Supporting the Customer Journey with Digital Experiences: Insights from Carsten Krause

In the first webinar of the Shockoe Thought Leadership series, Carsten Krause, founder and chief digital officer of the CDO Times, joined host Dan Cui to discuss how organizations can support their customer journeys with digital experiences. For his readers, Krause provides valuable insights into the importance of data and the role of emerging and immersive technologies in creating lasting customer engagements.

Mapping the customer journey

Organizations need to map out the customer journey and understand the needs and pain points of their target group to effectively support the task with digital experiences. Krause notes that artificial intelligence (AI) and digital experience platforms are becoming increasingly important for leveraging data and planning customer journeys in real time. These technologies enable businesses to provide customized experiences tailored to individual preferences and needs.

In addition to leveraging emerging technologies, Krause emphasizes the importance of collecting a wide range of customer data including demographics, personal preferences, and behavioral patterns across both online and physical interactions. By gathering early feedback and using customer insights to inform development, businesses can ensure their digital experiences meet expectations and deliver lasting value.

Continuous improvement through design thinking and agile methodology

Krause highlights the importance of continuous improvement using design thinking coupled with agile methodology such as lean enterprise approaches and MVP targeting, which can help organizations continuously evolve and learn from their mistakes. To effectively manage data, organizations must analyze success against specific metrics they are trying to achieve. Every scenario may not be covered, but by leveraging data and insights, organizations can make data-driven decisions to improve the customer experience and drive business growth.

Managing data in the customer journey

To effectively manage and utilize data in the customer journey, organizations need to identify the high-value scenarios where they can make a difference. This involves understanding the needs of the target group. Sometimes, this may require going beyond technology and engaging with customers directly to gather feedback and insights that can be used to improve the customer experience. The customer journey is not a one-time event, but a continuous process that requires constant evaluation and improvement, with a digital culture in place that embraces these tenets.

Wendy’s customer journey mapping experience

Krause shares his recent experience working on customer journey mapping for Wendy’s, a fast-food chain restaurant. The goal was to map out the customer experience both internally and externally, from the customer’s drive-through contact to the experience of the general manager and staff in the restaurant. The team examined the devices used, how data was tracked, and how people felt during these interactions.

By having conversations with both internal experts and in-store customers, the team uncovered pain points and opportunities to address them. They were also able to step back and gain a new perspective on the customer journey, identifying new opportunities they had not seen before. Through this mapping exercise, Wendy’s was able to gain insights into how to better serve its customers and improve their overall experience.

Strategies for unifying the customer journey

Krause emphasizes the importance of bringing together different digital experiences to support the unification of the customer journey. He says companies must understand their focus and their customers’ needs and capabilities, which requires building an in-house skillset for digital and product strategy, user experience design, data analytics, and technology development. Krause sees augmented reality and AI as emerging technologies that can engage customers in exciting ways. He also recognizes the need for cryptocurrency, blockchain, and immersive user experience.

The future of digital experiences and driving digital transformation and the role of AI and web three

Krause discusses how brands are engaging customers through loyalty programs, gamification, and virtual events using web three concepts of decentralization. He emphasizes that digital transformation is not just about technology but also about understanding business goals, customer needs, and key performance indicators (KPIs). He highlights the importance of leadership buy-in, data analytics, and being agile and flexible in digital innovation projects.

Krause predicts that hyper-personalization, driven by data insights, will become the norm in the future. Companies will be able to tailor messaging and services to individualized needs, enhancing the customer experience. He also envisions the integration of AI into immersive experiences, making them more personalized and frictionless. Augmented reality (AR) and AI present opportunities for building smart systems and providing personalized data.

Rules and regulations must ensure the responsible use of AI and automation. Krause calls for data privacy, interoperability, and micro-investing in real-world assets to be considered in the development of web three concepts and the metaverse.

Supporting the customer journey with digital experiences

This task requires a holistic approach. Organizations should leverage emerging technologies, collect and analyze data, and continuously improve through design thinking and agile methodology. Customer journey mapping plays a vital role in understanding and enhancing the buyer’s experience. The future of digital experiences will be characterized by hyper-personalization, AI integration, and the responsible use of emerging technologies. By embracing these strategies and driving digital transformation, organizations can create lasting customer engagements and drive business growth in the digital age.

Partner with Shockoe

Partnering with a digital products expert like Shockoe can ensure you have all the help you need to impress your users, grow your business, use immersive technologies in creating lasting customer engagements, and stay competitive. Our team includes experts with unique and varied backgrounds who work to give your digital solution an edge. We can help you develop high-level product concepts and see them through to implementation.

Book an appointment and let’s discuss your current challenges. Shockoe’s experts are ready to assist with your product strategy, design, development, growth, and other digital product services needs.