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The data
behind
this report
Every business should rely on
data to drive investments. That’s
why we used our Passport platform
to uncover this story.
Personalisation
Premiumisation
Pursuit of Value
Shopper Reinvented
Sustainable Living
Wellness
Your strategy needs to serve and centre around your customer. Megatrends can
point you in the right direction—if used to guide your decisions and business
planning. And we show you how to do just that later on.
Tracking and analysing megatrends will keep you one step ahead. How? Because
you’ll be able to act on the ones that impact your business now and in the future.
New opportunities become more apparent. Innovation becomes proactive, not
reactive. And you can better adapt or pivot to keep your competitive edge.
In this white paper, we outline 10 megatrends to watch over the next two
decades. You’ll gain insights on these long-term behavioural changes and what
you should focus on for each, so you can build a resilient business. Plus, we teach
you how to incorporate megatrends into your strategy to set you up for success.
These shifts are here to stay. Read on to find out which ones affect your target
audience and commercial objectives.
Convenience Premiumisation
Personalisation Wellness
© 2023 Euromonitor International 3
The Most Influential Megatrends Through 2040
Convenience
Time is a crucial commodity. Every second
counts. And we’re always looking for faster or
easier solutions.
Simple solutions
Yes, saving time is a priority, but convenience also makes your
customers’ lives easier. You should strive for streamlined,
straightforward and effortless solutions. Keep that desire for
immediacy in mind, too.
Tech advancements continue to accelerate the of the population will of the population
digitalisation of our daily routines: shopping, own a smartphone by will be using the
socialising, work, education—you name it. 2040 internet by 2040
We’re able to partake in activities online that
were once only accessible in person. And much
more efficiently at that. The shift to digital also
paves the way for an inclusive global culture.
Take travel, for example. Trips abroad are less 72% 58%
restricted because anyone can visit places
virtually around the world.
Your first step should be building trust with your customers and
proving value in exchange for their information. Then, you can up
the ante. Use technology like AI to create personalised solutions
and targeted marketing.
Everything on demand
On demand is in demand. Consumers want quick and reliable
options, which led to a need for speed. That is, tightening the gap
between purchase execution and consumption.
Smarter homes
Think of the home as a digital hub. It’s no longer a place where
we only eat or sleep. Our households also serve as offices,
shopping centres, movie theatres, schools and gyms.
The metaverse
Immersive, multisensory experiences are on the horizon. The
metaverse will continue to gain momentum and become a new
platform for marketing and branding. First-mover brands are
Source: The LEGO Group
already making headway to stake a claim in this space with
The LEGO Group x Epic Games digital assets and partnerships.
The LEGO Group and Epic Games announced a long-
You should monitor the evolution of this next-gen virtual
term partnership to develop a family-friendly space
environment. And as development progresses, assess how the
for kids to play in the metaverse. The goal is to create
metaverse fits into your strategy based on your audience and
a safe digital environment that protects children’s
objectives.
privacy and empowers creativity.
Source: Euromonitor International Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyles Survey, fielded January/February 2023
Brand purpose
Your brand values must match those of your customers. And these
have to be at the centre of your business plans and innovations.
Workplace culture
Every company should cultivate a culture where employees are
supported and valued. A safe, collaborative, judgement-free
environment in which everyone has a voice is paramount. The
right policies and resources will allow your teams to flourish.
Experience More
Experiences > possessions. Consumers put
more value on doing than owning. And that’s 60% looked for curated experiences that
created a new standard of service. were tailored to their tastes
Consumers won’t settle for typical or basic.
They want better. Now, it’s about high-quality,
value-added interactions. Unique, captivating, 47% preferred to spend money on
curated, entertaining—these are all examples of experiences rather than tangible items
elevated engagements that are expected.
Always keep your audience in mind. What are their biggest pain
points? Adding all the bells and whistles might seem like a great
idea, but do those features actually benefit your customers?
Zero in on how you can exceed their expectations to forge long-
lasting connections.
TNEX
TNEX launched in 2020 to become the first digital-
only bank in Vietnam.
Personalisation
Consumers want bespoke products that 48% 47%
accommodate their specific lifestyles.
Merchandise, services or campaigns need to
be geared towards each individual buyer and
their particular needs. Custom dosages and wanted products and liked to be distinct
formulations are just two examples of this services uniquely from others
evolution. tailored to them
Data collection from smart devices and
digital tools unlocked a new level of insight
for consumers. They have more information
about their health, nutrition and habits than
ever before. And that is propelling demand 47% 38%
for hyper-tailored options. Despite privacy
concerns, consumers see the benefit of sharing
their data for this purpose.
expected personalised shared their data to
Brands are tasked with putting the “custom”
experiences as an receive personalised
in “customer.” You’ll want to offer solutions or
incentive for sharing their and targeted offers
deliver precision products that address certain
concerns.
preferences with retailers
or brands
Note: Percentage of consumers.
Source: Euromonitor International Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyles Survey, fielded January/February 2023 and Voice
of the Consumer: Digital Survey, fielded March/April 2022
Samsung
FOCUS AREAS FOR Samsung’s Bespoke Design Studio
gives consumers creative control with
INNOVATION custom colour selections for their
appliances. In 2022, Samsung added
Competitive advantage
the ability for shoppers to incorporate
Personalised products and services are rapidly
artwork—even their own photographs
expanding. Prices are falling through scale and
—into the design.
tech improvements. Plus, the competition can be
fierce.
