Usage of article

[RMSRoy]

Hi, which of these two sentences is correct and why?

This offers a way for companies to walk a few steps closer to understand customers and help them at crucial junctures of the customer life cycle.

OR

This offers a way for companies to walk a few steps closer to understand customers and help them at crucial junctures of customer life cycle.

[Alan]

With 'the' - you are referring to a particular/unique life cycle.