Multi Channel Retailing In The Automotive Industry

Master's Thesis from the year 2007 in the subject Business economics - Marketing, Corporate Communication, CRM, Market Research, Social Media, grade: A (Distinction 1), Edinburgh Napier University (Marketing Management and Research), course: MSc Marketing, language: English, abstract: Current regulatory and technological change factors force the development of an integrative multi channel approach over the whole car purchasing process to increase customer value and profit. Since the decade of multi channel services, the understanding and analysing of consumers behaviour gains more and more part in literature. Although if the adoption of new channels and particular channel usage is researched, further need of understanding why consumers use some channels rather than others, although purchasing the same products, is identified. Especially the automotive market is mainly focussed on product and manufacturer branding topics rather than distribution and service development. Using the example of the automotive industry this paper explores factors of influence on channel choice. Based on current literature and exemplified by a quantitative explorative study the present paper focuses mainly on the question asking after the main determinants on consumers channel choice during car purchasing and their nature of influence on it. A conceptual framework is developed, which argues that channel decision making in the automotive market is based on product, consumer, channel and organisational dimensions of determinants. Product and consumer characteristics are basic considerations influence the evaluated importance of channel related factors like experience, convenience, risk, price, entertainment and service. Finally the organisation itself with their reputation and offered range of products and services has to taken into account. The preliminary model could be viewed as a starting point structuring the understanding of the complex area of channel choice in a particular context

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.

The book on Sustainable Automotive Technologies aims to draw special attention to the research and practice focused on new technologies and approaches capable of meeting the challenges to sustainable mobility. In particular, the book features incremental and radical technical advancements that are able to meet social, economic and environmental targets in both local and global contexts. These include original solutions to the problems of pollution and congestion, vehicle and public safety, sustainable vehicle design and manufacture, new structures and materials, new power-train technologies and vehicle concepts. In addition to vehicle technologies, the book is also concerned with the broader systemic issues such as sustainable supply chain systems, integrated logistics and telematics, and end-of-life vehicle management. It captures selected peer reviewed papers accepted for presentation at the 4th International Conference on Sustainable Automotive Technologies, ICSAT2012, held at the RMIT, Melbourne, Australia.

The way in which products and services are delivered to consumers, through branches and retail outlets, or more generally through a network of distribution channels, remains fundamentally important for maintaining a competitive advantage for a very wide range of businesses. This is true within domestic markets, but especially so for increasingly global corporations, as shareholder pressure for continued growth drives businesses into ever more widespread geographical markets. Arguing that more complex markets demand more sophisticated spatial analysis, this book discusses the application of location planning techniques to generate competitive advantage in a variety of business sectors in a changing retail environment. The series of techniques are analysed, from relatively straightforward branch scorecards to sophisticated applications of geographical information systems (GIS), spatial modelling and mathematical optimisation. Also explored are the changing dynamics of the impact of more restrictive planning environments in many countries on how retailers find new locations for growth and respond to changing consumer needs and wants. The book is essential reading for students and scholars alike working in geography, economics, business management, planning, finance and industry studies.

Delving into the rapidly developing field of dual marketing, investigating the strategic alliances, multi-stakeholder perspectives and branding potential it holds, this book promotes the adoption of the multichannel approach which is fundamental to facing the challenges of marketing 4.0.

Seminar paper from the year 2014 in the subject Business economics - Offline Marketing and Online Marketing, grade: 1,2, Leipzig Graduate School of Management, course: Service Retail and Marketing, language: English, abstract: Commoditized products and volatile market environments frame the setting that companies are facing today. Thereby, the importance of differentiation as key to company’s growth is more relevant than ever. It is widely assumed that differentiation often refers to products or market positions. However, more recently, the concept of Experience Based Differentiation (EBD) emerged as an idea for companies to build sustainable relations and loyalty by delivering a superior, differentiated experience to customers. Managers have become increasingly aware that customers are their most valuable assets. However, pure Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is not sufficient anymore. Thus, Customer Experience Management (CEM) takes CRM to the next level by integrating customer experience (CEx) and emotions during interactions into consideration (Fatma 2014). Tracing the considerably increasing number of customer touch points and derive so called customer journey maps, helps companies to understand the broader reasons of performance gaps and thus address root causes. A recent study by McKinsey & Company (2013) revealed that companies that are able to map and optimize relevant customer journeys reinforce superior CEx, reduce churn and increase revenue, and, as a result, built sustainable relationships. In addition, greater employee satisfaction and an increased effectiveness of cross-functional collaborations have been observed. However, most companies fail to strategically align and manage the CEx across all touch points and miss a great opportunity to differentiate. This gives relevance to a study on the potential of Customer Journey Mapping (CJM), as a way for the marketing management to understand CEx during all interactions. In the process of the present work, the concepts of Customer Experience (CEx), Customer Experience Management (CEM), Customer Journeys (CJ), as well as Customer Journey Mapping (CJM) are important. Therefore, the basic idea of these concepts will be characterized and explained in this sub-chapter. The terms CEx and CEM have been introduced to the marketing management several years ago and have its roots in the concepts of service quality and customer service, which evolved during the eighties and nineties (Drotskiie, 2009, p. 363). Today, a common understanding of the frequently cited concept of CEx is “the user’s interpretation of his or her total interaction

This is the printed textbook, Marketing Principles. Marketing Principles combines a thorough and engaging overview of essential marketing principles. The text provides you with the knowledge and decision-making skills you'll need to succeed in today's competitive business environment. Marketing Principles includes the most current coverage of marketing strategies and concepts with extensive real-world examples including social networking and digital marketing. You will find important topics drawn from the rapidly changing world of modern business including social and environmental responsibility, sustainability, globalisation, entrepreneurship, and marketing through transitional times. New, PRINT versions of this book come with bonus online study tools including animated activities and videos on the CourseMate Express platform.

The automotive industry ranks among the most significant business phenomena of the 20th century and remains vitally important today, accounting for almost 11% of the GDP of North America, Europe and Japan and one in nine jobs. In economic and social terms alike, its products have had a fundamental impact on modern society - for better and worse. Yet the industry has found it hard to adjust to recent challenges and is no longer much valued by the capital markets. It is riven with internal contradictions that inhibit reform, and faces a stark choice between years of strife or radical change. This book is a wake-up call for those who work in the automotive business. It highlights the challenges and opportunities that exist for managers, legislators, financial institutions and potential industry entrants. Most of all, it gives us all cause to reflect on the value of our mobility, today and tomorrow.