Source: Samsung
You’ll need to differentiate your value
proposition. That could be through credible
analytics, transparent methods or tapping into
unmet consumer needs, for example.
Premiumisation
Premium holds a variety of meanings for
different people. And individual priorities are
often the force behind those perceptions.
Positioning
Your positioning strategy is crucial. You really need to lean into
your USPs and convey benefits or quality. Align with consumer
values to create a level of aspiration. Demonstrating how your
products contribute to their lifestyles or further their goals can
entice consumers to trade up.
A wellness lens
Health is high on the list of priorities for consumers. And
they’re more inclined to try new items, even higher-cost
solutions, to live better and for longer. You should tout your
wellness benefits.
Digital capabilities
Tech is often the driver of many premium solutions. The use
of AI and robotics, for example, supports the development of
Source: Carrefour tailored and time-saving solutions that warrant a higher price
point. The right integrations can improve your offer and user
Carrefour experience, which could assert a premium positioning.
Carrefour launched a new range of premium craft
beers in Poland that are brewed with natural
vegetable juices. The locally sourced products are
fully vegan and appeal to consumers willing to pay for
healthier varieties.
Pursuit of Value
Economic volatility over the years created
cautious spending habits. Consumers across
income classes and markets have a savvier
mindset, which helps them prepare for future
shocks.
44% liked to find bargains or desire to be less wasteful. Brands will need to
cater to varying demands.
Creative solutions
Explicit benefits
Think about new business models or solutions that help extend the life of
Shoppers make purchases based on
products. Refurbished or secondhand goods can make your brand accessible
research, recommendations or facts. Though
at a lower cost. Plus, these options cater to conscious consumption and waste
motivations tend to differ, their decisions are
reduction. You could also explore alternatives to pure ownership like renting or
informed because they’re weighing all options.
net-new production like repairing.
Your product marketing needs to clearly
communicate the value of your offer. Be
transparent and use trusted information
sources like customer reviews as
reinforcement.
to deliver a truly curated, consumer-centric Source: Euromonitor International Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyles Survey, fielded January/February 2023
experience.
But a big challenge remains: the price tag. Share my opinion on social or political issues
on social media
Consumers aren’t typically willing (or even
able) to pay a premium for these solutions.
Brands will need to make the sustainable option Buy from brands that support social and
political issues aligned with my values
an affordable one, too.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Source: Euromonitor International Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyles Survey, fielded January/February 2023
Affordable alternatives
The intent and desire to live sustainably is evident. But
affordability continues to be the top challenge preventing mass
adoption.
Circularity
Consumers turn to rentals, refurbished items or secondhand
goods for lower-cost and more resourceful options. Circular
business models can help bridge the gap between sustainability
and affordability. Dole
Fruit and vegetable producer Dole repurposes
Explore these revenue streams for your brand, and think misshapen crops at its Thai farms to reduce food
outside your offer, too. Consider how you can reduce waste or waste. The company turns unsellable produce into
reuse materials throughout your supply chain. packaging made from banana leaves, snacks made
from vegetables and electricity processed in biogas
facilities.
Precise data
Consumers want accurate data to make informed decisions
about their health. Robust tech capabilities can help you provide
real-time monitoring and predictive solutions.
Source: Lumen
Lumen
Lumen created the first handheld device to track
metabolism.
HOW TO USE
MEGATRENDS
FOR STRATEGIC
PLANNING
First, you need to identify which megatrends are the most Next, evaluate the impact of each on your sectors or product
relevant for your business. Remember, there can be similarities categories. You’ll also want to examine quantitative shifts of the
and synergies but also contrasts. top drivers (e.g., population, internet access, expenditure, etc.).
Both exercises help you understand how the megatrends you
Take Pursuit of Value, for example. Consumers are reducing
selected will evolve over time.
waste or trading down, which converges with Sustainable Living
and Shopper Reinvented, among other megatrends. On the flip Begin to pinpoint specific consumer needs per megatrend that
side, their search for lower-priced options and bargains can also you can explore and look for relevant campaigns or case studies
counter Premiumisation. to see how each is materialising in the market. This insight can
direct your decisions and commercial roadmap.
Keep your customer top of mind. The ones you focus on should
align with their evolving needs but also your product portfolio
and market dynamics. Here’s a template to help guide your
selection process.
After you nail down your top ones, it’s time to prioritise. No
single organisation—no matter how global or diversified—can
address more than three or four of these at once. Megatrends
are powerful forces. Concentrate on the few that best appeal
to your brand, so your product development, acquisition and
marketing plans are positioned for success.
Voice of the Consumer: Health and Nutrition Survey Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyles Survey
Euromonitor International’s annual consumer tracking Euromonitor International’s annual consumer tracking survey
survey explores health and nutrition behaviours, perceptions, explores all areas of consumer life, from eating habits to home
expectations and attitudes. A diverse set of online panellists activities to online shopping to outlook for the future. A diverse
in 20 developed and emerging countries were invited to set of online panellists in 40 developed and emerging countries
participate between January and February 2022. 1,000 were invited to participate between January and February 2023.
responses were captured in each market. Panellists were pre- 1,000 responses were captured in each market. Panellists were
screened to ensure that the sample matched each country’s pre-screened to ensure that the sample matched each country’s
population according to nested quotas for age (from 15 to 74) population according to nested quotas for age (from 15 to 74)
and gender. and gender.