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Customer experience is at a tipping point. Companies are struggling to see results from AI, digital transformation, and personalization. But let’s be real: Most companies aren’t connecting the dots. Consumers want seamless, human-like engagement, but too often they’re met with fragmented systems and half-baked AI solutions.
The good news? The gap between what customers expect and what brands deliver is finally starting to close—but only for the companies willing to do the hard work. This isn’t about throwing bots at every problem or chasing shiny new tools. It’s about integrating the right technologies, driving measurable outcomes, and putting the customer experience at the center of every decision.
If you’re ready to leave “good enough” behind and turn customer experience (CX) into your strongest competitive advantage, here’s are five trends you need to know.
Trend 1: Bridge the AI perception gap
Over the last two years, consumer attitudes toward AI have markedly shifted. Research from LivePerson shows that in 2023, only 50% of consumers felt positive about using AI to interact with brands, compared to 90% of brands that embraced it. By 2024, consumer sentiment rose to 63%, signaling a closing gap.
This evolution represents more than a shift in sentiment—it’s a window of opportunity. Brands that effectively integrate AI to enhance, rather than replace, human interactions are succeeding in building trust and delivering value. To capitalize, leaders must focus on using AI to create meaningful customer outcomes, like personalization at scale, proactive engagement, and actionable insights. The takeaway is clear: AI adoption should not just be about cutting costs; if the CX is right, it should be efficient while enhancing consumer experiences.
Trend 2: Move from systems of record to systems of action
Traditional CX platforms served as data repositories—systems of record that lacked the capability to drive real-time actions. In 2025, the paradigm has shifted. Systems of action—integrated frameworks that unify AI and human capabilities to orchestrate, automate, and personalize customer interactions across all touchpoints—enable businesses to translate data into insights and transform insights into immediate, measurable actions.
These capabilities allow brands to go beyond passive data collection, using AI-driven analytics and automation to anticipate customer needs and deliver proactive engagement. For instance, integrating data streams across CRM, voice, email, and chat creates a unified view of the customer journey, breaking down organizational silos to serve customers more effectively.
The key is interoperability. Brands must avoid “rip and replace” approaches that disrupt existing systems. Instead, investing in platforms that integrate seamlessly with legacy tools can create a cohesive ecosystem, driving efficiency and better customer outcomes.
Trend 3: Personalization at scale
The demand for hyperpersonalized experiences is transforming CX strategies. Consumers no longer tolerate fragmented interactions—they expect seamless, consistent engagement across all touchpoints. And meeting their expectations is worth it: At LivePerson, we find that brands that effectively leverage AI to blend automation with human empathy (through use of solutions such as proactive messaging or intelligent routing) report higher satisfaction scores and increased loyalty.
To achieve this, brands must:
- Connect digital and human interactions cohesively.
- Use AI-powered tools to predict customer needs and recommend next best actions.
- Embed personalization deeply into every stage of the customer journey, from acquisition to retention.
Trend 4: CX as a strategic growth driver
CX has outgrown its traditional role as a support function. It’s now a strategic lever for achieving business outcomes, from revenue growth to operational efficiency. Leaders must reframe CX as a company-wide capability that drives differentiation and long-term loyalty.
This involves:
- Customer-first metrics: Shift from siloed departmental key performance indicators to metrics like customer lifetime value and satisfaction across the entire journey.
- Reimagined cost centers: Transform support functions into profit centers through smart automation and efficient self-service options.
- Cross-functional alignment: Enable seamless collaboration between marketing, sales, and service teams by integrating shared data and insights.
Trend 5: Find true AI partnerships
In a crowded AI vendor market, it’s essential to choose partners that deliver real ROI. Avoid overpromises like “building a billion bots” or replacing humans entirely. Instead, prioritize partnerships that:
- Offer proven use cases and measurable results.
- Focus on enhancing human and machine collaboration.
- Provide flexibility and openness to integrate with your existing systems. For example, brands using LivePerson Copilot benefit from tools that amplify agent productivity and enable real-time, data-informed customer engagement.
The path forward
2025 is a pivotal year for CX. As the lines between digital and human interactions blur, brands that embrace the following principles will lead the pack:
- Be human-centric: Let AI augment, not replace, human connections.
- Integrate relentlessly: Invest in platforms that bridge legacy systems and new capabilities.
- Focus on outcomes: Use CX to drive measurable business impact—not just operational efficiency.
By focusing on these strategies, businesses can not only meet, but exceed customer expectations, turning CX into their most powerful competitive advantage.
John Sabino is CEO of LivePerson.
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