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| Source: Accenture infographic. |
Just-in-time marketing can deliver a higher return on marketing dollars and companies pursuing this approach are three times more likely to beat their peers on revenue growth, according to a new report* from Accenture based on a survey of more than 500 chief marketing officers (CMOs) globally.
Just-in-time marketing is focused on creating only marketing content that’s needed, when it’s needed, and attuning it to the needs of interested consumers exactly when they are in the buying mood. In contrast, mass marketing strategies are focused on creating extensive content aimed at reaching the broadest possible audience. According to the survey, this strategy is proving to be less and less successful, as CMOs said that as few as 20% of the customers typically reached are interested in the promoted product or able to buy it.
“By adopting just-in-time practices, we’re seeing leading marketing organisations unlock value through efficiency and better positioning,” said Thomas Mouritzen, MD, Accenture Interactive, ASEAN. “This value accrues mostly from just-in-time marketers’ ability to engage the customer at the exact moment of need and from avoiding wastage.”
Where just-in-time marketing organisations excel
Thirty-eight percent of the companies which Accenture identified as just-in-time marketers have grown their annual revenues by more than 25% compared to just 12% of their peers. They are also ahead of the curve regarding the following capabilities:
Waste consciousness – 82% report large efforts to minimise marketing inefficiencies (peers: 49%).
Right-time marketing flexibility – 57% are “very satisfied” with their ability to share the right message with consumers at the right time (peers: 36%).
Ability to generate customer insight – 87% have employees with specialised analytical skills to develop actionable customer insights (peers: 67%).
Higher digital integration – Just-in-time marketing companies do not isolate digital marketing efforts from the rest of their marketing organisation, as 58% described their digital and traditional marketing initiatives as “very highly integrated” (peers: 19%).
Freedom with technology – 58% report “complete independence” when it comes to making IT investment decisions (peers: 14%) – indicating that the chief information officer (CIO)-CMO relationship has grown more collaborative in just-in-time marketing companies.
“Just-in-time marketing organisations provide more satisfying and engaging customer experiences,” said Mouritzen. “To deliver on the personalised experience customers expect, they have changed their marketing operating model, for example, by integrating digital and analytics. The winners will be those who balance creative excellence with operational rigour.”
Key steps towards just-in-time marketing
Marketing organisations wanting to transform into just-in-time organisations should consider the following recommendations:
Optimise operations
Sharpen operations and train people to execute quickly; to react smarter and more nimbly; to glean insights and turn them around in days or weeks, not months. Put talent and decisions closer to the front line, aggregate the insights and act on them. Optimise the governance structure and make sure management knows who is accountable and responsible for every decision, eliminating process steps and handoffs where possible.
Become an effective “listener”
Listen through social media for cues to take immediate action, and become more comfortable using unstructured data to make decisions based on a combination of data-based insights and instincts.
Solve for leading indicators, not just for the masses
Set the unit of analysis at individual interactions along with a broad campaign approach as a means of achieving total quality among customer interactions. It’s not only necessary to address the masses today, but also to consider those who are predictors of what the norm will be in the future.
“Marketing organisations are increasingly held accountable for delivering tangible business outcomes,” said Duncan Eadie, MD, Infrastructure Services, Accenture Operations, ASEAN. “To provide an edge in the marketplace, traditional marketing organisations should invest in the capabilities and technologies that will transform their operations, moving them toward an as-a-service model.”
Interested?
Watch the video Waste or Win? The Case for Just-in-Time Marketing
View the infographic
*For the report Building the Just-in-Time Marketing Organization the Accenture Institute for High Performance surveyed 532 chief marketing officers between September and November 2015. Participating CMOs represented companies headquartered in 11 countries, across 10 industries, with reported revenues of more than US$1 billion.
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