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Local Dynamos: A New Breed of Competitor in Emerging Markets

There’s a new competitive threat in emerging markets. “Local dynamos” manage to succeed in promising but challenging environments, and they constitute the largest threat across multiple industries in emerging markets.

When global companies seek to expand, they discover that it’s the local dynamo that’s the most intense competitor....[They represent] a range of industries, but one common theme is their focus on the rising middle classes and meeting their needs.

We all know that emerging markets are generating significant growth. What is less publicized is the fact that this growth is being captured more by local dynamos from within these markets than by globalizing MNCs. These local dynamos are proving to be a real force to be reckoned with.

Vincent Chin
Managing Director & Senior Partner; Global Leader, Public Sector Practice
Singapore

How are local dynamos thriving when other, larger companies struggle to gain traction? There are six factors that set local dynamos apart:

  1. They address the unique needs of local customers in a highly customized manner.
  2. They exploit the latest technology effectively. They are not hampered by outdated legacy systems.
  3. They have a nimble business plan and development processes that allow them to respond and operate at warp speed.
  4. They have the agility needed to navigate through uncertainties and trying circumstances.
  5. They have an effective people advantage that is tailored to the human capital realities of their markets.
  6. They do all of the above while building strong functional capabilities that rival those of multinational companies.
Local Dynamos Are the Largest Threat in Emerging Markets
Nearly 75% of respondents to a BCG Globalization Readiness survey in 2013 said local competitors are the greatest threat in emerging markets. Locals are more aware of market trends and nuances, and they respond more quickly. Locals are also very focused on the local market and more effective at scaling their businesses than multinationals.
Local Dynamos Are Growing Faster Than Their Peers
Local dynamos enjoyed an annual average growth rate of 28% from 2009–2013. This puts them on a much faster growth track than their peers.
Local Dynamos Create Stronger Value Than Their Peers
From 2009 to 2014, local dynamos consistently outperformed the S&P 500 and the MCSI World and Emerging Markets indices.
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