Zebra Global Shopper Study: Pandemic Accelerates Technology Spending Plans for Six-in-10 Surveyed Retailers

Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the front line of business with solutions and partners that deliver a performance edge, today revealed the results of its 13th annual Global Shopper Study. This is the industry’s only market tracker that analyzes the attitudinal behavior of shoppers, retail associates and retail executives and examines the retail and technology trends impacting shoppers’ purchasing behavior both in-store and online.

Zebra’s annual study found shoppers expect a seamless experience between stores and online and are increasingly placing orders online because of desired product availability, resulting in a surge of ecommerce orders with nearly 60% placing an order in the last three months. With more than one-fifth of shoppers returning an item purchased online, 57% of store associates are feeling significantly challenged by these returns. Out-of-stocks also remain a challenge and 41% of shoppers say this is the top reason for leaving stores without a purchase. This is followed by long checkout lines (32%) and an inability to find items (31%) both representing a marked increase from last year.

Growth in mobile ordering

Retail decision-makers and store associates have seen a dramatic increase in the need for convenience and efficiency as the pandemic has catapulted shoppers’ usage and affinity for mobile ordering and smart-checkout solutions. Mobile ordering - from smartphones and tablets - has experienced tremendous growth and been instrumental in helping maintain social distancing and adherence to local guidelines. Seventy-two percent of shoppers used mobile ordering and 82% of those shoppers are highly likely to continue using it. Millennials (88%) and Gen X (79%) shoppers were the primary users of mobile ordering but nearly half of Boomers (47%) used it too, and 74% of them are likely to continue using it in the future. Sixty-four percent of shoppers believe more retailers need to offer mobile ordering while the vast majority of decision-makers (90%) and store associates (83%) agree mobile ordering would help meet customer expectations.

Smart-checkout leads to better experience

Approximately half (47%) of surveyed shoppers have interacted with self-checkouts in the last six months and more than six-in-10 (63%) shoppers agree self-checkout solutions provide an improved customer experience. While agreement is highest among Millennials at 73%, 66% of Gen X shoppers and 50% of Boomers have also realized an improved customer experience from self-checkout solutions in the last year. Meanwhile, 86% of retail decision-makers and 71% of store associates agree self-checkouts improve the customer experience. Almost nine-in-10 decision-makers and more than seven-in-10 associates believe self-checkouts freed employees up to do higher priority tasks and better serve customers while helping meet health and safety mandates and protocols.

Safety now part of in-store experience

Consumer and associate confidence can be increased when precautions or safety measures are put into place. Currently, there is a sizable trust gap between retail decision-makers, shoppers and associates when it comes to health and safety. While approximately 90% of decision-makers think shoppers and associates trust them to make health and safety a priority, only 65% of shoppers and 77% of associates agree. Nearly two-thirds (67%) of shoppers are concerned with surface sanitation or social exposure in stores, and 59% of shoppers prefer stores with contactless payment options. Seven-in-10 associates say social distancing/contact tracing apps would allow them to provide a better customer experience.

“Our study found that shoppers’ in-store and online satisfaction significantly declined this year due to out-of-stocks, product variety, online delivery cost and timing and returns,” said Deep Agarwal

Regional Sales Director – Indian Sub-Continent, Zebra Technologies Asia Pacific. “Retailers are aware that success hinges on elevating the shopper experience and investments in analytics, mobile ordering and smart checkout will provide a more seamless and satisfying omnichannel experience.”

KEY REGIONAL FINDINGS

Asia-Pacific

Seven-in-10 (70%) shoppers prefer direct delivery of items rather than picking them up at a store.

Sixty-five percent of shoppers prefer shopping at stores with contactless payment options.

Europe and the Middle East

More than eight-in-10 (83%) decision-makers say the pandemic accelerated their implementation plans for mobile devices and solutions, the highest score of any region.

Approximately three-quarters (76%) of shoppers prefer to shop at online retailers that also have brick-and-mortar locations.

Latin America

Eighty-seven percent of shoppers agree the use of technology helps retailers provide a safe, comfortable, and convenient experience, the highest score of any region.

Almost 90% of shoppers have used mobile ordering and intend to continue using it.

