What is Consulting? Unpacking its Impact with a Starbucks Example

Have you ever been subtly persuaded to buy a Pumpkin Spice Latte because your Starbucks app notified you about a limited-time offer? Or perhaps you’ve engaged with their Star Dash challenges, just for the thrill of earning bonus stars towards your next free drink? If so, you’ve indirectly experienced the power of consulting in action.

Starbucks partnered with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a global consulting firm, to enhance their mobile app experience. The goal? To boost revenue by fostering stronger customer loyalty and engagement. BCG achieved this by implementing personalized recommendations within the app, making each user’s interaction feel uniquely tailored.

Alt: Starbucks mobile app showcasing personalized offers, illustrating consulting impact on customer engagement.

The Starbucks app diligently collects data on your purchase history – favorite drinks, purchase frequency, and even preferred times of day. This data is then analyzed to personalize offers and games, encouraging repeat purchases and maximizing your caffeine consumption.

According to BCG, these personalized marketing strategies have significantly amplified Starbucks’ marketing campaign effectiveness. They’ve tripled marketing campaign results, doubled email redemption rates, and witnessed a threefold increase in spending from customers who redeem personalized offers. This success allows Starbucks to refine their marketing investments, shifting from broad campaigns to targeted personalization that truly resonates with individual customers and incentivizes desired behaviors.

So, the next time someone asks you, “What Is Consulting?”, you can use the Starbucks app as a relatable and everyday example. It perfectly illustrates how consulting operates behind the scenes, subtly influencing our daily experiences and driving business success. The reality is, the impact of consulting is pervasive, shaping numerous aspects of our lives, often in ways we don’t even realize.

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