{"id":19138,"date":"2021-11-17T17:55:26","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T22:55:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/?p=19138"},"modified":"2021-11-22T13:15:45","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T18:15:45","slug":"human-touch-digital-experiences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/originals\/human-touch-digital-experiences\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the Human Touch Is Essential for Crafting Digital Experiences"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n

After a prolonged period of communal isolation, we\u2019ve gotten used to seeking connection through our devices. More people than ever are Very Online, with a significant portion of daily interactions mediated by technology. More time spent in the digital realm naturally leads to consumers asking for better digital experiences, flashes of humanity in those digital spaces they occupy. To bridge this gap, designers need to cultivate a sense of recognition for their users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As tech continues to evolve, this human touch becomes even more vital to the digital experience. It\u2019s no secret that norms are shifting and the online-first way of doing things\u2014in work, shopping, or even our day-to-day communication\u2014is here to stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what does it mean to humanize the digital?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is \u201chumanizing,\u201d really?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A word that, in the 1600s, meant \u201cto civilize\u201d brings to mind something very different today. In modern English, \u201chumanize\u201d<\/em> has two meanings: It can refer to the desire to represent something as <\/em>human, and it can also represent attempts to inject a little human interaction into something. Because interactions with customer service or in a checkout line have often been the basis of humanization in the past (sounding robotic was an easy way to lose a sale at the point of purchase), brands tend to think of these as the only way to humanize themselves. These companies may assume that if one aspect of a customer\u2019s experience is sufficiently humanized, then that\u2019s enough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But interaction is actually a carefully-designed experience. There\u2019s a reason digital designers refer to any touchpoint\u2014any moment that a user or potential customer has to pass through <\/em>something on their journey to getting their product\u2014as an interaction. The key to creating a product that is humanized, though, isn\u2019t just about finding places and ways to connect with something  approximating a human; it\u2019s about using a product that makes users <\/em>feel human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even in an era of one-click buys and instantaneous transactions, it still pays off to take a personal approach. Research from Accenture<\/a> shows that 91% of consumers would be more likely to buy from a company that recognizes them, remembers them, and provides relevant offers and recommendations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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