While customers like low prices, there is one aspect that beats it: convenience. People would spend extra for convenience. For example, if there was a choice between ordering online from a European-style cafe and going for an hour’s drive to eat at the cafe, many people would simply order online. It does depend on the circumstances, but many customers like to exert minimal effort when it comes to pleasures. This makes convenience an important factor to design your business around. Here are some aspects of convenience you should focus on.
An Accessible Location
The first aspect of convenience is having an accessible location. The most common way to do this is by positioning your business location in the right place. For example, a lot of restaurants position themselves right beside any thoroughfare. This allows anyone walking by to just come into the restaurant. Additionally, for those driving past, the convenience of stopping at the convenient parking location is very important. No one hungry wants to climb stairs or ride an elevator unless that is a specific feature of the restaurant they are looking for. With the ease of access, you’ll have more walk-in customers.
Payment Options
For a long time, payments were made in cash. But modern technology has changed that. Nowadays, many people don’t want to carry around a lot of cash. Instead, they rely on cashless transactions for almost every purchase they make. This also makes it easier to pay for online services. Offering alternate payment options is convenient for everyone. For example, if your business starts accepting credit cards, your customers can buy from you with a swipe of a card. Additionally, they can charge it to their credit, which allows them to have more flexible payment schemes.
Ordering Without a Fuss
Another aspect of convenience is having a smooth ordering experience. If a customer comes to you, they don’t want to jump through hoops to give you their money. The experience should easily allow the customer to point out what they want and give you their money. Then, you complete the transaction by fulfilling the product or service they ordered. It should be as easy as that. However, many businesses make it challenging for potential buyers by not having the staff meet their needs or other problems. This is notable in online shops that leave customers to interact with a clunky interface. The buying experience should be as simple as possible to encourage future purchases.
Personalized Service
For returning customers, it is a good thing if the service is customized to their needs. This can be done in two ways. The customer can do it themselves by specifying particular options. For example, if you have a store app, letting the customer adjust it to their requirements is a big help. The other way is to use the data they left with you on their previous purchase to customize the service. This might be a mention of their name or even suggestions from their previous visit. This can help prevent delays in handling a customer.
Time Savings
Time is money, and customers don’t want to waste any. If you can provide the customer with ways to save their time when dealing with you, you can be assured of returning customers. For example, you can have an express lane at your store or a pre-order feature. People will be willing to pay a bit extra if they can use their time for something else.
Simplifying Choices
People like to have options, but it can be confusing to have a wide selection. This can be seen when your business has a personalized app. If you load it down with numerous features, it will only confuse the customer. This can lead to frustration and a negative experience. Make it easy for them by simplifying the interface. Instead of various buttons and options, focus on the main purpose of the app and keep things simple. This makes the app easy to use and encourages customers to use it more frequently.
Painless Delivery
The greatest example of convenience for customers is offering a delivery service. Data shows that 66 percent of customers are willing to shell out money to have their orders delivered to them. Implementing a delivery service requires effort. If you do it on your own, you need to purchase delivery vehicles and hire drivers. You also need a way to track and direct the deliveries. Fortunately, you can outsource your delivery needs with minimal work in your office. That way, you can save time, money, and effort.
Convenience is the best way to draw in potential customers. If they find that purchasing from your business is convenient, then they will come back for more. Investing in customer convenience will surely pay off as customers become loyal to your brand.
