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Bypassing the Middleman: The Rise of the D2C Trend

Overall, manufacturers who sell D2C have complete control over brand messaging, and they are in charge of how the product is presented to customers.

Published

12 months ago

February 6, 2022

TwinzTech

Bypassing the Middleman The Rise of the D2C Trend

Consumers have changed their purchasing habits, expecting quick deliveries, personalization options, and quality products at affordable prices. On top of that, consumers today care about a brand’s sustainability efforts and impact on the environment. If their expectations are not met, they quickly move on to another retailer.

Table of Contents

1. Why Are Manufacturers Bypassing the Middleman

Manufacturers are pressured to meet consumer expectations in an increasingly competitive environment, and that’s why selling directly to consumers (D2C) is rapidly gaining momentum. It offers a way to get a product straight into the end consumer’s hands without dealing with the challenges of a traditional retailer.

In addition to that, manufacturers can offer products at much better prices and therefore improve profitability. They can gain deep insights into consumers’ feedback by communicating directly with them and building long-lasting relationships based on loyalty.

Overall, manufacturers who sell D2C have complete control over brand messaging, and they are in charge of how the product is presented to customers.

2. The Challenges of Going D2C

Cutting out the middleman is a strategic move towards improved efficiency, profitability, and better engagement with customers. However, this shift doesn’t come without challenges for manufacturers, who need to join the digital revolution and use innovative technology. Here are several D2C challenges and their possible solutions.

a. Fulfillment

A poor fulfillment experience is sure to disappoint customers and drive them away. But shipping one product to a single person is a lot different than shipping in bulk to retailers. The entire fulfillment process and the manufacturing process must be reimagined to satisfy customers’ expectations.

For example, a negative returns experience is more likely to drive customers away than the initial slow shipping experience. Considering ways to optimize operations, from raw material inventory management to shipping and delivery, is crucial in adopting the D2C model successfully.

b. Purchasing

Like the fulfillment issue, seamless purchasing is also an important consideration for manufacturers going D2C. This means that customers expect a smooth check-out experience with trustworthy payment options. Simplifying the log-in and check-out processes and expanding the payment options are pivotal in reducing the shopping cart abandonment rates and building trust with customers.

c. Marketing

As more and more businesses are trying to capitalize on the D2C trend, the competition has become more challenging than ever, with customer acquisition and retention costs rising exponentially. Optimizing the marketing budget, finding innovative advertising channels, and collaborating with industry influencers are avenues worth exploring to get the brand in front of the right audience.

d. Customer support

Customers expect the possibility to communicate with brands in real-time, whether that’s through email, phone, or social media channels. D2C brands must react fast when customers have an issue, but proactive is even more critical. Seeking feedback proactively, listening to customers, and acting on the data gathered will differentiate successful D2C brands from the rest.

e. Sustainable packaging

As said at the beginning of the article, consumers today value sustainable packaging. For example, a study by Deloitte reveals that younger consumers consider sustainability to be a top priority, with “Gen Z adopting more sustainable behaviors than any other groups: 50% reduced how much they buy, and 45% stopped purchasing certain brands because of ethical or sustainability concerns.” Manufacturers should consider sourcing eco-friendly materials and packaging and mitigate waste.

3. Final Thoughts

More and more brands will incorporate the direct-to-consumer model into their strategy, and this trend will continue in the coming years. Manufacturers are spending resources on optimizing processes, communicating with customers, and sustainability will stay ahead of the tough competition and emerge as tomorrow’s brands.

Business

What is a Customer Data Platform?

Published

3 days ago

January 27, 2023

TwinzTech

A customer Data Platform (CDP) is a new approach to centralizing your business’s promotional and sales information. Learn how companies use CDP to get ahead of the competition and effectively address their clients.

Table of Contents

1. Understanding a Customer Data Platform

A customer data platform stores and organizes customer information in one place, making it accessible to various customer care, sales, and marketing departments. The software can do its functions because it compiles information from multiple channels, such as your company’s social media profiles, website statistics, and live chat sessions.

You may best analyze your consumer’s needs and produce more targeted marketing campaigns with a customer data platform. Your marketing and sales activities will be more efficient, saving you time and resources. The advertising, sales and other teams that you manage will be able to make more informed decisions with the help of detailed prospective customers.

2. Reasons Why Businesses Should Implement a Customer Data Platform

A customer data platform is essential for modern businesses for many reasons.

The Elimination of Third-Party Cookies

Given the development of privacy rules and the shifting security expectations of consumers, marketing methods dependent on cookies set by third parties are becoming more unsustainable.

First-party consumer data, collected directly from your clientele, is the new gold standard. You may better serve your clients’ individual needs by creating a unified database of their information and using that information to send them tailored messages. By adjusting to the world of first-party cookies, your digital advertising will be able to draw on a far richer pool of data, including consumer interactions, choices, and transactions.

Development of Comprehensive Channels of Interaction

Advertising platforms like Google Ads and social media are becoming more popular among businesses. Direct mail campaigns are one kind of marketing communication, sales call to prospective clients, and in-person visits from clients. Whatever channel your consumers choose to engage with your company, it’s essential to provide them with a smooth, customized experience.

Omni-channel success begins with a detailed consumer profile fed by a customer data platform. If you do not have the proper marketing software, your clients may have a poor experience with you on several platforms. That is an issue since clients who are unclear on what they want cannot make a purchase.

Adopting a More Personalized Approach to Advertising is The Norm Now

Marketing Messages that are universally sent to all customers, both present and prospective, are no longer appropriate. Consider the impact of brand loyalty on advertising, for instance. One customer’s connection with your business is not the same as another’s, even if they have made many purchases from you.

With marketing technology, particularly a customer data platform, it is now feasible to personalize marketing communications in response to individual customers’ actions. The most excellent way to learn what a consumer wants is to tailor your marketing to their purchases, purchasing habits, and associated activities.

Upgrades That Will Help Your Business Thrive

3. Benefits of Customer Data Platform

Track the Most Productive Advertising Avenues

Knowing who you are selling to enables you to focus on the most effective methods of communication. Their use patterns may help you determine the best places to advertise to them, increasing your chances of success.

Make Better Products and Services Available

Understanding your clientele has applications beyond advertising and sales. Customers’ pain concerns are a goldmine of information for developing fresh offerings that appeal to your target market.

Upgrades Your Advertising Language

With a deeper understanding of your target demographic, you can craft more persuasive marketing communications. Knowing your potential market’s language, pain points desired solutions, and previous purchases allow you to communicate with them more effectively.

Accumulate All of Your Client Information in One Centralized Database

There are many different places where data on your customers may be found. A customer data platform consolidates data from several sources into a centralized repository, giving you a complete view of your clientele in one convenient location. There is no need to go between applications to compile data on your clientele.

4. Final Verdict

Consolidating real-time data sources, linking them to a customer profile, and making them instantly deployable in a campaign gives a CDP a great chance of winning over your present marketing team members. As the pace of your campaigns increases on a global scale, you may find yourself in the advantageous situation of improving the degree of customization and targeted advertising. This aligns with a decline in time spent on data cleansing and making ads.