How to Improve Business Competitiveness? Top 6 Tips
 Back Office

How to Improve Business Competitiveness? Top 6 Tips

Ryan Thompson
Ryan Thompson
May 9, 2024
Last updated on:

May 9, 2024

|

Read time: 9 mins

Every year, the penetration of newer players is fueling the competitiveness of the business environment. To outshine competitors, enterprises must act fast and out of the box. Businesses should identify their strengths and weaknesses and prioritize converting the latter into their advantages to outperform their rivals in the market. Ensuring this involves a holistic approach encompassing factors such as product quality, innovation, pricing strategies, customer service, and operational efficiency. A competitive business continuously assesses market trends, identifies strengths and weaknesses, and adapts strategies to seize growth opportunities. 

However, a business's growth trajectory is never linear. Companies have to maneuver through several obstacles before reaching their goal of business competitiveness. Likewise, after reaching their goal, they must put in much effort to remain competitive. For instance, economic uncertainties and geopolitical factors are a constant and will create competitive hurdles. Factors like this and others lead to diminished productivity and competitiveness.

This blog aims to discuss how to continuously improve business competitiveness by proactively addressing challenges and thriving in an ever-evolving business landscape. It's a journey that requires constant engagement and commitment.

In the United Kingdom, for every 10% increase in the number of firms in a sector, there is a corresponding 1.8% increase in productivity.

Proven Ways to Improve Business Competitiveness 

Here are the top ways to enhance the competitiveness of your business: 

1. Understand Your Market 

Market understanding is a comprehensive grasp of various aspects of a target market, including its demographics, preferences, behaviors, trends, and competitive landscape. This understanding is instrumental in enhancing businesses' competitiveness in several ways. Businesses build products or services that cater to these demands by deeply comprehending customer needs and preferences, effectively differentiating themselves from competitors. 

Additionally, understanding market dynamics enables businesses to identify emerging trends or shifts in consumer behavior, allowing for timely adjustments to strategies and offerings. Furthermore, market understanding provides insights into competitors' strengths and weaknesses, enabling businesses to refine their own strategies and positioning to gain an edge. 

Case Study

An example of how understanding the market helps improve competitiveness is demonstrated by Apple Inc. Through extensive market research and analysis, Apple identified consumer demand for innovative, user-friendly technology products. With these insights into evolving consumer preferences and trends, Apple strategically positioned itself as a pioneer in the technology industry. By consistently introducing groundbreaking iterations of its products like the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook, Apple has maintained its competitive edge and solidified its position as a leader in the market. Additionally, Apple's deep understanding of its target audience enables the company to anticipate market shifts, adapt quickly to changing dynamics, and continuously innovate, thereby sustaining its competitiveness in the fiercely competitive technology sector.

Tips to Understand Market

  • Market Research: Opt for in-depth market research to understand industry trends, customer preferences, and competitors' plans of action.
  • Customer Feedback: Collect and analyze feedback to comprehend customer's needs, preferences, and pain points.
  • Competitor Analysis: Study competitors to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and market positioning. This allows you to differentiate your offerings and develop competitive advantages.
  • Stay Updated: Stay updated with industry news, technological advancements, and regulatory changes that may impact businesses.

How can businesses plan to stay competitive in 2024?

In 2024, businesses must prioritize innovation, agility, and digital transformation to stay competitive. Embracing emerging technologies, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and adapting swiftly to market changes are crucial strategies for sustained success.

To know more read our blog: ‘How to Build a Business Plan in 2024? A Step-by-Step Guide’

2. Differentiate Your Brand

Brand differentiation involves establishing unique attributes or qualities that distinguish a company's products or services from those of competitors in the minds of consumers. This differentiation is crucial for businesses seeking to improve competitiveness. By identifying and emphasizing distinctive features, benefits, or values, a brand can carve out a distinct identity and position itself more effectively in the market. Brand differentiation enables businesses to stand out amidst fierce competition, attracting the attention and loyalty of customers who resonate with their unique offerings. 

Moreover, it creates a perception of value and relevance, enhancing customer preference and willingness to pay premium prices. Differentiation also fosters brand loyalty and advocacy, as customers develop strong emotional connections with brands that align with their preferences and values. Furthermore, brand differentiation is a significant entry barrier for competitors, making it more challenging for them to replicate or compete directly.

A study by BrandZ and Kantar found that companies with strong brands experience a 10-year cumulative total return to shareholders (TRS) of 211%, compared to 133% for the S&P 500.

