Amazon and Tesla
Does Amazon or Tesla have any core competencies, and if so, what are they? What are the primary and secondary components of its value chain?
It is no secret that Amazon has become an extremely profitable and omnipresent corporation in the e-commerce industry and the world at large. The business entity is presently perceived as the second most valuable universally. The corporation has not just been capable of developing the main business as an e-commerce titan but has been capable of innovating and moving into other market segments effectively (Finance, 2019). Therefore, Amazon is considered a great representation of core competencies. The business entity aims to the world’s most consumer-driven corporation. The company’s core abilities aim to offer a great consumer experience by using rapid conveyance, unparalleled client management, and access to a wide range of products at lower costs. The abilities provide access to various business entities and make a great dedication to the apparent client advantage. The company’s capacity to draw together, reconfigure and leverage the core capabilities into viable upper-hands represents an all-rounded aspect. It may rapidly develop in a rapidly changing business climate. Amazon is focused on resolving global concerns. Moreover, during the cloud development, the company created it intending to ease accessibility by the consumers.
The primary and secondary components of the value chain include Amazon’s outbound logistics. In most cases, Amazon outbound coordination integrates the following aspects. Foremost, it entails progressive delivery. This identifies with commodities and services that a client may easily access from the company’s website. The other element involves an emphasis on consumer contentment. To facilitate this, the corporation extensively makes use of mechanical invention to supervise delivery, storage, and collection. Another component involves Amazon’s inbound logistics. Amazon does not possess any long-haul pacts or game plans with its retailers to guarantee product accessibility, particular installment terms, or the growth of credit parameters. Amazon (FBA) Fulfillment is a basis of Amazon inbound management for a corporation’s claimed merchandising business. Moreover, the economies of scale are a substantial source of substantial worth generation for Amazon inbound coordination. Salespersons may as well make use of FBA through the storage of their stock in Amazon gratification focuses. In this case, Amazon agrees to take total liability for the organisation, client management, and return of items. Using FBA is a flexible pronouncement for salespersons, and this pronouncement makes the outcomes of foreigner traders fit for Amazon’s free two-day delivery, accessible transport, and varied benefits.
Which one of the five generic competitive strategies most closely approximates the competitive approach that Amazon or Tesla is employing?
Amazon.com Inc.’s generic approach for competitive advantage, founded on Michael Porter’s model, illustrates the organization’s method in developing the business amidst tough rivalry within the online retail market. As the chief online merchant globally, Amazon attests to be extremely competitive, even against giants such as Walmart. Amazon incorporates cost leadership as the generic approach for competitive advantage. Minimizing operating expenses is the fundamental goal of this generic competitive approach (Hitt Ireland & Hoskisson, 2016). For instance, Amazon.com utilizes advanced computing and networking technologies for maximum operational efficacy that transforms to reduced expenses. Bearing in mind the nature of e-commerce, the corporation profits from automating processes, primarily utilized in procurement processing, planning, and extra operating practices. A tactical approach associated with Amazon’s cost leadership generic policy is to develop a competitive e-commerce advantage through the constant development of information technology organizations. Moreover, the cost leadership generic competitive approach drives Amazon.com Inc. to reduce the pricing range. This strategic objective influences Amazon’s advertising mix. The reduced rates are noteworthy in appealing to clients. Therefore, through the generic approach of cost leadership, a competitive edge is attained to support the implementation of Amazon.com Inc.’s mission statement and vision declaration, particularly regarding online retail worldwide development and leadership.
What chief differences do you see between Amazon or Tesla strategy and the strategy being employed by its competitor(s), Barnes and Noble or General Motors?
Notwithstanding billion-dollar investments by rivals such as Barnes and Noble to develop their marketing infrastructures, most consumers in the United States choose Amazon as a shopping destination. The company’s flexible technology stack sanctions the provision of a wide range of products, greater expediency, and exceedingly competitive rating. All the aspects make Amazon a formidable rival for conventional firms.
Based on competitive pricing, a significant gain driving its marketplace programme and numerous supplier choices is low pricing. Over the years, Amazon has continuously prioritized the development and “consumer value” over short-term gains. It is likewise assisted by economies of scale and infrastructural investments and logistics, which have assisted in two-day distribution abilities and one-hour distribution on a significant subcategory of 25,000 products in 30 municipalities with Prime Now.
Another aspect that facilitates competitive advantage is fewer technology and organizational storage tower. Maybe Amazon’s ultimate benefit is being a 20-year old corporation; it missed the generations of legacy technologies known to impend on other retailers’ growth. Un-burdened by mainframe investments, uncompromising and high-cost relational technology, and investing in massive information centers, Amazon initiated a migration to the cloud with AWS. It concentrated on the consumer’s needs, developed inventive technology resolutions mainly in-house, and later commercialized the technological inventions.
Describe one (1) recommendation you would make to strengthen the company’s growth and profitability.
Amazon’s operations may continue growing, founded on the prospects within the business atmosphere, along with the firm’s strong points. To strengthen the firm’s development and profit margins, developing fresh partnerships with other corporations is an exterior strategic aspect that the firm may take advantage of to expound the company’s spread in the worldwide e-commerce industry. Moreover, affiliations with business entities that have a robust corporate social responsibility image may enhance the impacts of Amazon’s corporate social responsibility approach and shareholder administration attempts. Therefore, the company may continue diversifying its operations irrespective of the growing market saturation.
References
Finance, Y. (2019, January 30). The history of Amazon: How Amazon came to dominate retail. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StaMb1iwPNE.
Hitt M. A., Ireland R. D., & Hoskisson R. E. (2016). Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases: Competitiveness and Globalization. [VitalSource Bookshelf]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781305856288/