the survey. These attributes include the wait time for service (33 percent satisfied compared to 27 percent in 2010), the ability to resolve issues without speaking with an agent (38 percent satisfied compared to 33 percent in 2010) and speaking with just one customer service agent to resolve an issue (39 percent satisfied compared to 32 percent in 2010).

“Companies are improving many of the most frustrating parts of the customer service experience, but they are facing a customer who is increasingly willing to engage multiple providers for a service and is apt to switch quickly,” said Robert Wollan, global managing director, Accenture Customer Relationship Management. “While high-quality sales and service in areas such as product knowledge and efficient issue resolution remain a basic requirement, in order to achieve sustainable, profitable growth, companies must better understand what really keeps their customers engaged by examining a number of overlooked, but critical points of interaction in the customer relationship.”

Blind Spots Emerge

The Accenture study identified a number of blind spots in the customer relationship that many companies appear to be overlooking. Addressing these issues may enable organizations to improve customer retention and stem the tide of switching. Most noteworthy among the blind spots identified:

• Organizations are failing to offer consumers opportunities to engage with them, including through digital channels

Consumers expect a multi-channel experience, and in fact, 57 percent reported frustration when they were not able to access company information or purchase a product through the channels of their choice. And, according to the survey, social media sites have improved overall engagement of consumers with providers and their brands, up from 14 percent in 2010 to 21 percent in 2011. More than a quarter (27 percent)of consumers want companies to interact with them in social media environments even before they are customers, and 24 percent reported greater likelihood of doing business with providers that are actively engaged with social media. “Companies that are not engaging with consumers digitally, as part of a multi-channel experience, are letting significant drivers of loyalty go untapped,” said Brian Whipple, global managing director-- Accenture Interactive.

• Companies are overlooking signs that customers are itching to switch

Although complete switching from one service provider to another did not increase significantly, the rate of partial switching, in which consumers stay with their current provider but add another provider, is up in each of the 10 industries surveyed. Retail banking experienced a one percent drop (from 16 percent to 15 percent) in complete switching from 2010 to 2011, yet partial switching was up three percent (from 24 percent to 27 percent). Wireless phone companies experienced a two percent increase in complete switching year over year (from 19 percent to 21 percent), but when adding in those who made a partial switch, the combined switching rate increased by five percent (from 38 percent to 43 percent). “As companies use their overall retention rate as a measure of effectiveness, many remain blind to customers who have partially switched, leaving them unable to respond until it is too late,” Wollan said.

• Companies are failing to keep promises they make on the service experience

The study found that consumers rate “having the service experience match the promise a company makes to me up front” as one of the most important areas of customer service. Yet the greatest service frustration cited is a provider’s failure to deliver on the service experience promised up front.

“As companies tackle these blind spots, building a solid foundation in data, analytics and research will help clarify the voice of the consumer, making the task of identifying and responding to rapid changes in consumer behavior easier,” said Wollan. “Better harnessing customer analytics will help identify key moments of change, competitive threats and service opportunities and position the organization to more effectively deliver on its brand promise.”

For more customer retention strategies, read The New Realities of “Dating” in the Digital Age: Are Customers Really Cheating, or Are You Just Not Paying Enough Attention? at accenture.com/consumerstudy2012.

About the Survey

The Accenture Global Consumer Survey is an annual research project that assesses consumer attitudes toward customer service and marketing and sales practices. The 2011 survey includes online responses from more than 10,000 people in 27 countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. Respondents were asked to assess their experiences with companies in 10 industries: travel & tourism, life insurance, consumer goods retailers, consumer electronics manufacturers, retail banking, internet service providers, cable/satellite, wireline phone, wireless phone and gas/electric utilities. Read more at accenture.com/consumerstudy2012.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 244,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$25.5 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2011. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

AccentureRyan Wells, 212-614-4737ryan.Wells@bm.comorJuan Nino, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.