There’s a lot going on in the world, and we get that. It’s not business as usual anywhere, and it’s silly to pretend it is. Here at JRNI, we feel lucky that we have the ability to do our part by staying at home, and we feel grateful to the people who are out taking care of our sick, making sure everyone has food, and keeping our streets and buildings clean and safe.
In unprecedented times like these, though, we also feel that a little levity goes a long way. And that’s why, today, in the middle of a pandemic, we want to say:
That’s right. It’s Star Wars Day. And like all proper nerds, we’re excited about it. So our team got together and wracked our brains to decide: What can give businesses a power equivalent to the Force?
The answer? Analytics.
Okay, you may not be trying to save the galaxy from an evil empire, but you’ve still got a job to do: Delivering personalized experiences for your customers. So what’s your secret weapon for getting it done better than anyone else? Darth Vader had the Force choke. Luke Skywalker had Jedi mind tricks. And you have - that’s right - analytics.
Data is the undercurrent of any business strategy, and a business strategy involving one-to-one and one-to-many experiences is no different. Under all these appointments, and under all these events, there’s valuable data waiting to be uncovered - whether or not you can see it.
So how does this kind of Force help you? Here are 5 things you can do by harnessing the power of analytics.
1. Increase conversions.
The Dark Side had its fair share of conversion failures (May the Force be with you, Luke) and conversion successes (looking at you, Kylo Ren). So how is your business doing when it comes to conversions?
Any company with an appointments and events strategy should understand how that strategy contributes to the overall business in terms of revenue, and be able to track how that revenue comes in (by service, by location, by staff member, etc.). Armed with this kind of data, you have the ability to maximize conversions where they occur, and increase conversions where they might be lacking.
2. Reveal hidden trends.
Is it a moon or is it a...Death Star? For the Rebel Alliance, this was an important question for driving decisions - and there are a lot of similarly important questions in any business. Data analysis can help you reveal information that you might not have otherwise identified: seasonal trends, regional patterns, and more. If you’re monitoring what’s happening now, you can use it to help you make better decisions in the future.
3. Improve customer experience.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this” is never something you want to hear a customer say. But what are you doing to prevent it? Harnessing data about your appointment and event strategy is a key element of making sure that you’re delivering the kind of experience your customers want. How far in advance do they need to book an appointment for their desired service? How long are they waiting once they get there? If you can’t answer these questions, you’re missing a big part of the customer experience.
4. Optimize your workforce.
We can’t all have an army of Stormtroopers at our service (and let’s agree...that's probably for the best). But that doesn’t change the fact that the people who run your operations are key players in delivering superior experiences to your customers. Are you making sure that you have the right people in the right places at the right times - or are there gaps in your workforce optimization strategy that are leaving customers with less-than-desirable experiences? Data can tell you where you have too much and where you need more, so you can make sure your workforce is ready for anything.
5. Achieve your KPIs.
Never tell Han Solo the odds - but that’s not how you should feel. When it comes to business, everyone can benefit from knowing how they’re tracking, and whether it’s likely that actual numbers will stack up to planned targets. With proper data analysis, you can understand exactly how you’re doing compared to how you hoped to be doing, and easily see where you need to take quick actions to correct any curves heading in the wrong direction. Advanced businesses will even set up alerts - so that you get immediately notified when something is below (or above!) company expectations. Don’t be like Han - listen to what C-3PO has to say.
If you’re not convinced that analytics can you give the same power as the Force...well, fine. It’s not going to raise your X-wing out of the swamps of Dagobah...we’ll give you that. But these 5 things are just examples of some of the ways analytics can give you a big leg up on the competition (or an evil empire), and help you continue to drive success for your business (or rebellion).
May the Force be with you!
JRNI Analytics is an industry-leading analytics tool that helps companies understand and improve the value of the personalized experiences they’re giving their customers. Want to learn more? Then be sure to watch the demo to learn what kind of insight you can get into your business!
