CONTENTS

    Customer retention KPIs that might surprise you

    avatar
    Flora An
    ·June 14, 2025
    ·10 min read
    Customer

    Customer retention KPIs help you measure how well your business keeps clients over time. These numbers show if your clients stay loyal or leave. For example, even a 5% increase in retention can raise profits by up to 95%. Many companies miss out on lesser-known customer retention kpis that can reveal hidden growth. Take a look at these key numbers:

    MetricDefinition / Example / Benchmark
    Customer Retention Rate (CRR)Percentage of clients retained over a period. Example: ((2800 - 600) / 2500) * 100 = 88%. SaaS benchmark: 92-97%.
    Repeat Purchase Rate (RPR)Percentage of clients who make repeat purchases. Example: (200 / 1000) * 100 = 20%. Positive sign if 20-30%.
    Spending of top loyal clientsTop 10% spend 2x more per order; top 1% spend 2.5x more than others.
    Bar
    Image Source: statics.mylandingpages.co

    Sobot helps you discover and track these customer retention kpis with tools like Live Chat, making it easier to keep your clients happy and loyal.

    Customer Retention KPIs Explained

    What Are They?

    Customer retention KPIs help you measure how well your business keeps clients over time. These numbers show if your clients stay loyal or leave. The most common customer retention KPIs include customer retention rate, repeat purchase rate, customer lifetime value, and Net Promoter Score. You can use these customer retention metrics to see how many clients return, how often they buy, and how happy they feel about your brand.

    Here is a table that shows some important customer retention KPIs and how you can calculate them:

    KPI NameDefinitionCalculation Example
    Customer Retention RatePercentage of clients kept over a period((1200 - 400) / 1000) x 100 = 80%
    Repeat Purchase RatePercentage of clients who buy more than once(100 / 500) x 100 = 20%
    Customer Lifetime ValueTotal revenue expected from a client over their lifetime$50 x 1.5 x 24 = $1800
    Net Promoter Score (NPS)How likely clients are to recommend your brandSurvey: Promoters minus Detractors
    Product StickinessHow often clients use your product daily compared to monthly(5000 / 20000) x 100 = 25%

    You can track these KPIs using tools like Sobot Live Chat, which helps you collect data from every client interaction. This makes it easier to spot trends and improve your customer retention rate.

    Why They Matter

    Customer retention KPIs matter because they show how well you keep your clients and grow your business. When you focus on these numbers, you can spot problems like churn early. Churn means clients stop using your service or buying your products. If your customer retention rate drops or your customer churn rate rises, you know you need to act fast.

    Companies that track customer retention KPIs see real results. Loyal clients spend more, and the top 1% of ecommerce clients spend up to 30 times more than average clients. Retention strategies also lower costs. For example, customer acquisition costs can drop by 40% over two years when you focus on keeping clients happy. Upselling to existing clients works better, with conversion rates between 60% and 70%, compared to just 5% to 20% for new clients (source).

    You can use Sobot’s analytics to monitor your customer retention rate, repeat purchase rate, and customer lifetime value. This helps you understand what keeps your clients coming back and how to reduce churn. When you improve these KPIs, you boost your profits and build a loyal client base for a lifetime.

    Why Track Customer Retention KPIs?

    Business Impact

    Tracking customer retention KPIs gives you a clear view of how your business performs with clients. When you measure your customer retention rate, you see how many clients stay with you over time. This helps you spot problems like churn early. For example, a restaurant chain linked employee outcomes to business results and saw a 16% rise in customer satisfaction, 18,000 more clients each year, and 10% less staff turnover. Kemp & Lauritzen used digital tools to drop turnover from 35% to under 28% and improved onboarding satisfaction to 4.0 out of 5. These results show that when you focus on client retention strategies, you boost both client loyalty and business growth.

    Repeat clients spend 67% more than new ones. Small businesses get over half their revenue from repeat clients. Loyal clients also share your brand with others, helping you grow without extra marketing costs.

    Sobot’s Live Chat and analytics help you track your customer retention rate, customer churn rate, and other key metrics. This lets you act fast to keep clients happy and loyal.

    Growth and Loyalty

    Customer retention KPIs connect directly to growth and client loyalty. When you improve your customer retention rate, you build a strong base of loyal clients. Each time a client returns, their chance of coming back again rises—from 27% after the first purchase to 62% after the third. High retention rates mean more stable revenue and less need to find new clients.

