The rapid growth of China, India and other rapidly developing economies will tilt the world’s economic balance, creating huge new opportunities for manufacturers and retailers. At the same time, however, climate change and other environmental concerns will place intense pressure on companies to rethink every step of their production and distribution processes from initial energy inputs to waste disposal.

New technologies will make virtual reality a common day-to-day experience; biometry will be a key to security and authorization, while machine-to-machine communication (via mobile logistics, RFID and telematics) will open up new opportunities for supply chain flexibility and efficiency. Better use of consumer data will be critical. Together, such developments will change not only what consumers shop for, but how they shop and from whom they buy.

Put together, such trends don’t just mean more of the same. They point to a rapid evolution of consumer expectations and behaviours – and business models.