Why the Old Playbook for Customer Data No Longer Works—and What to Do Instead

Written By Lisa Edwards
November 27, 2024

Learn why traditional customer data strategies are failing and how HubSpot’s Breeze Intelligence can simplify data enrichment, buyer intent, and lead capture.

The customer journey has shifted.

Traditionally, customers followed a straightforward path to purchase. It was easy to predict their behavior, gather third-party data, and turn leads into customers. But those days are gone.

Today’s customer journey is anything but linear. It’s multi-channel, unpredictable, and difficult to track. This shift has created challenges for businesses trying to understand their audience and effectively market to them.

If the old way no longer works, what do we do now?

Before we get into that, it’s important to understand this challenge today’s businesses are facing.

The Customer Journey Has Shifted

Today’s Data Challenges

To keep up with the complex customer journey, many businesses traditionally turn to third-party intelligence software.

The problem? These tools often create more headaches than solutions.

Buying a stack of traditional third-party software can leave you with:

  • Tangled databases that are hard to manage.
  • Duplicate or outdated data flooding your CRM.
  • Multiple tools you’re juggling just to keep up.

The result? A lot of time, money, and effort for minimal results.

Instead of clarity, you’re stuck in chaos.

Instead of clarity, you’re stuck in chaos

The Impact

The cost of sticking with outdated tools is steep:

  • You spend more money.
  • You spend more time.
  • You don’t see results.

Even worse, the customer experience takes a hit.

Your efforts to connect with your audience feel disjointed, and potential customers notice. The harder you try to keep up, the further away your goals feel.

You seemingly have more of everything—more data, tools, and effort—yet less of what you truly need: insight, efficiency, and growth.

Breeze Intelligence for Enriching data, Understanding Buyer Intent, and Simplifying Lead Capture

The Customer Journey Has Shifted-2

With HubSpot’s Breeze Intelligence, you gain an all-in-one solution for enriching data, understanding buyer intent, and simplifying lead capture.

Here’s what Breeze Intelligence can do:

Data Enrichment

Effortlessly fill in gaps in your customer profiles with demographic, firmographic, and technographic data.

  • Save Time: Automate data enrichment to focus on high-impact activities.
  • Enhance Targeting: Use enriched data to improve lead scoring and prioritize high-value prospects.
  • Increase Engagement: Personalized campaigns lead to better outcomes.

Buyer Intent

Identify companies ready to buy based on their activity on your website.

  • Spot Visitors Ready to Buy: Engage leads near the end of their buying journey.
  • Traffic Insights: Uncover anonymous visitors and turn them into actionable opportunities.
  • Targeted Outbound: Focus your strategy on high-intent website visitors for better ROI.

Form Shortening

Simplify lead capture by reducing form fields while capturing all the necessary information.

  • Boost Submission Rates: Every removed field improves conversion rates.
  • Capture Essential Data: Collect vital information without overwhelming your prospects.
  • Enhance User Experience: Keep prospects engaged with seamless interactions.

What Makes HubSpot’s Breeze Intelligence Different

Traditional third-party tools can be pricey, disconnected, and difficult to manage.

The Customer Journey Has Shifted-3

 

Breeze Intelligence from HubSpot is:

  • Easy: Simple, intuitive, and integrated directly within HubSpot.
  • Fast: Features like one-click data enrichment ensure quick time to value.
  • Unified: Seamlessly connects first- and third-party data with HubSpot’s Smart CRM and engagement hubs.

With Breeze Intelligence, you get insights and the ability to act—all in one place. It’s an integrated, modern approach to marketing, sales, and operations that eliminates inefficiencies and keeps your business growing.

What HubSpot Users Are Saying

As Josh Ames, RevOps Manager at Phocas Software, puts it:

"HubSpot's data enrichment and buyer intent features are user-friendly and seamless. Unlike managing multiple third-party tools, HubSpot’s solution is nearly 'set it and forget it.'"

Want to Learn More? Let’s Unbox Breeze Intelligence Together

I recently presented on this topic at the Boston HubSpot User Group’s virtual webinar.

In the session, I go deep into Breeze Intelligence and “unbox” this exciting new tool. Watch the replay of the session below.

Lisa Edwards

About the Author

Lisa Edwards is the Principal Product Marketing Manager at HubSpot, known for her knack for making things happen—whether it’s championing innovative marketing strategies or reclaiming a jar of champagne jelly from a determined TSA agent. Her secret? A winning combination of persistence, positivity, and a genuine passion for people.