Trust leaps to top of C-Suite agenda

Adobe has released new research highlighting the critical role trust plays in building successful, long-lasting customer relationships in the digital economy – now worth over $4 trillion globally. The Adobe Trust Report highlights the pressing need for brands to elevate their digital experiences and use consumer data responsibly to drive business growth. Based on the responses of almost 2,000 consumers and 200 senior business leaders in the UK, the report issues a rallying cry to brands of all shapes and sizes: trust is a business imperative that demands priority at the very top of their organisation.

In the digital economy, the foundation of any successful business is trust, and consumer expectations are now higher than ever. With new behaviours and a multitude of touchpoints, brands face growing challenges when it comes to succeeding in the digital-first era. The research revealed that nearly 7 in 10 (68%) senior leaders find it harder to build and maintain trust than two years ago. The data also shows the stakes have never been higher for brands, with over half (53%) of consumers saying they would stop buying from a brand following a breach in trust.

Responsible use of data critical to earning trust

To build trust, brands must meet their customers in the places they value most, with experiences that are personal – and that is powered by the data they collect. However, the research reveals over 75% of consumers are concerned over how companies use their data, while 71% believe the information gathered from digital interactions benefits only the company, not the consumer.

Encouragingly, the research shows consumer demands are clear and straightforward when it comes to better handling of data. Almost 8 in 10 (84%) consumers say having choices about how companies use their data is important. Meanwhile, keeping data safe and providing consumers with transparency and control over how their data is used (86%) are the top ways brands can regain customer trust after it is broken.

For brands that mishandle data, the consequences are severe: two-thirds of consumers say they would stop purchasing from a brand that does any of the following: uses their data without permission (76%), experiences a data breach (68%), or disrespects their data preferences (73%).

Despite this warning, the data shows less than half (55%) of business leaders rank strong data privacy and governance processes as a top priority, exposing a gap between consumer expectations and how business leaders are prioritising data.

“Trust can be earned and broken across every experience and touchpoint,” said Alvaro del Pozo, Vice President of International Marketing at Adobe. “We’ve reached a tipping point in the digital economy, where brands who focus on building trust through responsible use of customer data to deliver personal experiences will thrive, while those who continue to put their needs ahead of the customer, will fall further behind.”

Consumer trust built or broken with every experience

The data shows that, when customer data is used to create and deliver personalised experiences, consumer trust increases: 70% say well-timed, personal content significantly boosts trust, while 47% say creative content elevates their trust in one company over another.

A further 7 in 10 (73%) consumers said brands should demonstrate empathy by seeing things from their perspective, acknowledging their frustrations, and understanding what is important to them. The price is high for getting this wrong, with nearly three quarters (69%) of consumers saying trust in a brand falls when personalisation is poor, while over half (59%) will stop purchasing from a brand that fails to provide personal experiences they value.

Meanwhile, the importance of digital in building trust continues to grow, with over half (52%) of consumers now placing equal importance on digital and in-person experiences when it comes to earning their vital trust.

To meet the demands of customers in the digital economy and earn their trust, brands must deliver the most relevant experiences – both online and offline – to millions of customers, in milliseconds, while also respecting their privacy and preferences. Personalisation at this scale requires brands to evolve their data strategy – prioritising their understanding of the customer through real-time, actionable data, building a high-speed content engine that creates personal and valuable connections, and providing a seamless journey for every customer.

“Adobe’s research clearly demonstrates that, for customer trust, firms must have more than great products. Trust building includes responsible use of data as well as experiences that are relevant and personalised,” said Thomas Barta, global Marketing Leadership Expert and former McKinsey partner, who worked with Adobe on providing additional analysis of the EMEA landscape. “Building this trust is an organisation-wide responsibility that starts at the very top with the CEO. It’s then about applying that culture of trust across every process, into every piece of technology, and for every employee.”