The terms UX and CX are often used interchangeably because the meaning of these business concepts are quite enmeshed with another, so much so that it is difficult for software and app developers to see where the differentiating line is.
Having analyzed high-performing organizations, what I have realized is that these organizations have defined UX and CX very clearly for themselves, along with developing and deploying UX and CX teams efficiently.
I believe in solving surface conflicts organically, and it is necessary to go to the roots of its origin. So, to understand user experience and customer experience and the difference between them, if there is any, we will have to go deeper into the etymological history of both these concepts.
Forget all the definitions that you have for UX and CX until now, as many definitions are passed down by industry leaders with half-information and only for convenience-sake.
It is important to note that both these terms have their origins at the same time. It was a time when the West saw a lot of revolutionary movements. This was the 1960s, the time when the hippie movement started on the beaches of California, the birth control pill was invented, and women flooded the gates of modern workplaces.
Etymological History of Customer Experience (CX)
The term customer experience can be associated with hyper-advertising — Mad Men era. The time when the business moved onto the power of words and design to market and sell products and services, print media was filled with ads, and copywriters were most sought after.