Tips to Differentiate Your Brand

  • Unique Value Proposition: Clearly define how your brand is different from competitors by offering a unique value proposition. Highlight how these products can solve immediate customer issues or fulfill unmet needs.
  • Brand Storytelling: Develop an attractive brand narrative that goes well with your target audience. Share stories about your brand's origins, mission, and values to build emotional connections and foster brand loyalty.
  • Distinctive Brand Identity: Create a memorable brand identity through distinctive logos, colors, and visual elements.
  • Exceptional Customer Experience: Emphasize delivering exceptional customer experiences at every touchpoint, from pre-purchase interactions to post-purchase support.
Global Business Competitive Index
Image 1 - Global Business Competitive Index

3. Focus on Innovation

Building a culture of innovation within a business is necessary for staying ahead of the competition. This involves a strategic commitment to continuously developing fresh ideas, innovative processes, or business models to stay ahead of competitors and meet changing market needs. This dedication to innovation is instrumental in improving businesses' competitiveness in several ways. It enables businesses to differentiate themselves by providing unique and novel solutions that address customer needs more effectively than existing alternatives. By constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible, innovative businesses can create a reputation for being forward-thinking and cutting-edge, attracting customers seeking innovative solutions.

Innovation drives efficiency and productivity improvements, enabling businesses to operate more effectively and cost-efficiently than competitors. Whether through process innovations that streamline operations or product innovations that enhance performance, these efficiencies contribute to competitive advantage. 

Case Study

Nike, the renowned sportswear and athletic footwear company, exemplifies how focusing on innovation can enhance competitiveness. The sportswear company has consistently invested in research and development to drive athletic performance, design, and sustainability innovation. For instance, Nike's Flyknit technology has revolutionized the way athletic shoes are manufactured by reducing waste and improving performance through lightweight, form-fitting designs. Additionally, Nike's commitment to sustainability is quite clear in initiatives like its "Reuse-A-Shoe" program, which recycles old athletic shoes into new products.

Tips to Focus on Innovation

  • Invest in R&D: Allocate resources towards research and development to foster a culture of innovation within your organization.
  • Encourage Creativity: Create an environment encouraging employees to think creatively and explore new ideas. Foster open communication channels and provide opportunities for brainstorming and collaboration.
  • Stay Customer-Centric: Prioritize understanding customer needs and preferences to guide your innovation efforts. Develop products or services that address pain points or deliver unique value to your target audience.
  • Iterative Approach: Embrace an iterative approach to innovation, where ideas are tested, refined, and improved through feedback and experimentation.

4. Invest in Technology

Embracing technology is a transformative strategy that can significantly enhance businesses' competitiveness across various industries. By integrating technological advancements into their operations, businesses can streamline processes, boost efficiency, and deliver superior customer experiences. Automation technologies, for instance, enable tasks to be completed faster and with greater accuracy, freeing up valuable time and resources for strategic activities. Data analytics tools offer key insights into customer behaviors, market trends, and operational performance, empowering businesses to make accurate decisions and plan accordingly. 

Technology facilitates collaboration and communication, both internally and with external stakeholders, creating an interconnected network for sharing ideas and fostering a culture of creativity within organizations. 

Utilizing technology enables businesses to stay ahead of competitors by continuously evolving their offerings and staying attuned to market dynamics.

A Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study found that organizations that invest heavily in technology achieve revenue growth rates that are 15% higher than their peers.

Tips to Invest in Technology

  • Strategic Alignment: Align technology investments with your business goals and objectives to ensure they contribute directly to enhancing competitiveness.
  • Scalability and Flexibility: Invest in technology solutions that can scale in line with your business growth and adapt to market dynamics.
  • Automation and Efficiency: Implement automation tools and systems to streamline key business processes and enhance operational efficiency. This reduces manual tasks, lowers costs, and frees up resources to focus on value-added activities.
  • Data-driven decision-making: Utilize data analytics and business intelligence tools to gain key information on customer behavior, market trends, and operational performance.
Determinants of Business Competitiveness
Image 2 - Determinants of Business Competitiveness

5. Adapt to Market Changes 

Adaptation to market changes is the proactive process of adjusting business strategies, operations, and offerings in response to changes in market dynamics, consumer behaviors, technological advancements, or competitive pressures. This adaptive approach is crucial for improving business competitiveness, allowing companies to stay relevant, agile, and responsive in rapidly evolving environments. By closely monitoring market trends, consumer preferences, and the competitive landscape, businesses can identify emerging opportunities and threats early on, enabling them to pivot quickly and capitalize on new trends or address potential risks. 

