Publications

We develop insights that work for our clients. Our approach and recommendations are highly customized and lead to practical actions. Read some of our experts’ perspectives on important issues—for our clients and their industries.

Soul Searching: True Transformations Start Within
June 14, 2018 | Bain Brief
Going around the table, each member of the executive committee agreed that the firm's plan to transform its multibillion-dollar retail business was ready to roll. It was make or break, and the organization's people would determine the difference.
Breakthrough Design for a Better Customer Experience and Better Economics
June 13, 2018 | Bain Brief
Great design goes beyond the digital veneer to coordinate the company's employees, partners, physical channels and economic objectives.
Lisa Koetter: Grocery Retailing, Reimagined
June 13, 2018 | Bain video
Bain Partner Lisa Koetter discusses five things traditional grocers can do to stay competitive as customer expectations change.
Why Zero-Based Budgeting Goes Wrong
June 13, 2018 | Bain Brief
Few management tools can match zero-based budgeting (ZBB) as a way to overhaul the practices that keep a company from reaching its full potential. That is why so many business leaders see it as a no-brainer to manage costs better and drive strategic thinking at all levels of the organization.
Experience Is the New Product; Here's How to Manage It
June 12, 2018 | Bain Brief
Most companies take an internally oriented approach to organizing around products, processes and functions such as risk management and marketing. But a few pioneering companies have begun to organize around how customers experience their products and services.
The Cure for AI Fever
June 08, 2018 | Bain Brief
The companies that most successfully use artificial intelligence know that a simple tool is not the fix; they trust the AI process.
A Survey of 1,700 Companies Reveals Common B2B Pricing Mistakes
June 07, 2018 | HBR.org
Poor pricing practices are insidious—they damage a company’s economics but can go unnoticed for years. Consider the case of a major industrial goods manufacturer that was struggling with low profit margins, relative both to competitors and to its own historical performance.
Is Pricing Killing Your Profits?
June 07, 2018 | Bain Brief
Poor pricing practices are insidious—they damage a company’s economics but can go unnoticed for years. For example, a major industrial goods manufacturer struggled with low profit margins, relative both to competitors and its own historical performance.
Is That Customer Worth Your Time?
June 05, 2018 | Bain Brief
“I would buy more from you if I saw my sales rep more often.” It’s a common lament from buyers in many business-to-business (B2B) markets. And it stems from the fact that many sales representatives are squeezed for time and thus not as available as they once were.
To Raise Pharma Productivity, Ask the Customer
June 05, 2018 | Bain Snap Chart
With traditional routes to raising commercial productivity stalled, some leading pharmaceutical firms have found an effective alternative: focusing on the doctor's overall experience.