What is Customer 360?

In today's competitive business landscape, a deeper understanding of customers is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity for organizations aiming to deliver effective marketing, product, and customer service strategies. One of the key concepts that can help businesses achieve this through customer data is Customer 360.

A Customer 360 is a comprehensive, unified view of every available data point for every individual customer. With a customer 360, businesses can gain a more holistic understanding of their customer's behaviors, preferences, and needs to enhance the customer experience, drive marketing campaigns, and improve business processes.

This article will give you an in-depth understanding of Customer 360 including its benefits and applications. You will learn how creating a Customer 360 can help businesses increase profitability and build a positive reputation.

You will also learn about the challenges associated with creating a comprehensive customer view and how platforms like Rudderstack can help businesses overcome them.

Understanding Customer 360: Definition and benefits

A Customer 360, is a comprehensive, unified view of every available data point for every individual customer. Technically, it manifests as a clean customer 360 table with one row per customer and columns for every customer attribute. But it’s typically delivered in a manner that’s accessible and usable by non-technical business users.

A Customer 360 serves as a single source of truth for each customer, that offers a complete picture of the customer's journey with the company. This approach allows businesses to gain a more holistic understanding of their customer's behaviors, preferences, and needs, thereby enabling them to deliver more personalized customer experiences.

The benefits of implementing a Customer 360 are manifold:

• Improved customer experience: With a complete view of the customer journey, businesses can tailor products, services, and interactions to meet the specific needs and preferences of each customer. This leads to a more personalized and satisfying customer experience.
• Better customer engagement and retention: A 360-degree view of the customer, enables businesses to anticipate customer needs, engage them more proactively, and build stronger relationships. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also enhances customer loyalty and retention.
• Increased sales and revenue: A comprehensive view of the customer allows businesses to identify opportunities for cross-selling and upselling, leading to increased sales. Moreover, satisfied and loyal customers are more likely to make repeat purchases, contributing to higher revenue.
• Enhanced marketing effectiveness: A Customer 360 enables businesses to segment their customers more accurately and target their marketing campaigns more effectively. This results in higher conversion rates and a better return on marketing investment.
• Greater operational efficiency: By integrating data from various sources and providing a single source of truth, a Customer 360 helps businesses streamline operations, improve coordination among different departments, and make more informed decisions.
• Improved data quality and accuracy: A Customer 360 involves consolidating and cleaning customer data from various sources, which improves the quality and accuracy of the data. This leads to more reliable insights and better decision-making.

According to a study by Gartner, fewer than 14% of companies have a true 360-degree view of their customers. However, those that do have reported significant improvements in customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and profitability.

Creating a Customer 360 can be a chaotic endeavor for businesses

Customer 360 components

A Customer 360 is built on three main components: data integration, master data management, and analytics.

Data integration

Data integration is the process of collecting data from different sources to provide a unified view. In the context of Customer 360, data integration involves collecting and consolidating customer data from various touchpoints and systems. Data sources might include websites, apps,  CRM systems, e-commerce platforms, social media, and customer support channels. Data integration is the foundation of Customer 360, as it provides the raw data that is used to create a comprehensive view of the customer.

Master data management

Master Data Management (MDM) is a method used to define and manage the critical data of an organization to provide a single point of reference. In the context of Customer 360, MDM involves creating a uniform, single master record for each customer. This master record includes all the relevant information about the customer, such as their demographic details, purchase history, and interaction history. MDM also ensures that the customer data is consistent, accurate, and up-to-date.

Analytics

Analytics involves analyzing data to discover useful insights and make informed decisions. In the context of Customer 360, analytics allows businesses to analyze their integrated and managed customer data to gain insights into customer behavior, preferences, and needs. These insights can be used to personalize customer experiences, predict future behavior, and make strategic decisions. Analytics is a critical component of Customer 360, as it turns the raw customer data into actionable insights. To learn more about data analytics visit the Data Analytics section of our learning center.

Creating a 360 customer view: Best practices and challenges

Creating a 360-degree view of your customers is a strategic initiative that can provide significant benefits, but it comes with its own set of challenges. By understanding the best practices and potential hurdles, businesses can better navigate their journey to achieving a comprehensive customer view.

Best practices

When creating a 360-degree customer view, there are several key factors to consider:

• Data quality: Ensuring the use of high-quality data is crucial. This means the data should be accurate, complete, timely, and relevant. Poor data quality can lead to inaccurate insights and ineffective decision-making.
• Data relevance: It's important to identify and use data that is useful and relevant for your organization. Not all data is equally valuable, so businesses should focus on the data that provides the most meaningful insights about their customers.
• Data integration: Data from multiple sources should be matched and merged to create a unified view of the customer. This involves resolving inconsistencies and eliminating duplicates.
• Customer consent and transparency: Businesses should practice integrity when handling sensitive customer data. This includes obtaining customer consent for data collection and being transparent about how the data is used.
• Team education: Teams should be educated on the importance of Customer 360 and how different departments can work together to achieve it. This can help foster a culture of data-driven decision-making.

