Top trends and priorities focus on efficiency, experience and resilience

 

We met with 113 retail, consumer goods and wholesale executives to understand their top priorities and how they are preparing for and adapting to key trends shaping their organisations. This year, executives are prioritising:

  • Enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs to offset inflationary pressures
  • Modernising legacy systems and using AI to drive efficiency, personalization, and smarter forecasting and replenishment
  • Venturing into new markets and rapidly investing in new products and services to secure growth
  • Improving customer experience to win and keep customers
  • Reshoring closer to their markets and diversifying to enhance

 

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Inflationary pressures, combined with geopolitical instability and supply chain uncertainties, are accelerating an AI-driven transformation.

#1 IT priority
Modernising IT infrastructure and legacy systems
#1 business priority
Enhancing operational efficiency for cost management and performance
39%
Identify regulatory, economic and geopolitical uncertainty as top constraints to achieving business priorities
 
 

Technology remains vital, while shifting political and regulatory landscapes grows considerably more significant.

  • 57%
    identify technology and digital acceleration as the top macro trend
  • 55%
    cite changing political, fiscal and regulatory environments
  • 51%
    cite the fight against climate change, including the energy transition
  • 42%
    say global economic shifts are disrupting operations and supply chains
  • 41%
    cite market concentration and oligopolies as a new macro trend
picture of a retail shop on mobile

Digital leaders excel in data, AI and ecosystem-wide strategies

42% of organisations generating expected results from their digitisation strategies—the digital leaders—share common traits that help them deliver superior performance. In retail, consumer goods and wholesale, digital leaders:

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Are producing results from their data privacy and protection strategy extending to the ecosystem

+41pp

vs. industry average

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Have a holistic data strategy extending to the ecosystem

+22pp

vs. industry average

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Have a holistic AI strategy extending to the ecosystem

+15pp

vs. industry average

* "Digital leaders” are those producing expected results, and “others” are those building or launching their digital strategies.

pp = percentage points

 

At CGI, we help retail, consumer goods and wholesale leaders leverage AI and data-driven approaches to boost profitability by delivering seamless omnichannel customer experiences, enhancing supply chain agility, streamlining store operations, and optimising IT spend. Learn more about:

 

  Managed IT services   Artificial intelligence  Business Consulting