A woman stands at a counter interacting with a smiling cashier in a bright, modern store adorned with plants and shelves of products. A geometric concrete counter and a retro light fixture add to the decor.

Modern CX is Behavioral: How the Peak-End Rule Can Revolutionize Customer Experience

read time - icon

0 min read

Aug 28, 2022

The traditional CX approach and its challenges

In 2022, almost 90% of C-level executives reported that the needs of their customers and employees change faster than they can adapt to those needs.1 While those numbers sound shocking, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Larger companies comprised of many departments tend to struggle with alignment and visibility — making a cohesive CX near impossible.2

References

1. Janczura, T. (2022, April 26). Accenture Announces Accenture Song. Accenture. https://newsroom.accenture.com/news/accenture-announces-accenture-interactives-evolution.htm

2. Morgan, E. (2014, September 4). Why Companies Can’t Get Aligned and How You Can. Inc.Com. https://www.inc.com/eric-morgan/why-companies-can-t-get-aligned-and-how-you-can.html

3. Ahmed, B., Zada, S., Zhang, L., Sidiki, S. N., Contreras-Barraza, N., Vega-Muñoz, A., & Salazar-Sepúlveda, G. (2022). The impact of customer experience and customer engagement on behavioral intentions: Does competitive choices matters? Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.864841

4. Bhattacharjee, D., Gilson, K., & Yeon, H. (2016, March 11). Putting behavioral psychology to work to improve the customer experience | McKinsey. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/growth-marketing-and-sales/our-insights/putting-behavioral-psychology-to-work-to-improve-the-customer-experience

5. Devine, J., & Gilson, K. (2010, February 1). Using behavioral science to improve the customer experience | McKinsey. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/using-behavioral-science-to-improve-the-customer-experience

6. Moleskis, M. (2020, April 27). 7 Behavioral Tips for Designing the Ideal Customer Experience. The Decision Lab. https://thedecisionlab.com/insights/consumer-insights/7-behavioral-tips-for-designing-the-ideal-customer-experience

7. Chase, R. B., & Dasu, S. (2001, June 1). Want to Perfect Your Company’s Service? Use Behavioral Science. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2001/06/want-to-perfect-your-companys-service-use-behavioral-science

About the Authors

A smiling man stands in an office, wearing a dark blazer and black shirt, with plants and glass-walled rooms in the background.

Dr. Sekoul Krastev

Sekoul is a Co-Founder and Managing Director at The Decision Lab. He is a bestselling author of Intention - a book he wrote with Wiley on the mindful application of behavioral science in organizations. A decision scientist with a PhD in Decision Neuroscience from McGill University, Sekoul's work has been featured in peer-reviewed journals and has been presented at conferences around the world. Sekoul previously advised management on innovation and engagement strategy at The Boston Consulting Group as well as on online media strategy at Google. He has a deep interest in the applications of behavioral science to new technology and has published on these topics in places such as the Huffington Post and Strategy & Business.

A woman is smiling, wearing a blue cardigan over a striped shirt, standing against a concrete wall with green plants and dappled sunlight in the background.

Sarah Chudleigh

Sarah Chudleigh is passionate about the accessible distribution of academic research. She has had the opportunity to practice this as an organizer of TEDx conferences, editor-in-chief of her undergraduate academic journal, and lead editor at the LSE Social Policy Blog. Sarah gained a deep appreciation for interdisciplinary research during her liberal arts degree at Quest University Canada, where she specialized in political decision-making. Her current graduate research at the London School of Economics and Political Science examines the impact of national values on motivations to privately sponsor refugees, a continuation of her interest in political analysis, identity, and migration policy. On weekends, you can find Sarah gardening at her local urban farm.

About us

We are the leading applied research & innovation consultancy

Our insights are leveraged by the most ambitious organizations

Image

I was blown away with their application and translation of behavioral science into practice. They took a very complex ecosystem and created a series of interventions using an innovative mix of the latest research and creative client co-creation. I was so impressed at the final product they created, which was hugely comprehensive despite the large scope of the client being of the world's most far-reaching and best known consumer brands. I'm excited to see what we can create together in the future.

Heather McKee

BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST

GLOBAL COFFEEHOUSE CHAIN PROJECT

OUR CLIENT SUCCESS

$0M

Annual Revenue Increase

By launching a behavioral science practice at the core of the organization, we helped one of the largest insurers in North America realize $30M increase in annual revenue.

0%

Increase in Monthly Users

By redesigning North America's first national digital platform for mental health, we achieved a 52% lift in monthly users and an 83% improvement on clinical assessment.

0%

Reduction In Design Time

By designing a new process and getting buy-in from the C-Suite team, we helped one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world reduce software design time by 75%.

0%

Reduction in Client Drop-Off

By implementing targeted nudges based on proactive interventions, we reduced drop-off rates for 450,000 clients belonging to USA's oldest debt consolidation organizations by 46%

Read Next

Insight

Shaping the Future of Housing: Insights from Canadian Homeowners

How can developers, builders, and policymakers better align their strategies with Canadian homeowners' preferences for innovative housing solutions? This report explores the attitudes, awareness, and barriers that shape homeowner decisions around options like ADUs, middle housing, and modular homes, offering practical insights to guide future engagement and market alignment.

Insight

Scaling Up Housing Innovation: Insights from Developers in Canada

How can housing innovations like prefabrication and modular construction truly scale up if developers are still hindered by high costs, perceived risks, and regulatory challenges? And with 3.5 million additional housing units needed by 2030, what will it take for policymakers and industry leaders to shift the tide and make these solutions viable?

This image shows a globe at the center, intricately designed with gears, data charts, and patterns representing different global themes such as technology, industry, and nature. Surrounding the globe are diverse groups of people gazing at it, with snow-capped mountains and a natural landscape in the background.
Insight

Behavioral Science is WEIRD and This Should Concern Us…

When 9 out of 10 of the world's population is underrepresented in behavioral science, are we truly grasping human behavior or just a narrow slice of it? This article delves into the overreliance on WEIRD populations in behavioral science, exploring actionable steps toward a more inclusive approach to understanding human behavior.

Notes illustration

Eager to learn about how behavioral science can help your organization?