Maxie Schmidt is a Forrester VP and Principal Analyst known for her expertise in customer experience measurement. She discusses the latest survey findings on voice-of-customer practices, revealing optimism in CX maturity for 2024 despite existing challenges. Maxie highlights the critical gaps in current measurement practices, advocating for real-time data over traditional methods. She emphasizes the necessity of embedding metrics into business strategies and the importance of linking data to specific business outcomes to drive strategic influence.
Many CX measurement programs are evolving from low to medium maturity levels, but still face challenges in gaining organizational support and linking efforts to business outcomes.
There is a critical need for CX teams to advance from mere data reporting to actively driving organizational change and tailoring insights to stakeholder needs.
Deep dives
Current State of CX Measurement
An increasing number of professionals in customer experience (CX) measurement report improved confidence in their programs, shifting from low to medium maturity levels. This optimism is reflected in self-assessments, with many practitioners acknowledging their progress in CX initiatives. However, despite this positive sentiment, significant challenges remain, particularly in garnering organizational support and effectively linking CX efforts to business outcomes. The survey results reveal that many stakeholders still lack confidence in the metrics being utilized, highlighting a crucial area for improvement in the overall acceptance of CX measurement within organizations.
Challenges in Data Collection and Usage
A reliance on surveys continues to dominate the CX measurement landscape, but many practitioners acknowledge the inadequacies of their data collection processes. While surveys are widely used, respondents report difficulties in not only collecting but also effectively applying the feedback gathered. Notably, fewer organizations are measuring customer experience at the journey level, leading to gaps in understanding how various touchpoints interact to influence the overall experience. This disconnect signifies the need for practitioners to explore and implement more comprehensive measurement strategies beyond traditional survey methods.
Shifting from Measurement to Action
There is a pressing need for CX measurement teams to evolve their roles from merely reporting metrics to actively driving organizational change. Currently, many teams find themselves relegated to a passive role, which may undermine their importance within the broader business context. By understanding stakeholder decision-making processes and tailoring insights to meet those needs, CX teams can position themselves as strategic partners rather than just data collectors. Companies like HubSpot illustrate this proactive approach by embedding their measurement teams within strategy functions, demonstrating how alignment with organizational goals can enhance the impact of CX initiatives.
Every year, Forrester conducts a global survey of voice-of-the-customer (VoC) and customer experience (CX) measurement practices. Leaders of CX measurement programs are reporting improvements in 2024 compared to 2023. Forrester VP, Principal Analyst Maxie Schmidt explains why there are persistent gaps in what CX measurement programs can do compared to current maturity.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode