Smartphone Use Spikes 14% in 2020: How Utilities Can Respond

According to a recent study by eMarketer¹, the average U.S. adult’s smartphone use has increased 13.9% in 2020. That’s an additional 23 minutes a day. This being a year of heightened health precautions and widespread stay-at-home advisories, people are turning to their devices more and more for news, entertainment, and safe social interaction. The study goes on to suggest that this is not a fleeting trend, and that continuous increases in smartphone use will continue through 2023. People are more connected than ever, and now is the time to engage with utility customers right where they are - on their phones. Below are some suggested solutions for doing so.

Consider SMS Messaging
(It works!)

SMS messaging (A.K.A. sending texts) is an effective and efficient way to communicate with customers. Whether used to relay information about outages or to spread the word about a special offer on your utility marketplace, it works! Just check out these stats:²

• SMS messages have a 209% higher response rate than phone calls, emails, or social posts.
• SMS messages have a huge open rate of 98%.
• 90% of SMS messages are read within 3 minutes.
• 75% of consumers opt in to receive SMS texts from brands.
• 48.7 million people will choose to receive business SMS messages in 2020.

Get in touch with us to learn more about this mobile marketing tool and how we can help.

Consider a Utility Marketplace
(Be sure it’s mobile-friendly!)

With all that time people are spending on their phones, there’s some serious online shopping going on. In fact, the number of online shoppers is projected to reach 2.05 billion in 2020.³ If a utility doesn’t have a marketplace, now is the time to get one.

EFI’s utility-branded marketplaces are a great way to engage with customers, as they are a convenient resource for discounted energy-saving products, tools, and education. In addition, all EFI marketplaces include mobile-friendly, responsive web design technologies for a seamless mobile shopping experience!

Consider Instant In-Store Rebates
(Customers love them!)

Just because you leave the house doesn’t mean you stop checking your phone. Nowadays, customers will check for even better deals on their phone when shopping in stores. That’s why it’s imperative to keep up. EFI’s impactful Instant e-Rebates Platform is an innovative mobile technology that allows for quick and easy savings on energy-efficient products no matter where your customers are. All they need is their trusty smartphone.

Here’s how it works:

1. Customers shop in-stores
2. Scan a QR code on an eligible product
3. Answer a few questions
4. Receive a scannable rebate via text
5. Bring their phone to the register for instant savings

Gone are the days of waiting 6-8 weeks for a mail-in rebate and here are the days of satisfied customers! This technology is cost-effective and efficient for utility companies and their customers alike, empowering customers to upgrade to more efficient products and helping to reach savings goals faster.

To learn more about how EFI’s technology can help you reach your customers on their mobile devices, please contact us. We’re here to help!

SOURCES

_{[1] on.emarketer.com/rs/867-SLG-901/images/eMarketer-US%20Mobile%20Time%20Spent%202020%20Report.pdf
[2] techjury.net/blog/sms-marketing-statistics/#gref
[3] oberlo.com/statistics/how-many-people-shop-online}