New Accenture Report Finds Growing Appetite Among Travelers and Businesses for Technology-Based Solutions at International Borders

Rhea-AI Summary

A new report by Accenture reveals that two-thirds of international travelers and traders support the use of technology by border agencies to enhance operations. It forecasts a transformative change in border processes by 2030, with 75% of respondents agreeing with this outlook. Critical findings include that 57% of travelers choose destinations based on seamless border experiences, and 30% plan to travel internationally more than before the pandemic. The e-commerce market is expected to grow from $4.21 trillion in 2020 to $17.53 trillion by 2030, while 85% of importers anticipate increased volatility in trade.

Positive

• 67% of travelers and traders favor technology for border improvements.
• 75% predict significantly different border processes by 2030.
• 30% of people plan to travel internationally more compared to pre-pandemic.
• E-commerce projected to soar from $4.21 trillion in 2020 to $17.53 trillion by 2030.

Negative

• 57% of travelers base their destination choices on expected border security ease.
• 28% have altered travel plans due to anticipated border difficulties.
• 17% of traders ceased contracts due to poor customs experiences.
• 85% of importers foresee increased trade volatility in the upcoming three years.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A new report by Accenture (NYSE: ACN) finds two-thirds of international travelers and import/export traders surveyed are supportive of borders, immigration, and customs agencies deploying existing and emerging technology solutions to improve operations in the movement of people and goods. In addition, three-quarters (75%) of respondents agreed that border processes will look dramatically different by 2030.

The report, Future borders 2030: From vision to reality, compiled data from 2022 surveys of travelers and traders involved in international importing and exporting across nine countries (Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the United States) and draws upon a recent multi-country survey of border agency employees.

The report’s findings indicate that maintaining the status quo is not an option for border agencies. Fifty-seven percent of international travelers claimed to select their travel or layover destination based on whether they think their experience with border security will be seamless and easy, while 28% have changed travel or layover destinations because they anticipated a difficult border experience. Importers and exporters were found to act similarly, with 17% indicating they have stopped contracts due to a poor experience with customs processes in certain countries.

The report also found around one-third of people (30%) are planning to travel more internationally than they did before the pandemic. Global trade is also growing, driven by the boom in e-commerce, which is currently projected to grow from $4.21 trillion in 2020 to $17.53 trillion by 2030. However, 85% of importers are expecting increased volatility over the next three years, compared to the previous three.

“We need to leverage technology to create more frictionless experience for travelers and the movement of goods,” said Prasanna Ellanti, who leads Accenture’s border services work. “This includes focusing on customer expectations, enhancing data capabilities, and embracing emerging technologies such as the metaverse.”

The report highlights three key technology trends:

1. Frictionless by design: Experiences at borders becoming more frictionless and focused on satisfying the needs and desires of their users for safer, faster and more responsive journeys.
2. Trust to truth: Growing compilation and usage of data for assessments both before and during border and customs interactions.
3. Virtual frontiers: The emergence and acceleration of the metaverse and its impact on borders for training staff, facilitating inspections and the processing of travelers and trade.

“We expect such changes to unfold quite rapidly between now and 2030,” Prasanna added. “Travelers and traders show very strong support for deploying new and emerging technology advances, and we see growing demands and pressures on agencies ushering in a period of true reinvention of how they deliver border services.”

About the Research
Accenture conducted two surveys in March 2022 (Global Traveler Survey and Global Trader Survey) spanning nine countries: Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the United States. The Global Traveler Survey included 5,000 respondents who had travelled internationally at least once in the last four years. The Global Trader Survey included 1,000 respondents from businesses engaged as exporters and/or importers. Additionally, Accenture interviewed five of the world’s leading futurists, who advise organizations on long-term future scenario planning. To help shape this paper, Accenture sourced and tested ideas from our more than 1,000+ border industry global practitioners. Lastly, this work builds on sub-industry cuts of previously published global surveys, including a Public Sector Worker Survey conducted in 2020 of 500 border, immigration, and customs workers across five countries (Australia, Germany, Singapore, United Kingdom and the United States).

Accenture Foresight
You can explore The Art of AI Maturity in Accenture Foresight, our new thought leadership app, which provides a personalized feed of all our latest reports, case studies, blogs, interactive data charts, podcasts and more. Visit http://www.accenture.com/foresight.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Technology and Operations services and Accenture Song — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 721,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners, and communities. Visit us at accenture.com.

Copyright © 2022 Accenture. All rights reserved. Accenture and its logo are trademarks of Accenture.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220927005129/en/

Joe Dickie

Accenture

+1 512 694 6422

joseph.r.dickie@accenture.com

Chinedu Udezue

Accenture

+44 7464 910 244

chinedu.udezue@accenture.com

Source: Accenture

FAQ

What does Accenture's report say about border processes by 2030?

The report indicates that 75% of respondents believe border processes will change dramatically by 2030.

How many international travelers plan to travel more post-pandemic according to ACN's report?

30% of people surveyed plan to travel more internationally than before the pandemic.

What is the expected growth of e-commerce by 2030 according to Accenture?

E-commerce is expected to grow from $4.21 trillion in 2020 to $17.53 trillion by 2030.

What percentage of travelers select destinations based on border experience?

57% of international travelers choose their destinations based on the anticipated ease of border security.

What challenges do importers face according to the Accenture report?

85% of importers expect increased volatility in trade processes over the next three years.