New Ventures

Implications - Already used to looking at their phones when they need to look something up, the next step for consumers is looking to their phones for help in real life situations, from styling advice to pet healthcare. On-demand services are gaining ground in the app world, allowing small businesses to connect with a vast network of consumers seeking their specific services, demonstrating the increasing amount of trust consumers have for the on-demand business model. [More]

Implications - For consumers who are either too busy or otherwise inconvenienced every time they need to run an errand, there are a multitude of on-demand apps sprouting up to fulfill these niche needs. Saving consumers time, energy and even worry about potentially forgetting something, instant deliveries and services mean consumers don’t have to run out on their lunch breaks to get their laundry done or make a special trip for gas or milk. In a culture where the phrase "there's an app for that" increasingly rings true, instant gratification and hyper-convenience reign supreme. [More]

Implications - Attaining the celebrity lifestyle is becoming easier than ever with on-demand apps that can conjure up personal yoga classes, yachts and other VIP experiences within moments. This instant gratification gives consumers a chance to realize their every whim without actually having the budget to own the items or have the services on call, democratizing the lifestyle of luxury. [More]

Implications - As the share economy continues to expand and evolve, a new breed of employee is emerging along with a wave of opportunity for new businesses to adopt a share-conscious B2B model. Particularly with the omnipotence of services like Airbnb and Uber, startup businesses are starting to cater to the needs of workers in these emerging areas, whether it be insurance for ride-share vehicles or home prep services for short-term renters. [More]

Implications - As consumers seek more freedom from their time-crunched schedules, traveling the world is becoming more accessible than ever, especially with the integration of P2P solutions offering a more intuitive approach to gaining worldly experience. One of the biggest benefits of leveraging the P2P economy, including peer-facing apps offering detailed insights from locals, is that modern travelers get the insider access they seek, facilitating communal integration rather than going the surface-level tourist route. [More]

Implications - Exploring non-traditional combinations and formulations, Asian snack brands are continuously coming out with flavors that dare to create unlikely matches. Taking simple snacking products and breathing new life into them through surprising spices and seasonings draws in curious consumers hungry for change. This experimental approach to flavor pushes the boundaries for emerging trends in snacking, establishing Asia as the top destination for the truly insatiable flavor-seeker desiring exposure to extraordinary taste experiences. [More]

Implications - As creatively inclined robotics become more commonplace, they are being utilized to take on challenges in manufacturing across industries to produce feats in construction, fashion and more. Able to work with tricky materials and adapt to different demands and conditions, emerging robot technology is increasingly relied upon as a resourceful production asset that also acts as a draw for consumers looking for uniquely manufactured products. [More]

Implications - With the understanding that most consumers seek out memorable experiences they can then share through social media, brands are carefully curating sensory-packed spaces that cater specifically to that desire. Through elaborately immersive visual merchandising that sparks emotions within consumers, the modern retail environment has found a way to adapt to the highly competitive digital space by playing into it. [More]

Implications - Embracing the increasing interconnectivity of digital and physical, consumers are leveraging online resources to make their shopping experience, even more intuitive. Brands are adapting by taking an omnichannel approach to their consumer engagement, offering personalized assistive functions that help make shopping, either online or in-store, much more seamless. Where friction creates a barrier to purchase, brands that enhanced the shopper experience through impactful micro-moments will win out with the increasingly digital modern consumer. [More]

Implications - Apps offering free data or money in exchange for usage are enticing young audiences to monetize their leisure time. Leveraging data as currency, these companies are finding creative ways to circumvent the growing culture of “walking ad blockers” and engage mobile users. In the spirit of the growing demand for net neutrality, apps that offer free data access will not only allow cost-conscious consumers to stay connected longer, they will also provide opportunity for getting people in developing countries online. [More]