North America

Seventy-two percent of store associates prefer to have prescribed tasks rather than reading reports to help them manage their day.

More than three-in-four (77%) decision-makers reported feeling pressure to improve fulfillment operations and efficiency so they could offer a variety of delivery options and speeds.

SURVEY BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY

Zebra’s 13th annual Global Shopper Study included approximately 4,175 shoppers, 577 retail associates and 412 retail executives from North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East who were interviewed in August - September 2020 by Azure Knowledge Corporation.

Palo Alto Networks Launches Industry’s First 5G-Native Security Offering, Enabling Service Providers to Create New Revenue Streams

 

Palo Alto Networks today introduced the industry’s first 5G-native security offering, bringing its expertise in securing networks, clouds and devices to the 5G world. This new offering enables service providers and enterprises to turn 5G networks into highly secure networks.

The promise of 5G is much more than faster browsing on mobile phones. Done right, 5G can bring massive business transformation. The design of 5G networks — with its ability to allow millions of devices in high-density settings — can enable smart supply chains, autonomous transportation, smart manufacturing, mass adoption of the internet of things (IoT) and much more. 

“For 5G to live up to its promise of transforming industries, companies need the confidence that 5G networks and services have enterprise-grade security,” said Anand Oswal, senior vice president and general manager, Firewall as a Platform, Palo Alto Networks. “We created 5G-native security in order to give enterprises the confidence they need to harness 5G for business transformation and to help service providers secure the new enterprise services they are creating.” 

Palo Alto Networks has taken its expertise in securing enterprises and mobile networks and added understanding of the 5G protocols and 5G network interfaces to introduce a number of industry firsts:

Containerized 5G security: Much of the 5G infrastructure is being built with cloud native architectures. Palo Alto Networks containerized 5G security is designed to secure the 5G core and edge clouds even across multi-cloud and multi-vendor environments.

Real-time visibility, prevention and correlation of 5G user/device threats: The ability to look into the signaling channel lets service providers and enterprises apply security policies based on the user and device. Real-time correlation of threats can help identify which subscriber, device or machine might be the target of an attack, or where the root cause of threats might be. This can help in forensics and accelerated security event investigation.

5G network slice security: 5G networks allow service providers to offer a dedicated end-to-end piece of the network that gives enterprises the reliability and confidence to use 5G for their core business activities. Palo Alto Networks 5G-native security lets service providers offer secure versions of these slices to their customers as a new product.

"We have an immense opportunity with 5G, and security is more important than ever. We want a cybersecurity partner that can holistically protect our 5G network and shares our vision of 5G. Security should be simple to deploy and operate. For obvious reasons, I cannot discuss any security partner agreements. I can, however, say that Palo Alto Networks has already made significant strides in 5G innovation such as containerized 5G next-generation firewalls, which enables deploying firewalls automatically through a central cloud-native orchestrator. From my personal experience over the years, I can also say that Palo Alto Networks has the deep expertise and skills to support their security products and ensure success," said Jeremy Capell, director of Information Security,  DISH Network.

“StarHub is excited to be the first to offer customers in Singapore the 5G experience. To help us bring greater security protections to the new 5G infrastructure and the services that will be delivered, we are happy to work with Palo Alto Networks to integrate their industry-leading 5G security capabilities into our network. Not only does this help us build a secure 5G network, it also enables us to launch new and innovative services,” said Chong Siew Loong, chief technology officer of StarHub.

"5G networks bring new capabilities and transform the network architecture adopting containers and multi-clouds, enabling dramatic service innovation. Enterprises in verticals such as automotive, manufacturing, oil and gas, mining, etc. are embracing 5G networks to transform their industries,” says Tanner Johnson, Omdia. “This presents a requirement for service providers and enterprises to integrate security across the entire 5G network, and establish secure connectivity services. The innovation with Palo Alto Networks 5G-native security speaks to this approach."

Availability

5G security capabilities are available on the following Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls: PA-5200 Series and PA-7000 Series hardware models as well as all VM-Series software models running PAN-OS 10.0+. Security Services can be added based on use case requirements. 5G security capabilities will be available on CN-Series containerized firewalls soon.

About Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks, the global cybersecurity leader, is shaping the cloud-centric future with technology that is transforming the way people and organizations operate. Our mission is to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life. We help address the world’s greatest security challenges with continuous innovation that seizes the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, analytics, automation, and orchestration. By delivering an integrated platform and empowering a growing ecosystem of partners, we are at the forefront of protecting tens of thousands of organizations across clouds, networks, and mobile devices. Our vision is a world where each day is safer and more secure than the one before. 

Braille Works and OpenText Team Upto Improve Accessibility for Individuals with Visual Impairments

OpenText™ (NASDAQ: OTEX), (TSX: OTEX), today announced that the leading U.S. provider of reading materials for people who are blind, visually impaired, or reading impaired is leveraging OpenText Output Transformation solutions in their automation processes to help organizations provide an inclusive experience for their customers with visual impairments. 

Braille Works specializes in producing traditional alternative formats such as braille, large print, or audio, and needed a solution that provides high-volume automated remediation of documents. OpenText enables Braille Works to automate the processing of high-volume print streams, helping to ensure high-quality, compliant, and accessible content is produced more quickly and efficiently. 

“We use OpenText software in our automation process to help us extract data and be more efficient in the production of braille, large print, and audio,” said Glen Schubert, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Client Relations Braille Works. “This helps us deliver for clients that remediate tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of documents on a monthly basis.”

OpenText Output Transformation captures, transforms, and repurposes high-volume documents, enabling on-demand access for online and mobile presentment and secure delivery in real-time. OpenText’s document transformation technology includes manual and automated remediation solutions to bring readable documents to visually impaired customers at scale: 

OpenText Automated Output Accessibilityconverts high-volume print streams into accessible PDF and large print format documents

OpenText Document Accessibility simplifies remediation of ad-hoc PDF documents, creating accessible content that drives customer satisfaction and loyalty

Schubert summarized Braille Works’ relationship with OpenText in making the world a more readable place. “Partnering with OpenText helps us provide accessibility to more people, providing them independence and freedom to manage their own information—it’s amazing what that brings to life.”

“OpenText helps Braille Works produce a greater number of high-quality, accessible documents efficiently and cost-effectively,” said Lou Blatt, SVP and CMO at OpenText. “Combining Braille Works’ experience in the production of alternative format content with OpenText’s high-volume accessibility solutions delivers end-to-end document accessibility, providing more people with the information they need.”

About OpenText

OpenText, The Information Company™, enables organizations to gain insight through market leading information management solutions, on-premises or in the cloud.

World Celebrates Geographic Information System - GIS Day 2020

 

* Achievements of GIS technology lauded; Professionals reiterate role of GIS technology for economic growth

Around the world, geospatial community today celebrated GIS Day, highlighting the accomplishments of the modern-day technology and deliberating on its future role through a series of virtual sessions. Recognizing the crucial role of GIS (Geographic Information System) that enables efficient and effective decision-making, this day is observed to inspire the community for creating a better world by harnessing the technology for its myriad benefits. GIS technology has been applied across sectors, from agriculture, water, disaster management, environment, healthcare, to town planning, which are many of the key priority areas identified by the Government. Programs like Direct Benefit Transfer, Swachh Bharat, Smart cities, Water & Electricity for all, Clean Ganga Mission and government initiatives in Infrastructure Development have realized the benefits of GIS technology. The critical support from GIS during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in real-time assessment of the spread and its consequent mitigation came in under special focus. GIS has contributed significantly in supporting decision-making for disaster management across the world and its role in addressing the challenges of mapping, detection, analysis, mitigation and relief and rescue operations - whether its floods, earthquakes or pandemic - has been greatly acknowledged globally.

GIS Day celebrations brought together companies from industries across segments, educational institutions and government agencies with engaging discussions on importance and usability of GIS-driven real-world applications and solutions.

Commenting on the importance of GIS day, Mr. Agendra Kumar, President, Esri India said, GIS Day is a great opportunity for professionals from all sectors/industries and across the country to get together to share the amazing things they are doing with GIS. This year, more than ever before, the work of GIS has helped the world better understand and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. Organizations across the country are taking part in various activities and events that help celebrate geospatial science and how it impacts the real world for good.

Esri India is part of California headquartered Esri, which is the global pioneer of GIS and has been at the forefront of spreading awareness about the vast range of technology's applications.

