Customer Journey

Knowing and managing the concept of customer experience is the main factor in creating competitiveness for any organization. Moreover, without customer experience management, a business cannot specify appropriate strategies to maintain the current market and business sustainability. However, most of the existing studies have looked at this subject abstractly and have not provided a comprehensive model based on steps taken in the customer journey. This research aims to fill the gap by providing the body of knowledge with a comprehensive model for customer experience management, where the stepwise nature of the concept is maintained. Using a grounded theory (GT) strategy, 20 experts in the Iranian IT sector took part in this study. Data gathered using an interview protocol that was made based on reviewing the existing literature. Both reliability (Inter-coder rating) and validity (face and content validity) measures for the data gathering tool were obtained. Three coding approaches of grounded theory (open, axial, and selective coding) were applied to analyze the data. This study introduced a stepwise model of customer management experience through the customer journey steps. The model also contains the prerequisites conditions to realize the customer experience in the IT sector and reveals the contextual factors affecting the process and finally the consequences of applying the model.

Due to the dispersion of these functions in the literature and their anonymity, the purpose of this study is to identify the functions of virtual reality immersion feature in B2B business customer journey and provide a framework. The concept of these functions involves the three stages: before the purchase, purchase and after the purchase of this journey.This study has been done by adopting a qualitative approach and thematic review method. The required data was collected through literature review. First, research articles on B2B marketing and virtual reality were searched in Google Scholar and Scoops databases, and during the steps and filters, a total of 274 articles were extracted from these two databases. Duplicate article, 257 articles were obtained. In the next step, by applying the exclusion criteria, 224 articles were deleted and finally 33 articles were finally reviewed. After performing the thematic analysis steps, 67 codes were extracted, which were presented in the form of four themes or main functions and nine themes or sub-functions. The findings of this study contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of managers and marketing and sales experts of the functions of the VR immersion feature at each stage of the B2B customer journey. Managers and owners of B2B businesses can use these functions in customer journey based on their marketing and sales goals and enjoy its benefits. It also helps researchers identify and improve the scientific and managerial understanding of the functions of the VR immersion feature and how it creates value in B2B client journey. According to the results of this research to future researchers, reviewing the literature with more sources and a wider period, developing a research model using other theories; And model testing with initial data is recommended.

This article deals with developing a model of digital marketing with a focus on customer experience and with the aim of optimizing the customer management process, increasing the quality and length of the customer journey (increasing loyalty), and improving the consequences of the marketing process in companies, and seeks to answer this question. What is the digital marketing model with the customer experience management approach and what components does it include? The research method is mixed (qualitative-quantitative) and since a model for this issue is not available in past research, the first part of the research explores model extraction through qualitative methods (here, foundation data analysis) and to determine Relationships within the model quantitatively explain the model using quantitative methods (here structural equations). The method of collecting information in the qualitative part, in addition to conducting library studies, in the form of in-depth interviews with experts in the fields of information technology, marketing, and commerce, information technology policy, and actually business managers and stores that provide services and products through channels and digital tools in this section, the statistical sample limit was carried out by the snowball method (saturation to the end of the problem) and the quantitative part of the research and explanation of the model was through data collection with questionnaire tools and closed interviews from the customers of several digital businesses, which was done with the method 385 people were randomly selected and available using Cochran's formula. In the end, the main conditions, background conditions, intervening conditions, phenomena, strategies, and consequences affecting the digital marketing model with the customer experience management approach were extracted and the relationships between them were determined.

The objective of this study is to understand the customer journey in technology product adoption by exploring the experiences and perspectives of individuals who have recently adopted new technology products. This research aims to identify key themes and factors influencing the customer journey from initial awareness to ongoing engagement and retention, providing insights to enhance customer experiences and inform marketing strategies. This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with 20 participants selected through purposive sampling to ensure diverse representation. Participants included individuals who had recently adopted technology products within the past six months. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was reached. The interview transcripts were analyzed using NVivo software, following an inductive approach to identify patterns and themes. The analysis revealed three main themes: Awareness and Decision-Making, First-Time Use and Learning, and Ongoing Engagement and Retention. Initial awareness was driven by advertising, social media, and word-of-mouth, while decision-making was influenced by peer recommendations, brand reputation, and price sensitivity. The first-time use phase highlighted the importance of intuitive design and support resources. Regular updates, community engagement, and product reliability emerged as critical factors in ongoing engagement and retention. Participants valued seamless omnichannel experiences, personalized marketing efforts, and robust support systems. The study underscores the significance of personalized, seamless customer journeys in technology product adoption. Businesses should focus on integrating physical and digital touchpoints, leveraging AI for personalized experiences, and maintaining active user communities to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. Addressing cultural nuances in global markets and managing digital signals effectively can further optimize the customer journey. These insights provide valuable guidance for businesses aiming to improve customer experiences and foster long-term engagement in the competitive technology market.