The gaming industry — which includes all types of gaming like classic video games, mobile gaming, eSports, and casino gaming — is now a billion-dollar industry, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. Businesses all over the world are eager to get in on the gaming action, and entire countries are investing in gaming startups and new venues, hoping to re-establish themselves as the next global gaming hub. Even the real-life sports industry is investing in eSports and gaming.
With all of this success, there’s a lot that businesses — of all types — can learn from gaming brands. Here are just a few of the things that businesses can take away from the gaming industry:
Adopt The Latest Technologies
Technology has dramatically changed every industry — but especially the gaming and sports industries. Without the internet and the tech improvements of the last few decades, the gaming industry would not be what it is today. Not by a long shot.
For example, let’s take a closer look at the casino industry. Over the years, the casino industry has not shied away from adopting the latest technologies. Instead of seeing widespread household adoption of the internet as a threat to casinos, the industry realized that this was an opportunity to bring casino gaming directly to consumers.
Eventually, sites like PokerStars Bet started cropping up, offering gamers all of the casino games they know and love but in a greater variety than what’s available on the casino floor. Adopting the latest tech helped them to stay relevant and competitive. They also discovered that there was a huge demand for online gaming waiting to be fulfilled.
When questioning whether or not to update your business’s technologies, keep this example in mind. Sure, doing so can be costly and frustrating — especially if you have to learn all new software — but it will ultimately save you money and make your operations more efficient. Plus, you can’t afford to neglect technology upgrades today or you’ll quickly risk your business’s livelihood.
The Customer Comes
Many businesses say that the customer comes first, but do they actually put that into practice? The gaming industry does, and they really know how to win over their customers. eSports and casino gaming, in particular, are known for their frequent rewards, promotions, and bonuses. These offerings are not only enticing for gamers, but they keep the gamers loyal to their favorite brands, products, and services.
Everything — from casino floors and hotel rooms, to online gaming sites, to game design and graphics, to gear and products — is designed to please customers. Casino floors are designed to relax gamers, and hotel rooms are equipped with the smart tech to make guests’ stays more pleasant. New video games are designed with complex graphics and stories to impress and entertain gamers. And new gear and products are being created all the time to cater to their wants and needs.
What it all comes down to: Show your customers you appreciate them. Find small (and big) ways to delight them. Even a little bit can go a long way!
Regularly Deliver Better Products And Services
While this might seem obvious, it’s a lot easier said than done. It also heavily ties into the earlier point of adopting the latest tech. In order to make better products and services, you need to know what your customers really want. And in order to know what they want, you need to use technology to collect and analyze data on their behavior. Data collection will help to streamline your operations and make them more efficient.
You also need to regularly deliver those better products and services. The tech sector is generally known for its quick turnaround, with new tech rapidly outpacing the previous tech. This applies to gaming, too, and it’s something you can learn from. If you wait too long, or if you keep delaying your launch, you’ll quickly lose your competitive edge — and your customers’ interest.
Ultimately, what it comes down to is delivering products and services that your customers actually want. Don’t deliver what you want to see or what you think they might want — learn what they actually want, and give it to them. You’ll win and they’ll win, too.