GIS is a scientific framework for gathering, analyzing, and visualizing geographic data to help make better decisions. With technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and Cloud Computing integrating with GIS, it makes the technology's role even more instrumental and overarching.

Speaking on the importance of GIS technology, Peeyush Gupta, Asst. Real-Time Information Specialist, National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti says, Namami Gange programme, implemented by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is an integrated mission for the conservation of Ganga and its tributaries. NMCG is a comprehensive organization with high priority for research and evidence-based decision-making and has a special place for use of hi-end technology including Geospatial technology to get authentic data and information backed by scientific research. Geospatial Technology is widely used in Ganga river basin management. Every year, GIS cell, Ganga Knowledge Centre, NMCG celebrate GIS Day in November. The objective of the GIS Day celebration to identify the power of the emerging technologies towards achieving the sustainable development goal to achieve the river rejuvenation at its pristine condition.

We are living in a society where information flows without social, economic, and political barriers. GIS enables people to know where and how things are in the real world. Specifically, in the current pandemic situation, the tracing, tracking, and mapping of the people have demonstrated the relevance of GIS in today's world, opines faculty of Technology at CEPT University, Ahmedabad.

GIS day gives an opportunity to learn more about geography and the real-world applications of GIS that are making a difference in the society. GIS provides location intelligence and analytics, allows users to gain deeper insights into data, solve problems, and make smarter decisions about land use, energy, water, natural hazards, biodiversity, climate, and other key issues of the twenty-first century.

Hero Motocorp Further Consolidates Market Leadership In Festive Season 2020, Despite Disruptions

Riding on robust customer demand for its range of products, Hero MotoCorp - the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer - sold more than 14 lakh units of motorcycles and scooters, in retail sales during the just concluded festive season, thereby continuing to gain market share and strengthen its leadership.

Despite the severe disruptions on account of the Covid-19 this year, the good retail off-take during the 32-day festival period - spread between the first day of Navratra and the concluding day after Bhai Duj – was 98% of the festive season volumes sold by the Company in the previous year (2019) and 103% compared to the same period in 2018. 

This has enabled Hero MotoCorp to reduce the vehicle stocks at its dealerships to less than four weeks, the lowest ever post-festive inventory.

The Company’s festival season retails were driven by the strong performance of its popular models across segments, including the 100cc Splendor+ and HF Deluxe, 125cc motorcycles Glamour and Super Splendor and the Xtreme 160R and the XPulse range in the premium segment. The Glamour in its BS-VI avatar continues to gain volumes in new markets. The festive season also witnessed strong customer preference for Destini and Pleasure scooters, resulting in high double-digit growth for the two models.

Hero MotoCorp has continued to consolidate its market share in the domestic two-wheeler market since the resumption of plant operations and retail sales in early May. Hero MotoCorp’s market share has grown by more than 500 bps in the month of October.

Thanks to the robust planning and preparations done by the entire Hero ecosystem including the dealer partners, the Company has been leading the revival of the domestic two-wheeler industry over the past several months despite the severe disruptions in the supply chain of components, plant operations and customer touch points in the market place. 

Throughout the period since reopening of customer touch points, Hero MotoCorp has put in place strict protocols and measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of multiple stakeholder groups, including the employees, their families, customers and all associates.

The news on the rapid development of Covid-19 vaccines is likely to enable a faster rebound of the global economy in the coming months. The positive forecast by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projecting close to double-digit growth for the Indian economy in FY’22 is likely to boost customer sentiments in general and the two-wheeler sector in particular. The slew of recent measures announced by the Government should also help accelerate recovery and aid core sectors to rebound fast.