Challenges

While the benefits of a Customer 360 are clear, businesses may face several challenges when creating a 360-degree customer view:

• Data quality issues: Inconsistencies, errors, or missing information can lead to inaccuracies in the customer view. Regular data cleaning and validation can help address this issue.
• Data privacy and security: Collecting and storing customer data raises concerns about privacy and security. Businesses need to ensure they comply with data protection regulations and implement robust security measures.
• Technology complexity: Integrating data from various sources and systems can be technically complex. It may require investment in new technology or expertise.
• Organizational and data silos: Information or data stored in different teams or systems can make consolidating into one view difficult. Breaking down these silos requires strong leadership and a collaborative culture.

Three ways to build a Customer 360

There are three primary ways to achieve your vision of a Customer 360.

1. Use a legacy CDP or a SaaS tool

One approach is to use a Customer Data Platform (CDP) or a Software as a Service (SaaS) tool, such as Salesforce Customer 360. These platforms provide pre-built solutions for collecting, integrating, and analyzing customer data. They can be quicker and easier to implement than building a Customer 360 view in-house. However, they may not offer the same level of customization and control over your data. They excel at delivering certain customer experiences, but they ultimately create an additional, incomplete data silo.

2. Build it yourself

To solve the inflexibility of legacy CDP, one can decide to build a Customer 360 view in-house. This involves collecting, integrating, and analyzing customer data from various sources using your own resources. This approach gives you complete control over your data and allows you to tailor your Customer 360 view to your specific needs. However, it can be resource-intensive and requires a high level of technical expertise. It offers flexibility and power but typically comes at too high of a cost. Building and maintaining a customer 360 in-house requires significant engineering resources for basic data plumbing and cleaning. This leads to projects that take months or even years to deliver.

3. Use a Warehouse Native CDP

The Warehouse Native CDP is a packaged platform that runs directly on the data warehouse. Leveraging the data warehouse as the central, transparent source of complete customer profiles eliminates data silos and allows marketing (and every other team) to use their tool of choice. More importantly, downstream teams can use these data activation tools to their full potential because they have access to complete, enriched customer profiles.RudderStack offers a Warehouse Native Customer Data Platform (CDP) with a Profiles feature that provides a comprehensive view of your customers. It collects, integrates, and analyzes customer data in real-time, providing you with actionable insights that you can use to deliver personalized customer experiences. RudderStack's CDP is open-source and can be customized to your specific needs. It also integrates with a wide range of data sources and tools, making it a flexible and powerful solution for building a Customer 360 view.

How Customer 360 improves sales and marketing efforts

A Customer 360 can be used to significantly enhance sales and marketing efforts. Equipped with a comprehensive view of the customer, sales, and marketing teams can better understand customer needs and preferences, increase personalization, improve customer targeting, foster better collaboration, and streamline processes.

• Understanding customer needs and preferences: A Customer 360 can be used to tailor marketing messages and sales pitches to individuals, increasing the likelihood of conversion. For example, if a customer frequently purchases eco-friendly products, a business can use this information to recommend similar products, thereby increasing the chances of additional sales.
• Increased personalization: Armed with a better understanding of their customers, businesses can deliver highly personalized experiences. Data on past interactions and preferences from the Customer 360 can be used to tailor communications and offers to . For instance, a business could send personalized emails with product recommendations based on a customer's browsing history.
• Improved customer targeting: A Customer 360 allows businesses to segment their customers based on various criteria, such as purchase history, demographic information, and behavior patterns. This enables more effective targeting for marketing efforts which results in higher conversion rates and a better return on investment.
• Better collaboration between Sales and Marketing teams: A Customer 360 can facilitate better collaboration between Sales and Marketing teams because when both teams can access the same customer data, it’s easier for them to coordinate their efforts and work towards common goals. For example, the Marketing team could create a campaign to generate leads, and the Sales team could follow up on these leads using the insights provided by the Customer 360.
• Streamlined sales and marketing processes: A Customer 360 can help streamline sales and marketing processes by automating tasks and providing valuable insights. For example, it can automate the process of tracking customer interactions and updating customer profiles. It can also provide insights into customer behavior, helping businesses make data-driven decisions.

Using a Customer 360 to personalize customer interactions and enhance customer loyalty

With a comprehensive view of the customer, businesses can deliver personalized and exceptional customer experiences that foster customer loyalty. Let’s dive into different ways you can use a Customer 360 to drive personalized customer engagement and enhanced customer loyalty.

