International Data Corporation (IDC) today announced nominations are open for the inaugural Future Enterprise Best in Future of Customers and Consumers North America Awards. The new award program recognizes organizations that have effectively transformed the way customer-related initiatives are done within the organization (e.g., customer engagement, customer experience, customer service). Specifically, IDC is looking for details on implemented initiatives, such as pilots or projects, as opposed to ideas or planned initiatives. To submit a nomination, visit HERE. Deadline for submission is February 25, 2022. If you have questions regarding your entry, please contact Heather Ball at hball@idc.com.

The Future of Customers and Consumers is characterized by the changing and shifting nature of the relationship between customers and brands through a lens or prism of technology. IDC has defined the Future of Customers and Consumers as an empathetic relationship between customers and brands built on what the customer wants and how they want to be treated through the technology lens of awareness, engaging, learning, and measuring. Primary requirements of all Future of Customers and Consumers nominations are:

1. Must be a Future of Customers and Consumers initiative as defined by IDC.
2. All nominations must be in production with existing customers/users since January 2019.
3. Must be able to articulate and show key performance indicators to ascribe value to completed project.

Note: The IDC Future Enterprise Awards are for end-user organizations; IT Vendors and Technology Consultants do not qualify. Vendors may instead nominate completed projects on behalf of their clients.

Categories include:

• Customer Experiences: Customers want human conversations, frictionless journeys across multiple channels, and contextual experiences that lead to satisfaction.
• Data and the Prism of Technology: Data is critical to customer engagement. It provides insight about the brand, the customer, and the interaction, while providing the context for delivering relevant experiences and solutions. And, while data is at the heart of a digital experience, technology is what enables the analysis and delivery.
• Business Outcomes: Business outcomes are mapped to the technologies and the customer expectations to demonstrate that there is a flexible alignment between the customer journey and business outcomes.

"In the Future of Customers and Consumers, the relationship between customers and businesses will be built on cognitive empathy – requiring business leaders to make strategic decisions that emphasize whole journey experiences, customer outcomes, and creating greater value for their customers. By using data and employing technologies that address requirements for contextual awareness, frictionless engagement, active learning, and sentiment measurement, organizations will be able to scale empathetic customer relationships and deliver anticipatory customer experiences," said Sudhir Rajagopal, research director, Future of Customers and Consumers at IDC. "Our newest award program will recognize and celebrate those organizations that are differentiating themselves through customer-centric innovations and delivering on a human-centric, digital-first customer experience agenda."

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,200 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights.

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IDC today announced nominations are open for the inaugural Future Enterprise Best in Future of Customers and Consumers North America Awards.