Net Promoter Score (NPS)

What is it?

Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a market research metric used to measure customer loyalty. It is based on a single survey question that asks respondents to rate the likelihood that they would recommend a company, product, or service to a friend or colleague. The NPS score typically ranges from -100 to +100.

NPS is a valuable tool for understanding customer satisfaction and loyalty. It categorizes respondents into three groups based on their scores:

1. Promoters (score 9-10): These are highly satisfied customers who are likely to recommend the business.
2. Passives (score 7-8): These customers are satisfied but not enthusiastic, and they may not actively promote the business.
3. Detractors (score 0-6): These are dissatisfied customers who may spread negative feedback about the business.

To calculate the NPS, you subtract the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters. A higher NPS indicates higher customer loyalty and satisfaction, making it a crucial metric for businesses to monitor and improve upon in their customer experience programs.

How does it work?

1. Calculation: The NPS score is calculated by subtracting the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters. The formula is: NPS = (% Promoters) – (% Detractors).
2. Purpose: NPS helps organizations assess and improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. It provides actionable insights into how a company is perceived by its customers.
3. Scoring Range: The NPS scale ranges from -100 to +100. A positive score indicates a higher number of promoters than detractors, while a negative score implies the opposite.
4. Interpretation:
   • NPS above 0: Indicates that there are more promoters than detractors, suggesting overall satisfaction.
   • NPS above 50: Suggests strong customer loyalty and a high likelihood of referrals.
   • NPS below 0: Indicates that there are more detractors than promoters, signifying potential issues that need addressing.
5. Application: Many businesses use NPS to evaluate customer experiences, identify areas for improvement, and track changes over time. It’s often used in industries like retail, hospitality, and technology.
6. Feedback: NPS surveys often include an open-ended question that allows customers to provide additional comments and feedback, which can be invaluable for understanding the reasons behind their scores.
7. Benchmarking: Some companies also use NPS to compare their performance to industry benchmarks or competitors to gain insights into their relative position in the market.
8. Continuous Improvement: NPS is not just a one-time metric but a tool for continuous improvement. Companies can take specific actions based on NPS feedback to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.

In summary, Net Promoter Score is a widely adopted metric for measuring customer loyalty and satisfaction. It provides a simple yet powerful way for businesses to assess their customer relationships and make data-driven decisions to improve their products and services.

Similar indicators

There are several similar indicators and metrics that organizations use to measure various aspects of customer satisfaction and loyalty. Here are some of the most common ones:

1. Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT): CSAT measures overall customer satisfaction with a product or service. It typically involves asking customers to rate their satisfaction on a scale, often from 1 to 5 or 1 to 7.
2. Customer Effort Score (CES): CES assesses the ease with which customers can complete specific tasks or interactions with a company. It helps identify areas where customers might encounter friction or difficulty.
3. Customer Loyalty Index (CLI): CLI is a composite metric that combines various factors such as customer retention, repeat purchases, and advocacy to gauge overall customer loyalty.
4. Customer Churn Rate: This measures the percentage of customers who stop using a product or service over a specific period. High churn rates can indicate dissatisfaction or attrition.
5. Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): CLV calculates the net profit a company can expect to earn from a customer over their entire relationship. It considers factors like purchase frequency and customer retention.
6. Repurchase Intent: This metric gauges whether customers are likely to buy from a company again in the future. It’s often assessed through survey questions about future buying plans.
7. Customer Retention Rate: This metric calculates the percentage of customers a company retains over a specific time frame. A high retention rate is generally a sign of customer satisfaction.
8. Net Revenue Retention (NRR): NRR measures the growth or contraction of existing customer revenue over time. It accounts for upsells, cross-sells, and customer losses.
9. Customer Advocacy Score: This assesses the willingness of customers to recommend a company’s products or services to others, similar to NPS.
10. Customer Experience (CX) Index: CX Index is a holistic measure of the overall customer experience, considering various touchpoints and interactions across the customer journey.
11. Customer Complaint Resolution Time: This metric tracks how quickly and effectively customer complaints or issues are resolved, reflecting the company’s responsiveness to customer concerns.
12. Online Review Ratings: Online platforms often provide ratings and reviews from customers, which can serve as an indicator of customer satisfaction and reputation.
13. Social Media Sentiment Analysis: Analyzing social media mentions and sentiment can provide insights into how customers perceive a brand and its products or services.

Each of these indicators has its own strengths and weaknesses, and organizations may choose one or a combination of several to gain a comprehensive understanding of their customers’ experiences and loyalty. The choice of metric depends on the specific goals and context of the business.