Cisco survey reveals 85% Indians amplifying app usage, spotlight on banking, gaming and entertainment apps

A recent research from Cisco reveals consumers will be using more applications and digital services this holiday season than ever before with 63% believing digital services are important to have an enjoyable holiday, globally. Whether it’s streaming movies and music, connecting with friends and family, keeping up to date with news, or managing finances, consumers will be relying on a huge number of applications as they celebrate.

This increased usage also means added pressure for brands to make sure their applications run smoothly if they don’t want to end up on the naughty list! More than half of consumers (53%) globally admit that they are worried that if a digital service doesn’t work as it should, it will have negative implications for their family holiday.

According to the Cisco AppDynamics Seasonal Shopping Pulse Survey Part 2 (Christmas and Holiday Season), below are the key findings from Indian respondents

Anticipated usage of applications and digital services during the Christmas/Holiday period

• 88% of the Indian respondents expect to use entertainment apps to stream movies, TV shows, sports and music
• 72% of the Indian respondents expect to use Connected devices (Alexa, smart home)
• 60% chose gaming apps
• 84% chose tools for connecting with friends and family (e.g. social media, video calls)
• 75% will use retail apps to buy last-minute gifts or the final ingredients for their holiday recipes
• 75% will utilize banking and insurance apps- to make last-minute payments and transfers
• 78% will use news and information-based apps
• 88% will make use of food delivery services – for a well-earned takeaway
• 73% will use collaboration and productivity tools – to finish off work or study ahead of the holiday
• 79% is interested in using health and wellbeing apps for fitness and relaxation
• 75% want to use hospitality, leisure and travel – to book last-minute travel or a hotel room, route planners
• 72% will use government services apps
• 81% choose to use utility apps (broadband, water, gas, electric)
• 79% want to access healthcare apps if they or their loved one needs to speak to a doctor or nurse or get some medication

Essential applications and digital services that are considered most important for respondents and their friends for best possible Christmas/holiday period 

• 70% consider entertainment apps important to stream movies, TV shows, sports and music
• 54% consider tools for connecting with friends and family important (e.g. social media, video calls)
• 44% consider retail apps essential to buy last-minute gifts or the final ingredients for their holiday recipes
• 64% consider food delivery services important for a well-earned takeaway
• 51% feel banking and insurance is needed to make last-minute payments and transfers
• 42% feel utility apps are important (broadband, water, gas, electric)
• 52% say healthcare apps and services are important if they or a loved one needs to speak to a doctor or nurse or get some medication
• 50% feel apps are important for health and well-being – fitness and relaxation
• 46% selected hospitality, leisure and travel apps/services are important – to book last-minute travel or a hotel room, route planners
• 38% feel news and information apps are required
• 29% feel gaming apps are required
• 34% feel connected devices (Alexa, smart home) are important
• 29% feel government services are important
• 29% feel collaboration and productivity tools are needed to finish off work or study ahead of the holiday
• And 1% said none of the above is required to have the best possible Christmas / holiday period

Potential application failure scenarios impacting holiday mood

• 45% agreed to the fact that a banking app goes down and they can’t make an important payment or transfer
• 38% felt if a messaging app fails and they can’t speak to friends and family that they won’t be with during the holidays
• 44% said if an online retailer’s app or website doesn’t work properly they can’t buy a last-minute gift they need or order some last-minute ingredients for their holiday cooking
• 33% feel an entertainment streaming service goes down then they can’t listen to party / festive music on the big day
• 33% said if a digital health service or app doesn’t work properly, they can’t get the appointment or medication that they or another family member needs over the holidays
• 46% agreed that if a food delivery service doesn’t work properly, they can’t order the well-earned takeaway they’ve been looking forward to
• 34% said if a travel app goes down they can’t book travel to get where they need to be for the holidays
• 26% said if sports streaming service doesn’t work properly, they or their family/friends can’t enjoy the big holiday watching sports match
• 1% of the respondents felt any other services failing can also ruin their Christmas holiday.

Responses/Reactions to potential holiday application failure scenarios

• 56% will find it harder to enjoy themselves as much as they otherwise would
• 44% said they will vent about the problem to friends and family
• 35% said they will get stressed, angry or anxious and will turn into the Grinch!
• 30% said they will delete an application or digital service that lets them down and never use it again
• 33% said they are likely to argue or take out their frustration on friends or family
• 8% said they would do none of the above

Agreement with holiday application statements

• 88% agree applications and digital services are now important in having an enjoyable holiday / Christmas
• 75% agree they worry about the impact that an application or digital service not working would have on their family holiday / Christmas
• 85% agree that they expect to be using more applications and digital services this Christmas / holiday season than in previous years
• 69% of respondents agreed that it may be Christmas / the holiday season but they won’t be able to forgive an application that lets them down
• 71% said if an application or digital service doesn’t perform, it could ruin their Christmas / holiday season