Financeira Alfa ORD (CRIV3) SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / MBA Resources
Consumer Financial Services
Strategy / MBA Resources
Introduction to SWOT Analysis
SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix for Financeira Alfa ORD (Brazil)
Based on various researches at Oak Spring University , Financeira Alfa ORD is operating in a macro-environment that has been destablized by – wage bills are increasing, geopolitical disruptions, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, increasing transportation and logistics costs, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, technology disruption,
central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Financeira Alfa ORD
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University, we believe that Financeira Alfa ORD can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Financeira Alfa ORD, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Financeira Alfa ORD operates in.
According to Harvard Business Review, 75% of the managers use SWOT analysis for various purposes such as – evaluating current scenario, strategic planning, new venture feasibility, personal growth goals, new market entry, Go To market strategies, portfolio management and strategic trade-off assessment, organizational restructuring, etc.
SWOT Objectives / Importance of SWOT Analysis and SWOT Matrix
SWOT analysis of Financeira Alfa ORD can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning of Financeira Alfa ORD
2. Improving business portfolio management of Financeira Alfa ORD
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Brazil
4. Making a Consumer Financial Services sector specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Financeira Alfa ORD
Strengths of Financeira Alfa ORD | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Financeira Alfa ORD are -
Highly skilled collaborators
– Financeira Alfa ORD has highly efficient outsourcing and offshoring strategy. It has resulted in greater operational flexibility and bringing down the costs in highly price sensitive Consumer Financial Services industry. Secondly the value chain collaborators of Financeira Alfa ORD have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
High brand equity
– Financeira Alfa ORD has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Financeira Alfa ORD to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Digital Transformation in Consumer Financial Services industry
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Financeira Alfa ORD digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Financeira Alfa ORD has successfully integrated the four key components of digital transformation – digital integration in processes, digital integration in marketing and customer relationship management, digital integration into the value chain, and using technology to explore new products and market opportunities.
Analytics focus
– Financeira Alfa ORD is putting a lot of focus on utilizing the power of analytics in business decision making. This has put it among the leading players in the Consumer Financial Services industry. The technology infrastructure of Brazil is also helping it to harness the power of analytics for – marketing optimization, demand forecasting, customer relationship management, inventory management, information sharing across the value chain etc.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Consumer Financial Services industry
– Financeira Alfa ORD has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Financeira Alfa ORD to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Consumer Financial Services industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Financeira Alfa ORD to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Diverse revenue streams
– Financeira Alfa ORD is present in almost all the verticals within the Consumer Financial Services industry. This has provided Financeira Alfa ORD a diverse revenue stream that has helped it to survive disruptions such as global pandemic in Covid-19, financial disruption of 2008, and supply chain disruption of 2021.
Successful track record of launching new products
– Financeira Alfa ORD has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Financeira Alfa ORD has effective processes in place that helps in exploring new product needs, doing quick pilot testing, and then launching the products quickly using its extensive distribution network.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Financeira Alfa ORD are driving operational speed, building greater agility, and keeping the organization nimble to compete with new competitors. It helps are organization to ideate new ideas, and execute them swiftly in the marketplace.
Ability to lead change in Consumer Financial Services
– Financeira Alfa ORD is one of the leading players in the Consumer Financial Services industry in Brazil. Over the years it has not only transformed the business landscape in the Consumer Financial Services industry in Brazil but also across the existing markets. The ability to lead change has enabled Financeira Alfa ORD in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Financeira Alfa ORD has innovation driven culture where significant part of the revenues are spent on the research and development activities. This has resulted in – Financeira Alfa ORD staying ahead in the Consumer Financial Services industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Training and development
– Financeira Alfa ORD has one of the best training and development program in Financial industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in – employees retention, in-house promotion, loyalty, new venture initiation, lack of conflict, and high level of both employees and customer engagement.
Organizational Resilience of Financeira Alfa ORD
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing Financeira Alfa ORD does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Weaknesses of Financeira Alfa ORD | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Financeira Alfa ORD are -
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the Consumer Financial Services industry, Financeira Alfa ORD needs to come up with a strategy to reduce the workers concern regarding automation. Without a clear strategy, it could lead to disruption and uncertainty within the organization.
Lack of clear differentiation of Financeira Alfa ORD products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Financeira Alfa ORD needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Employees’ less understanding of Financeira Alfa ORD strategy
– From the outside it seems that the employees of Financeira Alfa ORD don’t have comprehensive understanding of the firm’s strategy. This is reflected in number of promotional campaigns over the last few years that had mixed messaging and competing priorities. Some of the strategic activities and services promoted in the promotional campaigns were not consistent with the organization’s strategy.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, Financeira Alfa ORD has high operating costs in the Consumer Financial Services industry. This can be harder to sustain given the new emerging competition from nimble players who are using technology to attract Financeira Alfa ORD lucrative customers.
