How Gen Z views debt

It’s likely clear to you that every customer type has its own view on how they approach your business. That is definitely true of Gen Z, which includes people born from 1997 to 2012. These young consumers have their own set of concerns and needs.

A big part of this is how plugged in Gen Z is to technology. Most were introduced to websites and mobile phones at a very early age, and that’s just one factor that influences the way they look at the world.

Recent research by the information company TransUnion indicates that the most widely-held type of debt among Gen Z is a credit card, followed by student loans and personal loans. This is a direct result of some better economic factors in Canada, including consistent GPD growth, lower interest rates and technology changes that have made access better.

The report also states that Gen Z has more credit power than some may think on the surface. When studying risk tiers, Gen Z is found to be 33% “near-prime,” which is better than the 21% that is in that category in the total Canadian population. Also, half of the Gen Z consumers in the survey had scores in the prime-or-above risk tiers.

A view on what Gen Y and Z prefer

One thing that has certainly changed: younger generations have become important consumers in the Canadian landscape. When you include millennials, who are also known as Gen Y, it becomes a significant part of your customer base.

A report on the Mobile Live news site explores a few of the factors they believe are driving consumer needs for these younger consumers. Here’s a look at what they discovered:

Instant gratification

This isn’t a huge surprise. With technology making items more widely available and at a faster rate, companies must provide convenient access to their products to younger generations. That includes investing in a robust e-commerce website as well as prioritizing prompt response times to make sure questions are answered as soon as possible.

Leading with mobile

With both Gen Z and Gen Y credited as being tech-savvy pretty much from their earliest years, businesses need to have mobile e-commerce sites that are easy to navigate, attractive and up-to-date.

Making it personal

Customized solutions are an important part of what these generations want. Using technology such as machine learning and advanced analytics can also increase customer satisfaction. Working with any generation of customers requires a blend of high tech and the personal touch, merging the worlds of convenience and superior service.