The consumer packaged goods (CPG) landscape is undergoing a seismic shift. By the end of this decade, Gen Z and millennials will account for nearly half of all retail spending globally (Nielsen). These digital natives expect direct relationships with the brands they trust, transforming direct-to-consumer (DTC) from optional to essential. For CPG brands, the question is no longer whether to invest in direct to consumer (DTC)—it’s how to do it efficiently, effectively, and profitably.
To address this critical challenge, Accenture and Shopify have launched a joint solution offering—Commerce as a Service (CaaS). This comprehensive solution combines Accenture's proprietary commerce services with Shopify's robust commerce platform. This partnership is more than just a technical integration—it’s implementing a solution that will lower customer acquisition costs, increase brand loyalty, and allow you to move with speed to make DTC a valuable revenue channel.
Accenture’s comprehensive suite of commerce capabilities encompasses everything from strategy and business enablement, platform enablement, and experience and performance management—allowing brands to outsource their commerce operations and focus on core competencies. Accenture also offers flexible commercial models to lower the barrier to entry. Here’s what Commerce as a Service offers:
- Commerce tech for the AI era: Legacy commerce platforms aren’t designed to easily store, process and access data for AI to leverage. CaaS integrates Shopify with Accenture’s SynOps, enabling faster data access and AI analytics that drive sustainable growth.
- Greater ROI: Expensive and slow legacy commerce platforms hold CPG brands back from scaling DTC. With CaaS, businesses benefit from Shopify’s industry leading TCO and agility—launching up to 93% faster and at significantly reduced costs.
- Focus on innovation: CPGs reliant on third-party retailers often miss growth opportunities. CaaS empowers brands to focus on sales trends and influencer collaborations, while Shopify’s best converting checkout boosts conversion rates and streamline sales processes. Combined with Accenture’s expertise, CPGs can finally invest their time into innovation over platform maintenance.
"Digital natives expect fresh new ways to engage with the products they love. Brands must connect directly with consumers or risk losing the next generation of loyal customers. Commerce as a Service is designed to create a robust DTC channel with efficiency and lower total cost of ownership, powered by Shopify’s leading commerce platform—essential in today’s complex commerce landscape,” said Vikalp Tandon, Accenture Global Commerce Lead.
"Consumer packaged goods companies are at a crossroads—adapt and innovate or stick to the status quo and risk a growth opportunity. At Shopify, we believe now the CPG companies who choose to innovate today will see increased sales, market momentum and a new set of modern buyers loyal to their brand. That’s why we’ve partnered with Accenture to launch the new era of Commerce as a Service, built on Shopify," says Bobby Morrison, CRO at Shopify. "This partnership empowers CPG brands to build authentic connections with consumers while also lowering customer acquisition costs and transforming DTC into a highly profitable channel."
The future of CPG belongs to brands that build direct relationships with consumers. Shopify and Accenture’s new offering provides the technical foundation, economic model, and expertise to transform DTC from a cost center to a growth engine.
In Conversation: Bobby Morrison and Vikalp Tandon
Hear more from Bobby Morrison and Vik Tandon about the partnership and the value it's delivering to CPG brands.
Talk with sales about Shopify plans for enterprise.
The time to act is now. Learn more about Commerce as a Service by connecting with our team.
