But being able to defend existing markets is only half the story—they must also be in a position to compete successfully for new markets. Both are needed to lay the foundations for the sustained profitability that underpins high performance.

In response, executives are following a dual strategy: creating a lower cost but adaptable structure while looking for new sources of revenue. Accenture Profit and Cash Optimization provides the insight and experiences, backed by proprietary tools, to help them meet these demanding dual objectives.

Accenture Profit and Cash Optimization supports these dual objectives by freeing up cash quickly through a focus on three primary components: increasing profitable revenues, increasing asset productivity and reducing operating expenses.

Companies that can simultaneously reduce their costs while generating cash for expansion will be the ones to succeed in the hyper-competitive and volatile business environment of today and tomorrow.

• Revenue enhancement. Using pricing and promotion to smooth out volatility and capture value in a potentially long period of slow growth.
  
  
• Asset productivity. Enabling sustainable improvements in the underlying processes that affect working capital. We can reduce working capital requirements by 10 to 25 percent, freeing up cash to be used elsewhere in the business.
  
  
• Cost containment. Optimizing cost structures to embed improvements, clearing the way for game-changing moves to achieve long-term growth and profitability.