The pandemic flipped the world upside down in every aspect possible. It brought about drastic changes across various sectors and shifted the market trends to great extents. The UAE, being a hub for luxury brands, exotic tourism, and diverse cultures, underwent noteworthy transitions in customer behaviours and buying patterns that need a check, to stay on par with the changing market grounds.
According to the data collected by the best marketing research companies, the UAE has seen a surge in demand for quality virtual experiences. After the pandemic forced all physical stores to shut down, people have made themselves accustomed to the new normal where everything revolved around online services. Fortunately, this trend is still prevalent and is only seeming to steep high.
Businesses and brands need to ramp up their online facilities and services to meet the growing demands of UAE consumers who are yearning for fulfilling virtual experiences. Following are some facts and tips to figure out how a brand can transform its functionality to better serve its customers online.
Observations on the Increase in Demand for Virtual Experiences in UAE
A recent study on the UAE markets by Mastercard revealed some fun figures on how consumer trends have inclined towards better virtual experiences.
- Around 73% of consumers in the UAE are shopping online more than before.
- People implemented this downtime to upskill themselves and around 70% have learned online banking with a whopping 67% practicing cooking through online videos.
- When it comes to shopping online, groceries, clothes, and healthcare products are the top categories.
- Over 78% purchased entertainment subscriptions and 56% spent money on online gaming.
Now, why are these numbers crucial to businesses? These stand as significant proof of how it is the need of the hour for brands to buckle their online presence and utilize the opportunity to serve their customers effectively.
Following are some crucial tips on how an organization can level up its game.
1. Enhance Customer Experience:
65% of UAE consumers desire wholesome purchase experiences adding a touch of personalization. They prefer buying from brands that take a little extra effort to individualize their customer journey and connect with them. Perks such as rewards, coupons, exclusive benefits, and personal shopping advisors are great ways to lure the audience for increased online purchases.
2. Implement social media:
Top qualitative research companies in the UAE suggest implementing social media to establish an online presence and improvise the virtual experience for consumers effectively. 72% of buyers discovered sellers and brands through Facebook and 56% through Instagram; so, get going with connecting and collaborating with the target audience.
3. Demography and Purchase Mindsets
The UAE is home to more than 200 nationalities – a highly diversified and multicultural location. Hence, to ensure fulfilling online experiences for customers, businesses can amp up their localizing strategies and create targeted attractions for different ethnicities and regions. The brand Jollibee, a Filipino fast-food centre is an example of implementing segmentation excellently.
4. Secure Transactions
One of the priority concerns for more than half of the consumers in the UAE is secure transactions. Online purchases come with their own risk of fraud and theft. Therefore, ensuring safe checkout is crucial to offer buyers with a fulfilling shopping journey.
Takeaway
The after-effects of the pandemic are sure to stay for a long. Since people have experienced the ease and convenience of online shopping, there are minimum chances of any decline. Hence, witnessing the rise of better virtual experiences, businesses must align their strategies to meet the growing demands of online purchases.