Multi Channel Distribution In The Age Of The Digital Customer

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2014 in the subject Business economics - Miscellaneous, grade: 2,0, Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW), course: BWL - International Business, language: English, abstract: In this thesis, the author approaches multi-channel distribution within the age of the digital customer, centralizing a strategic adoption in the German automotive industry. By applying a qualitative empirical research design, he determines key success factors and imperatives for building an effective digital business strategy in the German automotive industry and discloses general factors for success to thrive a multi-channel business. The choice of journals was based on the journal ranking at http://www.http://vhbonline.org/service/jourqual/ (status as of: 21.01.2014), whereas the author’s focus were highly ranked journals from diverse sources within the areas (1) Business Strategy (Strategy and Digital Business Strategy), (2) Marketing (Multi-Channel Marketing), (3) E-Commerce (E-Commerce and E-Commerce Strategy) and (4) Innovation management (Business Model Innovation). The “Journal of Marketing”, “Harvard Business Review”, “International Journal of Electronic and Commerce”, “European Management Journal” and “MIS Quarterly” depict the preferential literature source. Furthermore, guideline interviews with industry and solution experts (n = 4) of International Machines Corporation (IBM) have been executed. Having a clear vision across all functions and effective communication with all employees will be vital for the German car manufacturers to embark on the journey of becoming a multi-channel business attracting the digital customer. Creation of awareness for the shift and adopting additional sales channels besides integrating the car dealership networks within the emerging multi-channel environment, offering unique product presentation in digital showrooms and building strategic partnerships with IT-providers in order to thrive. Additionally, car manufacturers that can offer a seamless customer experience across all physical and digital touch points through integrating and penetrating the additional sales channels within the existing ones besides managing emerging channel-conflict and building a central data base for customer insight and relationship management will outreach their peers. Having a strong integration in-between the customers, suppliers and business processes in combination with personalized and targeted marketing, all driven by a top-down leadership approach with strong change management capabilities, will enable a car manufacturer to transform operations on a digital basis towards a multichannel business.

Getting Multi-Channel Distribution Right provides a comprehensive treatment of modern distribution strategy that is analytically solid, clearly written, and relevant for managers as well as MBA and executive MBA students, and the professors who train them. It covers concepts, metrics, tools, and strategic frameworks for managing distribution in physical and digital channels. Focusing on the challenges of managing multiple channels of distribution in an evolving marketplace—rather than the process of designing a distribution channel from scratch—it leans more heavily on metrics and tools and incorporates perspectives from academic research, as well as in-depth case studies from marketing and general management practice. Introduces an organizing framework of pull and push marketing for how suppliers work together with their channel partners. Integrates across physical and digital, independent and company-owned, routes to market. Maps the functions of traditional and newer intermediaries in the channel ecosystem and identifies the root causes of conflict between them. Provides tools and frameworks for how much distribution coverage is required and where. Shows how product line, pricing, trade promotions, and other channel incentives can help to coordinate multiple channels and manage conflict. Illustrates how push and pull metrics can be combined into valuable dashboards for identifying positive feedback opportunities and sustaining the channel partnership. With the help of Getting Multi-Channel Distribution Right you’ll discover how to successfully develop, execute, and adapt distribution strategy to the evolving marketplace.

This book examines issues and implications of digital and social media marketing for emerging markets. These markets necessitate substantial adaptations of developed theories and approaches employed in the Western world. The book investigates problems specific to emerging markets, while identifying new theoretical constructs and practical applications of digital marketing. It addresses topics such as electronic word of mouth (eWOM), demographic differences in digital marketing, mobile marketing, search engine advertising, among others. A radical increase in both temporal and geographical reach is empowering consumers to exert influence on brands, products, and services. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and digital media are having a significant impact on the way people communicate and fulfil their socio-economic, emotional and material needs. These technologies are also being harnessed by businesses for various purposes including distribution and selling of goods, retailing of consumer services, customer relationship management, and influencing consumer behaviour by employing digital marketing practices. This book considers this, as it examines the practice and research related to digital and social media marketing.

The market changes faster than marketing. In essence, marketing strategy has undergone only two eras, the entity era and the bit era, also known as the industrial age and the digital age. In the age of digital society, all CEOs, CMOs and senior marketing executives must consider how to change their strategies, improve the role of marketing and adopt emerging technological and data tools to integrate with the Internet. The goal of digital marketing strategy is not to disrupt existing marketing strategies, but to complement, integrate and develop the two at the same time.In this book, the authors provide detailed discussion and practical analysis on the relationship between marketing and digital technologies and propose a marketing implementation framework for digital strategy platforms. Standing for Recognize, Reach, Relationship and Return, the 4R system is a powerful strategic trading tool for digital implementation, especially for CEOs and CMOs. All other tools, such as data platforms, content marketing, DSP digital advertising and digital marketing ROI design essentially serve the 4R system. As such, the authors advocate for firms to restructure their digital marketing strategy around the 4R system.

Student-led in its design and development, the book incorporates digital marketing as central to what marketers do, and combines quality examples, assessment and online resources to support the teaching and learning of introductory marketing in a digital age. The author integrates digital and social media marketing throughout the chapters and through student involvement in the development of it, the text has been made to be approachable and to appeal to students, with infographics, numerous images, and an engaging writing style. It facilitates the "flipped" approach to classroom teaching and is supported by a number of features and activities in every chapter, encouraging students to undertake course reading, class participation and revision. It includes case studies from global companies such as Airbnb, Amazon, Apple, Burberry, eBay, Etsy, Google, IKEA, Nespresso, Netflix, Nike and Uber. It also takes a social view of marketing, featuring cases tied to the UN’s PRME initiative to aid students in becoming sustainably-minded individuals. The book is complemented by online instructor resources, including chapter-specific PowerPoint slides, an instructor manual, flipped classroom activities, as well as open access multiple choice questions (with solutions), videos, case studies, web links, a glossary and American Marketing Association (AMA) journal articles for students.

This innovative book proposes a conceptual framework to integrate the ecological and tourism aspects of Protected Area regulation, assisting decision-makers to develop contextually effective laws and management plans that avoid over-regulating or under-regulating tourism, given the areas' ecological profiles.

Presents an overview of and draws conclusions from extant studies related to multichannel retailing. Academic interest in this topic has increased dramatically. Thus, an updated understanding of how retailers and consumers influence and interact with each other in multichannel retail contexts is required.

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