Credit Unions pride themselves on customer service and being “customer intimate.” They are pioneers of brickand-mortar, customer-centric innovations such as branch greeter stations and branches that look more like an Apple store than a traditional bank. Providing great customer services and “knowing” our members is a large part of what the Credit Union movement is about.
When it comes to the digital world, however, many Credit Unions remain uncertain of the best ways to use digital technology and information to enhance customer relationships. At the same time as customers increasingly prefer online transactions, Credit Unions have been forced to give up some control over the online transactional experience. Most Credit Unions simply don’t have the staffing or dollars to customize online and mobile banking systems, and therefore must accept a mostly off-the-shelf solution that is, at best, parity with the rest of the market.
Leveraging digital technology to improve customer connections requires thinking beyond transactions as customer touchpoints. It involves using data to get to know your customers on a deeper level, to learn when and where to communicate with them, and to monitor and measure the effectiveness of your communication campaigns.
Remaining “customer intimate” in the digital world requires staying relevant in the lives of your membership. That means many more touch points and communication more frequently than in the past. It also means moving away from drive-by window advertising and postcards where you can’t really be certain of the effectiveness toward the digital analogs—web site, email, social media, blogs, and videos—where you can measure response and monitor interest over time. In the digital world, you have more opportunities to show your expertise in personal or business financial management to help members make solid financial decisions. Your digital assets are available 24 hours a day all year long, unmatchable with any other channel.
CU 2.0 has developed a set of modules and processes to help Credit Unions leverage digital technologies in order to provide exceptional member service. Effective digital communication can be more complex than traditional marketing campaigns. Your strategy needs to consider the right mix of social media campaigns, blogging, videos, and ads. All of your campaigns must be linked to landing pages on your web site and set up with tracking analytics across all steps. Tracking the member journey allows the Credit Union to be on the same path, understanding what matters most for individual members, and providing information that is both timely and meaningful.
In this way, the journey to digital transformation is still member-centric. They key is to shift your focus to integrating customer data from multiple sources and being accessible to members via digital channels. Once you establish an enhanced digital understanding of members, you can make those insights available to staff, other digital systems, and even artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to enhance the member experience.
Digital transformation requires new tools and thinking, leveraging technology and automation to craft the personalized experience that our members now expect.
