Oliver Wyman

The telecom landscape will be fundamentally reshaped over the next decade by key catalysts. Europe’s telecommunications industry must brace itself for transformation as a new era of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) begins. In response to these dynamics, we've identified five distinct deal archetypes that will define the future of telecom M&A in our latest M&A Capital Currents report. Telecom partners must ensure each acquisition or divestiture aligns with organizational goals and market realities. We provide a step-by-step roadmap to help telecom management teams curate a strategic approach based on these five deal archetypes: https://owy.mn/3LcP4j1

AI Agents are set to revolutionize how category managers operate in retail, presenting opportunities that were previously unimaginable. Here's how: 1️⃣ Customer-Centric Transformation: AI enables a shift from product-centric strategies to customizable, customer-focused experiences, integrating real-time feedback to enhance engagement. 2️⃣ Proactive Insight Management: Instead of manually analyzing reports, AI systems deliver timely performance summaries, allowing teams to respond quickly to emerging trends and insights. 3️⃣ Dynamic Strategy Formulation: AI facilitates the creation of flexible strategies that can adapt based on contextual data, empowering teams to refine plans without starting from scratch. 4️⃣ Strategic-Tactical Alignment: Plans transition from static annual reviews to integrated frameworks that link everyday decisions directly to overarching business strategies, ensuring cohesive execution. 5️⃣ Workflow Automation and Streamlining: By automating routine processes and managing exceptions through agentic workflows, AI allows teams to concentrate on strategic decision-making, minimizing manual interventions where possible. From data to decisions, AI agents are pushing insights into successful impact: https://owy.mn/4qGfrhn

There has been no shortage of activities for our colleagues over past number of weeks. Here’s what our offices have been up to: ➡️Our London office marked Black History Month with a Lunch & Learn exploring Black parenthood in the UK and a celebration of exceptional Black professionals and entrepreneurs as a proud partner of the Black British Business Awards. ➡️Many of our offices—including Bahrain, Milan, Germany, and New York—put our CEO, Nick Studer, in the hot seat as a continuation of his long-established "Ask Me Anything" series. ➡️In Hong Kong, our team celebrated the mid-autumn festival with a mooncake tasting, including traditional and modern flavors, and the new joiners came together to host a mahjong tournament. ➡️ Color was on the agenda in our Gurugram, Mumbai, and Singapore offices as they were brightened with festive decorations and vibrant dinners in celebration of Diwali. ➡️ Colleagues from Zurich joined an interactive horse training session that emphasized the importance of trust. ➡️ In New York, our colleagues took a quick trip south of our Midtown office to enjoy music by Laufey at Madison Square Garden. ➡️ The Singapore arm of our IntrOW (Introversion at Oliver Wyman) group held a yoga session that included puppies for a special twist. ➡️ In Mexico City, our colleagues celebrated Coming Out Day in the office by watching a few short films and creating a safe space for sharing coming-out stories. ➡️ Our Support Professionals team in Milan crafted individual ceramic pieces inspired by Oliver Wyman's core values that will be combined into a larger artwork symbolizing working as one. ➡️ Oliver Wyman Vector teams across Minneapolis, Seattle, Fort Worth, and Atlanta engaged in volunteer activities within their respective communities.

Wellbeing is central to our people’s experience. Over the past few weeks, our colleagues engaged in various formats to explore mental, physical, and emotional health: ➡️In Germany, our teams shared perspectives and advice on a World Mental Health Day panel discussion. ➡️Our Shanghai office organized a yoga session to help colleagues recharge. ➡️In Dubai, colleagues were encouraged to share words of appreciation with each other through various methods, from notes on desks to emails and screen displays showcasing their appreciation for one another. ➡️Our Zurich Wellbeing Committee held a panel discussion on strategies for navigating significant life changes, including career transitions, parenthood, and health challenges. ➡️Our US offices organized a webinar showcasing support available through our Employee Assistance Program for World Mental Health Day. ➡️In London, colleagues engaged in breathing and spin classes, highlighting the connection between physical and mental health. ➡️Our Amsterdam office was joined by a coach specializing in self-leadership who led a discussion on how women can lead with clarity, confidence, and emotional resilience during life transitions. ➡️As part of their Wellness Week, Mexico City joined aromatherapy sessions, had relaxing massages, and used quartz to work on stress. ➡️During the wellbeing week in Madrid, our colleagues organized different activities, including workshops with a psychologist and an external coach.

Leadership is undergoing a profound transformation with organizations rethinking how they develop leaders by cultivating mindsets that embrace uncertainty, empathy, and adaptability.   How brands can communicate on climate, the new drivers of M&A, achieving operational transformation in financial services, and more in this edition of Now You KnOW. 

Pilots are flying into a new era and there are many post-pandemic shifts that are reshaping pilot pay, preferences and career progression. Our latest forecast shows global pilot supply will outpace demand through 2030 except in the Middle East, while pilot costs are rising faster than overall costs in some markets. Training is evolving with VR/AR and risk-focused methods, and new generational priorities around work-life balance are reshaping progression paths. Strategic flexibility in scheduling, basing, and benefits is now key to retention and productivity. Dive into our latest Flight Operations brief: https://owy.mn/4hArety

[Vote, then expand to reveal answer] Advertising spend has doubled globally since 2014, yet customer loyalty is declining. The shift is clear: nearly half of Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X say they feel overlooked in advertising — proof that bigger budgets don’t guarantee stronger connections. In markets like India and the UAE, annual churn has more than doubled, with customers switching brands 2.5 times per year on average. In contrast, the US, UK, and Germany experience switching about twice per year. The Oliver Wyman Forum takes a deeper look at the statistics behind customer loyalty and explains why companies need to focus on customer needs: https://owy.mn/4obaqLX

Consumer brands must adjust their strategies to better engage Chinese travelers. Gen Z travelers are redirecting their budgets toward food, local cultural activities, and wellness-focused experiences. This shift signals a new era of value-driven travel — where experiences > possessions: https://owy.mn/3K1ojgy

Where you physically place your business matters in the age of AI and digital agents, here's what to know: 1️⃣ Optimizing cost and access to scarce tech talent Location strategy enables organizations to tap into global talent pools, balancing cost optimization with access to advanced skills (e.g., AI, cloud, cybersecurity). Traditional offshoring models are shifting as firms seek proximity to innovation hubs and skilled labor, amidst a global competition for scarce tech resources. 2️⃣ Enhancing collaboration and strategic Alignment Proximity matters for enabling close collaboration across cross-functional teams and key stakeholders, moving away from isolated outsourcing models. Organizations are reshoring critical skills or insourcing offshore operations to improve oversight, workforce collaboration, and strategic control, especially in volatile geopolitical and supply chain environments. 3️⃣ Adapting to geopolitical and market risks Changing global crises, political instability, and supply chain disruptions are reshaping location choices. Firms are diversifying offshore locations to more stable and supportive environments (e.g., Costa Rica, Bulgaria) and using new outsourcing models that focus more on business outcomes and shared accountability to mitigate risks and enhance resilience. Here are actions to future-proof your IT location strategy: https://owy.mn/4opqvy5

Before, we only had three forms of payment: credit cards, checks, and cash. Now we have multiple payment options at any given time, but the payment landscape is crowded and overwhelming to navigate. For modern payment brands, survival now demands making competitors’ products part of your ecosystem to provide consumers with a seamless experience. Lippincott shares seven ways payment brands can break through: https://owy.mn/4njeKHW