UK Consumers Not Ready for AI, Want Higher Levels of Personalisation
Only two in five (44%) are looking forward to AI technology in the digital experience – two-thirds (65%) want brands to focus on the personal journey
Reading UK, November 19, 2019 – UK consumers are not prepared for the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and want brands to focus on delivering a seamless, personal digital experience instead, according to the results of a global survey commissioned by Acquia, the open digital experience company.
Only two in five (44%) British consumers are looking forward to brands interacting with them via AI, such as chatbots and voice assistance technology, with four in five (81%) stating automated experiences with brands are too impersonal, in Acquia’s annual ‘Deliver the CX They Expect: Customer Experience Trends’ report.
However, there is a distinct disconnect with the thoughts of consumers and marketers when it comes to AI, as more than seven in ten (72%) of UK marketers say that they are looking forward to the introduction of AI, while two-thirds (65%) say their customers want higher levels of personalisation than they currently offer.
Commenting on the findings of the survey, Steve Williamson general manager and senior vice president of EMEA at Acquia, said: “It’s clear that consumers want a simple, seamless, personal experience via their digital channels, when interacting with their favourite brands. While the marketing industry appears to have a burning desire to introduce AI in customer experience, they actually need to work on getting the basics right, and that starts with personalisation. To build long-lasting loyalty, brands need open, adaptable marketing and CX technology, to put personalisation at the heart of their customer experience strategy.”
Other key findings from the report include:
- Over two-thirds (68%) often abandon a brand for another when the online experience is poor
- Three in five (61%) say when they think of their total experience with a brand, the marketing is mostly ineffective
- More than nine in ten (93%) said when they engage with a brand online, they expect a convenient experience
Acquia’s ‘Deliver the CX They Expect: Customer Experience Trends’ report surveyed 1,001 UK consumers and 100 marketers at director level and above. On a global scale, the report found that 90% of customers believe most brands fail to meet their expectations in delivering a good CX. In addition, 80% of customers said they would be more loyal to a brand that showed they really understood them and what they were looking for, further highlighting the need for personalisation globally. To download an infographic of the key findings of the global report, click here.
About the Survey
“Deliver the CX They Expect: Customer Experience Trends” report was commissioned by Acquia and conducted by Regina Corso Consulting between July 15 and 26, 2019. Respondents to the online survey were 6,013 consumers – 1,000 from Australia, 1,002 from France, 1,001 from Germany, 1,006 from Mexico, 1,001 from the United Kingdom and 1,003 from the United States) and 600 marketers (100 from Australia, 100 from France, 100 from Germany, 100 from Mexico, 100 from the UK and 100 from the U.S.). The consumers were all 18 and older and the sample is balanced by age and gender for each country. The marketers were director-level and above from companies with annual revenue of US$10 million or more.
About Acquia
Acquia is the open digital experience company. We provide the world’s most ambitious brands with technology that allows them to embrace innovation and create customer moments that matter. At Acquia, we believe in the power of community - giving our customers the freedom to build tomorrow on their terms. To learn more, visit acquia.com.
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