Aligning sales with marketing
– From the outside it seems that Financeira Alfa ORD needs to have more collaboration between its sales team and marketing team. Sales professionals in the Consumer Financial Services industry have deep experience in developing customer relationships. Marketing department at Financeira Alfa ORD can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Financeira Alfa ORD is planning to shift buying processes online.
High dependence on existing supply chain
– The disruption in the global supply chains because of the Covid-19 pandemic and blockage of the Suez Canal illustrated the fragile nature of Financeira Alfa ORD supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes, Financeira Alfa ORD is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Financeira Alfa ORD vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
Need for greater diversity
– Financeira Alfa ORD has taken concrete steps on diversity, equity, and inclusion. But the efforts so far has resulted in limited success. It needs to expand the recruitment and selection process to hire more people from the minorities and underprivileged background.
High bargaining power of channel partners in Consumer Financial Services industry
– because of the regulatory requirements in Brazil, Financeira Alfa ORD is facing high bargaining power of the channel partners. So far it has not able to streamline the operations to reduce the bargaining power of the value chain partners in the Consumer Financial Services industry.
High dependence on Financeira Alfa ORD ‘s star products
– The top 2 products and services of Financeira Alfa ORD still accounts for major business revenue. This dependence on star products in Consumer Financial Services industry has resulted into insufficient focus on developing new products, even though Financeira Alfa ORD has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
No frontier risks strategy
– From the 10K / annual statement of Financeira Alfa ORD, it seems that company is thinking out the frontier risks that can impact Consumer Financial Services industry. But it has very little resources allocation to manage the risks emerging from events such as natural disasters, climate change, melting of permafrost, tacking the rise of artificial intelligence, opportunities and threats emerging from commercialization of space etc.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Financeira Alfa ORD has a high cash cycle compare to other players in the Consumer Financial Services industry. It needs to shorten the cash cycle by 12% to be more competitive in the marketplace, reduce inventory costs, and be more profitable.
Financeira Alfa ORD Opportunities | External Strategic Factors
What are Opportunities in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The opportunities of Financeira Alfa ORD are -
Use of Bitcoin and other crypto currencies for transactions in Consumer Financial Services industry
– The popularity of Bitcoin and other crypto currencies as asset class and medium of transaction has opened new opportunities for Financeira Alfa ORD in the Consumer Financial Services industry. Now Financeira Alfa ORD can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Financeira Alfa ORD can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Manufacturing automation
– Financeira Alfa ORD can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Consumer Financial Services sector. It can use CAD and 3D printing to build a quick prototype and pilot testing products. It can leverage automation using machine learning and artificial intelligence to do faster production at lowers costs, and it can leverage the growth in satellite and tracking technologies to improve inventory management, transportation, and shipping.
Loyalty marketing
– Financeira Alfa ORD has focused on building a highly responsive customer relationship management platform. This platform is built on in-house data and driven by analytics and artificial intelligence. The customer analytics can help the organization to fine tune its loyalty marketing efforts, increase the wallet share of the organization, reduce wastage on mainstream advertising spending, build better pricing strategies using personalization, etc.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Financeira Alfa ORD can still utilize the low interest rates to borrow money for capital investment. Secondly it can also use the increase of government spending in infrastructure projects to get new business.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Financeira Alfa ORD to conduct training and development for its employees across the world. This will result in not only reducing the cost of training but also help employees in different part of the world to integrate with the headquarter work culture, ethos, and standards.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Financeira Alfa ORD to increase its market reach. Financeira Alfa ORD will be able to reach out to new customers. Secondly 5G will also provide technology framework to build new tools and products that can help more immersive consumer experience and faster consumer journey.
Reconfiguring business model
– The expansion of digital payment system, the bringing down of international transactions costs using Bitcoin and other blockchain based currencies, etc can help Financeira Alfa ORD to reconfigure its entire business model. For example it can used blockchain based technologies to reduce piracy of its products in the big markets such as China. Secondly it can use the popularity of e-commerce in various developing markets to build a Direct to Customer business model rather than the current Channel Heavy distribution network.
Developing new processes and practices
– Financeira Alfa ORD can develop new processes and procedures in Consumer Financial Services industry using technology such as automation using artificial intelligence, real time transportation and products tracking, 3D modeling for concept development and new products pilot testing etc.
Identify volunteer opportunities
– Covid-19 has impacted working population in two ways – it has led to people soul searching about their professional choices, resulting in mass resignation. Secondly it has encouraged people to do things that they are passionate about. This has opened opportunities for businesses to build volunteer oriented socially driven projects. Financeira Alfa ORD can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Financeira Alfa ORD can make experimentation a productive activity and build a culture of innovation using approaches such as – mining transaction data, A/B testing of websites and selling platforms, engaging potential customers over various needs, and building on small ideas in the Consumer Financial Services industry.
