It felt like yesterday that we discussed the expectations of millennials and what can be done in responding to their needs. Today’s update is about Gen Z, also known as "post-millennials" or "iGen," the generation that will soon surpass the millennials in 2019.

Who are the Gen Zers?

Some define Gen Z as those who were born after 1996 (age 21 or younger as of 2018) while others consider Gen Z are those who were born after 2000 (17 or younger as of 2018).

Using the cutoff line of 2000/2001, Gen Zers will comprise 32 percent of the world population, but millennials will only account for 31.5 percent. Gen Zers deserve our attention because:

• They are very influential. Over 70 percent have the power to influence their family’s spending.
• Many Gen Zers are eligible to vote and will enter college soon.
• Due to the impacts from the Great Recession (when they grew up), they are not as optimistic about economic opportunities and student debts.
• Compared to millennials, they are less likely to take risks.
• They are also less likely to have sex or drink.
• They prioritize wealth and material goods, things representing extrinsic values over intrinsic values, such as relationships and community feeling.
• They "naturally" want to create their own solutions when facing an issue, but millennials look to others for answers, including the companies they do business with.

What opportunities are there for hotels and restaurant retails?

Risks are often associated with opportunities. I see the following opportunities:

• Gen Zers are more likely to accept automatic service or services provided by machines as they tend to find solutions on their own and rely less on a salesperson.
• Since they are more likely to use mobile devices as a means of payments and for delivery service, innovative entrepreneurs may be able to cut labor costs with high-tech devices or by forming new partnerships with services like Uber Eats.
• The renovation circles for restaurants or hotels may need to be shortened, but changes provide opportunities for businesses to embrace the new trends, with new designs to better utilize the space.
• It could be cheaper to communicate the marketing messages with target customers using digital marketing instead of through printed materials.

What business is at risk because of Gen Z?

According to a prediction by Bloomberg, the list includes:

• Shopping malls: Not only Gen Zers have never lived in a non-digital life, 93 percent prefer to shop without the help of a salesperson. On top of that, clothing expenses in the U.S. household spending dropped from 6.2 percent in 1977 to today’s 3.1 percent.
• Print magazines: While more people across generations are getting used to reading news and finding information online, teens who grew up in the digital age rely even less on printed materials.
• Football: Participation in high school football dropped about 3.5 percent from the 2011-12 to the 2016-17 season. Besides new legislation to bar tackle program before high school, close to 150 high school football programs have stopped running in the last five years.
• Cash: American teens only use cash for 6 percent of their transactions. Payment apps, such as Google Pay and Apple Wallet, are experiencing continuous growth.

Are you ready for Gen Zers? What business opportunities do you see when Gen Zers are taking over from millennials?