By Athira Nortajuddin

As ASEAN as a bloc is expected to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030, the region’s consumer habits are also expected to change in that period. According to the WEF’s Future of Consumption in Fast-Growth Consumer Markets: ASEAN report, some of these trends will be accelerated by the current coronavirus crisis.

The world’s next economic powerhouse. With a GDP growth rate that is third only to India and China, ASEAN is expected to grow by an annual 4% over the next decade, making this region the world’s fourth-largest economy. By 2030, ASEAN’s GDP will stretch to US$ 4.5 trillion and the population will reach 723 million. One in six households entering the world’s consuming class will come from ASEAN. Five million people will move into cities every year. Urbanization will sustain through 2050 and extend to Tier 2 cities.

However, while the region’s huge population and powerful economic momentum offer great potential, there are a host of complicating factors. Among the fundamental issues are the absence of a common currency, no open borders, and despite many recent ASEAN trade advances, each country maintains separate regulations.

According to Praneeth Yendamuri, a partner of Bain &Company, ASEAN growth will be propelled by four megaforces: strong demographic trends; rising income levels;geopolitical shifts increasing foreign investment; and digital advances opening new consumer markets.

These four mega-forces will deliver a new ASEAN consumption picture, with confident, informed and explorative millennial and Gen Z consumers shaping future consumption trends and behavior. They will leapfrog consumers in many larger economies in digital adoption. They will strive to be modern while preserving local identity. Millennials and Gen Z consumers will demand convenience, well-being and sustainability, and seek value for money as well as integrative experiences across channels.

Consumer spending to double

ASEAN’s middle-class is projected to grow to a point that it will comprise 67% of the region’s total population by 2030. Thus, total consumption will double across the region,with the Philippines experiencing the highest consumption growth.

Whereas in Indonesia, about 75% of the population there will be middle-class,contributing to 72% of all spending in the country. Across ASEAN, roughly one million households could rise above the poverty line of US$ 1,000 in annual household income.

The region’s booming middle-class will result in three major implications; 1)ASEAN consumption will grow by 2.2 times to nearly US$ 4 trillion by 2030; 2) A boost in the food and beverage (F&B) sector as ASEAN consumers will continue to spend more on F&B than on any other product category; and 3) Growth in sectors such as electronics, education and transport, are expected to experience seven to 8% growth annually.

Boundaries of premium and value shopping will blur

As ASEAN consumers go into social isolation amid the pandemic, consumption behaviour has changed significantly.Daily essentials, and goods focused on convenience and well-being have spiked,and are likely to see high demand even in a post COVID world.

An employee picks up orders from shelves in a warehouse at SingPost Regional eCommerce Logistics Hub in Singapore.

Over the next decade, “consumers will be willing to pay a premium for convenience, well-being and personalisation,” stated the WEF.

However, they will remain valueconscious as 62% of high-income consumers surveyed by Bain &Company in 2019 rated price as a top purchase criterion.

Digital ubiquity and technology

The pandemic has accelerated digital adoption worldwide, with many consumers making their first digital purchases and existing consumers spending even more time online.According to Bain & Company, across the region, total streaming time over mobile phones grew 60% from 20 January to 11 April this year. Today,ASEAN consumers spend up to 1.2 times more online than the global average. By 2030, an estimated 80% of the ASEAN population will be online.

Technology-enabled platforms will also tear down socio-economic walls

As ASEAN consumers leapfrog into digital adoption, this will enable the underserved to access basic services such as healthcare, education and financial services. The WEF report states that mobile banking penetration is expected to reach levels 1.3 times that of the United States.

Local and regional competitive winds will prevail

Local and regional brands are outgrowing global players. For example,it was revealed in the WEF report that overall, local companies have outperformed multinationals by 9%annually over the past five years in the hot drinks sub-category.

In Indonesia according to Bain &Company, 80% of consumers prefer local brands to global brands, especially in food categories. This trend will likely continue even in times of crisis. During the pandemic, local F&B conglomerates are also at an advantage, as consumers seek for lower prices, availability with a preference for brands that offer farm to factory visibility.

In specific categories, Asian brands from South Korea and Japan are also seeing a growing influence in the region compared to Western brands. Other than that,within Indonesia and Malaysia, Islamic branding is also taking off, raising the potential for the region to become the global centre for Muslim brands.

Moving beyond omni-channel

Omni-channel retailing will prevail across ASEAN in 2030, predicts the WEF. While E-commerce will grow the fastest, reaching 13% penetration from 3% today, offline channels will still be relevant.

“Consumers will switch between online and offline throughout their consumption journey. As a result, social media, E-commerce, everyday apps and offline channels will converge into an integrated platform,” stated the WEF in its report.

Convenience is the new currency

In a Bain & Company study, two out of three urban consumers in the region rank convenience as one of their top criteria for purchases. This means that there is an opportunity for “super-apps”to provide a one-stop shop, leveraging on data to extend to multiple services.An example of this is China’s WeChat,described as an “app for everything”which provides text messaging, location sharing, video conferencing, an e-wallet and video games, among others.

Health and the planet nonnegotiable

According to the WEF report, 80% of surveyed respondents said they value sustainability and have made lifestyle changes to be eco-friendlier.

Sustainability is a growing requirement across ASEAN markets, with emerging ASEAN — Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines — leading the effort.Although the region lags behind global standards, demand will accelerate in the next 10 years as consumer and institutional awareness grows, along with a willingness to pay.

In order to achieve the above vision,committed collaboration among stakeholders is required, through innovative and inclusive business models supported by a favourable policy environment.