A new study from Juniper Research has found that the global market value of the subscription economy will grow to US$275 billion in 2022, rising from US$224 billion in 2021.
Among the 10 key subscription-based markets evaluated, physical goods, digital video, and digital music are forecast to generate the highest revenue in 2022.
The new report, Subscription Economy: Future Strategies & Market Forecasts 2022-2026, found that increased user demand for reliable, recurring deliveries of key items, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the support of automation in subscription services, are key reasons for the uptake of subscription services across these three verticals. This represents 75% of global subscription market revenue in 2022.
Growing opportunities
Physical goods will account for the largest subscription revenue opportunity and are expected to represent 45% of the global revenue by 2022.
The report confirmed that physical goods subscriptions have seen increased user demand, with users keen to secure reliable sources of medicines and daily essentials in the face of the pandemic.
The report found that subscriptions to digital services, including music, video streaming, spoken word, and video games, will be a major revenue stream, representing 39% of the global subscription market value in 2022.
It predicts that the increasing adoption of emerging new device types, such as smart speakers, and the increased availability of streaming content will drive further adoption.
Growing the subscription business
In all this, alternative payment methods will play an important role in ensuring the growth momentum continues. Juniper Research urges subscription economy vendors to support multiple payment methods, including Open Banking and digital wallets, to boost convenience to the end-user.
The researcher also recommends that platform providers should focus on the most popular alternative payment methods in their target countries, to minimise payment process friction and so reducing churn.