    KPI NameWhy It Matters for Growth & LoyaltyHow to Improve
    Customer Retention RateShows client loyalty and stable growthUse loyalty programs, regular check-ins
    Repeat Purchase RateSignals happy clients who returnOffer incentives, improve onboarding
    Customer Lifetime ValueMeasures long-term value from each clientUpsell, cross-sell, enhance satisfaction
    Net Promoter ScorePredicts growth through client referralsCollect feedback, recover detractors

    Sobot’s tools help you boost your customer retention rate and client loyalty by making every client interaction count. When you focus on these KPIs, you set your business up for long-term success.

    Surprising Customer Retention KPIs

    Surprising

    Product Usage Frequency

    Product usage frequency measures how often your clients use your product or service. This KPI goes beyond simple purchase counts. It shows you which features clients love and how engaged they feel. You calculate purchase frequency by dividing total purchases by the number of unique clients.

    Metric NameDefinitionCalculation FormulaInterpretation
    Purchase FrequencyNumber of purchases divided by unique customersPurchase Frequency = Total Purchases / Unique CustomersHigh value indicates active engagement and satisfaction, correlating with strong retention.
    • Product usage metrics help you plan future updates by showing what clients use most.
    • Tracking usage highlights popular features and helps you improve user experience.
    • Monitoring time spent and feature use reveals client loyalty and engagement.
    • Measuring usage frequency gives you a competitive edge in retention strategies.

    Sobot Live Chat tracks these interactions across all channels. You can see which clients use your services most and target them with special offers. Michael Kors used Sobot’s unified platform to monitor client activity, which helped them boost conversion rates and client loyalty.

    Customer Health Score

    Customer Health Score (CHS) combines several metrics to give you a real-time view of each client’s relationship with your brand. CHS predicts if a client will stay, leave, or even become a brand advocate. Companies like Totango saw a 60% higher chance of predicting and preventing churn. Netflix reduced churn by 10%, Amazon increased customer lifetime value by 20%, and Starbucks improved retention by 5% using CHS.

    Bar
    Image Source: statics.mylandingpages.co
    1. CHS uses data like support tickets, last login, reviews, and net promoter score.
    2. You group these by intent and assign weights based on your goals.
    3. Use color codes or scores to spot healthy or at-risk clients.
    4. CHS lets you act fast to keep clients happy and loyal.

    Sobot’s analytics help you build and track CHS by combining data from Live Chat, tickets, and surveys. Michael Kors used these insights to reduce response times and increase customer satisfaction.

    Time Between Purchases

    Time between purchases tells you how long clients wait before buying again. Shorter times mean clients feel satisfied and engaged. Reducing this time can boost your profits by up to 125%. Loyal clients spend more, with the top 10% spending three times more per order. For every 1% increase in repeat clients, your revenue can rise by about 10%. After ten purchases, clients refer 50% more people than one-time buyers.

    • A 5% increase in retention can boost profitability by 75%.
    • Acquiring new clients costs much more than keeping current ones.

    Sobot’s Live Chat lets you send reminders and personalized offers to shorten the time between purchases. Michael Kors used Sobot’s marketing tools to re-engage clients, leading to a 20% increase in conversion rates.

    Engagement Rate

    Engagement rate measures how actively your clients interact with your brand. You calculate it by dividing total engagements (likes, shares, comments, clicks) by total impressions, then multiplying by 100. High engagement means your content resonates with clients and keeps them coming back. Engaged clients are more likely to stay loyal and make repeat purchases.

    Analyzing product usage and client journeys helps you spot clients at risk of leaving. Clients who use more features are less likely to churn. Sobot’s Live Chat tracks every interaction, helping you identify low-engagement clients and target them with special campaigns. Improving engagement rate also boosts other metrics like customer satisfaction score and client loyalty.

    NPS Trends

    Net Promoter Score (NPS) trends show how likely your clients are to recommend your brand. NPS is a powerful customer retention KPI because it links directly to client loyalty and business growth. Studies show that each one-point increase in NPS can raise your profit per client by up to CHF 21 per year. Promoters have attrition rates only one-third that of detractors and generate seven times more positive referrals. Companies with high NPS scores grow twice as fast as their competitors.

