It almost doesn’t matter which sector you work in because competition is fierce across all sectors. Companies are constantly trying to gain an advantage by cutting down costs, introducing unique solutions, or investing in expansion. All of these moves can be powerful, but they need to be within a clear, well-defined framework that can base the strategy on company resources.
That framework is called a business strategy. Let's see how it works.
There are many different business strategies available, and each can be a powerful tool in a certain sector or niche. But, overall, these three are the most common strategies out there:
To increase performance and lower production costs to levels below the market standard (or those of the local competitors), companies might use cost leadership strategies. In other words, cost leadership allows you to lower your price compared to other businesses in a niche sector.
People are becoming more aware of the possibilities. They constantly hunt for ways to increase their income so they may spend more. One strategy to attract customers is to provide an irresistible pricing plan that nobody else is offering.
One strategy for smaller companies to compete successfully against bigger players is differentiation. The main goal of a differentiation strategy in business is to build an edge over rivals and improve credibility in that market. To do this, the company has to understand its strengths, limitations, and consumer demands.
In order to consistently have an advantage over competitors, you need to always set a budget for improving your goods and services. A business needs a top-notch team of product developers and marketing experts to create differentiated solutions in a particular niche. Branding is also a key part of this strategy as it can highlight your difference from the rest.
Companies use a growth strategy to extend the reach of their enterprise. Using a growth plan may help a company in many cases like expanding the scope of its services, growing its market share, adding more departments or divisions, or developing new office or retail space. Whatever your goals may be, a growth strategy can be a powerful tool in your arsenal.
So, now you have a basic understanding of these three strategies. Of course, no strategy is perfect and each comes with unique benefits and drawbacks. We start with the cost leadership strategy advantages and disadvantages.
Now that we’ve discussed the types, benefits, and drawbacks of different business strategies, it’s time to see some real-life examples.
Big W has always been one of the most popular players in the retail industry of Australia. Of course, such a status is not by coincidence because the company constantly works on improving its business strategies.
In recent years, Big W adopted a mix of cost leadership and differentiation strategies to prioritize efficiency while keeping costs down. It invested in cutting-edge, self-checkout devices and integrated solutions such as Visa payWave into many outlets that made shopping fast and convenient for customers, boosting their satisfaction.
One example of the most successful business strategies in the tech industry is HubSpot. While most companies focused on driving revenue by applying a marketing strategy to their existing products or services, HubSpot took an innovative approach by focusing on marketing itself.
The company created a software marketing solution that leveraged blog posts, videos, photos, and all existing material into a differentiated package. HubSpot drastically changed the marketing game back then and even introduced the concept of inbound marketing.
Before Spotify, most people only had options to platforms that either charged too much for streaming music or gave listeners little freedom in choosing the exact songs they wanted. Spotify capitalized on these two issues and used a combination of differentiation and cost leadership strategies.
First, they invested in developing a technology that allowed listeners to seamlessly pick whatever song they craved and listen to it. Then, they introduced a freemium model where people could enjoy many cool features without paying any money while being able to access extra services for a small fee.
So, there you have it. We listed different types of business strategies with their benefits and drawbacks. There's no single strategy that can work perfectly for all businesses as it depends on your resources, goals, and products.
Also, choosing and implementing the right strategy requires a deep understanding of the market. So, in the case of the tech sector, you need a team of experts by your side to help you navigate the whole process.
Luckily, you don't have to look far for such a team because that's exactly what we do at LANARS. You just need to contact us.
22.09.2023
7 Valuable Benefits of IoT for Businesses in 2023Early adopters in every industry are quickly discovering all the benefits that the Internet of Things (IoT) can provide. Statista projects that by 2028, the Internet of Things will have a market volume of $2,227.00 billion. Let's look at the benefits and real-life applications of IoT for businesses in different sectors.Read more19.09.2023
What is Industrial Automation? A Guide to Industrial IoT Use CasesWhat is IIoT? How does it function, exactly? What role does it play in Industry 4.0, and more importantly, how does it help other companies? Industry 4.0 and other fundamental ideas, such as system integration and cloud computing, are intertwined with IIoT. Read this blog to learn everything you must know.Read more16.09.2023
How IIoT Can Make Your Smart Factory SmarterThe Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies are already affecting industrial workflows. So, it's important to have a handle on the lingo, see how IIoT technologies work in smart factories, and get your company ready for tomorrow.Read more