Make Digital Marketing A Strategic Priority: Key Finding Of New Study From Infosys And EBG

Digital marketing is firmly established within the business strategies of the majority of global organizations, with rising budgets and increased importance of multi-channel marketing driving impacts across the enterprise. These are the key findings of an in-depth report, “Unlocking Business Value from Digital Marketing” in France, by Infosys, a global leader in consulting and technology, and EBG, a professional community of business active in industry, services, media, marketing, telecommunications and IT sectors.

The study of around 100 digital marketing executives also found that digital marketing in France is driving a more sophisticated approach to customer relationship management, with segmentation of different communities being used to drive targeted campaigns.

Key findings of the study include:

• Strategic Management
  • 93% of companies surveyed have already integrated their e-marketing strategy into their business strategy and, 89% of brands surveyed have an e-commerce platform
  • In the last two years, online marketing budgets have increased by 8%, compared to a 6% reduction in offline marketing
• Organizational Design
  • In over half (56%) of the companies surveyed the marketing function reports directly to the CEO
  • Over two thirds (67%) have appointed a digital marketing executive
• Customer Relationship Management
  • 85% of companies have implemented some kind of customer segmentation activity
  • Analytics tools to provide a complete 360-degree view of the customer are planned for many industries; currently the lowest level of adoption is in the banking and insurance sector
  • Currently, 53% of companies manage social media communities while a third are currently looking to address this
• Multi-Channel
  • Some two-thirds of companies surveyed are already equipped with tools to manage campaigns across multiple channels.
  • Multi-channel marketing varies significantly by industry, with only 29% of banking and insurance companies having a multi-channel strategy compared to 86% of companies in services, leisure, tourism and hospitality
• Recruitment
  • Around half of the companies surveyed recruited people into their digital teams in the last year, with many looking to continue recruitment in the coming year
  • HR policies are being introduced to retain and motivate these staff, with many companies concerned about losing strategically important people

Quotes from survey participants:

• Rémy Merckx, Vice-President Sales & Distribution, Accor:

“General management's sponsorship of digital technology is an incredible strength, particularly in terms of image vis-à-vis the teams .”

• Stéphane Charbonneau, Head of Digital and Business Solutions at Europ Assistance:

“Digital technology is not just a simple e-commerce sales channel, but a medium in its own right that must be a prominent part of the company's strategy .”

• Julien Zakoian, Marketing Director Europe of Vente-privee.com:

“The increase in digital and mobile media is moving sales away from a store-centric model – which involves doing everything possible to bring customers in-store and seduce them – to a consumer-centric ecosystem. The consumer is now at the centre of the media relationship with the brand or company.”

• Benoît Torloting, Director of Réseau Clubs Bouygues Télécom:

“The digital function must be grasped from above. If it is too diluted, it cannot emerge in the company. A happy medium must be found between the need to have a very specific centre of expertise and knowledge, and the need to bring together these skills to make them work cross-functionally with the other departments.”

• Sophier Heller, Vice-President Marketing and Communications France, ING Direct:

“Integrating digital technology into an overall strategy by setting specific targets and consistent KPIs is one of the key success factors.”

Supporting Resources

• Explore the study
• Diageo case study

About EBG

The Electronic Business Group is comprised of 550 companies and 120,000 professionals; 4,000 of whom have VIP status, meaning that they are CEOs, chairmen, managing directors, departmental directors and/or members of executive committees. The EBG is the most important business network centred on the digital economy in France, and its members include all of the companies listed on the CAC 40 and 97% of those listed on the SBF 120.

About Infosys

Infosys partners with global enterprises to drive their innovation-led growth. That's why Forbes ranked Infosys 19th among the top 100 most innovative companies. As a leading provider of next-generation consulting, technology and outsourcing solutions, Infosys helps clients in more than 30 countries realize their goals.

Visit www.infosys.com and see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY), with its 150,000+ people, is Building Tomorrow's Enterprise^® today.

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