LONDON, 5 DECEMBER 2023: A recent survey by Cisco highlights the pivotal role of digital applications and services in enhancing the holiday season experience. With a global increase in application usage anticipated, the report underscores the need for brands to ensure optimal performance of their digital services or risk dampening the festive spirit.

Many consumers also admit that a bad digital experience could threaten household harmony, while 20% fear that they will become so angry that they’ll start behaving like the Grinch!

Other key UK findings:

• 57% of consumers now view applications and digital services as crucial for an enjoyable holiday experience.
• Over a third (38%) worry that poor digital service performance could ruin their holiday celebrations.
• Nearly half (47%) of consumers will not forgive applications that fail during the festive season, reflecting a zero-tolerance attitude towards subpar digital experiences.
• Consumers rely on a wide array of digital services, from streaming and messaging to financial management, amplifying the impact of any service disruptions.
• 43% express concern about the negative impact of digital service failures on family holiday plans.
• Key worries include banking app failures (53%), messaging platform issues (53%), and retail app downtimes (43%).

James Harvey, CTO Advisor, EMEA, Cisco Observability said; “In the digital age, brands face increased pressure to ensure their applications perform flawlessly during the holidays, a time when consumer expectations are at their peak. Poor digital experiences risk customer loyalty, revenue, and brand reputation. Implementing application observability is crucial for optimizing digital experiences and ensuring customer satisfaction.

As digital services become integral to holiday festivities, seamless application operation is essential. Application observability, therefore, is key in delivering exceptional digital experiences that resonate with the holiday spirit. For brands, focusing on robust application performance and observability is vital for meeting consumer expectations and enhancing the festive season.”