Think the world has changed over the last decade? Just wait.
Prepare to lead in the future of the consumer industry
The future is fast approaching and the consumer industry is on the precipice of dramatic change that will significantly affect the markets, models and mechanics of consumer companies over the next decade. With all this uncertainty, one thing is clear: The strategies that led you to today likely won’t get you to the future.
The industry is currently facing a once-in-a-century economic, social and technological transition.
To add complexity, this is happening against a backdrop of significant challenges, such as accelerated climate change, growing economic inequality, declining trust, increasing polarisation and worsening global financial conditions. Not only do companies need to navigate this once-in-a-century transition, but they should do it with an eye toward addressing critical issues for society and the planet more broadly.
To harness the opportunities brought on by major forces of change in the consumer industry and boldly lead their organisations into the future, executives should understand the implications of these changes along three dimensions of business: markets, models and mechanics.
Markets
What is sold, who it's sold to, which goods and services are valued and how the industry creates value.
Models
How businesses organise and configure, how materials and capabilities are sourced and what new models create value.
Mechanics
How businesses execute work, employ labour, build ecosystems and make strategic and operational decisions.
Through a series of conversations held over 18 months with more than 800 consumer industry executives, analysts, academia and luminaries, along with input captured and monitored monthly in Deloitte’s Global State of the Consumer Tracker, Deloitte has identified six forces that will play a fundamental role in shaping the future of the consumer industry over the next decade. These trends don’t exist in a vacuum; the collective movement and acceleration of these forces will create a new competitive landscape where opportunities will emerge and innovation will drive the industry forward.
Today’s empowered Consumer have their eyes on the future and are using their dollars to effect the change they want to see in the world.
While facing monumental transitions, companies are choosing to extend their mission beyond shareholder value to encompass broader ecological and societal issues. Together, they’re buying into better
At Deloitte, we believe that the future isn’t something to be predicted, but instead created. Forward-thinking consumer organisations should act with agency and take on bold decisions concerning markets, models and mechanics to be a valued brand of tomorrow. Ultimately, we will all need to buy into better.
Kasey Lobaugh, Principal, Chief Futurist US Consumer Industry
The future isn’t preordained. Instead, we construct our future one choice at a time. We have the influence, agency and power to choose where we are going and to shape the future of the consumer industry—and the world—for the better. What future do we want and more importantly, what future have we got the courage to engineer?
To navigate this ever-changing landscape, current—and future—consumer industry leaders need to recognise, monitor and assess the six forces for effective scenario planning. The future will require companies to understand the implications of their decisions—and create a new approach to markets, models and mechanics—as they chart their paths to buying into better.