• Tailoring communication channels: A Customer 360 allows businesses to tailor their communication channels based on the preferences of their customers. For example, if a customer prefers to receive updates via email rather than social media, businesses can use this information to tailor their communication strategy accordingly. This ensures that customers receive information in a way that is most convenient for them, thereby enhancing their overall experience.
• Understanding customer behavior: A Customer 360 enables businesses to understand their customers on a deeper level. This includes understanding their purchasing habits, preferences, and interactions with the business.
• Personalized offers: A Customer 360 enables businesses to provide personalized offers to their customers. This not only increases the likelihood of a purchase but also enhances the overall customer experience.
• Proactive customer service: Customer service teams can use data from the Customer 360 to provide proactive support. By identifying signals that might indicate dissatisfaction, customer service representatives can anticipate potential issues and address them proactively to reduce churn risk and build customer loyalty.
• Fostering customer engagement: Businesses can use Customer 360 data to foster customer engagement by providing personalized and relevant content. This can include personalized product recommendations, tailored marketing campaigns, and relevant updates. By engaging customers in a meaningful way, businesses can increase engagement and drive repeat business.

Customer 360 use cases

Customer 360 has been successfully implemented across various industries to improve customer relationships and drive business growth. Here are some industry-wide examples:

• Healthcare: In the healthcare industry, a comprehensive view of the patient helps providers deliver personalized care. With Customer 360, healthcare providers can use data from electronic health records, wearable devices, and patient feedback to provide personalized care plans and proactive advice. For instance, a healthcare provider could use this data to identify patients at risk of chronic diseases and provide them with preventive care.
• Travel and hospitality: In the travel and hospitality industry, understanding customer preferences is key to providing personalized services. With Customer 360, businesses can integrate data from various touchpoints, such as booking platforms, social media, and customer feedback. This allows them to understand the customer's travel preferences, enabling them to provide personalized travel recommendations and improve their services. For example, a hotel could use this data to personalize the guest's stay based on their preferences, such as providing a room with a sea view or arranging for a special dietary meal.
• Media and entertainment: In the media and entertainment industry, understanding the audience's preferences is crucial for driving engagement. A Customer 360, allows businesses to understand the audience's viewing habits and preferences,, enabling them to create personalized content and recommendations. For instance, a streaming platform could use this data to recommend shows based on the viewer's watching history and preferences.
• Financial Solutions: In the financial solutions industry, understanding the customer's financial behavior and needs enables companies to provide personalized financial solutions. For example, a bank could use this data to recommend financial products based on the customer's financial goals and behavior.
• Retail: In the retail industry, companies can utilize a Customer 360, to provide highly personalized shopping experiences. For instance, an e-commerce platform could use this data to recommend products based on the customer's browsing history and preferences.
• Manufacturing: A customer 360 can help manufacturers improve their products. For example, a car manufacturer could use this data to identify common issues reported by customers and improve their future models.

Customer 360 can be a powerful tool for businesses across various industries, enabling them to better understand their customers and provide stronger experiences.

Future trends in Customer 360

The future of Customer 360 is set to be shaped by several key trends that will further enhance its ability to provide businesses with a robust understanding of their customers. These trends include advancements in AI and machine learning, increased focus on privacy and security, integration with other technologies, more emphasis on customer feedback, and greater collaboration and communication.

• AI and machine learning: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are set to play an increasingly significant role in the development of Customer 360. These technologies can analyze vast amounts of data more quickly and accurately than humans. Moving forward, AI and ML will enable businesses of all sizes and sophistication to leverage data insights to deliver highly personalized customer experiences.
• Privacy and security: As businesses collect and store more customer data, privacy, and security will become increasingly important. Businesses will need to ensure that they are complying with data protection regulations and that they are taking steps to protect their customers' data from cyber threats. This will not only protect businesses from legal and financial penalties but will also help to build trust with their customers.
• Integration with other technologies: Customer 360 will increasingly be integrated with other technologies, such as CRM systems, marketing automation tools, and data analytics platforms. This will enable businesses to leverage their customer data across multiple platforms and departments, improving efficiency and ensuring a consistent customer experience.
• More emphasis on customer feedback: Customer feedback is a valuable source of information for businesses, and there will be an increased emphasis on incorporating this feedback into Customer 360. This will enable businesses to better understand their customers' needs and expectations and to make improvements to their products, services, and customer experiences based on this feedback.
• Collaboration, partnership, and greater communication: The future of Customer 360 will also see greater collaboration, partnership, and communication between businesses and their customers. By working closely with their customers and involving them in the development of products and services, businesses can ensure that they are meeting their customer's needs and expectations, driving customer satisfaction and loyalty.

By staying abreast of these trends, businesses can ensure that they are leveraging Customer 360 to its full potential, delivering personalized customer experiences, and driving growth and profitability.

Conclusion: Why customer 360 is essential for business success

A Customer 360 is a unified view of the customer that integrates data from various sources to provide a comprehensive picture of the customer's interactions, preferences, and behaviors. With a customer 360, businesses can deliver highly personalized experiences to drive customer loyalty and increase revenue.

For more information on related topics, check out the Learning Center sections on 'What is Customer Data?', and 'Customer Data Analytics'.