We Need Our Customers To Complain, But Not On Social Media: Upcoming QSR Consumer Study Stresses the Importance of Encouraging and Responding to Complaints During COVID

PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga., May 7, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- More than 9,500 consumers were polled for the study which ranks prominent brands on three factors ?consumers' satisfaction with their most recent visit, their likelihood to return to the brand soon, and their trust in the brand. The study also uncovered brand rankings, consumers' preferences, delivery trends, and use of new technology.

Based on the findings, QSR brands that want to ensure their customer relationships outlast the coronavirus need to encourage complaints. When customers don't complain, it negates an opportunity to right the wrong, recover the customer, and encourage long-term trust. Further, a complaint not addressed at the moment reduces satisfaction by over 20% from already depressed levels, exacerbating the problem.

As the first line of defense, real-time "voice of the customer" feedback can be captured through multiple channels (offline and online) to make complaining convenient. According to Subbu Swamy, a Market Force data science expert, "If a customer can't reach you and resorts to complaining on social media, the damage is already done, and that customer is very unlikely to return for some time."

In other words, difficulty in accessing open communications channels drives customer attrition ? in addition to magnifying negative evangelism on social media.

It's a stressful time for both restaurants and their customers. QSR brands that understand what their core guests want, and promptly deliver, have a greater chance of success. Following up on complaints with speedy resolutions, educating employees on guest recovery tactics, and improving processes are the real keys to keeping customers, building trust, and earning referrals.

Creating a proactive program to manage omnichannel customer complaints ensures that leaders receive insights to identify operational breakdowns and react quickly by understanding the overall customer experience, specifics like food quality, and growing channels including the digital experience.

To understand the QSR consumer better, sign up to receive early access to the results of Market Force's QSR Study at marketforce.com/qsr-research.

About Market Force Information

Market Force Information® is a customer experience (CX) and employee engagement (EX) management company that provides location-level measurement solutions that help businesses protect their brand reputation, delight customers, and make more money. Solutions include customer experience surveys, employee engagement surveys, mystery shopping, contact center services, and social media review tracking, which are integrated into one technology and analytics platform, KnowledgeForce®. Founded in 2005, Market Force has a growing global presence, with offices in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It serves more than 200 clients that operate multi-location businesses, including restaurants, major retailers, grocery and drug stores, petro/convenience stores, banking & financial institutions, and entertainment brands. The company has been recognized as one of the top 50 market research organizations in the AMA Gold Report. For more information about Market Force, please visit us online at http://www.marketforce.com.

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Shavon Knight, Market Force Information, 7704415366, [email protected]

SOURCE Market Force Information