Infosys Survey – Consumers Will Allow Access to Personal Data for Clear Benefits

TechnoparkToday.com>> June 26, 2013:  Consumers worldwide overwhelmingly will share personal information to get better service from their service providers, like doctors, bank and retailers; however, they are very discerning about how they share.  Today’s digital consumers are complicated and sometimes skeptical about how institutions use their data, says a global independent survey of consumers around the world commissioned by Infosys, the global leader in business consulting and technology solutions.

Americans, Europeans and Australians feel comfortable sharing data with doctors (90 percent), banks (76 percent) and retailers (70 percent); however, the research shows contrasting nuances. Consumers won’t readily share personal medical history with doctors. They say they want targeted ads yet are wary of sharing the information to enable this. The study shows consumers understand the benefits of sharing data but remain cautious of data mining (especially in Europe): 39 percent globally describe data-mining as invasive while also saying it is helpful (35 percent), convenient (32 percent) and time saving (33 percent).  Consumers in the United States are less concerned about the invasive issue (30 percent) than in the other countries surveyed, while German consumers are less willing to share personal data that in other countries.

The global research polled 5,000 digitally savvy consumers in five countries about how they trade personal data in the retail, banking, and healthcare sectors. The study shows the key challenge facing business is to navigate the complex behaviors consumers display when sharing their personal data.