New report from Deloitte Global finds slow digital adoption in the chemicals industry

• Over 50 percent of chemical companies surveyed lack an enterprise digital strategy and transformation roadmap
• Without enterprise digital strategies, many chemical enterprises may miss critical opportunities for innovation, talent management, and value creation
• 5 enablers identified to possibly augment their existing digital agendas

NEW YORK, NY, USA, 2 February, 2017—Increased competition, changing customer needs, an evolving regulatory environment, and dynamic cost equations weigh heavily on chemical enterprises today. In the face of this challenging environment, many chemical enterprises are focused on reinventing their business and operating models through transformational trends emanating from other industries. Yet, according to a new report by Deloitte Global’s Consumer & Industrial Products Industry group: Digital Transformation: Are chemical enterprises ready? many are missing a critical opportunity as 52 percent of chemical enterprises surveyed lack a digital strategy and transformation roadmap.

The report analysis is based on the collection of survey responses from 102 executives from more than 50 chemical enterprises with a balanced mix across North America, Western Europe and North Asia. The data from the survey begins a multiyear research initiative to explore the opportunities and challenges digital trends present to chemical enterprises.

The survey uncovered that organizational agility (55 percent) and flexibility (39 percent) are challenges experienced by chemical enterprises that may limit a digitally-led business transformation. “While most of the responsibility to execute digital initiatives currently resides with the information technology or the newly created digital department, many executives believe that individual business units or functions should take full ownership,” said Wolfgang Falter, Chemicals & Specialty Materials Sector Leader, Deloitte Global.

According to the report, there are five enablers chemical enterprises can consider to augment their existing digital agendas:

• Develop a robust business transformation process starting with a clear digital enterprise strategy
• Build a sustainable insight-driven advantage in the entire organization
• Identify and mitigate cyber risks in complex and dynamic ecosystems
• Establish agile operating models internally and externally
• Embed total innovation to encourage corporate collaboration, learning, and a cultural behavioral shift

“A clear digital enterprise strategy can generate significant value through business model innovation, customer experience enhancement, and operational excellence,” said Yann Cohen, Digital Chemistry Leader, Deloitte Global. “Senior leadership in chemical enterprises have a window of opportunity to proactively drive a culture combining digital and innovation, which could likely enable a business transformation led by total innovation and focused on talent management and shareholder value creation.”

View the report at www.deloitte.com/digitalchemistry.

Deloitte Global Consumer & Industrial Products Industry group

The Deloitte Global Consumer & Industrial Products Industry group (Global C&IP) comprises more than 22,000 member firm partners and industry professionals in over 45 countries. Deloitte member firms provide professional services to 84 percent of the C&IP industry companies on the Fortune Global 500^®, making an impact that matters in business sectors representing the entire value chain from raw materials to the end consumer. The group brings deep industry knowledge, service line experience, and thought leadership to solving complex business issues in every corner of the globe. Deloitte member firms attract, develop, and retain the best professionals, and instill a set of shared values centered on integrity, commitment, and serving clients with distinction. Sectors served include aerospace and defense; automotive; chemicals and specialty materials, including metals, forest, paper and packaging; consumer products; industrial products and services; retail, wholesale and distribution; as well as travel, hospitality and business services.

For more information about the Global C&IP Industry group, please visit www.deloitte.com/manufacturing and www.deloitte.com/consumerbusiness.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.Deloitte provides audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax and related services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. Deloitte serves four out of five Fortune Global 500^® companies through a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries bringing world-class capabilities, insights, and high-quality service to address clients’ most complex business challenges. To learn more about how Deloitte’s approximately 245,000 professionals make an impact that matters, please connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.