Note on the Future of Commerce

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.