The objective of this case study is to outline and provide a brief overview of Amazon.com’s (Amazon) mission, strategic direction, core competencies, relied technologies and their future impact of new technologies, and how management and use of consumer data will impact future business.
In addition, we have analyzed Amazon’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in a SWOT analysis. Based on this analysis, and research, we have recommend a course of action as to how Amazon should respond to their weaknesses and threats and how best to leverage strengths to take advantage of available opportunities.
Amazon’s Mission and Strategic Direction
Amazon.com, Inc. is an internet retailer headquartered in Seattle, Washington
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This strategy will help Amazon increase its low profit margin, decrease its operational cost, increase customer response and order processing services and pass that savings on to the customer.
Amazon’s Core Competencies
Amazon’s core competencies are in its ability to effectively use and develop technology to drive site traffic and enhance the customer experience. Their distinctive use of website real estate coupled with their ability to leverage their brand and effectively use that leverage to deliver low prices and high quality products, makes them a leader in online retailing. Their partner brands and their ability to adapt and recognize deficiencies enable them to effectively cut out the middle man, or at the very least, partner with them.
Relied Technologies and Their Impact on Future Business
Amazon strives to provide customers with the best possible online shopping experience by leveraging their powerful and innovative technologies. Part of the company’s competitiveness lies in their proprietary technology, which is licensed to companies like Target to run their e-commerce site. Its patented portal technology allows the customer to customize their on-line experience with personalized home page,
Amazon believes in keeping its marketing plan simple in order to be effective. Consequently, their marketing plan is based upon the 4 P’s (product, price, place, and promotion). Amazon’s product is to provide an unparalleled selection of any item that exists on the planet. Its prices are extremely competitive and often lower than traditional stores and it is more convenient for people to shop on the internet (place) than it is in a physical location. Finally, its promotion emphasizes big ideas, innovation, technology, and customer centricity, enabling it to market itself as the most convenient place for consumers to shop and satisfy their needs (Kerin & Hartley, 2015). This strategy targets
Amazon.com operates in the Online Retail Industry. The sector is one of the fastest growing globally and is outperforming the ordinary retail marketplace. It was created after 1995 and it was only the Internet that made it possible for such an industry not only to be established but to become one of the most flourishing sectors in the business environment. What is interesting is that Amazon.com, together with eBay is the pioneer in the field. Both companies were launched in 1995 and are still extremely successful. The creation of e-mail in 1996 had a huge impact on the development of online retail by introducing a fast and easy way to communicate with customers. For this two-year period Internet usage
Amazon understood firsthand that the competitive advantage of a company originates immediately from how distinctive the organization's resources and competencies are. Amazon is able to both engage in production at a lower cost and generate a superior product at a standard cost. This is accomplished mostly via Amazon's strategy of having a wide variety of goods and competitive pricing. Customers know they can find basic products at slashed prices or high quality goods at standard prices and this is all achieved via the enormous range of products and product brands and types available on their massive marketplace. For example, the depiction displayed in the case study which shows how growth was related directly to: lower cost structure- lower prices customer experience traffic sellers -selection and convenience. While this is a grave oversimplification of the Amazon business model, it demonstrates how many aspects of the strategy reinforced one another.
Through selling more in a lower price, Amazon can achieve economies of scale, which in return can increase their bargaining power over its suppliers and partners.
Amazon’s focus is on their customers. This marketing plan illustrates how Amazon uses its spirit of innovation and technology, and dedication to all its customers to become a leader in its market. Amazon has many different customers. They can be their consumers or shoppers, sellers, content creators, and or developers. Amazon has many different product offerings and services that set it apart from many of its competitors. This marketing plan illustrates who Amazon is and what they do. It outlines specifically their objectives and goals in becoming Earth’s most customer-centric company. SWOT analysis is to outline the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats the company
Moreover, Development of technology has led to an increase in competition between online stores. Now there exists unlimited number of online stores in every country having multiple branches leading to the fact that they provide cheaper services to customers. Keeping this in view Amazon is now compelled to change its traditional style of business. Apart from this, Amazon has also realized that having a physical store, where customers can shop like regular markets would give an extra value proposition to the company. (Lee, 2014)
Amazon.com creates value for its customers by offering customers broad array of products to select from through their website and ensuring timely delivery of products to exhibit high level of commitment towards their business and customers
Amazon, Inc. is considered to be the leading online retailer in the world today with a platform of sale for over 40 different goods categories ranging from machine/motor auto parts, books, groceries and electronics. Apart from this, the large organization also has a platform for internet technology and ecommerce, a platform for internet advertising, a platform for logistics and fulfilment, an internet incubator for startups, and a search technology. The company was started in Seattle, America back in the year 1994 in July by Jeff Bezos, who was a former New York investment banker. Before Amazon achieved its great success, it was the original idea of Jeff to start a bookstore to sell books online. The company has tremendously advanced from an online bookstore to a globally known online Wal-Mart where many products are sold such as Hardware and Tools, games and toys, Cookware and Music CDs. Amazon gross sales over the years have shown the company’s incredible growth with revenues back in 1997 being $150 million growing over $100 billion today (Kargar, 2004; Mellahi & Johnson, 2000).
Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer and is indeed a pioneer in the online retailing space. Though it started as an online bookstore, its success in its venture spurred it to diversify into selling anything that can be sold online. Further, Amazon has also expanded globally and now operates around the world through a combination of localized portals and globalized delivery and logistics platforms. Amazon has achieved a great level of success in the online retail industry. Under the five generic strategies, Amazon’s strategy would fall within the strategy of being a low cost provider. , Amazon’s strategy is driven by its sources of competitive advantage wherein it is focus on technology, actualizing the benefits of economies of scale, and leveraging the efficiencies from the synergies between its external drivers and internal resources have been the cornerstones of its business model.
Amazon is always trying to find new ways to attract more customers without neglecting its current ones. The CEO, Bezos wanted to move fast and in recent years this company joined other industries to offer new services such as movies, music, games, and even food. Thanks to enormous selection of products and various services that the company offers to its customers, Amazon has become the world’s biggest online retailer. The success of the company is because it has developed rapidly, and it continues to expand its product range. Today, we can find an infinite array of products in the Amazon
Analysis SWOT, which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, is a way to analyse and evaluate the current situation of amazon.com.
Amazon, as an organization understands the needs of their customers on a much deeper level than its competitors as well as focuses on constant improvements in the market. Currently, their major focuses are e-books, Amazon DynamoDB, a personalized shopping experience, and expansion into various retail outlets. (Fitzsimmons 2014) Amazon has proven to be very successful with their bookstore business, replacing the need for retail large bookstores such as Barns and Noble and Borders and local bookstores. Amazon understands that customers are demanding an online retailer that understands what their wants and needs are. Henceforth, Amazon has created databases and technology that creates a very personalized shopping experience for each and every Amazon shopper. As an organization, Amazon understands that this market is still being developed as technology increases. Amazon strives to have their solutions all be backed with advanced technology that puts the customer first and creates strong brand loyalty. In doing this Amazon not only builds a stronger client base, but can truly understand their customers on a level that is a wonderful service for their shoppers.
Technology is a huge factor in modern day life - with 45% of the world having internet access to purchase goods and services, the e-commerce industry is ever growing. Therefore new technologies have a significant impact on the external environment as they guide the new direction of a market. Technological improvements generally coincide with technological advancements in a company’s products helping to gain more consumers and maintain competitive advantage over other companies. Amazons prime addition has between 50 and 70 million subscribers with an increase of 53% last year (Mac, 2015) therefore showing the success of the technological improvement and the ability to increase consumer base by a large amount. Other technological advancements that Amazon has invested in include Amazon video and Amazon music via mobile apps and webpages enabling Amazon to keep up with growing markets. Another form of Amazon using technology is to track and trace consumer patterns – technology has enabled Amazon to see there consumer loyalty rates (50% consumer loyalty in 2004) (Kimble & Bourdon, 2013). Similarly as technology is becoming such a large part of everyday life, e-commerce companies are able to gain considerable benefits as their target market grows – faster broadband as well as increased availability of internet helps to promote companies such as Amazon.
Amazon.com offers one touch shopping experience for millions of consumers around the world. You now have the ability to conduct all your shopping needs, wants and desires
Good day academia and my audience of peers. Finally, I have chosen Amazon.com as my company of choice. Consequentially when I started looking for a company to write my final case study on, I searched deep down inside of myself, and asked myself, what exactly is it that I prefer in a company. In addition to that, I asked myself, what company in today’s global market is very empathetic to its customers, stakeholders, shareholders and environments. Future more, what company also served speed, and saved time?