Essay on Dell Analysis

Dell's business strategy combines its direct customer model with a highly efficient manufacturing and supply chain management organization and an emphasis on standards-based technologies. This strategy enables Dell to provide customers with superior value; high-quality, relevant technology; customized systems; superior service and support; and products and services that are easy to buy and use.

The advantages of Dells model are: The internet allows Dell an extensive scope and reach for its products at a relatively low price (Dedrick and Kraemer 2001). Using the internet Dell has been able to automate many of its business functions, such as product configuration, order entry and technical support (Dedrick & Kraemer 2001), therefore the company can achieve higher revenues without customer service costs increasing greatly. Online configuration ensures that the customer gets exactly what they want. Dells build to order strategy means that inventory levels are low, they only hold approximately 4-8 days of stock, therefore inventory costs are low (Breen 2004).

Dell Computer Corporation was founded in 1984 by Michael Dell. From the early 1990s until the mid-2000s, Dell was ranked as a PC market leader relying on their distinctive marketing pattern “Direct Model” which undertook direct communication with customers and provided customized products. Recently, the PC industry is facing inconceivable worldwide competition, and Dell is gradually losing their competitive advantages by using its direct model in critical business segments. The company is facing shrinkage of growth, increasing competition, declining quality of customer service, and limitation of expansion. These issues have an enormous impact on Dell’s position as a technological giant in the PC industry.

Dell had to solve the problem of balancing the production of laptops, desktops and servers. On the laptop market, which Dell was committed to

            Dell carefully targeted corporate relationship customers that had predictable, budgeted needs and that wanted a pre-determined set of product models. The company also selected individual customers who were high-end, repeat purchasers with a preference for early technology adoption. Both account segments had the stable, predictable purchase patterns that Dell needed to make its joint build-product-to-order/buy-component-to-plan system work.

Dell Computer's initial business model concentrated on creating build-to-order personal computers to customers' specific needs. This has grown from a fairly modest operation to a $62B business as of the close of their latest fiscal year (FY 2012). Dell succeeded with an Internet-based business model by concentrating on the accuracy, agility and speed that its much larger competitors could not match. Honeywell, IBM and others could not match the speed and agility that Dell had in basic build-to-order product strategies, which would eventually grow into the core part of their business model. Dell was able to rely on the ubiquity of the Internet to create a much large, diverse customer base compared to its competitors who were constrained by traditional retail channels (as was IBM's case) or a reliance on direct sales forces (Salvador, de Holan, Piller, 2009). Dell was able to capitalize on latent customer demand for customized PCs, laptops and servers at a much greater rate that competitors who failed to see the disintermediating influence the Internet was having on distribution channels (Salvador, de Holan, Piller, 2009). Dell succeeded at this strategy where dozens of other companies failed by concentrating on having the most thorough integration of their supply chain, production, fulfillment and services online globally, all unified through secured Internet-based networks. While the many competitors Dell had

On the threats side, Dell realized that competitors like IBM and Compaq Computer Corp. had stronger brand names, which put Dell in a weaker position with dealers.

Dell Computer Corporation’s Michael Dell’s decisive and apparently uncontested vision for the sustained growth of the corporation hinges on advancing the Dell Direct Model. A distinct advantage displayed by Dell versus his closest competitors in this arena-Gateway, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard and Digital Equipment seems to be the synergy created by the integration of marketing communication efforts and their ability to accurately adjust sales staff and production levels to meet the corresponding demand.

Dell believes the direct business model is the most effective model for providing solutions that address customer needs.3 Customers pay only for the features they will actually use. Another benefit for customers is they deal directly with the product maker. Dell loads the software so the purchaser can use the product immediately. This USP has given Dell an element of uniqueness in the market place that allows it to differentiate products from the “off the shelf” versions that competitors produce. Dell’s direct contact with customers allows the company to: • Properly identify market segments • Analyse the requirements of each segment • Develop accurate forecasts of future demand.

Dell started out having a first mover advantage that allowed them to generate high returns and large growth in itd sales due to a unit direct sales model. As the industry matured, other competitors entered the market and markets pulled back Dells performance suffered. Today, Dell is the IBM of 2000 as it’s a mature business with GDP type growth in a

In this report, I will review the internal and external environment of Dell Computer which enabled them to compete with other PC competitor. A case study from the instructor about Dell was provided to help with the internal and external analysis of the company in relation with the non price attributes with their PC product. This report will also look on how Dell should implement their strategy to retain their market share and to out position other competitor in the future.

Dell Computer competes in the global computer market. Originally a direct supplier of customized PCs, Dell now competes directly against the world’s leading computer manufacturers.

During the early 1990s, computer industry developed rapidly. With the entrance of Dell, the dynamic structure in the industry changed. Between 1994 and 1998, Dell 's growth was twice as fast as its major rivals (IBM, Compaq, Gateway, and Hewlett-Packard). Dell provides high performance PCs at low prices. Its competitive advantage is mainly established by the innovation of the Direct Model and other firm level strategies that enable Dell to utilize its resources and build up its capabilities more efficiently.

Dell was created on a simple concept: it’s Direct Business Model, which starts and ends with our customers. Michael Dell firmly believed that by selling computer systems directly to customers, Dell could best understand their needs and efficiently provide the most effective computing solutions to meet those needs. This direct business model eliminates retailers that add unnecessary time and cost, or can diminish Dell's

Dell is considered doing well in the market segmentation in order to avoid unnecessary loss. The management carry out analysis and report to find out which part or area can let them make the most profit. They position themselves as a strategic vendor, which is important in the business. From this, they have the competitive advantage in order to compete with other IT big business. Dell is also trying to sell affordable or more cheaper product to the customer. Apple is the top IT business in the world nowadays. As a result, Dell can not compete with them at the moment. Therefore, Dell’s product strategy is more focus on developing one specific product that can satisfy the customer. Dell also provides variety of services to