This article is sponsored by TD about the TD New Digital Customer Study. All opinions are my own.

Last year was a pivotal year in many ways, for all of us. 

It has effectively changed our day-to-day lives and how we go on about doing daily activities. Adapting to this new normal has not only taught us to be more resilient, but what we value in terms of convenience. 

It was no surprise to me that  the 2020 TD New Digital Customer Study revealed that Canadians surveyed value a good digital experience . As we’ve seen shopping, services and entertainment shift progressively more digital, we’re also seeing people’s expectations of the brands the interact with surge since the start the pandemic.

What does that really mean though? According to the study, 72% of Canadians surveyed believe that they will spend more time online, engaging with companies digitally and making purchases. To me, this means that they will be engaging with their favourite brands digitally, whilst taking advantage of the ever-expanding worlds of e-commerce and social media. 

In my opinion, brands need to become more digitally present.

The study also showed that financial products and services were at the top of the list of what Canadians want to access digitally. Being able to access banking and make financial decisions from wherever you are is becoming increasingly important in a digital forward world. In my opinion, one company that has never failed to maintain reliable product offerings and solid customer service online is TD. For as long as I’ve been a client (over 10 years now), I have always been able to count on things like online banking through TD EasyWeb – and most recently the chatbot TD Clari; a computer program designed to power online and real-time interactions with customers while providing answers to a variety of questions. 

I have become dependent on the various apps from TD to check my finances and manage my savings/investments. Not only are the tools very easy to use, but some even offer educational videos to help build foundational investing knowledge. 

The pandemic has enhanced our focus on the quality of digital services brands can provide. Since businesses are adapting and evolving, I’m optimistic about the rest of 2021. As mentioned in the TD New Digital Customer Study, tech savvy brands are going to excel, as Canadians surveyed are relying on digital more heavily than ever before.