“Renault Kiger”: The All-New Head Turning, Smart & Exciting B-SUV To Be Launched In India

* India First:An all-new global product to be first launched in India, followed by other markets 

* Distinctive Styling: Sporty, Masculine and Modern. Renault KIGER stands above the current design trend in the SUV segment as exemplified bythe KIGER show car 

* A smart SUV built on theefficient CMFA+ Platform:Renault KIGER brings latest tech features to the CMFA+ platform that laid the foundation for the success of TRIBER with segment leading roominess, cabin storage and cargo space 

* Exciting Drive Powered by a New Global Engine: Renault KIGER will come with a brand-new turbo petrol engine, providing both performance and fuel efficiency 

* Another Game Changer from Renault: Renault KIGER will be the latest in the line of revolutionary products launched by Renault in India. Just like DUSTER, KWID AND TRIBER, KIGER will also change the dynamics in its segment 

As part of its strong product strategy and commitment to breakthrough product innovations, Renault India will expand its product range and segment presence with the launch of its new game-changer, “Renault KIGER”. It will be builton the same platform as TRIBER and will be an international launch for Groupe Renault.Renault will also introduce an all-new global engine with Renault KIGER. 

To share a first glimpse into what customers can expect from Renault KIGER, Renault had the global unveil of the Renault KIGER show car, on which Renault’s new SUV is designed and developed.Renault KIGER show car is a collaboration betweenthe Corporatedesign teams in Franceand Renault India design. Like all Renault cars, KIGER show car has a distinct, attractive design and showcases both urban modernity and its outdoor ability. The body color of Renault KIGER show car shows mysteriously changing blue and purple hues, depending on the angle and light.Efficient and compact, Renault KIGER show car has sporty inspirations and an impressive and impactful two-level lighting.  

Renault KIGER will stand out for its distinctive styling, which is made evident with the global reveal of the KIGER show car today.Renault KIGERwill have about 80% similarity to the show car in terms of design, indicating the bold style statement that Renault plans to make with this new launch. Renault KIGER will come loaded with several smart attributes& featureswhich will include some best-in-class offerings that will complement the design and styling of the car. Renault will launch an all new turbo engine with Renault KIGER and promises to offer an exciting drivecourtesy itshigh performance, modern and efficient engine options.  

Commenting on the new product planned for India, VenkatramMamillapalle, Country CEO & Managing Director, Renault India Operations, shared, “Renault KIGER is our all-new B-SUV which will stand out as an attractive, smart and exciting offering from Groupe Renault. We are delighted to announce that the global launch of Renault KIGER will be in India, after which itwill be launched in other markets across the world. After KWID and TRIBER, Renault KIGER is the third global car from Groupe Renault to be launched in India first, followed by other markets.In line with our strategy for India, Renault KIGER will exemplify disruptive innovation. It will be launched in the B-segment, which accounts for more than 50% of the total industry sales, thereby enabling us to grow our presence across the country. In a short span of time, Renault has already crossed the 6,50,000 sales milestone in India and we look forward to continue on this progressive journey with Renault KIGER.”  

Renault KIGER will demonstrate the competence of India’s design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities and highlights Renault’s strong commitment to the ‘Make in India’ mission.In India, Groupe Renault has always focused to be disruptive and innovative which is amply proven with its product range. Renault will further build on this with the launch of the all-new Renault KIGER.   

DUSTER remains to be an iconic true SUV, with worldwide success and unmatched road presence.KWID gave a new dimension to the A-Hatch segment with a SUV inspired look and a host of first-in-class features. With TRIBER, Renault successfully launched a super spacious, flexible, ultra-modular and affordable alternative in the market. Renault KIGER will be yet another breakthrough product, led by its attractive styling, smart & modern features and will promise an exciting drive experience.   

RENAULT KIGER SHOW CAR – PROVIDING A GLIMPSE INTO RENAULT KIGER THAT WILL BE LAUNCHED IN INDIA 

AN ALL NEW OFFERING FOR THE INDIAN MARKET 

Renault KIGER show carhas been jointly developedbythe Corporatedesign teams in Franceand Renault India design, in keeping with the evolving preferences and expectations of Indian customers and the changing market trends. The objective while designing and developing this car was to make a sub-4 meter SUV that offers an unmatched road presence with an imposing frontal boldness, which makes it dominate the road.  

Renault KIGER show car stays true to Groupe Renault’s commitment of not getting type castedand not being just another “me-too” product. The striking design and overall packagewill make it unmissable for customers looking at the B-segment.  

