Exploring the e-CRM – e-customer- e-loyalty nexus: a Kenyan commercial bank case study

Abstract

This article scaffolds on customer relationship management (CRM) theory and explores the association between electronic CRM (e-CRM) and electronic customer’s (e-customer) electronic loyalty (e-loyalty) in the banking sector. By using a survey design, data was collected from a convenience sample of customers of a major Kenyan commercial bank, and analysed using structural equation and multiple regression modelling. The findings reveal that there is a positive relationship between e-CRM and e-customers’ loyalty. The e-CRM features at all three stages of an electronic transaction cycle namely, pre-service, during-service and after-service, significantly influence the e-customers’ loyalty in the banking sector. Thus, to capitalize on the range of benefits that emanate from the use of e-CRM, continued review and enhancement of marketing strategies is needed, so as to achieve e-customers’ loyalty particularly, at the post-service stage. Kenyan commercial bank managers should focus on customer satisfaction specifically at post-service stage, to increase their ecustomers’ loyalty.

Keywords

• customer loyalty
• e-crm
• service satisfaction
• relationship management
• relationship marketing
• on-line banking
• banking industry