The 19th annual Global Powers of Retailing identifies the 250 largest retailers around the world based on publicly available data for fiscal 2014 (encompassing companies' fiscal years ended through June 2015), and analyses their performance based on geographic region, product sector, e-commerce activity, and other factors. It also provides a look at the world's 50 biggest e-retailers.

Global Powers of Retailing 2016: Navigating the New Digital Divide is much more than a list, however. Ira Kalish, Deloitte's Chief Global Economist, provides an overview of the global economy and how it will impact the retail sector. There is a section devoted to the "Q Ratio," which is a way of measuring non-tangible business assets such as brand equity and customer loyalty.

In addition, the report considers the impact technology has on in-store shopping. Recent studies by Deloitte show that we are rapidly heading toward a day where nearly all shoppers will be connected to the Internet nearly all of the time. Digital behaviours and expectations of consumers are evolving faster than retailers are delivering on those expectations, creating a "digital divide." Deloitte has identified three important trends in this area:

• No single path toward digital adoption. While all markets are moving in the same direction, some are taking somewhat different routes to get there. Some emerging markets, for example, are entirely skipping adoption stages previously experienced by established markets.
• One digital "size" does not fit all customers. Digital behavior varies depending on personal factors, for example age, income, and product type being sought.
• Consumers are demanding better digital tools. Digital tools and channels can both extend a retailer's reach and increase revenue, but customers are currently feeling unsatisfied and underserved.