AN EYE-CATCHING SUV THAT'S SURE TO PLEASE WITH ITS ATTRACTIVE DESIGN  

Renault KIGER show caris a contemporary and refreshingly styled SUV with strong overall attractiveness. It has two identities: one for urban modernity and the second for outdoor ability. The SUV is developed to navigate the city roads on one hand, as well as offer an exemplary experience while driving in the countryside. 

At first glance, the attractive design of theRenault KIGER show car reflects its energy, fun and power. The sharp upper part is set against the muscular lower part. With a semi-floating roof, a roof-integrated spoiler flag drop, a sloping rear window, and its tapered mirrors, designed like airplane wings, Renault KIGER show car displays a very striking look. 

AN IMPRESSION OF COLOR CHANGE 

Called “California Dream” as well as “Aurora Borealis”,the Renault KIGER show car body color shows mysteriously changing blue and purple hues, depending on the angle and light. It has been designed to best express “Dominance” and the inner strength of the KIGER show car. Comprising of technical metallic grey with a hint of jungle green reflection, the body color establishes the stable design, with a hint of magic. While dynamic blue-green accents highlights the performance aspect. 

SPORTY SUV LOOK 

Efficient and compact, Renault KIGER show car has sporty inspirations. Elements like the double central exhaust system, the double extractor, the hexagonal structureaccentuate this sporty side. At the same time, numerous design elements of this showcar accentuate its SUV adventurous side including the 19” wheels with heavily grooved tyres, roof rails, front and rear skid plates and 210mm ground clearance. 

TWO-LEVEL LIGHTING 

The impressive and impactful front end displays a two-level of full LED headlights and a neon indicator light. At the back, rear LED lighting signaturemakes the car recognizable with double “C” shaped tail lamps. 

A KEY STEP FORWARD FOR INDIA 

Renault KIGER show car is the result of a deep dive and complete analysis of Indian customers’ expectations in the B-Segment. With this show car, Groupe Renault has demonstrated the broad outlines for Renault KIGER that will provide new options to customers looking for a B-hatchback, B-SUV, upgraders from the entry car segment and will cater to both the domestic market in India, as well as global markets.  

ABOUT RENAULT  

Renault India Pvt. Ltd. is a fully owned subsidiary of Renault S.A.S. France. Renault India cars are manufactured in the manufacturing facility located in Oragadam, Chennai, with a capacity of 480,000 units per annum. Renault India also has a widespread presence of more than 415 sales and 475+ service touchpoints, which include 200+ Workshop On Wheels locations across the country, with benchmark sales and service quality. 

Renault India’s product line up and services have seen strong recognition among customers and industry experts alike, winning more than 60 titles, making Renault India one of the most awarded automotive brands in a single year in India. The Renault KWID has already bagged 32 awards, including 10 ‘Car of the Year’ Awards. 

Global Study Reveals that Indian Consumers are Willing to Spend More on Enhanced Video & Audio Quality and on Devices

 

·  The study shows 94% respondents in India are willing to pay more for a premium subscription for enhanced video & audio quality  

·  96% say they plan to upgrade their entertainment equipment in the next 6 months

·  COVID-19 has driven many Indians to use entertainment as a way of unwinding; 66% of Indian respondents said they use it as an opportunity to relax

·  95% Indian respondents got into new types of content they didn’t watch before

Today, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB), a leader in immersive entertainment experiences, released findings from a new global study illustrating a significant shift in consumer entertainment behaviour in India. The new homebound work & leisure economy has led to a sky-rocketing demand for new and quality content and for better devices. As per a new Global Consumer Study by Wakefield Research conducted in four countries for Dolby, Indian consumers are now prioritizing and seeking better experiences possibly driven by long hours spent at home. Indian consumers are spending more on quality in order to better connect with content—and to connect with each other.

“Despite all of the challenges of this past year, this study has illustrated the power of entertainment in bringing us together with those that are most important to us,” said Pankaj Kedia, Managing Director, Emerging Markets, Dolby Laboratories. “We take great pride in creating more immersive experiences through our technologies and see the significant growth of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos as proof that consumers are seeking these experiences as well.”

According to Nathan Richter, Senior Partner at Wakefield Research, “We are all confined and what better way to use this time than to bond with friends and family, both in-person and virtually. People love entertainment and there is an exponential rise in demand for quality content that can be enjoyed in the comfort of one’s home. People recognize that high quality sound and visual experiences have a huge impact and make viewing more exciting. More than that, it enhances the entertainment experience and helps people to better connect during these challenging times.”