Additionally, adaptation enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty by ensuring that businesses remain aligned with changing expectations and preferences. Businesses that embrace adaptation are better equipped to navigate challenges and disruptions, such as economic downturns or regulatory changes, maintaining resilience and sustainability in the long run. Ultimately, by embracing adaptation to market changes, businesses enhance their competitiveness, seize new opportunities, and position themselves for long-term success.

Case Study

A compelling example of how adapting to market changes improves competitiveness is demonstrated by McDonald’s, the global fast-food giant. In response to changing consumer needs for healthier food options, McDonald's revamped its menu by introducing salads, wraps, and other healthier alternatives alongside its traditional offerings. Additionally, McDonald's embraced digital transformation by implementing mobile ordering, self-service kiosks, and delivery services to cater to changing consumer behaviors and preferences. By continuously evolving its menu and embracing digital innovations, McDonald's remained relevant and competitive in the fast-food industry, attracting a broader customer base and driving growth amidst changing market dynamics.

Tips to Adapt Market Changes

  • Agility and Flexibility: Cultivate an agile mindset within your organization to quickly adapt to market changes.
  • Continuous Market Monitoring: Regularly monitor market trends, consumer behavior, and competitor activities to stay informed about changes that could impact your business.
  • Customer Feedback Loop: Build a feedback loop with customers to gather insights into their evolving needs and preferences.
  • Strategic Planning and Scenario Analysis: Develop strategic plans that account for various market scenarios and potential disruptions.

6. Explore Outsourcing

Outsourcing is a strategic business practice in which companies delegate certain functions, tasks, or processes to external service providers. This approach plays a key role in enhancing competitiveness by enabling businesses to focus on core activities, access specialized expertise, and optimize operational efficiency. It allows companies to redirect internal resources and attention towards core competencies and strategic initiatives. By delegating non-core functions such as IT support, customer service, or payroll processing, businesses can streamline operations, reduce administrative burdens, and allocate resources more effectively to activities that directly contribute to their competitive advantage.

Moreover, outsourcing offers immediate access to better skills and knowledge that may not be available in-house. External service providers often possess expertise and experience in specific areas, allowing businesses to leverage their capabilities without the need for extensive training or investment. This access to specialized talent enables companies to innovate more rapidly, develop new products or services, and maintain a necessary edge in their respective industries.

According to research by the International Data Corporation(IDC), 46% of businesses outsource to drive innovation and agility, thereby enhancing competitiveness.

Tips to Explore Outsourcing

  • Focus on Core Competencies: Identify non-core activities that can be outsourced to external vendors. This enables the team to emphasize core business functions that drive competitiveness and value creation.
  • Access to Specialized Expertise: Tap into the specialized expertise and resources of outsourcing partners, who may have niche skills or knowledge that your internal team lacks.
  • Risk Mitigation: Spread business risks by outsourcing certain functions to external vendors who may have better risk management capabilities or geographic diversification.

Conclusion

In today's globalized and highly competitive market, businesses must continuously innovate and change to stay ahead. This approach gives a company the necessary competitive edge to attract and retain customers. Increased competitiveness also fosters efficiency and productivity within the organization, driving down costs and maximizing profitability. It encourages investment in research and development, leading to the creation of fresh products or services and the exploration of untapped markets. However, market volatility, changing consumer preferences, and technological disruptions pose significant hurdles to improving business competitiveness. Likewise, factors like globalization intensify competition, increasing pressure to innovate and maintain relevance. Furthermore, talent acquisition and retention remain key concerns, especially with evolving skill requirements. This is where outsourcing steps in as a strategic solution for businesses. 

Invensis offers a wide range of outsourcing services spanning IT, business process outsourcing (BPO), and digital transformation solutions to empower businesses to focus on their core competencies while streamlining non-core functions. We help businesses optimize their operations, minimize costs, and drive efficiency using our expertise and experience over the years. Invensis's global presence and diverse talent pool allow organizations to access specialized skills and resources, enhancing their agility and competitiveness in today's dynamic market landscape. 

Reach out to us to unlock fresh avenues for growth and innovation and excel in today's fiercely competitive business landscape with our back office services.

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