CONSUMER INSIGHTS | 15 FEBRUARY 2019 Empowered with information, consumers are reshaping retail Absa | Corporate and Investment Banking > Insights and Events > Empowered with information, consumers are reshaping retail Isana Cordier Head: Consumer Goods and Services SHARE Today’s consumer is highly connected and empowered with choices that they can access at the click of a button. Consumer-facing companies, such as retailers, are serving a highly connected, next generation consumer-force. This consumer is driven by behaviours and trends that are vastly different from the traditional shopper that retailers are accustomed to. Companies that fail to adapt to this rapid change in consumer behaviour risk losing market share to more agile competitors, who are more likely to be in touch with these dynamic consumer needs. The hard lessons learnt by Stuttafords, Toys R Us, Nokia and Kodak might become a reality to existing, long-standing giants of retail who do not adjust to these new expectations. A new focus on living a full life This social-media-connected, younger consumer is moving away from a life full of things towards having a life that is full. This trend is epitomised by words such as experience, convenience, having access to instead of owning, customisation and personalisation. And the biggest enabler of this shift? Technology at their fingertips through the mobile device. Decision enablers that are changing the way consumers shop include price, features and benefit comparisons, user reviews and being able to browse almost limitless options online rather than having to go from physical store to physical store. Furthermore, social media is a significant influencer, becoming a trusted source for product and brand recommendations. The previous captive market that retailers had in South Africa, which limited shoppers’ options, has shrunk dramatically. Technology has enabled the world to become accessible, providing consumers with more choices on a global scale, with easy price and functionality comparisons, inevitably influencing the purchasing decision. Embracing the future of retail What does this mean for retailers? More so than ever before, retailers need to invest in technology and develop their insight capabilities to improve their understanding of their customers, their habits and preferences. They have to be more intently focused on their target audience – not being everything to everyone, but rather representing something that their target market can relate to and believe in. This means that they are selling more than a product – they must stand for and sell a narrative that people will identify with, buy into and want to be part of. benefit not just the client but the overall shared economy. As the market needs are fluid, retailers are required to constantly monitor consumer behaviour and desires and, more importantly, be able to quickly adjust their offering accordingly. This constant monitoring of consumer behaviour makes data science a vital function within a retail business. It is firstly gathering and then analysing consumer data and using it to engage with your customer, to sell your narrative and to identify price and preference points. This enables pro-active rather than reactive strategies that are tailored for the specific consumer base. Retailers should be asking themselves whether their current business models are still relevant and if not, what should they change before it is too late. New agile business models are required, with new A new era of data and insights is required The future of retail is exhilarating and a journey that we are excited to partner closely with our clients. The goal is to assist our clients to better understand their customers using enhanced data analytics, identify value creating opportunities out of those insights and building partnerships that benefit not just the client but the overall shared economy. Absa is leveraging its own extensive data analytics capability to offer unique solutions to its retail and consumer-facing corporate clients. Isana CordierHead: Consumer Goods and Services https://cib.absa.africa/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/file_example_MP3_700KB.mp3 Related Articles Podcasts How The AfCFTA will enable digital trade In this podcast, we explore the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area’s protocol on digital trade. What will it mean for cross-border trade, and what do African businesses need to know? Podcasts The AfCFTA and Africa’s Existing Regional Economic Communities Africa is a patchwork of independent and overlapping regional economic blocs. Rather than simplifying matters, the African Continental Free Trade Area adds an extra layer of complexity for businesses trading on the continent. In this podcast, we untangle the mess. Podcasts What Does The AfCFTA Mean For Africa? The African Continental Free Trade Area is now active, bringing with it the promise of significantly easier intra-continental trade.
