Online product recommendations still miss the mark
Irrelevant product recommendations are taking a toll on retailers’ personalization strategies.
This was according to the “Consumer Propensity Study” from SAP, which revealed that only 25% of digital shoppers received relevant recommendations either "almost all the time" or "half the time." By region, only 17% of shoppers in the United States said they regularly see recommendations, followed by 14% of Japanese shoppers and 6% of U.K. shoppers. Worse, U.K. shoppers are the most likely (15%) to have never seen a relevant product recommendation online.
Recommendations aren’t the only factor killing an online shopping experience. More than half (52%) of respondents said they were willing to abandon their shopping cart if the shipping costs are too high. On the opposite end of the spectrum, 55% said they were significantly more likely to complete their online purchases if they received a discount or a product promotion deal.
Other global insights include:
• Korean shoppers are among the most likely to have purchased fashion products online (89%), followed closely by China and Germany (84%, respectively).
• Brazilian shoppers are the most likely (70%) to abandon their shopping cart if shipping costs are higher than expected. They are followed by Canadian shoppers (69%) and French shoppers (67%).
• U.K. shoppers most commonly (66%) cite "easy exchange or return services" as a major driver of better online shopping experiences. Russian shoppers, however, are more likely (60%) to cite comparison tools as a driver of positive online experiences.
• Over half of Thai shoppers (51%) believe that online retailers should have virtual/augmented reality technologies that allow them to see what the product will look like in real life.
"Providing personalized online shopping experiences is now more within reach for brands than ever," said Chris Hauca, head of strategy and GTM (Go To Market) for SAP Commerce Cloud.
However, there is still a striking gap in what consumers are seeing as they navigate online marketplaces. “Brands too often miss the link that bridges consumer behavioral data — complete with context and intent — with the back-end supply chain,” Hauca said. “Having a 360-degree view of the customer will enable meaningful recommendations and unique shopping experiences — something organizations should have in mind as they enter the holiday shopping season."
This was according to the “Consumer Propensity Study” from SAP, which revealed that only 25% of digital shoppers received relevant recommendations either "almost all the time" or "half the time." By region, only 17% of shoppers in the United States said they regularly see recommendations, followed by 14% of Japanese shoppers and 6% of U.K. shoppers. Worse, U.K. shoppers are the most likely (15%) to have never seen a relevant product recommendation online.
Recommendations aren’t the only factor killing an online shopping experience. More than half (52%) of respondents said they were willing to abandon their shopping cart if the shipping costs are too high. On the opposite end of the spectrum, 55% said they were significantly more likely to complete their online purchases if they received a discount or a product promotion deal.
Other global insights include:
• Korean shoppers are among the most likely to have purchased fashion products online (89%), followed closely by China and Germany (84%, respectively).
• Brazilian shoppers are the most likely (70%) to abandon their shopping cart if shipping costs are higher than expected. They are followed by Canadian shoppers (69%) and French shoppers (67%).
• U.K. shoppers most commonly (66%) cite "easy exchange or return services" as a major driver of better online shopping experiences. Russian shoppers, however, are more likely (60%) to cite comparison tools as a driver of positive online experiences.
• Over half of Thai shoppers (51%) believe that online retailers should have virtual/augmented reality technologies that allow them to see what the product will look like in real life.
"Providing personalized online shopping experiences is now more within reach for brands than ever," said Chris Hauca, head of strategy and GTM (Go To Market) for SAP Commerce Cloud.
However, there is still a striking gap in what consumers are seeing as they navigate online marketplaces. “Brands too often miss the link that bridges consumer behavioral data — complete with context and intent — with the back-end supply chain,” Hauca said. “Having a 360-degree view of the customer will enable meaningful recommendations and unique shopping experiences — something organizations should have in mind as they enter the holiday shopping season."