    • NPS trends reveal how your clients feel about your brand over time.
    • Tracking NPS helps you spot issues early and improve customer satisfaction.
    • Sobot’s built-in surveys and analytics make it easy to monitor NPS trends and act on feedback.

    Michael Kors used Sobot’s tools to collect feedback, leading to a 95% customer satisfaction rate and stronger client loyalty.

    Tip: Tailoring customer retention KPIs like these to your business gives you a clearer picture of client loyalty and helps you act before problems grow.

    Using Sobot to Improve Retention

    Using
    Image Source: pexels
    Live

    Live Chat Analytics

    Sobot’s Live Chat gives you powerful analytics to help you understand your clients better. You can track key metrics like website traffic, bounce rates, and conversion rates. These numbers show how your clients interact with your business. You see which channels bring the most engagement and which messages work best. Sobot’s unified dashboard lets you spot trends and patterns quickly. This helps you make smart decisions to improve your customer satisfaction score and keep your clients coming back.

    • Track real-time customer behavior across all channels.
    • Use AI-powered tools to reduce agent workload and boost conversion rates.
    • Identify which features your clients use most often.
    • Monitor campaign performance and adjust strategies for better results.

    Actionable Insights

    With Sobot, you get more than just data. You receive actionable insights that help you improve customer satisfaction and retention. The platform supports omnichannel strategies, so you can deliver consistent messages to your clients. You can segment your clients and send targeted offers or reminders. Sobot’s analytics also help your sales and support teams work together, making sure no client gets missed.

    FeatureBenefit for Clients
    Personalized messagesHigher engagement and loyalty
    Notification remindersTimely updates and offers
    Self-service optionsFaster problem resolution

    You can see improvements like a 15% boost in conversion rates and a 35% rise in customer satisfaction.

    Practical Tips

    You can start tailoring customer retention kpis to your business with Sobot’s tools. Here are some steps:

    1. Set up Sobot Live Chat on your website and social channels.
    2. Use built-in analytics to track how clients interact with your brand.
    3. Segment your clients based on their behavior and preferences.
    4. Send personalized offers to clients who show high engagement.
    5. Monitor your customer satisfaction score and adjust your approach as needed.

    Tip: When you use Sobot’s features, you help your clients feel valued and supported. This leads to higher retention and stronger loyalty.


    Tracking both standard and surprising metrics helps you understand your clients better. When you use Sobot’s Live Chat, you see how clients interact and what keeps them coming back. You can spot trends, improve client loyalty, and act before clients leave. Many clients respond well to quick support and personalized offers. Sobot gives you tools to measure, analyze, and boost retention. Start exploring Sobot’s free trial or read real stories from clients like Michael Kors to see real results.

    FAQ

    What are customer retention KPIs and why do they matter?

    Customer retention KPIs measure how well you keep your clients over time. These numbers help you spot trends, reduce churn, and boost profits. For example, a 5% increase in retention can raise profits by up to 95% (source).

    How can Sobot help me track customer retention KPIs?

    Sobot gives you built-in analytics and Live Chat tools. You can monitor customer retention KPIs like repeat purchase rate, engagement rate, and NPS trends. Sobot’s dashboard shows real-time data, so you can act fast and improve client loyalty.

    Which customer retention KPIs should I focus on first?

    Start with these customer retention KPIs:

    • Customer retention rate
    • Repeat purchase rate
    • Customer health score
    • Engagement rate
    • NPS trends

    These KPIs give you a full view of client loyalty and business growth.

    Can customer retention KPIs improve my marketing results?

    Yes! Tracking customer retention KPIs helps you target loyal clients with special offers. Sobot’s marketing solution lets you send personalized messages. This approach can increase conversion rates by up to 20%, as seen with Michael Kors.

    How often should I review my customer retention KPIs?

    You should check your customer retention KPIs every month. Regular reviews help you spot changes early. Sobot’s analytics make it easy to track trends and adjust your strategy for better results.

    Tip: Use Sobot’s free trial to start tracking your customer retention KPIs today!

    See Also

    Effective Strategies To Improve Customer Satisfaction In Live Chat

    Essential Best Practices For Managing Quality In Call Centers

    Leading Voice Of Customer Tools To Use In 2024

    Ways To Enhance Call Center Efficiency Through Monitoring

    Best Call Center Analytics Platforms To Consider In 2024

    Get a 15-day Free Trial at Sobot