Unlock the 5 Secrets of CX Gen Z Wants from Brands

photo of teenage boy on his phone

Unlock the 5 Secrets of CX Gen Z Wants from Brands

Gen Z is the youngest adult generation, but they are also a growing and desirable consumer demographic. They are digital natives with an insatiable appetite for new technology, making them a key target for brands looking to stay ahead of the curve. To engage this generation, it’s important to understand these 5 secrets of CX Gen Z wants from brands.

Secret 1: Gen Z Expects Instant Gratification

Gen Z is the first generation to grow up in an age of instant gratification. This means that they act from an assumption that their expectations will be met quickly and without any delays. As a result, it’s important for brands and businesses to consider how they can meet this need for speed if they want to reach this demographic.

Flexibility and Adaptability

Like their TikTok feed, the kind of CX Gen Z expects brands and businesses keeps up with their rapidly changing trends and preferences. To stay ahead of the curve, CX leaders must create flexible systems that allow them to quickly respond to changes in customer demand. 

This means being able to respond quickly when something goes wrong, which is always a part of good service. It also means being responsive to new customer needs or requests. 

Businesses must decide to be agile, adapting their processes, products, or services as needed.

Technology & Automation for 24 Hour Access

Technology plays a major role in Gen Z’s expectation of instant gratification. They have been online their whole lives. Businesses should take advantage of automation tools and self-serve options that can quickly respond to customer queries or complaints 24/7 without any human intervention necessary. 

Additionally, social media platforms are valuable for engaging with Gen Z customers and providing them with real-time feedback about their products or services. Best to lean into the platforms they use though. That’s unlikely to be Facebook and Twitter.

Secret 2: Gen Z wants Personalized CX

Gen Z may not like phone contact and prefer to order online but they still expect personalization. They want a unique experience tailored specifically for them. To do this effectively, businesses need to gather data, with transparency. Then they need to use that data to create personalized experiences that resonate emotionally. 

This could include offering discounts based on past purchases or providing recommendations based on previous interests. The key is understanding what motivates each customer so you can offer them the best possible experience every time they interact with your brand.

It’s valuable to use customer segmentation to isolate data on your Gen Z customers to learn about their behaviors and needs.

Secret 3: Gen Z Is Looking for Authenticity

Gen Z has already seen a lot in their young lives, growing up through fake news, school shootings, political scandals and a global pandemic. They don’t tolerate superficiality and ambiguity like previous generations. They value transparency and want to feel connected to the brands they buy from. The need for authenticity has caused them to become more selective when choosing which companies they’ll support.

Creating an Authentic Connection

In order for your company to have an authentic connection with Gen Z, you must understand what motivates them as a generation and why they support certain companies over others. 

Gen Z is looking for brands that are socially responsible, ethical, sustainable, and transparent. They want to feel like their purchase matters and makes a positive difference in some way. To reach this generation, your company should focus on building relationships through engaging content that reflects their values.

It’s also important to remember that this generation is all about expressing themselves through visuals. Make sure your content appeals to this demographic with creative and appealing video content and images in addition to providing them great customer service. 

You can also engage Gen Z through the power of the influencer. Interactive marketing campaigns and social media challenges are how this generation discovers brands. Pay attention to the trends that matter to them, without trying to awkwardly adopt their slang. you don’t have to be exactly like them, but rather show that you understand what they like and are going to give it to them.

Secret 4: Gen Z Cares About Social Impact

Gen Z cares deeply about making a positive impact on society and the world around them. As such, companies should strive not just to create products and services that benefit their customers but also ones that benefit society as a whole. 
Gen Z consumers care about environmental sustainability, ethical production practices, and corporate responsibility. They are more likely than any other generation to think about the social impact of their purchases. As both consumers and employees, they will actively seek out companies that have values that align with their own and speak out when they believe change is needed.

How Can Brands Make A Positive Impact?

Want to make an impression on Gen Z? Support causes they care about, like climate change, animal welfare, and inclusivity. 

Brands can also work towards reducing their carbon footprint by implementing sustainable practices into their production processes and packaging materials. 

They can also donate a portion of their profits to charities or organizations working towards social causes they believe in. This shows customers that these businesses are dedicated to making a difference in the world beyond just profit-making activities.

Another way for businesses to make an impact is by creating opportunities for young people who are looking for work experience or internships. By offering mentorship programs or training initiatives, companies can help develop young people’s skills while also giving back to the community in which they operate. Brands can make an impact within their own companies as well, by showing a commitment to worker well being and mental health

Secret 5: Gen Z Doesn’t Talk on The Phone

Gen Z uses their phones all the time, but not so much for talking. They grew up with technology at their fingertips, and are used to being able to communicate through texting or social media platforms on their schedule (and at a distance). This is why many of them don’t feel comfortable talking on the phone. It’s just not their preferred method of communication. Plus, talking on the phone can take more time than other methods of communication like email or text messages.  

Meet Gen Z on the Channels They Actually Use

Using this knowledge can help you create an effective CX strategy for your brand or business that will resonate with members of Gen Z. If you want them to connect with your brand, then it’s important to make sure that your messaging is tailored specifically for them by using channels they prefer such as social media platforms or text messages. 

Additionally, you should focus on creating content that is relevant and interesting enough to engage them without being too salesy or pushy in order to gain their trust and loyalty towards your brand or business over time.   


With its large population size (over 70 million) and increasing purchasing power ($143 billion annually), of course brands are eager to connect with Gen Z customers. Understanding their needs and expectations is essential in order to ensure success. By focusing on providing quick responses, delivering authentic communication across all channels, and demonstrating a commitment to social impact initiatives, brands can effectively reach this powerful demographic. With this insight into the customer experience Zoomers expect from brands, companies can now begin creating strategies tailored specifically for this audience segment in order to maximize results.