The plastics industry is more and more becoming aware of the significance of moving its business processes towards the digital world. Although the sector has been somewhat resistant to changes, now plastics companies are moving away from traditional marketing approaches towards digital marketing techniques.
In 2024, the plastics industry is expected to undergo a significant transformation: switching to circular models, exploring alternative materials and applying innovative technologies. While we face challenges, there are also opportunities to adopt more sustainable practices and move towards a future where circularity and innovation define the pace of the future.
Trends focus on digitalization in terms of productivity and sustainability. These trends will define the standards for creating more efficient and reliable processes and addressing various challenges, both technical and conceptual.
What the plastics industry is concerned about
When it came to the biggest concerns among European plastics companies, according to the PIE Market Survey, 63.9% of respondents ranked sales figures as the top concern, reflecting their fear that companies may be pressured to shrink if they face an insufficient demand.
Sales prices, a factor closely linked to the general state of the market, is a concern for 48.8% of companies surveyed. Energy costs continue to be a worry for at least 56.1 % of respondents, while material costs are still a concern for 44.2 %. At least 40% of companies continue to be affected by labor and payroll expenses.
While inflation is not as high as it was in early 2023, it is still a concern for 44.2% of respondents. On the whole, companies are managing to make ends meet, with liquidity concerns affecting only 10.9% of companies surveyed.
Among the areas where managers expect digital solutions to be most helpful are cost reduction, improved operational efficiency and better management.
Factors affecting the plastics industry in 2024
1. Alternative materials
One of the most remarkable trends is the growing interest in alternative materials such as bioplastics. This trend reflects the drive towards sustainability and reduced dependence on non-renewable resources.
2. Focus on circular economy and recycling strategies
The circular economy is no longer just a sustainable approach, but a new economic model focused on generating profits and benefits through the circular use of materials. Recycling strategies such as mechanical and chemical recycling are winning more popularity by demonstrating positive and sustainable results.
The integration of recycled materials is challenging, especially in terms of providing a stable supply while maintaining quality. Equipment adaptation, implementation of advances filtration technologies and changes in product design are key elements to support a successful transition to circularity.
3. Smart technologies for digital transformation
The use of smart technologies such as blockchain, digital platforms, online prospecting and artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the plastics industry. These tools and solutions promise to boost operational efficiency, reduce risk, and achieve greater transparency throughout the supply chain.
Which industries will be the top consumers of plastic products in 2024
Environmental friendliness will continue to be a major driver of innovation. The use of recycled materials will result in finding new sources of raw materials and processing technologies capable of handling these materials.
- The packaging sector has become the epicenter of innovation, responding to increasingly ambitious recycling and reuse objectives. Projects such as polypropylene labeled bottles facilitating the recycling and re-filling of containers are at the forefront. However, it still faces the challenge of soothing consumers’ negative perceptions of the quality and safety of recycled materials.
- The motor transport industry is striving for larger production of electric vehicles. The sector will need highly specialized components such as smart panels, functional surfaces, powertrain and battery parts, while optimizing existing components with a focus on sustainable materials.
- The medical sector, meanwhile, will continue to require more and more polymer materials. The main drivers will be suplies needed for diagnostic tests and the treatment of diabetes, obesity and other diseases.
- Logistics, infrastructure, water treatment and construction will also experience an upturn.
Finding new customers
One of the most efficient ways to get new customers is still a practice of cold sales. With the new digital technologies onboard, it has become possible to automate this traditional method as much as possible in order to accelerate the sales pipeline by digitizing it.
Since any sales relies on the work with databases, it is essential to perform proper market segmentation and create marketing lists of prospects according to unified standards that make the work of sales managers as easy as possible.
EasyList is the tool that will help you to digitalize the process of creating a database for phone calls, email campaigns and outreach through social networks. With just a few clicks, you will have a file on your desktop that provides information on all local, national or international prospects that fit your search criteria. The data are presented in a unified way and can be exported to your CRM system.
One of the “nice to have” features of the sales in plastics business is the relative ease of repeat sales. If a customer is satisfied with everything, he will buy continuously and regularly.
Therefore, it is extremely important to establish a loyal relationship with each customer, to run a CRM system in order to track repeat sales chances and not to miss the moment to re-offer, so that the customer does not leave to a competitor.
Finding new suppliers
There is no doubt that in all markets that depend on plastics sector innovations, strong partnerships with technology providers are essential. These players play a crucial role in providing up-to-date information on the latest developments.
Kompass.com is a global businessplace that provides a convenient way to collect key information about leading suppliers of equipment, raw materials and technologies worldwide. Supplier lists can be generated by product category, making it easy to find the company or a product you need.
In conclusion
Revise your marketing approaches: consumers, both in B2B and B2C, are becoming increasingly digital, so plastics companies must adapt their marketing strategies to this market trend.
Optimize sales time: sales processes in B2B are long and costly, and many sales teams suffer from a lack of time to prospect for new customers because they are focused on other routine tasks (visits, attending trade shows, business trips, etc.). Therefore, it is important to refocus sales efforts so that time is not wasted on issues that bring little value. One solution in this regard is to implement commercial management tools that allow you to automate and digitize repetitive tasks and thus devote more time to engaging and increasing customer loyalty.
Contact the professionals: the journey to a more digitalized business is not an easy one, and if not done right, it can be damaging. For this reason, companies in the plastics industry are advised to consult the professionals who specialize in digital marketing in general and online prospecting in particular.
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