Buying journey improvements
– Financeira Alfa ORD can improve the customer journey of consumers in the Consumer Financial Services industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. It can provide automated chats to help consumers solve their own problems, provide online suggestions to get maximum out of the products and services, and help consumers to build a community where they can interact with each other to develop new features and uses.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Financeira Alfa ORD can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Financeira Alfa ORD operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Consumer Financial Services sector.
Threats Financeira Alfa ORD External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats of Financeira Alfa ORD are -
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Financeira Alfa ORD can face lack of demand in the market place because of Fed actions to reduce inflation. This can lead to sluggish growth in the economy, lower demands, lower investments, higher borrowing costs, and consolidation in the Consumer Financial Services industry.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Financeira Alfa ORD demand
– There is a high probability of declining consumer confidence, given – high inflammation rate, rise of gig economy, lower job stability, increasing cost of living, higher interest rates, and aging demography. All the factors contribute to people saving higher rate of their income, resulting in lower consumer demand in Consumer Financial Services industry and other sectors.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Financeira Alfa ORD is facing in Consumer Financial Services sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Financeira Alfa ORD has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Consumer Financial Services industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Financeira Alfa ORD needs to keep up with the evolution of technology in the Consumer Financial Services sector. According to Mckinsey study top managers believe that the adoption of technology in operations, communications is 20-25 times faster than what they planned in the beginning of 2019.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry to Consumer Financial Services industry are lowering. It can presents Financeira Alfa ORD with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the Consumer Financial Services sector.
Backlash against dominant players
– US Congress and other legislative arms of the government are getting tough on big business especially technology companies. The digital arm of Financeira Alfa ORD business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Financeira Alfa ORD high dependence on third party suppliers can disrupt its processes and delivery mechanism. For example -the current troubles of car makers because of chip shortage is because the chip companies started producing chips for electronic companies rather than car manufacturers.
High level of anxiety and lack of motivation
– the Great Resignation in United States is the sign of broader dissatisfaction among the workforce in United States. Financeira Alfa ORD needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Consumer Financial Services industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Environmental challenges
– Financeira Alfa ORD needs to have a robust strategy against the disruptions arising from climate change and energy requirements. EU has identified it as key priority area and spending 30% of its 880 billion Euros European post Covid-19 recovery funds on green technology. Financeira Alfa ORD can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Consumer Financial Services industry.
Increasing wage structure of Financeira Alfa ORD
– Post Covid-19 there is a sharp increase in the wages especially in the jobs that require interaction with people. The increasing wages can put downward pressure on the margins of Financeira Alfa ORD.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Financeira Alfa ORD can face downward pressure on margins from increasing competition from international players. The international players have stable revenue in their home market and can use those resources to penetrate Financeira Alfa ORD prominent markets.
Instability in the European markets
– European Union markets are facing three big challenges post Covid – expanded balance sheets, Brexit related business disruption, and aggressive Russia looking to distract the existing security mechanism. Financeira Alfa ORD will face different problems in different parts of Europe. For example it will face inflationary pressures in UK, France, and Germany, balance sheet expansion and demand challenges in Southern European countries, and geopolitical instability in the Eastern Europe.
Regulatory challenges
– Financeira Alfa ORD needs to prepare for regulatory challenges as consumer protection groups and other pressure groups are vigorously advocating for more regulations on big business - to reduce inequality, to create a level playing field, to product data privacy and consumer privacy, to reduce the influence of big money on democratic institutions, etc. This can lead to significant changes in the Consumer Financial Services industry regulations.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Financeira Alfa ORD Template, Example
Not all factors mentioned under the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats quadrants in the SWOT Analysis are equal. Managers at Financeira Alfa ORD needs to zero down on the relative importance of each factor mentioned in the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats quadrants.
We can provide the relative importance to each factor by assigning relative weights. Weighted SWOT analysis process is a three stage process –
First stage for doing weighted SWOT analysis of Financeira Alfa ORD is to rank the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. This will help you to assess the most important strengths and weaknesses of the firm and which one of the strengths and weaknesses mentioned in the initial lists are marginal and can be left out.
Second stage for conducting weighted SWOT analysis of Financeira Alfa ORD is to give probabilities to the external strategic factors thus better understanding the opportunities and threats arising out of macro environment changes and developments.
Third stage of constructing weighted SWOT analysis of Financeira Alfa ORD to provide strategic recommendations includes – joining likelihood of external strategic factors such as opportunities and threats to the internal strategic factors – strengths and weaknesses. You should start with external factors as they will provide the direction of the overall industry. Secondly by joining probabilities with internal strategic factors can help the company not only strategic fit but also the most probably strategic trade-off that Financeira Alfa ORD needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.