Boston Consulting Group

Companies that master the use of data, successfully deploying advanced technological and organizational enablers in data applications across their ecosystems, are considered data champions. They generate consistently high scores on measures of productivity and customer experience, as well as of society and the environment. Accelerating Progress Almost all manufacturing companies have started their journey toward data excellence, but so far none have reached the end of the path.

The current pace of international climate action is insufficient across the board: Only 35% of emissions are covered by national net zero commitments by 2050, and only 7% by countries that complement bold targets with ambitious policies. Stronger commitments and actions are most critically needed from the ten largest emitters, which account for half of the gap to 1.5°C.

Why data is collected. Consumers’ perceptions of how their data will be used impact their willingness to share it in the first place. They prefer that their data be used to create short, informative, and engaging advertising content, or to help companies understand what product innovations they’d like to see. But they are much less comfortable with their data being shared with other companies, and they’re especially uncomfortable with it being sold.

Related Expertise: Oil and Gas January 06, 2022 By Maurice Berns, Rebecca Fitz, Lars Holm, Jamie Webster, and Betsy Winnike Key stakeholders believe that oil prices will remain high in the short term. They also think that companies need to plan for the transition to cleaner energy. Amid a backdrop of increasing commodity prices, investors are optimistic that the oil and gas (O&G) industry can continue its recent streak of strong short-term shareholder returns.

Modeling Equity Through Transportation Planning Evidence is mounting that mobility is a crucial factor in socioeconomic progress. According to a new global transportation study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the World Economic Forum (WEF), and the University of St. Gallen, shorter commuting times are a reliable indicator of an individual’s ability to escape poverty.

Related Expertise: Digital, Technology, and Data, Blockchain December 14, 2021 By Philip Evans, Marcos Aguiar, Matthew Williams, and Santino Lacanna In the digital era, the demand for trust is skyrocketing. So how does a company design a digital architecture to build trust among its stakeholders? Francis Fukuyama once described trust as “the single most important commodity that will determine the fate of a society.” Certainly, trust is a critical commodity for business.

Related Expertise: Consumer Products Industry, Retail Industry, Artificial Intelligence December 17, 2021 By Ashwin Bhave, Shishir Pathak, Marc Schuuring, and Dan Wald For the biggest impact, companies should focus on using AI, digitizing must-have capabilities, and adopting new ways of working. Consumer packaged goods makers know they need to upgrade their operations to digital. That much was clear from the hit their supply chains took during the pandemic.

Related Expertise: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Gender Equality, People Strategy December 01, 2021 By Matt Krentz, Ashley Dartnell, Anna Green, Emily Kos, and Susanne Locklair By leading with empathy and easing the burden on caregivers, employers demonstrate both kindness and business smarts as they mitigate the risk of losing critical talent. The pandemic continues to exact a heavy toll on working caregivers.

Related Expertise: Strategic Alliances, International Business January 13, 2022 By Gözde Yalazı Özbek, Konrad von Szczepanski, Nikolaus Lang, Huseyin Batu Yigit, André Kronimus, and Benjamin Gansel More companies are forging strategic alliances as they seek competitive advantage. Here’s what they must do to build and manage them successfully. The development and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in less than a year was a stunning achievement for science.

Related Expertise: Digital Transformation, Digital, Technology, and Data, Business Transformation December 07, 2021 By Patrick Forth, Romain de Laubier, Saibal Chakraborty, Tauseef Charanya, and Matteo Magagnoli A successful transformation leads to increased profitability and strategic advances, as our latest survey shows. But not enough companies are getting it right. Beyond the critical question of how to deliver a successful digital transformation, there are three other questions we hear a lot.