Bargain hunting abroad
The pandemic has accelerated online purchases and package deliveries, with shoppers increasingly buying goods from foreign markets. The reasons vary based on region. Consumers in Western countries, for example, cite lower product prices as a primary motivation for buying from Asian countries. Shoppers in Asian countries say products not being available domestically and lower delivery costs are top reasons to purchase from Western countries.
To read the article, see “Signed, sealed, and delivered: Unpacking the cross-border parcel market’s promise,” March 17, 2022.
Innovation ain’t easy
The insurance industry has a lot to gain through innovation, and C-suite leaders ranked it as one of their top two priorities in a 2020 survey. But delivering sustainable growth through innovation doesn’t come easily. Maintaining a balanced innovation portfolio involves distinct pathways for product development—derisking, accelerating, and derisking and accelerating—each resulting in different potential rates of return.
To read the article, see “Five steps to improve innovation in the insurance industry,” March 4, 2022.
An app a day?
In Germany, health apps have taken off during the pandemic. Between the fall of 2019 and the summer of 2021, for example, the number of downloads of the top 40 e-health apps doubled to 2.4 million, with online appointment booking as one of the most popular categories.
To read the article, see “Germany’s e-health transformation makes uneven progress,” March 15, 2022.
Flights of fancy delivery
Your next online order might be airborne. Commercial deliveries via drone topped 600,000 globally in the past three years. Experts predict there will be as many as 1.5 million drone deliveries in 2022, distributing everything from pizzas to medical supplies.
To read the article, see “Drone delivery: More lift than you think,” March 15, 2022.
Arrivals and departures
Workers are on the move, for a number of reasons. Uncaring leaders, unsustainable expectations of work performance, and lack of career advancement are the top three reasons workers quit their jobs. And for those who returned to traditional employment, these workers were primarily lured back by workplace flexibility, with adequate compensation as a secondary reason.
To read the article, see “Gone for now, or gone for good? How to play the new talent game and win back workers,” March 9, 2022.
Cybersecurity blanket
Cyberthreats are proliferating, with unique strains of malware surging from less than 10 million in 2010 to more than 130 million a decade later. Some organizations now spend a greater share of security funds on managing active cyberattacks than they do on preventive measures. But those that adopt a proactive strategy will be better positioned for what’s on the horizon.
To read the article, see “Cybersecurity trends: Looking over the horizon,” March 10, 2022.