Clients - What are they? types, classification, examples, and more

Clients - What are they? types, classification, examples, and more
Posted on 12-03-2022

Customers

Persons or entities that acquire services or purchase goods from a company or another person. 

What are customers?

Customers are individuals or entities that purchase goods or services from a business or other person.

Within the business context, customers are the main source of income generation, therefore proper management and customer service by companies will be very important to increase their productivity.

Types of clients

In general terms, there are 2 types of clients:

  • Current or real customers: those customers who generate the volume of turnover and income of a company. That is the customers who make the actual purchases.
  • Potential customers: those customers who do not currently generate income but have potential purchases in the future, either because they have the intention to acquire, the purchasing power or the purchasing power.

Real customers, in turn, are classified according to the following characteristics:

  • According to the validity :
    • Active Customers: Customers who are currently making purchases or services or who have done so in a short period of time in the past.
    • Inactive Customers: Customers who have made their last purchase in a long prior period of time.
  • Depending on the frequency:
    • Frequent consumer customers: customers who make purchases or purchase services frequently or in a much shorter period of time than other customers.
    • Regular consumer customers: customers who make purchases or acquire services on a regular basis or with a recurring period of time between purchases.
    • Occasional Consumer Customers: Customers who made purchases or purchased services only once or with a long period of time between purchases.
  • According to the volume of consumption :
    • Customers with a high volume of consumption:  customers who make purchases or acquire services in a much larger quantity than the rest of the customers.
    • Average consumption volume customers: customers who make purchases or acquire services in an average amount with respect to the rest of the customers.
    • Low Consumer Volume Customers – Customers who make purchases or purchase services in much less quantity than the average customer.
  • According to the level of satisfaction :
    • Satisfied customers: customers whose perception of the performance of the company or the product is fully in line with their personal expectations.
    • Dissatisfied customers: customers whose perception of the performance of the company or the product is below their personal expectations, for which they want to change suppliers.
  • According to the level of influence :
    • Influential customers: those customers who have the ability to generate a negative or positive perception in large groups of people.
    • Customers of regular influence: those customers who have the ability to produce a negative or positive perception in small groups of people.

customer examples

The following situations are examples in which the figure of the client can be displayed:

  • López acquired the internet and telephony service from the Claro communications company. Mr. López is the client.
  • La Estrella supermarket is offering 50% discounts for opening weekend. Listening to the news on the radio, Mrs. Maria has decided to go buy toiletries. The client is Mrs. Maria.
  • Carla and Bruno are enjoying their honeymoon in Cancun and they stayed at the Hotel Esplendor. Irina the receptionist welcomed them to the hotel with a refreshing Metropolitan cocktail. Carla and Bruno are the clients.
  • Today is a special offer Wednesday at Burger King. Arturo does not miss the opportunity to enjoy the special Whopper hamburger every week. Arthur is the client.
  • Belinda has decided to sell her house and post an ad online. Federico visited the property and decides to buy it immediately because it totally fits his needs. Federico is the client.

 

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