http://www.booz.com/cr-foresight Highlighting our latest thinking on creating competitive advantage through consumer, products and retail, now and in the future. Wed, 16 May 2012 10:27:20 -0500 http://www.booz.com/media/image/boozco-logo_for_rss.gif http://www.booz.com/cr-foresight 88 30 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Best-Cost-Country-Sourcing.pdf?gko=96b57 Best-cost country sourcing (BCCS) has traditionally been driven by labor-cost arbitrage opportunities. However, as wages and ancillary costs rise in emerging markets, companies need to rethink and upgrade their BCCS capabilities. Booz & Company has created a guide, enabling organizations to evaluate and improve their BCCS maturity level and develop sustainable strategies to achieve substantial cost advantages in a rapidly changing world. by Harald Dutzler, Dave Phillips, Anna Mansson, and Sriram Parthasarathy Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Best-Cost-Country-Sourcing.pdf?gko=96b57 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Ensuring-Success-Shopper-Marketing.pdf?gko=96b57 As CPG companies expand shopper marketing programs, executives are faced with the challenge of developing and enhancing the skill set of their sales force and fostering an effective collaboration between their sales and marketing teams. By ensuring that their sales teams act on analysis, think strategically, create and manage networks of interest, and are fully involved in all stages of shopper marketing initiatives, CPG companies can improve their sales and marketing effectiveness and reap rewards in enhanced retail relationships, market share, and profitability. by Matthew Egol and Jon Van Duyne Sun, 20 Nov 2011 01:59:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Ensuring-Success-Shopper-Marketing.pdf?gko=96b57 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Capturing-Procurement-Savings.pdf?gko=96b57 In the current austere economic environment, procurement savings have become a key contributor to companies' bottom lines. However, for most organizations, the expected procurement savings seem to leak away and are never captured. To tackle this problem and maximize savings, companies need to have in place six organizational elements (ranging from strong budgeting processes to interdepartmental buy-in) to overcome tactical challenges and implement sustainable cross-functional cost reduction initiatives. by Harry Hawkes, Pat W. Houston, and Martha D. Turner Sun, 20 Nov 2011 01:58:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Capturing-Procurement-Savings.pdf?gko=96b57 http://twitter.com/stratandbiz The biggest ideas in business are now just a tweet away. Follow strategy+business , Booz & Company's award-winning management quarterly, on its new Twitter platform @stratandbiz . For more of s+b's trademark mix of analysis, strategic commentary, and leading ideas, visit s+b on Facebook Sun, 20 Nov 2011 01:57:00 -0600 http://twitter.com/stratandbiz http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Evolving-Supply-Management-Leadership.pdf?gko=96b57 As companies increasingly expect the procurement function to drive results beyond traditional price levers, the role of the chief procurement officer (CPO) has evolved beyond commercial negotiations into a more holistic cost management function. The new role profile includes a deep involvement in purchasing strategy, risk management, and supplier development. To address this evolving dynamic, Booz & Company has put together a blueprint with the capabilities and sets of actions necessary for CPOs to succeed in driving incremental and sustainable value for their companies. by Martha D. Turner, Rohit Singh, Bruce D. Thelen, and Jim Davis Sun, 20 Nov 2011 01:57:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Evolving-Supply-Management-Leadership.pdf?gko=96b57 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BaC-Turning_Like_to_Buy.pdf?gko=96b57 As consumers spend more time on social media networks of all kinds, a new market for social commerce promises to transform the retail landscape and emerge as a significant sales channel on its own. This new channel offers great opportunities for companies to generate awareness, entice customers to buy, and cultivate their loyalty along the purchase path. To succeed, companies must learn to build compelling customer experiences on social network platforms. by Matt Anderson, Jennifer Brusa, Jerell Price, and Joe Sims Tue, 10 May 2011 02:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BaC-Turning_Like_to_Buy.pdf?gko=96b57 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-E-Commerce-Imperative-Traditional-Retailers.pdf?gko=96b57 Traditional retailers are often hard-pressed to find a winning formula to compete in the e-commerce ecosystem. The key driver of success is the ability to adopt a new mind-set and let go of old conventions. By understanding how online and traditional retail models can reinforce each other, bricks-and-mortar retailers can develop a clear customer experience continuum and build the foundation for transforming themselves into successful multichannel players. by Harald Dutzler, Coen de Vuijst, Robbert Huisman, and Michal Bohanes Tue, 10 May 2011 01:59:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-E-Commerce-Imperative-Traditional-Retailers.pdf?gko=96b57 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Building-Resilient-Supply-Chain.pdf?gko=96b57 The constant drive to lower supply chain costs through outsourcing and sole sourcing exposes companies to ever-increasing disruption risks. To mitigate these risks and avoid catastrophic disruptions, companies need to make risk management an ongoing activity, and adopt a resilience framework that helps assess risks and develop mitigation strategies. Equally important to a resilient supply chain is the ability of the organization to foster a culture of reliability that crosses all functional divisions. by Martha D. Turner Tue, 10 May 2011 01:58:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Building-Resilient-Supply-Chain.pdf?gko=96b57 http://mobile.booz.com/?gko=2605c We are pleased to introduce mobile.booz.com , a mobile website specially designed and optimized for web-enabled smartphones like iPhones, Android phones, and even iPads and the iPod touch. Mobile.booz.com gives you access to the best thought leadership and research offered by Booz & Company, not just about IT, but also about media, telecommunications and a variety of other topics. Each channel offers short article summaries as well as links to complete article PDFs. Please visit mobile.booz.com from your smartphone's browser, or for more information, go to http://booz.com/mobile . We encourage you to try it out. Tue, 10 May 2011 01:57:00 -0500 http://mobile.booz.com/?gko=2605c http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Capable-Supply-Chain-Strategy.pdf?gko=96b57 Companies often fail to marry their