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Essay on Case Analysis of Dell: Selling Directly, Globally

Decent Essays

Business Model:

Dell Inc. founded by Michael Dell in the 1984 is the world's largest PC Manufacturer with annual sales of over $54 billion from around 170 countries. The Company was founded on a simple concept; that by selling personal computers directly to customers, Dell could best understand their needs and provides the most effective computing solutions to meet those needs. Dell provides computer systems under its enviable "low-cost direct sales model" under which the company maintains full ownership and control over manufacturing, distribution, and customer relationships. Dell has cut out middlemen, disguised as distributors, and the retail outlets from its supply chain, preferring to ship its products directly to customers. …show more content…

Dell diverted from its golden rule of "Never Sell Indirectly" to expand into different markets like India & China where the PC industry was dominated by vendors selling through indirect channels. Dell used distributors & retailers to sell there computers, though the benefits of reduced costs and increased attention customer experience and satisfaction were lost. But once they have a strong presence in the market and depending on the readiness of the markets, Dell expected that these markets would require less face-to-face contact and that more orders would be placed through the telephone or web thus reducing Dell's operating cost.

Key Issues:

• Computers in Asian market were sold through vendors; hence there was an increase in operating cost & price of computers.

• Staffing was another issue in China as it was difficult to find experienced direct sales people because direct sales were a new profession in China.

• Major Customers in China's PC market were Government and Public Companies, and securing government contract was a major problem as they were influenced by local companies like Legend and Great Wall.

• Consumer segment in China was lot different from US as the price of a PC could cost the equivalent of three months of a person wages.

• Online payment had to be made by credit card, cheque or telegraphic transfer. Average consumer could not afford an investment; very few had a bank account. This created complications and delayed the

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