iDigital is joining the exclusive league of Apple's strategic partners worldwide by operating stores in Israel in the three upscale Apple formats - APP, APR, AAR. By the end of 2024, three APP branches will be established in Israel, representing the network's future generation. The investment in the network's new ventures is estimated at around $7 million.
The global Apple company is deepening its business and strategic collaboration with iDigital, which will operate branches in Israel in the three upscale formats of Apple: APP, APR, AAR. This represents a real revolution in customer experience, service, and sales in the network's stores. Thus, iDigital will continue to establish itself as a market leader in expertise, service, and sales of Apple products in Israel. The investment in the network's new ventures is estimated at around $7 million.
iDigital's flagship store at the Ramat Aviv Mall branch, the network's first in Israel, will become the first APP (Apple Premium Partner) store in the country. During 2024, two additional APP branches will be opened, offering customers the closest experience to Apple Store worldwide in terms of design, service, expertise, and a variety of additional values and services - a high international consumer experience.
Doron Sela, CEO of iCon Group and iDigital: "This is a significant step that further establishes iDigital's position as the leading network in experience, sales, and service for Apple products in Israel, and primarily reflects Apple's trust in iDigital and the Israeli market."
The APP revolution comes to Israel
The service and sales experience revolution - the transition process to the APP format is accompanied by a real revolution in the service experience that will change beyond recognition and include new standards of customer experience. Visitors to flagship stores will be greeted by iDigital representatives who will assist customers at every touchpoint, including guidance and expert support tailored to customer needs. Customers will enjoy an optimal experience, precise and personalized product selection, consultation, technical service, and more. Additionally, particularly noteworthy, the company will provide customers with laboratory services and product repairs by a certified Apple technician within 48 hours.
The new APP branch will allow customers to have a broader experience with Apple products. Specifically designed spaces will enable customers to examine a variety of products and related accessories in a specific area and deeply understand how they want to use them and which complementary accessories they will need.
Live experience and professional guidance - iDigital customers will continue to enjoy an exciting and unique shopping experience, but it will become even more professional: iDigital experts will accompany customers in experiencing a variety of products in-store, match each customer with the product that suits their needs, ensure the transfer of information from the old device, provide personalized guidance on product usage and key features, and match the customer with a variety of complementary accessories needed to maximize the use of the Apple device purchased.
Group Demo - Similar to brand stores worldwide, a specially designed and equipped area will be defined in the store for conducting group demonstrations and workshops led by iDigital experts on various topics related to using Apple devices and introducing new features. Customers will be able to comfortably sit in frontal guidance and watch a demonstration on a large screen that will allow holistic understanding in practice. The schedule for the workshops will be published on the company's website.
Customer experience and value propositions from Apple
In addition to all of the above, iDigital is currently implementing a significant and extensive digital transformation and process automation project aimed at improving the company's customer experience, with an emphasis on two significant projects.
Establishment of an innovative website - a flagship project based on collaboration between global Apple and the world's leading digital commerce platform, Shopify, for use by Apple's leading business partners worldwide. As a senior partner of Apple, a content and advanced e-commerce site will be launched in early 2025, allowing customers to experience the existing iDigital-Apple experience both in branches and in the physical world, also in the digital world.
Advanced CRM system migration - building an advanced platform for comprehensive management of the company's relationships with its customers - data infrastructure and information for managing all customer data at all their touchpoints with the company. The CRM system will enable the company to develop a deep understanding of customers, significantly upgrade its value proposition to club members based on their profile and needs, launch additional values in the service and technical service worlds, and focus extensively on better accessibility to information about Apple products, tips from experts, guides, and workshops.
Service as the ultimate differentiator and value - creating a real revolution in the company's service level - providing excellent service - as the company's leading value at all customer touchpoints. iDigital will launch a new system for scheduling appointments that will allow customers to schedule an appointment for device deposit for repair at one of its branches, and in the future, also to track the progress of treatment through the company's website. Soon, a service will even be provided to the customer's home - under which the company's customers will deposit a device for repair and enjoy delivery of the device back to their homes after repair.
Especially noteworthy for the company's customers - in four leading branches, laboratory and product repair services will be provided by a certified and experienced Apple technician within 48 hours. At the company's central laboratory, the level of service was upgraded, and waiting times for Apple device repairs were significantly shortened.
Warranty expansion - iDigital offers its customers two extended warranty plans that provide the most comprehensive coverage in Israel for Apple products. The plans provide perfect protection and allow iDigital customers "peace of mind." Within this framework, repairs will be provided at the official iDigital laboratory approved by Apple, original replacement parts, and Apple-certified technicians for perfect device repair in case of any malfunction.
iDigital Care - a warranty provided for 3 years from the moment of device purchase. This plan is available for all Apple products iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and extends the manufacturer's warranty by an additional two years.
Care + iDigital - a warranty provided for two years from the moment of iPhone purchase. The plan offers all the benefits of iDigital Care and includes additional coverage for iPhone screen breakage twice during the warranty period.
Value propositions - as part of the company's ongoing effort to make Apple products accessible to customers, iDigital leads significant moves and allows its customers excellent value propositions. iDigital leads the world of Trade In and enables customers to trade-in deals for a variety of Apple products: iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch.
In addition, iDigital offers its customers a variety of packages that combine the purchase of an Apple product with significant benefits such as: discount vouchers for accessory purchases (up to 300 NIS), benefits such as a 3-in-1 charger worth 349 NIS, extended comprehensive warranty benefits beyond the manufacturer's warranty, and more.
Believing in the Israeli market
Doron Sela, CEO of iCon Group and iDigital: "iDigital is proud to continue its deep strategic partnership with Apple in Israel and to launch together for the first time in Israel the APP format with a flagship branch at Ramat Aviv Mall. This is a significant step that will help further establish iDigital's position as the leading network in sales and service for Apple products in Israel and, more importantly, Apple's trust in iDigital and the Israeli market.
"We bring real benefits to Apple customers in Israel, both in the store experience and in the variety of products and service. This step will make Apple products more accessible and continue to strengthen the relationship between iDigital and Israeli Apple users."
The iDigital network, operating under the parent company iCon Group - the official importer of Apple products in Israel - operates 20 branches from Haifa to Eilat. In addition to them, the network operates 6 iDigital goodiz branches. In addition to Apple products, iDigital offers a variety of products and brands from leading companies in the world in the digital lifestyle.