Twilio has released a report titled "The Relationship Economy: Customer Engagement in the Digital Era" which highlights that new consumer behaviors and expectations have emerged due to the cost of living crisis, accelerating changes in how businesses connect with their customers. The findings suggest that efficiency, expertise, and emotion are the new building blocks of customer experience, with personalized approaches needed to build long-term trust and improve relationships at every stage of the lifecycle. Despite a desire for efficient service, speed is not always the sole focus, and brands must balance human and digital connections to succeed in the current economic climate. The report also emphasizes the importance of personalization using first-party data to ease the burden on customer service agents and provide more empathetic interactions, particularly during turbulent times when customers need to feel listened to.