Boston Consulting Group (BCG) vs SoftServe

BCG Study: US Fashion Shoppers Prioritize Quality Over Low Price

A joint study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Women's Wear Daily (WWD) reveals that US fashion consumers increasingly value quality, style, and cultural relevance over low prices. The report 'Decoding Growth in Uncertain Times' surveyed 4,000 US consumers, analyzed about nine million social media posts, and conducted industry expert interviews. Key findings: 53% of respondents consider price-performance ratio as the most important measure of product value; 46% factor cultural relevance into brand choice; 60% are willing to pay more for brands with distinct and innovative positioning; 77% say sports culture influences their fashion decisions; and 91% actively research before purchasing fashion products. Additionally, 73% would use AI applications to narrow down assortments or evaluate value, while 47% prefer brands whose creative content is exclusively human-made. The study underscores that low-price strategies alone are insufficient; fashion brands must combine quality, style, and transparent value communication with cultural relevance and digital experiences.

• BCG and WWD published the report 'Decoding Growth in Uncertain Times' based on a survey of 4,000 US consumers.
• 53% of US consumers consider price-performance ratio as the most important measure of fashion product value.
• 46% consider cultural relevance in brand choice, and 60% are willing to pay more for innovative brands.

Longevity Providers Miss $350B Women's Health Opportunity

A Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study, commissioned for the St. Moritz Longevity Forum, reveals a significant unmet demand in the women's health and longevity market. Women in perimenopause and menopause are the most active and highest-spending consumers of longevity products and services, yet their satisfaction levels remain average at around 50%. The study, based on a survey of 10,608 people across 12 countries, estimates that this unmet demand represents a global market opportunity of $350 billion. Key findings include that these women have tried more interventions (3.3 more than other women, 2.9 more than men) and spend a median of $84 monthly on longevity, compared to $68 for other women and $73 for men. Furthermore, a third would increase spending to $108 if outcomes improve. The study also notes that interest in long-term health begins earlier, around ages 36-38, and that there is a gap in medical care, with only 63% consulting a doctor for hormonal issues. Providers are urged to target women earlier and more specifically.

• BCG study estimates $350 billion global unmet demand in women's longevity market.
• Women in perimenopause/menopause use 15-22 percentage points more longevity offerings than others.
• Median monthly spending on longevity is $84 for this group, vs $68 for other women and $73 for men.

What CMOs Get Wrong About Leading Change

In this CMSWire interview, BCG's Julia Dhar discusses why marketing transformations fail and how CMOs can better manage AI-driven change. She highlights the 'change distance' gap, where executives report positive emotions about change far more than employees (58% vs 9%). Dhar advises measuring team sentiment via short pulse surveys, avoiding false consensus by forcing specificity, and building genuine employee agency instead of theatrical town halls. She cites Michael Norton's IKEA effect, the Abilene paradox, and Delta's VELVET program as examples. The article also references Claude Hopkins's 1907 Schlitz campaign, which used specific storytelling to break through generic industry claims. Dhar's new book 'How Change Really Works' provides further insights for CMOs leading AI adoption.

• BCG survey of over 6,000 people found 58% of executives report only positive emotions about workplace change, compared to 9% of employees.
• Julia Dhar is the practice lead for the People and Organization Practice at Boston Consulting Group and co-founder of BCG's Behavioral Science Lab.
• According to Dhar, three out of four transformations fail to deliver their intended results.

SoftServe Appoints Andriy Stytsyuk as Chief Executive Officer

SoftServe announces appointment of Andriy Stytsyuk as CEO, effective immediately. Also, the company acquires NewVision Software, adds India-based expertise, and establishes local presence in Saudi Arabia.

SoftServe Launches Saudi Arabia Entity for AI Innovation

SoftServe, an AI and technology services company, announced the official launch of a new entity in Saudi Arabia, operating from Riyadh. This expansion marks a significant milestone in its commitment to the Middle East region and increases its global presence to 54 offices in 17 countries. The company aims to bring enterprise-grade AI capabilities and digital transformation expertise to regional organizations, offering onsite responsiveness and localized solutions. The expansion aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, with SoftServe committing to cultivate local talent and support sovereign AI development. This follows SoftServe's acquisition of India-based NewVision Software, marking its first formal expansion into the Middle East market.

• SoftServe officially launched a new entity in Saudi Arabia, based in Riyadh.
• The expansion brings SoftServe's global presence to 54 offices in 17 countries.
• The entity aims to deliver enterprise-grade AI and digital transformation services to Saudi organizations.

EHI Study: Agentic Commerce Becomes Strategic Retail Priority

According to an EHI study commissioned by Softserve, agentic commerce is evolving into a strategic topic for the retail sector. The study reveals that approximately 60% of retail companies are engaging with AI systems that autonomously execute or control purchasing or trading processes. Over 11% already use concrete applications, while 40% currently see no use case in their own business. Key challenges include data quality and a lack of skilled personnel, with only 39.2% rating their data as good and only about 20% feeling adequately staffed. Investments are expected to increase significantly over the next five to ten years. The study also highlights that online retail is expected to be most affected, with 85.8% of participants anticipating a strong impact within five years.

• Around 60% of retail companies are dealing with AI systems for autonomous commerce processes.
• Over 11% of companies already use concrete agentic commerce applications.
• 40% of surveyed companies see no current use of agentic commerce in their business.