Today, users expect everything to be personalized. Everyone is busy and wants services that are fast, easy, and tailored to their needs.
Moreover, users demand experiences that are more immersive and interactive. They want transparency and the ability to control their data.
Therefore, businesses need to catch up with the future of user experiences by adopting a personalization strategy.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through examples of personalization in action, and how it will change user experiences.
Why is User Experience Important?
The way users experience your brand can make or break your business, so it’s important to pay attention to the details.
User experience refers to how people interact with your brand across all channels — online, offline, and on social media.
It includes elements like usability, design, and ease of use. For example, a user might be browsing a website when an advertisement catches their attention. They click the ad and visit the landing page, but the design is confusing. They leave without taking any action. That’s a bad UX.
Examples of Personalization in Action
The best way to show you how personalization can transform user experiences is with some examples.
Let’s take a look at how brands are leveraging data to create personalized user experiences.
— Smart assistants — One of the most common examples of personalization today is voice and smart assistants. Users can say, “Hey Siri,” or “Alexa,” and get personalized information. Users can also set their assistants to recognize their voices and provide personalized experiences.
— Digital assistants — Digital assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are taking personalization to another level. They’re able to understand the context of users’ lives. For example, if a user says, “Hey Google,” and “I’m going to work,” their assistant can recognize what “going to work” means. It can use the user’s calendar to determine when the user goes to work, what time the user leaves, and what mode of transportation they usually use. Then, it can provide the best commuting options and traffic conditions.
— Interest-based advertising — Online ads are also being transformed by personalization. Many businesses are turning to interest-based advertising, which uses data to serve personalized ads to users. This helps businesses reach the right customers and boosts conversion rates.
— Personalized offers — Some businesses are going a step further and creating personalized deals and offers. For example, if a coffee shop notices a customer always buys a latte in the afternoon, they can create a personalized offer — something like a free slice of cake with the purchase of a latte. This type of offer makes the customer feel appreciated and special, which can help businesses retain customers.
How User Experience Will Change
As users expect more from businesses, they’re likely to experience more personalized and immersive experiences. For example, businesses may use AR and AI to create more seamless experiences.
— AR/VR — Augmented reality and virtual reality are expected to become bigger components of user experiences in the future. AR and VR can transform the ways people shop, conduct business, and even socialize.
— Voice assistants — Voice assistants are expected to become more commonplace, and advances in AI will allow them to do more. Voice assistants will likely become more engaging, dynamic, and personalized.
— Personalized shopping experiences — Shortly, eCommerce websites are expected to master personalized shopping experiences. Many businesses are already working to provide personalization on their sites.
Bottom line
The future of user experiences promises great things. We’re already seeing some of the benefits of personalized experiences, and the technology is only going to grow in popularity.
If you want to attract and retain customers, you should consider adopting a personalization strategy.