2025
9
US Evolutions in Online Customer Service Report 2025
2025-05-27T12:03:35+00:00
REPFA0AC09E_EC52_4FB4_B3B9_4BDA03638B75
3695
182483
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Report
en_GB
This Report explores the transformative changes in online customer service, driven primarily by technological advancements and shifting consumer expectations. As of early 2025, ecommerce sales were expected to grow by…
US
eCommerce
simple

US Evolutions in Online Customer Service Report 2025

This Report explores the transformative changes in online customer service, driven primarily by technological advancements and shifting consumer expectations.

Trusted by leading global brands

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Source: G2.com, Inc.
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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for online customer service
    • What consumers want & why
    • Opportunities
    • Key opportunities
    • Key opportunities, continued
  2. DYNAMICS IMPACTING CUSTOMER SERVICE

    • eCommerce landscape
    • eCommerce growth is driving the evolution of online customer service
    • Exponential growth of ecommerce leads companies to invest in online customer service improvements
    • Factors impacting online customer service
    • Additional drivers
    • Inflation, tariffs and general economic uncertainty have made consumers more price-sensitive and value-driven
    • Labor market trends have implications for retail hiring and customer service offerings
    • Tech advancement is transforming customer service in retail
    • Consumers’ increased attention to companies’ brand values and ethics has implications for customer service
    • Younger generations will shape the evolution of online customer service
  3. CONSUMER INSIGHTS

    • Consumer fast facts
    • Fast facts
    • Fast facts, continued
    • Preferred methods of communicating with customer service
    • Many online access methods are driving significant changes in customer service inquiries
    • Graph 1: methods used to communicate with customer service, past 12 months – nets, 2025
    • Traditional methods remain on top for now
    • Graph 2: methods used to communicate with customer service, past 12 months, 2025
    • Online methods will be increasingly sought out
    • Graph 3: frequency of using online customer service – all shoppers versus online shoppers, 2025
    • Brands should prioritize engaging with digitally-receptive audiences
    • Graph 4: frequency of using online customer service, by key demographics who do use online customer service, 2025
    • Preferred communication methods vary by age and gender
    • Social media is on top for Gen Z and Millennials
    • Graph 5: methods used to communicate with customer service, past 12 months, by generation, 2025
    • Men more likely to seek assistance
    • Graph 6: methods used to communicate with customer service, past 12 months, by gender, 2025
    • Multicultural consumers drive online customer service inquiries
    • Graph 7: methods used to communicate with customer service, past 12 months, by race or ethnicity, 2025
    • Reasons for seeking assistance online
    • Most customer service interactions are reactive, highlighting an opportunity for brands to adopt a more proactive approach
    • Graph 8: reasons for seeking assistance online, 2025
    • Men and women differ somewhat in using customer service
    • Graph 9: reasons for seeking assistance online, by gender, 2025
    • Gen X and Boomers take straightforward approach when engaging with customer service online
    • Graph 10: reasons for seeking assistance online, by generation, 2025
    • Reasons for engaging with customer service can influence the preferred communication method
    • Retailers can adapt customer service to meet consumer demands
    • The category being shopped also influences customer service needs
    • Complex categories can generate more customer service inquiries, especially among those seeking information to make decisions
    • Satisfaction with online customer service
    • Satisfaction rates are high
    • Graph 11: satisfaction with online customer service, 2025
    • There’s no single “right” formula for customer satisfaction
    • There’s no single “right” formula for customer satisfaction, continued
    • Speed, simplicity and human connection lead the way to customer satisfaction
    • Graph 12: factors that influence a satisfying online customer service experience, 2025
    • Older generations prefer direct interactions with real people who can efficiently resolve issues and provide quick answers to questions
    • Graph 13: factors that influence a satisfying online customer service experience, by generation, 2025
    • While speed is important, it’s not the top priority for multicultural consumers
    • Graph 14: factors that influence a satisfying online customer service experience, by race or ethnicity, 2025
    • Frustrations with online customer service
    • Every pain point has a potential solution or improvement
    • Consumers aren’t asking for too much
    • Graph 15: factors that cause a dissatisfying online customer service experience, 2025
    • Human interaction is very important to women, whereas men get frustrated by a lack of communication choices and inconsistency
    • Graph 16: factors that cause a dissatisfactory online customer service experience, by gender, 2025
    • Klarna reverts to human customer support
    • Role of technology in online customer service
    • Tech advancements will shape the future of online customer service, with clear communication key to boosting consumer adoption
    • Graph 17: tech/services of interest to interact with online customer service, 2025
    • Men are open to engaging customer service via all forms of tech, driven by their comfort level with technology overall
    • Graph 18: tech/services of interest to interact with online customer service, by gender, 2025
    • Gen Z and Millennials are the most tech-reliant and will drive future innovations
    • Baby Boomers are the most hesitant to use technology for customer service interactions, possibly perceiving it as an added layer of complexity
    • Graph 19: tech/services of interest to interact with online customer service, by generation, 2025
    • Brands should tout the benefits of personalization to drive tech usage, especially among younger generations
    • Graph 20: attitude toward usage of tech for personalization benefits, by gender and generation, 2025
    • Attitudes toward online customer service
    • Before customer service can be elevated, retailers must first master the fundamentals
    • Salespeople and customer service reps are the face of the brand; it’s essential to prioritize recruitment, training and employee wellbeing
    • When it comes to AI in customer service, consumers are skeptical
    • Striking a balance between AI innovation and building consumer trust through personalization
    • Graph 21: attitudes toward AI in online customer service – any agree (net), by generation, 2025
    • Advancing online customer service begins with prioritizing the customer
    • Graph 22: attitudes related to preferences for online customer service, 2025
    • Ikea offers the option to book appointments with design specialists
    • Brands can analyze customer data to uncover what personalization truly means to their core audiences
    • Graph 23: categories where it would be beneficial to have personalized elements, by younger generations, 2024
    • Graph 24: factors that drive a personalized online shopping experience, by younger generations, 2024
  4. COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES

