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How to calculate Net Promoter Score (NPS) and Why is it important

A representative image showing a stranger pointing on NPS icon
Written By: Adam Kaye

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How to calculate Net Promoter Score (NPS) and Why is it important

Customer Experience Management (CXM) has become a ubiquitous practice adopted by firms across all industries globally, serving as a cornerstone for maintaining market dominance. This CX transformation entails the crucial stages of recognition, revision, restructuring, and ongoing maintenance of CX strategies, often facilitated by specialized customer experience companies.

August 8, 2022 | 7-Minute Read

Customer Experience Management (CXM) has become a ubiquitous practice adopted by firms across all industries globally, serving as a cornerstone for maintaining market dominance. This CX transformation entails the crucial stages of recognition, revision, restructuring, and ongoing maintenance of CX strategies, often facilitated by specialized customer experience companies. The adoption of the Net Promoter Score (NPS) has emerged as a transformative element, charting a dynamic and iterative course to consistently monitor outcomes and business progress within the realm of CX.

What is a Net Promoter Score (NPS)?

The Net Promoter Score (NPS) stands as a pivotal metric within customer experience management, gauging a company's customer loyalty and satisfaction. Employing a set of questions, such as "How likely are you to recommend this product to your friends on a scale of 1-10?" the NPS serves as a valuable tool. Businesses leverage the insights derived from the net promoter score calculator and calculation to refine and enhance their product/service, support, delivery, and communication strategies. This iterative process is instrumental in customer retention and expanding the business's reach and impact.

How is a Net Promoter Score calculated?

The net promoter score formula is:

NPS = % of Promoters - % of Detractors 

The NPS calculation is rooted in the percentage of promoters (those responding with a 9 or 10) subtracted from the detractors (those responding under 6). This calculation adheres to a stable and defined net promoter score scale. The net promoter score is categorized into three distinct groups: 

  • Detractors (0-6): Individuals in this category are unlikely to recommend your product or service. They may not return and could actively dissuade others from utilizing your offerings. 
  • Passives (7-8): Falling in the middle, passives may not actively promote your brand, but they also refrain from negative comments. While satisfied with your product or service, they remain open to exploring competitors in the market. 
  • Promoters (9-10): Actively endorsing your brand, promoters serve as loyal customers and brand ambassadors. Their positive experiences drive them to recommend your product or service, contributing to growth and brand advocacy.

How to interpret a Net Promoter Score?

The net promoter score calculation is derived within the range of -100 to 100. A negative score indicates a prevalence of detractors over promoters, while a positive score signifies a higher number of promoters compared to detractors. This numerical scale succinctly captures the balance between positive and negative sentiments within the customer feedback, providing a clear and quantifiable measure of customer advocacy. 

 
 
-100-0
is a bad NPS score
0-30
is a good NPS score
30-70
is a great
70-100
is an excellent NPS score
 
 

Nevertheless, the net promoter score exhibits variations across different industries. Take, for instance, a prominent firm that observed the NPS score for Healthcare in India, ranging from 31 to 20, with the lowest recorded score being 20. Similarly, in the Communication Media sector, the NPS values ranged from 20 (highest) to -6 (lowest), according to the same source. Remarkably, even successful businesses and market leaders experience diverse NPS scores. In 2018, industry giants and global corporations like Netflix boasted an impressive NPS score of 64, followed by PayPal with 63, Google with 53, Amazon with 54, and Apple with 49. It's worth noting that achieving a perfect score of 100 remains an elusive feat in this metric. Conversely, a negative NPS score universally signals a challenge in every company, indicating a pressing need for substantial improvements in the product, service, and overall company performance—underscoring the critical importance of prioritizing long-term customer experience engagement.

How to collect an NPS feedback?

There are two primary methods for gathering Net Promoter Score (NPS) data. The first involves random collection, either while a customer is actively engaged with your product or service or after they have completed a purchase. 

  • Website surveys: Conducted as customers exit your page or after completing a purchase, these surveys prompt users to rate their experience on a scale of 0 to 8 (detractors - passives). In the event of a lower score, typically between 0 and 8, companies often extend an apology for the negative experience and present an additional question: "What can we do to improve your experience?" If the customer is a promoter (scoring 9 or 10), companies delve further with inquiries like "What's the main reason for your high score?" Additionally, businesses inquire about potential enhancements the customer would appreciate for an improved experience.

  • Email surveys: Deployed post-purchase or after a business interaction, these surveys tend to be more intricate. They require customers to navigate to a different page, consuming more time and lacking a guaranteed completion. Despite the potential for delays, this method offers a comprehensive overview of the customer journey once it has concluded, providing valuable insights into their overall experience. 

Why is NPS score important?

  • Word of Mouth: Businesses consistently bank on word-of-mouth traffic as the most powerful form of advertising. There is nothing quite like a satisfied customer openly advocating for your brand. In the U.S., a staggering 92% of customers acknowledge that they rely on the advice of family and friends when selecting a brand. The Net Promoter Score (NPS) precisely indicates how many individuals are inclined to champion a business and the likelihood of fostering such customer loyalty.

  • Customer Perspective: Acknowledging that the customer is paramount and deserves a prime position, businesses diligently monitor churn rates and repeat purchases. However, amidst discussions laden with numbers and graphs, the customer's perspective often takes a back seat. NPS serves as an effective tool to bring the customer's viewpoint to the forefront, enabling businesses to directly address areas for improvement, thereby saving valuable time and effort. 

  • Real-time Update for Product/Service Improvement: Real-time customer feedback holds immense value, allowing businesses to promptly identify areas that need improvement. The transparency provided by NPS facilitates swift adjustments to products or services, offering a numerical rank coupled with a qualitative question. This combination enhances the agility of businesses in addressing customer concerns. 

  • Ease of NPS: NPS stands out for its simplicity; it respects the customer's time by requiring only a minimal investment. The survey process involves just a couple of clicks, providing businesses with a clear understanding of their standing. The ease of installing customer feedback software on websites, triggered at various stages of the customer journey, allows for the identification of issues across different touchpoints.

To establish a formidable presence and contend effectively with rivals, securing a high Net Promoter Score (NPS) is imperative for your company's journey toward customer experience transformation. The NPS not only aids in pinpointing real-time areas of focus for your time and energy but also engenders a sense of consumer involvement in the process. This engagement, in turn, significantly enhances customer satisfaction, fosters loyalty, and contributes to increased sales. 

Our CX solutions are designed to transform the total customer experience through comprehensive surveys, metrics, analytics, and auditing, utilizing the CXM framework. By combining physical measurements with digital Platformation™ capabilities, we create a customer experience strategy that gives you a competitive edge.    

Sonata CX is a global technology company specializing in customer experience (CX) measurement and platform-based digital transformation. We help businesses become connected, open, intelligent, and scalable. With a presence in over 105 markets and more than 27 years of market leadership, we offer extensive measurement capabilities and powerful, intuitive reporting and analytics platforms to enhance customer experience. Our reach spans the USA, Canada, EMEA, and APAC regions. To learn more about how we can assist you, please click here or fill out the business enquiry form below.