The APS Strategy and Innovation team have taken a deep dive into the key problems, opportunities and trends reshaping the US nonprofit sector. From current economic disruptions like the cost of living crisis and the noise around a potentially turbulent election year to heightened competition and generational shifts, we have analysed the forces at play to give you the chance to seize the opportunities for growth and innovation.

57% of Generation Z believes that giving financially has a greater impact than contributing skills or resources

Adapting and advancing in line with new generations is key for nonprofits to tackle. Traditional methods of communication such as broadcast messages, flyers and magazine ads, have proven inefficient in engaging with Gen Z and Millennials, so moving with digital transformation is vital, yet just 33% of nonprofits offer Apple Pay and 24% Google Pay, potentially alienating a large proportion of donors. Segmentation and targeted marketing has never been more important, and that’s why we’ve also created a bonus report focusing on generational analysis.

Inside the report we cover immersive and entertaining experiences to make your brand irresistibly shareable, the captivation of crowdfunding campaigns and its digital accessibility, the impact of the cost of living crisis, advertising noise, digital trends and more so you can unlock the pockets of potential our strategists have outlined.

Download your copy, plus our bonus report on Gen Examination, by completing the form below.

It’s all too easy for marketers to feel as if they’re drowning in their attempts to sift through the shifting range of new products and ideas and catch what’s real and meaningful. We’ve made it our business to cut through the noise and look at the emerging trends we believe will have a significant impact on how we and our clients operate this year and beyond.

We take a look at the growth of video, debates around AI and how best to build your ESG strategy.

Back to innovation hub

We recently welcomed Gaël Duez, a digital sustainability strategist and founder of the Green IO podcast, to host our webinar discussing the environmental consequences of our digital world and critically what businesses can do to mitigate their impact.

The electricity consumption of the digital sector is becoming a growing concern, with the International Energy Agency confirming 1,600 terawatts was consumed by the sector in 2021 – that’s roughly the same amount as India, the world’s third largest electricity consumer.

It’s not a surprise that with 1.2 billion smartphones sold in 2022, end-user devices account for almost half (45%) of all electricity consumption by the sector, followed by networks and data centres.

But why is this a problem? Because the world’s electricity production remains reliant on fossil fuels, indeed, as much as 60% of production is using our finite resources and releasing Greenhouse Gases (GHG).

Did you know 70-90% of the carbon footprint of your smartphone happens before it’s taken out of the box?

 

So, what can businesses do to reduce their impact on the sector? There are several quick wins to consider first, and although these are individually small changes, they can have a much larger impact when implemented consistently across businesses;

Equipment

• Extend product life
• Mutualise technologies
• Re-use or purchase second-hand
• Recycle

Reducing electricity consumption

• Turn off/unplug
• Limit 3G/4G connections
• Optimise printing

Data Management

• Avoid unnecessary creation
• Reduce size
• Delete

These practical steps are just the beginning towards minimising the environmental weight of data consumed within the digital sector. But should we always be thinking digital first? Lifecycle analysis is a powerful tool to support decision making for sustainable development, guiding you to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of a product or process. For example, it takes 20-40 times the amount of water to make a single e-reader than a book and 60% of downloaded e-books are never opened and are therefore consuming unnecessary data.

At APS, we’re committed to tackling your sustainability challenges, whether that’s for product designs, a new technology platform or printed materials. At every stage, our team will work with you to make sustainable and practical recommendations. Talk to us today, [email protected].

To receive a recording of the webinar, please fill in your details and a member of our team will be in touch with you soon.

The past few years have caused decades’ worth of disruption to consumer spending in a remarkably short space of time. The global pandemic caused lasting changes to consumer habits, and more recently the cost-of-living crisis is rewriting the rules yet again.

Global Health, Beauty and Personal Care brands and their leaders have been riding the wave of these changes, with seismic shifts in innovation, culture, and the environment – plus major changes in consumer demand and volatile commodity markets. This has given today’s consumer more power than ever before, reinforced by social media, internationality, and eCommerce. Trends from all over the world are spreading and changing the daily health, beauty and care routine.

Our Strategy and Insights team, have scanned the industry in their latest report to seek out where we see the opportunities for growth and innovation lie – including engaging Generation Z, optimising your marketing campaigns and aligning with your consumer values.

To learn more about these compelling insights and our recommendations, just enter your details below and we’ll send you a copy of the report.

See more Horizon Scans