    • Clienteling and personalization
    • Continued clienteling efforts will shift service models from reactive to proactive
    • Leveraging first and zero-party data to tailor offerings
    • A personalized customer service interaction upfront can help close a sale
    • Tech use cases
    • Brands are adopting agentic AI to enhance customer service operations
    • Brands like SharkNinja and Fisher & Paykel are giving the customer more control
    • FordDirect embeds conversational AI into the customer journey
    • IKEA’s Kreativ AR tool allows users to virtually transform their home spaces
    • Collecting customer feedback
    • Asking for – and acting upon – customer feedback is a non-negotiable part of evolving customer service
    • These customer-focused companies drive innovation by prioritizing their customers’ voices
    • Employee welfare
    • Happy employees, happy customers
    • Retailer spotlight
    • Nordstrom focuses on customer satisfaction, not just customer “service”
    • Nordstrom provides a number of services to make life easier for customers
    • Online footwear retailer Zappos aims to deliver happiness
    • Zappos is friendly and approachable
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Generations
    • Abbreviations and terms
Download Report Summary

"AI, omnichannel strategies and personalization are reshaping online customer service experiences as ecommerce growth and customer demands necessitate improvements."

Diana Smith, Director, Client Advisor - Retail & eCommerce

This Report explores the transformative changes in online customer service, driven primarily by technological advancements and shifting consumer expectations. As of early 2025, ecommerce sales were expected to grow by 2.4% in 2025, reaching $7.5 trillion; businesses are focusing on seamless omnichannel experiences, integrating AI and automation to meet 24/7 consumer demand. Despite high satisfaction rates, consumers remain critical of online services compared to in-store interactions, prompting retailers to refine their digital offerings. The research confirms that personalization and the human element are crucial factors for satisfaction, with 69% of adults emphasizing the necessity of human support alongside AI. The evolving customer service landscape offers brands opportunities to differentiate through proactive engagement and innovative tech solutions.

This report looks at the following areas:

  • Preferred methods of interacting with customer service
  • Reasons for interacting with customer service online
  • The impact of AI and automation on customer service
  • Aspects that make or break a satisfying online customer service experience
  • Consumer preferences for personalized service
  • How retailers and brands are evolving their online customer service operations

Market Definitions

This Report examines consumer preferences and attitudes toward online customer service in retail. It explores the variety of ways that consumers’ expectations of the brands and retailers they shop are shifting, and how companies are evolving their practices online to meet consumers where they’re shopping and to deepen customer relationships. The Report also looks at the evolving role of retailers’ employees (eg salespeople, customer service) and how they can make or break a customer experience with a given brand or retailer.

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