Euromonitor's Estelle Yang set to join SAP Industries Forum 2020

With lockdowns in effect, a major switch to e-retailing is expected amongst SEA consumers, led by the Philippines.

Estelle Yang, Senior Business Development Account Manager at Euromonitor International, works with different clients across Southeast Asia. She provides knowledgeable advice on investment initiatives and decisions, including IPO and M&A transactions, bond offerings and commercial due diligence.

Estelle’s expertise focuses on retailing and consumer food services Her most notable involvement includes Central Retailing Corporation's listing in Thailand’s stock exchange and Nutifood's bond offering, where she conducted a market assessment of the industry landscape..

Prior to joining Euromonitor, Estelle elevated in the ranks and gained relevant experience as a product manager at L’Oreal, where she spent around 3 years. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Yonsei University.

Estelle indulged an interview with Retail Asia ahead of her session at the upcoming SAP Industries Forum to discuss the Southeast Asia retail market in the midst of a global pandemic, as well as the new store and delivery formats that are reshaping business strategies and consumer behaviour.

Which markets in Southeast Asia are showing promising growth in the retail sector?
Before the spread of COVID-19, Indonesia was showing an exponential growth in the retail sector, registering the region’s highest growth rate per annum at 10.0% in the next five years (2020-2024). As most major cities and countries in Southeast Asia are entering the lockdown phase, we expect the growth to shift from general retailing to e-retailing specifically. Indonesia has quite a presence in e-retailing in absolute terms as well as a bright future in terms of future growth, but we have expected a faster forecast CAGR growth for e-retailing in the Philippines (34.5%), which will be accelerated by the lockdown and subsequent consumers’ switch to e-retailing.

What are some of the new trends that are reshaping retail strategies?
In Southeast Asia, digital payments and logistical excellence are at the nascent stage and are becoming the key growth factors reshaping the retail strategies in the region. “Bricks and clicks” stores will replace brick-and-mortar store formats, and we expect that various delivery/pick-up methods will burgeon in the region, such as BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick-up In Store) BOSS (Buy Online, Ship to Store), BORIS (Buy Online, Return In Store), BODFS (Buy Online, Deliver From Stores). Retailers adopting these new delivery/pick-up means and advanced payment methods will be able to stay ahead of the increasingly competitive e-retailing game.

Can you give us a glimpse of what you will share at the SAP Industries Forum 2020?
We will be sharing how next-generation technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and 5G, will accelerate the rate of change for businesses and consumers in the future.

SAP Industries Forum 2020: Reimagining the Future of Retail is on 23 April at 11:00 am (SGT). For details about the event, click here. To register, click here.