# Streamlined Feedback Brands encourage customer feedback through user-friendly technology. By [Courtney Scharf](https://www.trendhunter.com/Courtney), Chief Client Officer | Published Jun 29, 2015 | Category: [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/marketing-strategy) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/streamlined-feedback ## Key Figures - Trend score: 4.8/10 - Evidence articles: 9 ## What is the Streamlined Feedback trend? **Streamlined Feedback:** Sites like Yelp have made feedback unavoidable for restaurants and retailers, but for brands who don't regularly hear from their customers, getting honest feedback can be a challenge. To combat this, brands are implementing apps and tech kiosks that not only make the process easy, but in some cases incentivize customer engagement. This is consistent with an increasingly customized, consumer-driven approach to customer service. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 9 featured examples - Articles from: Apr 28, 2014 to Aug 17, 2016 - Published: Jun 29, 2015 - Patterns: [Reduction](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/reduction), [Acceleration](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/acceleration) - Megatrends: [Instant Entrepreneurship](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/instant-entrepreneurship), [Gamification](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/gamification), [Artificial Intelligence](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/artificial-intelligence) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Streamlined Feedback trend ### Incentivizing Feedback Businesses are implementing apps and tech kiosks that incentivize customer engagement, like reward-based apps and surveys that offer free products and cash. ### Digital Communication Businesses are incorporating digital receipts and feedback systems that allow customers to rate their purchasing experience and engage in direct communication with merchants through apps and tablets. ### Crowdsourcing Feedback Businesses are utilizing crowdsourcing and artificial intelligence to collect customer feedback and complaints in real-time, like anonymous complaint platforms and menu-ranking apps that allow customers to vote for their favorite dishes. ## What the Streamlined Feedback trend means for industry ### For Retail Industry The retail industry can integrate incentivizing feedback apps and analytical retail beacons that provide customers with instant promotions while collecting feedback from their shopping experience. ### For Food and Beverage Industry Food and beverage businesses can utilize crowdsourcing feedback and experience-rating payment systems like digital reviews and menu-ranking apps, which offer customers the opportunity to vote for their favorite dishes and provide feedback anonymously. ### For Mobile App Development Industry Mobile app developers can create responsive digital receipt and feedback systems that allow customers to rate and engage in direct communication with merchants, while offering the businesses instant access to customer feedback and complaints. ## Workshop question How does your brand ensure its consumers feel heard and valued? ## Trend signals for Streamlined Feedback Trend score 4.8 out of 10, from popularity 80%, activity 56%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 80% - Activity: 56% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Streamlined Feedback trend 9 featured examples from Apr 28, 2014 to Aug 17, 2016. - [Shopping Survey Tablets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-shopping-cart): Co-operative Food's Smart Shopping Cart Asks Customers for Feedback (Category: Marketing) Implication: The retail industry can benefit from using smart shopping carts to gather customer feedback and improve the shopping experience. - [Feedback-Based Startup Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/validate-an-idea): This App Helps Users Validate an Idea Before Moving Forward (Category: Tech) Implication: Apps like Hatch provide a disruptive innovation opportunity for the entrepreneurship industry by offering a new way for entrepreneurs to validate their ideas. - [Responsive Digital Receipts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digital-receipt): The Square Feedback Digital Receipt Lets Buyers and Sellers Chat (Category: Business) Implication: Retailers can use Square Feedback to improve customer experience by engaging with customers in real-time. - [Incentivized Barcode Research](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/customer-feedback): Customer Feedback is Given on Free Products by Scanning Unique Codes (Category: Tech) Implication: Consumer goods companies can leverage incentivized barcode scanning to gather feedback and improve their products and services. - [Analytical Retail Beacons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ibeacon-tech): Shaftsbury Square's Use of iBeacon Tech Also Offers Feedback for Shops (Category: Tech) Implication: The retail industry can utilize iBeacon technology to create personalized experiences for customers, optimize their store layouts and promotions, and increase sales. - [Crowdsourced Menu-Ranking Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vote-for-favorite-dishes): This App Lets People Vote For Favorite Dishes In Restaurants (Category: Tech) Implication: This innovative app presents an opportunity for restaurants to utilize crowdsourced rankings to better understand customer preferences and optimize their menus accordingly. - [Annonymous Complaint Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/complaint-platform): Service App's Protect Feature Eliminates the Need for Human Support (Category: Tech) Implication: Hotels, restaurants, and airlines can adopt anonymous complaint platforms to improve customer satisfaction and addressing issues more efficiently. - [Experience-Rating Payment Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/restaurant-rating): 'The Real Greek' Adopts the truRating Restaurant Rating System (Category: Tech) Implication: The hospitality industry can benefit from truRating system as it allows businesses to gather feedback from customers and improve their services in real-time. - [Customer Gifting Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/front-flip): Front Flip App Lets Store Owners Interact with and Reward Loyal Customers (Category: Tech) Implication: Front Flip's customer gifting app can revolutionize the retail industry by enhancing customer engagement, loyalty, and personalized rewards. ## Recent trend clusters - [Assisted Choices](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/weight-loss-medication-support) (Lifestyle) - [Storyline Sips](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/themed-drink-menus) (Lifestyle) - [Bedtime Cocoon](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/sleep-sensory-blocking) (Lifestyle) - [Source Signatures](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/oak-finish-whiskey) (Lifestyle) ## Trending in Marketing - [Mystery Packaging Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cow-not-laughing) - [Creator-Led Learning Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/learning-series) - [Nostalgic Beauty Mascots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bliss-girl-series) - [Athlete Beauty Ambassadorships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/athlete-beauty-ambassadorships) All articles: [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing)