Show Me The Money: Bazaarvoice ROBO Study Pinpoints Review Value for In-store, Online Buys

In partnership with 20+ global retailers in the Bazaarvoice network, the consumer-generated content experts evaluate the effect that Research Online, Buy Offline (ROBO) has on retail revenue

AUSTIN, Texas (PRWEB) March 08, 2016

Bazaarvoice, Inc. BV, the network connecting brands and retailers to the authentic voices of consumers wherever they shop, today announced the results of a study focused on consumers who research online, buy offline (ROBO). The study, which strove to better understand the directional impact that reviews have on in-store purchase behavior, included data from more than 20 of the leading retailers across North America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, and looked at consumer behavior across hundreds of brands and product categories.

"Seeking out the opinions of like-minded consumers has been a central component of an informed purchase journey for decades, but as a percentage of shopping has moved away from the physical store, many brands have focused their efforts on the online researcher," said David Moon, VP of Strategic Consulting and Global Pre-Sales at Bazaarvoice. "We are bringing additional credence to the notion that online consumer-generated content greatly influences the in-store shopper, and has a significant impact on in-store revenue."

In addition to creating a clearer picture of purchase behavior in an omnichannel environment, Bazaarvoice has developed a ROBO Multiplier, derived from retail data, which helps brands and retailers better identify the in-store revenue impact in relation to online content. Using a patent pending process, the ROBO Multiplier quantifies the in-store revenue influenced by reviews for every dollar that is influenced online.

In the first 10 months, Bazaarvoice analyzed more than 2.2 million data points and found that across all retailers and product categories, 39 percent of consumers who made purchases in-store read reviews prior to purchase, compared to 54 percent of online purchasers.

When drilling down to more specific sub-categories, Bazaarvoice found:

• Within the fitness tracker product category, 64 percent of consumers who purchased in-store read reviews prior to purchase, as compared to 71 percent of online purchasers.
• In the flat-panel TV category, for every dollar of online revenue that is influenced by review content, reviews influence another $4.29 of in-store revenue.
• Twenty-eight percent of consumers read reviews of cookware before making a purchase in-store, compared to 70 percent of online shoppers.

This study is ongoing, and results will be updated as more data points are accumulated. For more information about Bazaarvoice's ROBO study, visit http://bazaarvoice.com/ROBO.

About Bazaarvoice
Bazaarvoice powers a network that connects brands and retailers to the authentic voices of people where they shop. Each month, more than 700 million people view and share authentic opinions, questions, and experiences about tens of millions of products in the Bazaarvoice network. The company's technology platform amplifies these voices into the places that influence purchase decisions. Network analytics help marketers and advertisers provide more engaging experiences that drive brand awareness, considerations, sales, and loyalty. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Bazaarvoice has offices across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. For more information, visit http://www.bazaarvoice.com, read the blog at http://www.bazaarvoice.com/blog, and follow on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/bazaarvoice.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/Bazaarvoice/ROBO/prweb13252567.htm