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Amazon has retaken top spot as the world’s most valuable brand despite its brand value falling 15% this year from US$350.3 billion to US$299.3 billion, according to a new report from leading brand valuation consultancy, Brand Finance.
Amazon’s brand has fallen by over US$50 billion this year, substantially in connection with its fall in brand strength, with its rating falling from AAA+ to AAA as consumers evaluate it more harshly in the post-pandemic world. Brand Finance’s research has found that customer perception of customer service at Amazon has fallen – at the same time as delivery times have lengthened – and in concert with this, consumers have become less likely to recommend Amazon to others. Concurrent with the conclusion of pandemic restrictions, people are returning to shopping in-person, slightly mitigating the need for online retail.
David Haigh, Chairman and CEO of Brand Finance, commented: “Technology brands across the world have lost significant value in response to shifting demand patterns. Inflation has affected brands across many sectors, but as consumer habits partially revert to pre-pandemic patterns, demand for the services of tech brands has been hit particularly hard. Additionally, disrupted supply chains, labour shortages, and greater obstacles to financing have left their mark.”
Apple (brand value down 16% to US$297.5 billion) has fallen to be the world’s second most valuable brand with its brand value falling from US$355.1 billion. This year’s fall in brand value relates to a fall in forecast revenue as a disrupted goods supply chain and a constrained labour market are expected to limit supply of its marquee hardware products.
There was a total of 48 tech brands that featured in the ranking, two down from the 50 in 2022, after Snapchat and Twitter dropped out. Other tech-focused brands to lose value include Samsung Group (brand value down 7% to US$99.7 billion), Alibaba.com (brand value down 56% to US$10.0 billion), Facebook (brand value down 42% to US$59.0 billion) and WeChat (brand value down 19% to US$50.2 billion).
On the positive side, Instagram (brand value up 42% to US$47.4 billion) and LinkedIn (brand value up 49% to US$15.5 billion) have grown in the tech sector, with the brand value of each growing due to well-executed strategy to commercialise their services.
Some of the other big winners in brand value include electric car manufacturers Tesla (brand value up 44% to US$66.2 billion) and BYD (brand value up 57% to US$10.1 billion), as demand grows for electric cars as part of a broader transition a to low carbon economy.
In addition to the Global 500 2023 ranking of the world’s most valuable and strongest brands, Brand Finance is also launching the Brand Finance Sustainability Perceptions Index, in association with the International Advertising Association at the World Economic Forum in Davos. This report reveals that major global brands such as Amazon, Tesla, Apple and Google each have billions of dollars contingent on carefully managing a reputation for commitment to sustainability.
