Competitive horizon

Citation

(2012), "Competitive horizon", Strategic Direction, Vol. 28 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/sd.2012.05628eaa.001

Competitive horizon

Article type: Competitive horizon From: Strategic Direction, Volume 28, Issue 5

Turkish exports set to hit $150 billion in 2012

According to reports published by the Turkish Press (www.turkishpress.com), government economists predict that this year will bring another significant rise in Turkey’s exports. In the year ending December 2011, exports grew by 18.2 percent to reach $134.6 billion. Europe accounted for over 40 percent of this figure, which could reach $150 billion in 2012 unless disaster strikes the European Union (EU) region. With $20.4 billion, the automotive sector was top performer and the report predicts a similar showing this year. Other leading export contributors were chemical products, the retail sector and iron and steel industries. In addition to EU nations, Turkey’s other significant export destinations include the USA, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Malta and China.

Developing nations to drive electronics sales growth

Sales of consumer electronics will reach new heights in 2012, claims the Consumer Electronics Association and GfK Boutique Research. The organizations predict that global electronics sales will rise by 5 percent from 2011 to climb above $1 trillion. As reported by the New Zealand Herald (www.nzherald.co.nz), developing countries will be the main drivers of growth. Demand for electronic gadgets is soaring in emerging economies in Latin America, Asia and Central and Eastern Europe. Four years ago, such countries accounted for 37 percent of global sales. In 2012, this figure will rise to 46 percent. In contrast, the report points out that spending on high-tech goods will remain stagnant in Europe, Japan and the USA while consumers continue to face financial pressures.

UK manufacturers demand action to prevent resource shortage

Fears of an impending materials shortage has prompted manufacturers in the UK to call for government reform into waste management. The manufacturers’ association EEF argues that current legislation is too complex, unclear and out-of-date. It believes that more attention should be given to the issue of waste as part of wider sustainability initiatives. The Engineer (www.theengineer.co.uk) reports that EEF hopes for improved legislation and a better infrastructure. Easier access to local authority recycling is also demanded along with a strategy that enables firms to reuse their own and other companies’ waste materials. Many manufacturers see resource scarcity as a major barrier to growth and a strategy to put reusable materials back into circulation more quickly can help shortages from developing. The organization points to lower reliance on imports as another benefit of addressing these concerns.

Securing competitive advantage through effective customer service

A report published by the Online Business Advisor (www.onlinebusadv.com) claims that meeting customer needs is crucial to organizational success. Companies should understand what customers want and then make sure their minimum requirements are constantly exceeded. Having courteous employees with sound product or service knowledge also helps make a positive impression. Goods need to be of the promised quality and reliable delivery is another must. Mistakes do happen occasionally but it is how the firm deals with such situations that will concern the customer more. Promptly resolving any dissatisfaction is the necessary response here. Like other business areas, customer service should be driven by clear aims and objectives. Hard work and commitment is essential in order to ensure that high-quality service is delivered. Strong leadership, a disciplined approach and effective policies and procedures can help significantly. Employee training and development programs are vital too. It is particularly important to ensure that employees on the front line of customer service duties possess the requisite skills for the position. Many companies surprisingly fail in this respect and are all too ready to trust untrained or unsuitable personnel to perform what is a highly important role. Such an approach is decidedly risky and can have a negative impact on customer relations.