Mobilizing the C-suite to embrace personalization across the entire organization
David Edelman
Harvard Business School

David is Executive Advisor & Fellow at Harvard Business School
Personalized, Customer Experience in the age of AI- Part 1The history of personalization
- Part 2AI Personalization Improves ROI?
- Part 3AI personalization Secret Sauce
- Part 4 Mobilizing the C-suite to embrace personalization across the entire organization
- Part 5When will AI be rich enough to start customizing the experiences without relying on us marketers?
Show Notes
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00:45Implementing AI driven personalization strategies for improved ROI.Discussion on leveraging AI to enhance personalization efforts and drive better return on investment.
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02:15Overcoming challenges in mobilizing the C suite for personalization.Strategies to engage top executives in embracing personalization initiatives across the organization.
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04:00Enhancing customer experiences through tailored content delivery.Exploring methods to customize content delivery to provide a more personalized experience for customers.
Quotes
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"One of the most important things in mobilizing is recognizing in your company where there have been compromises that you've made customers accept." - David Edelman
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"Doing personalization is usually a team sport. It takes a village. It's not just marketing. So you need a rallying objective of changing the way customers are going to interact with you, their perception of the brand, how you're going to create new value and differentiate yourself." - David Edelman
Episode Chapters
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01:33: Game Plan -- Mobilizing C suite
Recognizing customer compromises in a company and starting with a rallying cry that puts the customer first is crucial for embracing personalization.
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02:34: Game Plan -- Changing customer experience
Focusing on how to change the customer experience, prioritizing data collection, utilization, and cross-functional collaboration to make data a corporate asset.
Episode Summary
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# Mobilizing the C-Suite for Personalization in the AI Erann**Welcome to another episode summary of the MarTech Podcast, where we delve into customer strategy in the age of AI. Today, our focus is on mobilizing the C-suite to embrace personalization across an entire organization.**nn## A Rallying Cry for PersonalizationnStarting with a rallying cry that puts the customer first is crucial. It's about recognizing where compromises in your company have led customers to accept less-than-ideal experiences. Whether it's simplifying a complicated order process or making your product easier to understand, addressing these pain points can unite your team. This rallying cry breaks down these compromises and gets employees excited about personalization.nnPersonalization isn't just a task for the marketing department. It's a team sport that requires a unified objective: transforming customer experiences, changing perceptions of the brand, and differentiating your product or service in the market. All key stakeholders need to align on this vision to create meaningful and effective change.nn## Prioritizing Data UtilizationnOnce the team rallies around improving customer experience, the next step involves prioritizing data utilization. How is your organization collecting, using, and activating data? Ensure that data turns into a corporate asset, rather than a function-specific resource. This shift will enhance collaborative efforts across various departments and make sure everyone is working with the same valuable information.nnCollaborating across functions will be essential here. Data silos can impede progress, but seeing data as a corporate asset fosters a more integrated approach. This comprehensive manner ensures the personalization efforts are cohesive and effective, leading to a more streamlined customer experience.nn## Real Use-Cases and Business OutcomesnFrom personal consulting experience, it's evident that many brands strive to be customer-centric on paper, but very few genuinely place the customer at the heart of their operations. Businesses often prioritize outcomes, envisioning strategies to achieve them through their customer base. On the contrary, thinking about how to truly delight and satisfy customers can drive business outcomes more effectively.nnPersonalization is a powerful method to cut through conventional business strategies. It's not merely about tweaking marketing messages; it's about fundamentally changing the way customers interact with your brand. This shift often requires revisiting and revamping long-standing business practices.nn## Final ThoughtsnMobilizing the C-suite for personalization requires a combination of strategic vision and tactical execution. Start with a clear, customer-first rallying cry that all team members can get behind. Prioritize data collection, usage, and activation, and foster cross-functional collaboration to break down data silos. By genuinely prioritizing the customer and focusing on improving their experiences, businesses can not only drive better outcomes but also create a more loyal and satisfied customer base.nnThank you for joining us on this journey to explore effective customer strategies in the AI era. Until next time, remember: keeping your customers happy is the key to lasting success.
- Part 1The history of personalization
- Part 2AI Personalization Improves ROI?
- Part 3AI personalization Secret Sauce
- Part 4 Mobilizing the C-suite to embrace personalization across the entire organization
- Part 5When will AI be rich enough to start customizing the experiences without relying on us marketers?
David Edelman
Harvard Business School

David is Executive Advisor & Fellow at Harvard Business School
Personalized, Customer Experience in the age of AIUp Next:
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Part 1The history of personalization
David Edelman, senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, takes us through the history of personalization in marketing, starting from the early days of direct mail to today's AI-driven strategies. He explains how channels have evolved and discusses the importance of moving from merely targeting customers to enhancing their overall experience. Learn how companies can gather and utilize data more effectively to create lasting, personalized customer interactions.
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Part 2AI Personalization Improves ROI?
David Edelman, senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and author of "The Personalized Customer Experience in the Age of AI," delves into the history and future of personalization. Discover how proper use of artificial intelligence can drive significant ROI improvements, illustrated by examples like Shopify's impressive 400% boost in conversion rates. Gain insights into the critical importance of starting with customer value to create impactful, personalized experiences. Learn why brands like Starbucks have succeeded by simplifying the user experience through smart AI applications.
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Part 3AI personalization Secret Sauce
David Edelman, Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School and Executive Advisor, delves into the history of personalization and shares five key ingredients for creating personalized customer experiences. Learn how to empower customers, manage sensitive information, and utilize AI for optimal engagement timing. Discover strategies for crafting personalized content and continuously improving through testing and feedback.
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Part 4Mobilizing the C-suite to embrace personalization across the entire organization
David Edelman, Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School and executive advisor, dives into the history of personalization and how to mobilize the C-suite to embrace it. He shares critical insights about breaking customer compromises and creating a rallying cry that puts the customer first. Discover strategies for transforming customer experiences and leveraging data as a corporate asset.
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Part 5When will AI be rich enough to start customizing the experiences without relying on us marketers?
David Edelman, Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School and Executive Advisor, delves into the evolving landscape of personalization in the AI era. Discover how AI is enabling brands to create broader, more integrated personalized solutions, and the strategic implications of being at the center of these innovation ecosystems. Gain insights on the collaborative potential of AI in managing and merging data streams, and its role in transforming customer experiences across industries.
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