Publications
Publications
- June 2019 (Revised October 2019)
- HBS Case Collection
Note on the Future of Commerce
By: William R. Kerr, Daniel O'Connor and Nathaniel Schwalb
Abstract
In 2019, the retail and consumer product industries were undergoing a significant transformation. Over the past 50 years, what was once a highly fragmented industry began to consolidate, digitize, and increase convenience while lowering costs. The winning enterprises re-allocated their talent and capital towards new business models and capabilities while successfully managing their legacy businesses. There were also many terminal businesses that never crossed to the next generation of retailing. The note explains the major transformations occurring to the global consumer sector in 2019 and how leaders reacted.
Keywords
Trade; Demand and Consumers; Demographics; Transformation; Global Range; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Business Model; Leading Change; Retail Industry; Consumer Products Industry
Citation
Kerr, William R., Daniel O'Connor, and Nathaniel Schwalb. "Note on the Future of Commerce." Harvard Business School Technical Note 819-017, June 2019. (Revised October 2019.)