Diverse expertise, applied across industries

How do German manufacturers of high-interest products view the topic of direct-to-consumer? What motivates them, and what challenges are decision-makers in marketing and sales organizations facing? And how relevant will D2C be for them by 2030? Our latest D2C study answers these questions.

The strength of associations lies in the diversity and creativity of their members. But how can this potential be made visible digitally and successfully leveraged collectively? Our Managing Partner Thomas Natkowski discussed these questions in an interview with Platoyo.

How can traditional German banks and credit institutions accelerate their digital transformation, achieve rapid visible results, and support long-term strategies in the process?

A European universal bank implemented a comprehensive project to meet the complex requirements of new regulations such as EMIR and the Dodd-Frank Act in a resource-efficient manner, whereby adjustments to IT, processes and clearing platforms as well as coordinated project management ensured compliance with the requirements at minimal additional cost.

A specialist bank in a German-speaking country was restructured through a rigorous savings and consolidation programme, using detailed analysis, optimized cost structures and focused projects to meet the requirements of owners and regulators, while local project management ensured close coordination with internal and external stakeholders and successful implementation.

A bank with millions of private customers and thousands of investment advisors set up a project to implement legal requirements for the advisory process in a timely and IT-supported manner, whereby the development of the IT adaptations was carried out in close coordination with an outsourcing partner in India and the project management coordinated capacities in order to achieve the goals despite resources being tied up by a merger.

Direct-to-consumer (D2C) offers great potential for manufacturers. Especially with mid- to high-interest products, manufacturers can often offer their customers a much better customer experience than retailers—and that's throughout the entire customer life cycle.

Physical stores in German cities and municipalities were under pressure long before the corona crisis. The trend of city dwellers relocating to the suburbs and increasing online shopping efficiency has indirectly led to stationary stores' closures.

In times of impending business closings due to the threat of the corona virus, the question arises of how viable the German retail sector is. Part of the answer will depend on how intensively local retailers are already operating on online channels.

To expand on a Berlin-based study that eStrategy Consulting conducted last fall, the research team conducted a wider joint analysis at seven major locations with property consultancy company Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).

At the end of the year there is a buzz in German retail. Just how well the stationary retail trade can hold its own is the same question every year. eStrategy Consulting took a look at the status of digitization on site, using Berlin's Ku'damm and Tauentzienstrasse as examples.