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  • June 2019 (Revised October 2019)
  • Technical Note
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Note on the Future of Commerce

By: William R. Kerr, Daniel O'Connor and Nathaniel Schwalb
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:27
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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.)
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About The Author

William R. Kerr

Entrepreneurial Management
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Related Work

    • June 2019 (Revised October 2019)
    • Faculty Research

    Note on the Future of Commerce

    By: William R. Kerr, Daniel O'Connor and Nathaniel Schwalb
Related Work
  • Note on the Future of Commerce By: William R. Kerr, Daniel O'Connor and Nathaniel Schwalb
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