From Boomers to Zoomers: How retailers and eCommerce firms can boost sales and loyalty

New research from the global communication platform Infobip highlights how different generations want to communicate with businesses and brands ahead of Black Friday. When at least 86% of all generations expect targeted and relevant communications, according to Infobip’s research, retailers need a personalized approach for each generation of shoppers.

Black Friday is the start of the Christmas shopping season. Millions of consumers search for deals online, providing retailers with a growing opportunity to increase sales and strengthen brand presence. Even a 5% increase in customer retention can boost profits by more than 25%, according to management consultancy Bain & Company.

However, creating an appropriate omnichannel strategy to communicate with consumers across four generations can be challenging. Get it wrong and brands may lose sales or even loyal customers. Infobip’s Generational Messaging Trends Report reveals the communication preferences of each generation:

• Baby boomers: are less accepting of repetitive content where 40% want more varied communications versus 8% of Gen Z, but favor chat apps more than Gen X (68% compared to 57%) 
• Generation X: 73% of Gen X prefer to receive product and service updates compared with just 55% of Gen Z
• Millennials: younger generations are more open to new communication channels, where 60% of millennials are happy to make purchases through chatbots
• Generation Z: 83% expect a brand to understand them as individuals and 65% want a two-way dialogue with the brands they buy from

Infobip’s Chief Business Officer, Ivan Ostojić, has revealed that most shoppers, regardless of age, prefer brands to engage with them through conversational channels, which can increase loyalty. To achieve this, Infobip has published a new report and playbook to help retailers and e-commerce firms make the most of the shopping season by understanding each generation’s preferences.