supply chains with their strategic goals, forgoing the opportunity to use supply chain management as a differentiator and to gain superior returns through a coherence premium. To foster this alignment, Booz & Company has developed a capabilities profiler based on six archetypes to test an organization's supply chain coherence against its business model. The profiler helps companies focus on the necessary supply chain levers and key capabilities to achieve ongoing sustainable success. by Richard Kauffeld, Curt Mueller, and Adam Michaels Tue, 10 May 2011 01:57:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Capable-Supply-Chain-Strategy.pdf?gko=96b57 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Restructuring-Consumer-Products-Coherence.pdf?gko=96b57 Consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies are increasingly recognizing that a winning strategy depends more on their capabilities than on their physical assets and that growth cannot come at the cost of coherence. To achieve sustained superior returns and essential advantage in a rapidly evolving marketplace, companies should focus on their core differentiators and organize their portfolios and investment decisions around a coherent capabilities system. by J. Neely, Paul Leinwand, and Amit Misra Fri, 21 Jan 2011 02:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Restructuring-Consumer-Products-Coherence.pdf?gko=96b57 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/Does_Size_Matter.pdf?gko=96b57 Traditionally, CPG companies in developed markets have sought scale to drive superior shareholder returns. Whereas size might still be a success factor for CPG players in high-growth markets with developing retail networks, it is the smaller, more focused players that have delivered above-average performance in developed economies. The key to success seems to be the ability to deploy a capabilities-driven strategy and a highly coherent business model. by Steffen Lauster and Elisabeth Hartley Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:59:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/Does_Size_Matter.pdf?gko=96b57 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/Roasted_or_Fried.pdf?gko=96b57 While growth slows in mature markets, multinationals are turning increasingly to less developed high-growth economies to achieve expansion goals. The opportunities are great, but success depends on responding to tough competition from local champions, understanding the specific market dynamics of each region, and transforming existing operating models to meet the needs of new business environments. Booz & Company has developed a six-point growth framework to help companies identify the key issues that must be considered when entering high-growth economies. by Vikas Sehgal, Steffen Lauster, Erwin Mayr, and Ganesh Panneer Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:58:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/Roasted_or_Fried.pdf?gko=96b57 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Understanding-Forgotten-Billions-Least-Advantaged-Consumers.pdf?gko=96b57 Consumer firms seeking growth in developing economies often focus on the emerging middle classes and overlook the important and sizable opportunity at the bottom of the income pyramid. For companies bold enough to target this segment, there are unparalleled opportunities for growth, innovation, and learning. In order to succeed, these organizations need to apply a flexible and coherent operating model that meets the basic needs and aspirations of the world's poorest consumers. by Vikas Sehgal, Edward Tse, Sudipta Bhattacharya, and Ganesh Panneer Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:57:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BoozCo-Understanding-Forgotten-Billions-Least-Advantaged-Consumers.pdf?gko=96b57 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/books/essential_advantage?gko=e4d0d In Booz & Company's new book, The Essential Advantage: How to Win with a Capabilities-Driven Strategy, Paul Leinwand and Cesare Mainardi argue that companies often find themselves stretched thin when pursuing growth as they decide to apply multiple strategies and play in too many disparate markets. To achieve a measurable performance premium and deliver lasting competitive advantage, companies need to adopt a capabilities-driven strategy and develop a clear understanding of what they do best and how they create value for customers. by Paul Leinwand and Cesare Mainardi Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:56:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/books/essential_advantage?gko=e4d0d http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/The_Path_Back_to_Retail_Growth.pdf?gko=96b57 Having expanded rapidly during the boom years, many retailers now find themselves with excess store capacity and too many product lines. The way ahead involves revisiting existing spaces, rationalizing assortments, rethinking product ranges, and developing new store formats to meet ever-changing customer needs. by Simon Harper, Paul Leinwand, Marcelo Tau, and Laura Harnett Wed, 27 Oct 2010 01:56:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/The_Path_Back_to_Retail_Growth.pdf?gko=96b57 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/Reinventing_Retail.pdf?gko=96b57 In the future it won't be enough for retailers to simply react quickly to economic cycles by contracting or expanding. They'll need to seek truly sustainable forms of advantage by creating permanently low-cost operating models, becoming more agile, increasing labor productivity, and harnessing technology to improve efficiency. by Thomas Ripsam, Namit Kapoor, Matt Mani, and Anu Sharma Wed, 27 Oct 2010 01:55:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/Reinventing_Retail.pdf?gko=96b57 http://www.strategy-business.com/article/00033?gko=b2721 In a market still smarting from the recession, luxury goods companies are struggling to recapture the hearts and desires of the less wealthy consumers who make up the bulk of their sales. The winners will be those that can retain the loyalty of the very rich, while tempting back aspirational buyers with their diffusion brands. by Steven Treppo and Bart Sayer Wed, 27 Oct 2010 01:54:00 -0500 http://www.strategy-business.com/article/00033?gko=b2721 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/Forever_Frugal.pdf?gko=96b57 The results of our survey make sober reading for retailers, with U.S. consumers behaving even more frugally than a year ago, spending less and continuing to trade down. As the recovery continues to be elusive, caution is the order of the day, with only a small minority expecting to spend more. All this points to continuing pressure on prices and margins. by Nick Hodson, Marcelo Tau, Andrew Clyde, and Matt Egol Wed, 27 Oct 2010 01:53:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/Forever_Frugal.pdf?gko=96b57