Retail and consumer products companies are at a pivotal crossroads. The pace of change—accelerated by shifting consumer behaviors, technological innovation, and global disruptions—has made digital business transformation not just a competitive advantage, but a necessity for survival and growth. At Publicis Sapient, we help leading retailers and consumer product brands navigate this complexity, integrating omnichannel strategies, modernizing supply chains, and leveraging data-driven customer engagement to unlock new sources of value.
The pandemic fundamentally changed how consumers interact with brands. Today, 75% of U.S. consumers are fully omnichannel, seamlessly moving between digital and physical touchpoints—online, in-store, mobile, curbside, and more. Omnichannel is no longer a differentiator; it’s the baseline for relevance and growth. Retailers have responded by rapidly deploying new capabilities such as curbside pickup, same-day delivery, virtual assistants, and endless aisle solutions. However, the real challenge lies in integrating these features into a cohesive, data-driven ecosystem that delivers value for both customers and the business.
Publicis Sapient’s SPEED framework—Strategy, Product, Experience, Engineering, and Data—ensures that omnichannel capabilities are not siloed, but work together to create seamless, personalized experiences. This approach enables retailers to meet customers wherever they are, anticipate their needs, and deliver consistent value across every channel.
While digital sales have soared, profitability remains a critical concern. Many brick-and-mortar retailers with e-commerce channels report that online sales are less profitable than in-store, and even pure-play e-commerce retailers face challenges in hitting profit targets. Rising logistics costs, supply chain complexity, and the need for significant investment in technology and talent are key factors.
Despite understanding the levers for improving profitability, many retailers struggle to execute due to organizational silos, legacy technology, and data complexity. Publicis Sapient helps clients break through these barriers by aligning strategy and execution, modernizing technology stacks, and building agile, cross-functional teams that can respond to market shifts in real time. Our SPEED framework provides a clear path forward, ensuring that every investment drives measurable business outcomes.
The supply chain has moved from a back-office function to a boardroom priority. Disruptions have exposed the fragility of traditional models, but they have also created opportunities for reinvention. Leading retailers are investing in supply chain visibility, automation, and AI-driven optimization to reduce costs, improve fulfillment speed, and enhance the customer experience.
Publicis Sapient partners with global retailers to implement AI-powered route optimization, reducing delivery times and emissions while improving customer satisfaction. We help clients deploy micro-fulfillment centers and dynamic inventory management, enabling same-day delivery and curbside pickup at scale. These initiatives not only drive operational efficiency but also unlock new revenue streams and business models.
Data is the connective tissue of modern retail and consumer products. The ability to collect, analyze, and act on data in real time separates leaders from laggards. AI and advanced analytics power everything from hyper-personalized marketing to dynamic pricing, inventory forecasting, and customer service automation.
Our SPEED approach places data and AI at the heart of transformation. We help clients build unified data platforms, break down silos, and deploy AI solutions that drive measurable business outcomes. Whether it’s optimizing product recommendations, predicting demand, or automating customer support, our focus is on delivering value at every stage of the customer journey.
The next frontier in retail and consumer products is not just digital—it’s human. As technology becomes more pervasive, the brands that win will be those that use digital to create more meaningful, personalized, and emotionally resonant experiences. This means designing journeys that are intuitive, inclusive, and responsive to the evolving needs of customers.
Our work with leading brands demonstrates the power of this approach. For example, we’ve helped global retailers implement immersive, omnichannel experiences and launch new digital business models that increase loyalty, drive higher lifetime value, and create sustainable competitive advantage. Our SPEED framework ensures that strategy, product, experience, engineering, and data are integrated to drive continuous innovation and growth.
Digital business transformation in retail and consumer products is complex, but it’s also an unprecedented opportunity. Publicis Sapient brings deep sector expertise, a proven transformation framework, and a track record of delivering results for some of the world’s most iconic brands. Our SPEED philosophy ensures that every aspect of your transformation journey is integrated and aligned to drive continuous innovation and growth.
In a world where change is the only constant, we help our clients not just adapt, but lead—unlocking new sources of value, building future-ready business models, and creating experiences that help people thrive in the brave pursuit of next.
Ready to transform? Connect with us to learn how Publicis Sapient can help your retail or consumer products business navigate the future of omnichannel, profitability, and customer experience.