Paths to purchase the role of the online environment and the fluctuation of customer brand engagement

Customers´ paths to purchase are constantly developing due to digitalization. Online channels enable customers to guide their own decision processes more than ever. When understanding the complex buying journeys, companies can gain competitive advantage. Another current and interesting phenomena in...

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Main Author: Saukko, Tiia
Other Authors: Kauppakorkeakoulu, School of Business and Economics, Taloustieteet, Business and Economics, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylän yliopisto
Format: Master's thesis
Language:eng
Published: 2016
Subjects:
Online Access: https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/50976
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author Saukko, Tiia
author2 Kauppakorkeakoulu School of Business and Economics Taloustieteet Business and Economics University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto
author_facet Saukko, Tiia Kauppakorkeakoulu School of Business and Economics Taloustieteet Business and Economics University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto Saukko, Tiia Kauppakorkeakoulu School of Business and Economics Taloustieteet Business and Economics University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto
author_sort Saukko, Tiia
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description Customers´ paths to purchase are constantly developing due to digitalization. Online channels enable customers to guide their own decision processes more than ever. When understanding the complex buying journeys, companies can gain competitive advantage. Another current and interesting phenomena in the field of marketing lies in a fairly new concept called customer brand engagement (CBE). The nature of CBE has been studied to some extent, but further research is needed, especially on fluctuation, since most research focuses on observing CBE levels during a specific context and time. The aim of this research is to create insight into the customer decision-making process and CBE. The focus is on two aspects: the role of the online environment during the customer decision process and the fluctuation of CBE during the customer decision process. The customer decision process is studied from the perspective of the traditional Engel, Kollat and Blackwell (EKB) model (Engel et al. 1968), which represents the process through five steps: need recognition, information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision and post-purchase behavior. The most relevant concepts in the different purchase phases, such as word-of-mouth (WOM), are also discussed. The fluctuation of CBE is studied by reflecting on the most appropriate studies concerning the concept. The nature of this study is a qualitative study with an abductive approach. The empirical material comes from thirty semi-structured interviews conducted among customers who purchased from Brands A and B that operate in the renovation field selling windows and doors. The data is analyzed through content analysis. Based on the results, the nature of CBE is fluctuating, which is supported by earlier studies. Fluctuation of CBE was found to be caused by the fluctuation of interactivity between brand and customer. Interestingly, half of the informants were not engaged at all. The role of the online environment varied depending on the purchase phase and it was most significant during active information search. The role of face-to-face contact with a brand representative and the effect of traditional WOM were stronger than expected. In sum, this study suggests that companies should focus on interacting with customers throughout the entire decision process.
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spellingShingle Saukko, Tiia Paths to purchase : the role of the online environment and the fluctuation of customer brand engagement Customer decision process customer brand engagement online interaction fluctuation Markkinointi Marketing 20423 asiakkaat vuorovaikutus vaihtelu ostopäätökset brändit verkkokauppa
title Paths to purchase : the role of the online environment and the fluctuation of customer brand engagement
title_alt Role of the online environment and the fluctuation of customer brand engagement
title_full Paths to purchase : the role of the online environment and the fluctuation of customer brand engagement
title_fullStr Paths to purchase : the role of the online environment and the fluctuation of customer brand engagement Paths to purchase : the role of the online environment and the fluctuation of customer brand engagement
title_full_unstemmed Paths to purchase : the role of the online environment and the fluctuation of customer brand engagement Paths to purchase : the role of the online environment and the fluctuation of customer brand engagement
title_short Paths to purchase
title_sort paths to purchase the role of the online environment and the fluctuation of customer brand engagement
title_sub the role of the online environment and the fluctuation of customer brand engagement
title_txtP Paths to purchase : the role of the online environment and the fluctuation of customer brand engagement
topic Customer decision process customer brand engagement online interaction fluctuation Markkinointi Marketing 20423 asiakkaat vuorovaikutus vaihtelu ostopäätökset brändit verkkokauppa
topic_facet 20423 Customer decision process Marketing Markkinointi asiakkaat brändit customer brand engagement fluctuation interaction online ostopäätökset vaihtelu verkkokauppa vuorovaikutus
url https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/50976 http://www.urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-201608213832
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