The Wakefield study on ‘Quality Time is Quality Picture and Sound’ highlights shifting consumer patterns for content consumption. It throws light on their preferences and the willingness to invest in premium quality content and in devices and to be able to have an enhanced audio and visual experience that is helping increase family bonding time.  

The India leg of the study conducted across six cities, including New-Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, was aimed at understanding the changing content consumption habits during the pandemic. The study cuts across generational breaks and includes the voice of Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X & Boomers.

Here are some of the most interesting study findings:

· Contented by Content- COVID-19 has driven many Indians to use entertainment as a way of unwinding, including 66% of Indian respondents saying they use it as an opportunity to relax and 60% saying they find it as a good social experience of watching with others.

· Ripped from the Headlines- Current events can drive viewers to entertainment and even alter their choices. This includes 92% respondents in India, who said the news impacts what they watch.

· Investing in the Experience-. The study shows that consumers are spending more on quality in order to better connect with content—and connect with each other. Compared to the start of the year-

•  97% of Indian respondents have increased their monthly spends on content by 48% on an average compared to the start of the year

•  88% of Indians respondents have in the past six months already invested in upgrading their streaming services

• 96% Indian respondents plan to upgrade their entertainment equipment in the next 6 months

•  Equipment upgrades include better mobile devices. In India, 61% respondents plan to upgrade their mobile device to improve their viewing experience

· Worth It- Consumers connect with their content better with enhanced picture and sound quality. 94% Indian respondents would pay more for a premium subscription to receive enhanced picture and sound quality

· Broadened Horizons- As consumers stayed at home with more time to watch, many consumers got into a genre of content they had not consumed before

• 95% Indian respondents got into new types of content they didn’t watch before

• Those engaging with new types of content had a wide variety to pick from. In India, streaming live music events lead popular new content (50%), followed by comedy (48%), video game streaming (46%) & DIY videos (45%).

* Multiple ways to Watch- In India, 29% say their smartphone is their primary entertainment device. This is followed by 22% who say television and 20% who say computer.

* Smaller Screens, Higher Quality- Consumers are particularly interested in enhanced picture and sound quality for watching movies and TV shows. In India, 49% respondents rank movies as one of their top-two forms of entertainment that merit enhanced quality.  

* Work Hard, Play Hard- With work now requiring video conferencing, many are “borrowing” that tech for personal purposes. In India, 92% respondents are using work video applications for social purposes, including 80% who do so often or all the time.

* First Time for Everything- In India, 65% respondents of those who engaged in live-chat while watching streaming videos did so for the first time.

At Dolby, we are committed to bringing premium, immersive experiences to as many people as possible. Just in the last year, the adoption of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos in the home has been widespread. There are hundreds of millions of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos enabled devices in market from the world’s leading device manufacturers.

As this study shows, the drive for better experiences doesn’t stop at devices. Content adoption is also growing rapidly, completing the ecosystem that we have been building through global partnerships with leading streaming services that continue to release their top shows and films in Dolby technology every month.

“Ultimately, we expect the desire for more human connection to continue in the future and immersive experiences can help fulfil this demand,” added Pankaj Kedia, Managing Director, Emerging Markets, Dolby Laboratories. “Just as entertainment drives cultural conversation, that same conversation drives connection across the globe, and we are seeing connections grow stronger every day through elevated entertainment experiences.”

Study Methodology

Wakefield Research conducted a quantitative research study between October 1st and October 16th, 2020, among Nationally Representative Adults Ages 18+ in China (2,000), France (1,000), India (1,000), and the U.S. (1,000). Quotas have been set in each market to ensure reliable and accurate representation of adults ages 18+.

About Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) is based in San Francisco with offices in over 20 countries around the globe. Dolby transforms the science of sight and sound into spectacular experiences. Through innovative research and engineering, we create breakthrough experiences for billions of people worldwide through a collaborative ecosystem spanning artists, businesses, and consumers. The experiences people have – with Dolby Cinema, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and Dolby Voice – revolutionize entertainment and communications at the cinema, on the go, in the home, and at work.