A report of The Economist Intelligence Unit underscore three trends that will define businesses in 2016 - parsimony, regulatory tightening, and digital disruption.
The following extract gives a glimpse of the threats and opportunities in a host of industries and businesses including Automobiles, Consumer goods and retail, Energy, Financial Services, Healthcare, and Telecoms -
"....... the trends set to play out in 2016 will not just cause companies problems, but also spur fresh opportunities. Spreading public health provision in developing countries, for instance, will open up new markets for medicines and hospital care. Nimble financial technology (“FinTech”) companies intend to run rings around the giants of their industry—many of whom, though belaboured with regulations, nonetheless remain mighty. Their interest margins stand to be bolstered by rising interest rates in the US and UK; despite tough economic conditions, many of their emerging market peers are in strong positions to weather any financial storms.
The onslaught of internet access and usage is throwing the world of telecoms companies upside down, but also affording them chances to open up new streams of revenue: providing content directly to consumers, for instance. Companies in all industries will strive to collect, interpret and capitalise on vast amounts of new data. “Big data” will be harnessed to understand consumers, improve healthcare and cut firms’ energy bills. The pan-industry push towards more environmentally friendly use of energy will spur everything from production of renewable power to the spread of industrial automation and the “internet of things”.
As the wheels of business whir on, in the background the 12 signatories to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement will go about the slow process of domestically ratifying the deal. That will be difficult, but is likely to happen eventually—just not in 2016".
