China's e-commerce market has grown at breathtaking speed. A little under two decades ago, the country accounted for less than 1% of the value of global online transactions.¹

Today, it leads the world, contributing more than half of global e-commerce retail sales.² It also has the largest social media population on the planet, and 84% of its online consumers have shopped on social media platforms.³

In short, China’s digital economy is booming, with huge pools of data being created as a result.⁴ So what does all this mean for industries that have long relied on a physical connection with consumers?

"Our industry is a bit traditional," says Adele Tao, Leader, LIXIL Water Technology Greater China. Tao has led LIXIL's evolution in Greater China to make it more entrepreneurial, consumer-centric and agile since 2019.⁵ She says it is vital that companies like LIXIL, which have historically focused on business-to-business channels, embrace digital tools to learn more about the people actually using their products.

China’ s Growing Digital Retail Sector

E-commerce in China accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic as lockdowns disrupted business-as-usual. New waves of users took to the internet to access information, goods, and services.

People increasingly turned to their smartphones to shop online, further pushing traditional retail operations toward a hybrid model that blends in-store sales with digital commerce. According to research by McKinsey, more than 70% of consumers in China have become true omnichannel shoppers.⁶

Consumer desire for convenience and efficiency also looks set to rapidly narrow the gap between on-demand and traditional e-commerce.⁷

Within this online ecosystem, social influencers and social media have become go-to sources for information about what to buy and where to buy it.

As this digital migration gripped China’s retail landscape, companies like LIXIL quickly adapted to build direct touchpoints with their consumers.

An Integrated Solution

Using Data to Understand Consumers

"As a market leader, we need to change the industry so that we compete with other industries that are after the same sort of wallet share," Kanazawa says, emphasizing the importance of developing an all-encompassing user experience to encourage consumers to invest in a new bathroom or kitchen instead of a new car or a holiday.

Making a Difference

At LIXIL, embracing digitalization facilitates a closer relationship with consumers, encompassing a lifelong journey that increases brand loyalty.

Where previously distributors and dealers recorded consumer data individually, this can now be AI-enabled and stored centrally to streamline processes and give consumers access to the information and services they need. This change can help ensure digital processes are secure and personal information is stored safely.

Data generated directly from consumers can inform new product ranges, leading to designs that better address users’ changing needs. Increasing engagement should facilitate sales growth and, in time, increase product repurchase rates.

LIXIL's work in China is one part of its wider global digitalization strategy, aimed at transforming how the company thinks, operates, and connects with its consumers.

Successful digital transformations require a mindset shift that reimagines consumer interactions with a brand and its products. Digital technologies like livestreaming, internet-of-things (IoT) and a potential future metaverse are transforming retail and wholesale markets in China and beyond, and can empower companies to adopt a more agile way of working.

"Once consumers touch our products, it's important to stay connected with them and create a whole life journey," Tao says.