Preface to Business Trends 2013

Welcome to Deloitte’s inaugural report on some of the most important emerging business trends that influence executives’ approach to top-line strategy. These aren’t the only trends in business today, but we’ve focused on these eight for a variety of reasons. First, these trends have the potential to have a significant impact on business strategy within the next two years, beginning right now. Second, each of these issues has continued to bubble up in our conversations with clients and other business leaders over the past year. Our research bears out those impressions and informs the forward-looking view of this report.

Our theme for these trends is Adapt. Evolve. Transform. because each has the potential to upend long-held assumptions, energize strategic planning efforts, and even fundamentally shift the business environment for individual companies or industries. If you’re looking for ideas to challenge your thinking today and spur some big new ideas, look no further.

This year, we have grouped our trends into two categories. “Get Closer” trends are those that offer the potential to help organizations become more interconnected with customers, partners, and other stakeholders such as governments. “Reach Further” trends can help you find new opportunities, products, markets, and leaders. Of course, there’s plenty of overlap between the trends in these categories, and each of them deserves your attention.

Each trend is structured similarly, to help you get the most value from reading them. In a few words, each entry answers critical questions: What is this trend about? What drivers are contributing to this trend? What lessons have leaders already learned about this trend? What advice can be offered for someone who wants to turn this trend to his or her advantage?

Thanks for your interest in this year’s report. As always, we welcome your feedback and questions—and we wish you the best as you turn to face new strategic challenges and opportunities this year.

Mike Canning

Principal and National Managing Director, Strategy & Operations, Deloitte Consulting LLP

Jessica Kosmowski

Principal and Chief Marketing Officer, Strategy & Operations, Deloitte Consulting LLP