February 25, 2016

Consumer-Packaged-Goods Companies Must Enhance Their Digital Capabilities to Capture US$340 Billion Growth in Booming Asian Markets, Accenture Report Finds



Report identifies ways for CPG companies to seize the growth opportunities and engage with the changing digital consumer


SINGAPORE; Feb. 25, 2016 – Consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies must fully embrace digital commerce or risk losing out to newer industry players in the battle for an estimated US$340 billion worth of market growth in Asia Pacific, according to Accenture.

In a new report, “The future is now: understanding the new Asian consumer” Accenture estimates that the consumer goods and services industry will grow by as much as US$700 billion globally by 2020, with nearly 50 percent, or US$340 billion, of this growth coming from Asia – specifically China, Indonesia, India, Singapore and Thailand. China alone is expected to account for approximately US$200 billion, or 60 percent, of the growth in Asia.

“If CPG companies don’t take action now, they risk losing out on the new generation of consumers. These companies must couple traditional models with new ones where consumer engagement is digital and one2one, social influence is perceived to be the trustworthy source and shopping is one click away,” said Fabio Vacirca, senior managing director in Accenture’s Products operating group in Asia Pacific. “The entire sales and marketing ecosystem is changing dramatically on the back of the new generation of consumers and pervasive digital technologies. In Asian markets the change is faster and in many cases it means leap frogging the traditional models.”

The report estimates that retail sales across Asia Pacific’s booming consumer markets are on course to top US$10 trillion by 2018, with approximately one-quarter of that amount coming from digital commerce. Yet despite the heavy influence from e-tailers and online marketplaces, the digital commerce market in Asia Pacific remains under-penetrated for CPG companies, particularly in the grocery-product category.

In addition, using knowledge of consumer preferences and their evolving demands, leading disruptors in the market, such as Alibaba, have been adapting by reinventing and tailoring offerings to redefine the value chain and make the consumer their focal point. The report identifies a number of steps that established CPG companies could take to seize growth opportunities and counter the threat of the new players:

The digital commerce opportunity for CPG companies
Despite the market seeing some digital transformation by CPG companies, it is still not enough for many consumers. Accenture’s research shows that consumers are not satisfied with their purchase journeys. Today’s top ‘ask’, according to the report, is for a single platform where they can enjoy unique experiences that delight and enable their impulse decisions, receive tailored product recommendations that meet their desires immediately and where they are always connected to their favourite brands. This represents an outstanding opportunity for traditional CPG companies to capture the next wave of growth. By focusing on providing stronger digital commerce they can bridge existing gaps in consumers’ purchase journeys and provide the seamless shopping experiences they’re looking for.

“Technology will continue to evolve and influence how consumers shop in the future,” said Vacirca. “By better using digital technologies, CPG companies can engage with consumers on a real-time basis, allowing the companies to provide the maximum value within the minimum time. This will, in turn, create opportunities for CPG companies to control the consumer buying experience of tomorrow.”

Accenture Internet of Things Centre of Excellence
The research was launched at the Accenture Internet of Things (IoT) Centre of Excellence in Singapore. The Centre brings market expertise, industry leading practices, leading-edge technologies, and consumer research together to create an experience that empowers businesses to think differently about the future – from digital transformation and corporate strategy, to IT, sales, and marketing reinvention.

“The next generation of digital commerce is here, and consumer empowerment enabled by smarter technologies will change how we shop and make purchases,” said Vacirca. “From the virtual reality room to its next-generation experience space, the Accenture IoT Centre of Excellence in Singapore helps businesses take advantage of the unprecedented opportunities that exist in the rapidly evolving digital marketplace.”

Methodology
Accenture carried out a range of qualitative and quantitative research for this report. It included the creation of "online consumer communities" across China, Indonesia and Singapore to better understand e-commerce preferences, pain-points, and motivations in relation consumer goods and services purchases. The communities were active from December 2015 to January 2016. In addition, Accenture hosted interviews with a sample of senior level executives with a strong exposure to the CGP industry and desk research was used to complement this.

About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 373,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

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Contacts:

Hui Luen Lien
Accenture
+ 65 6410 8790
hui.luen.lien@accenture.com

Caroline Douglas
Accenture
+ 35 3 87 680 0074
caroline.douglas@accenture.com