Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts (603997) SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / MBA Resources
Auto & Truck Parts
Strategy / MBA Resources
Introduction to SWOT Analysis
SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix for Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts (China)
Based on various researches at Oak Spring University , Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts is operating in a macro-environment that has been destablized by – challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, technology disruption,
increasing energy prices, increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University, we believe that Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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 Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts
2. Improving business portfolio management of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in China
4. Making a Auto & Truck Parts sector specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts
Strengths of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts are -
Ability to lead change in Auto & Truck Parts
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts is one of the leading players in the Auto & Truck Parts industry in China. Over the years it has not only transformed the business landscape in the Auto & Truck Parts industry in China but also across the existing markets. The ability to lead change has enabled Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Analytics focus
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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 Auto & Truck Parts industry. The technology infrastructure of China 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.
High brand equity
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Innovation driven organization
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts is one of the most innovative firm in Auto & Truck Parts sector.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts comprises – understanding the underlying the factors in the Auto & Truck Parts industry, building diversified operations across different geographies so that disruption in one part of the world doesn’t impact the overall performance of the firm, and integrating the various business operations and processes through its digital transformation drive.
Diverse revenue streams
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts is present in almost all the verticals within the Auto & Truck Parts industry. This has provided Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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.
Training and development
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts has one of the best training and development program in Consumer Cyclical 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.
Digital Transformation in Auto & Truck Parts industry
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts has highly efficient outsourcing and offshoring strategy. It has resulted in greater operational flexibility and bringing down the costs in highly price sensitive Auto & Truck Parts industry. Secondly the value chain collaborators of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Organizational Resilience of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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.
Weaknesses of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts are -
Slow decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts has a very deliberative decision making approach. This approach has resulted in prudent decisions, but it has also resulted in missing opportunities in the Auto & Truck Parts industry over the last five years. Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts even though has strong showing on digital transformation primary two stages, it has struggled to capitalize the power of digital transformation in marketing efforts and new venture efforts.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts has some of the most successful models in the Auto & Truck Parts industry, this business model has made each new product launch extremely critical for continuous financial growth of the organization. Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts has high operating costs in the Auto & Truck Parts industry. This can be harder to sustain given the new emerging competition from nimble players who are using technology to attract Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts lucrative customers.
Skills based hiring in Auto & Truck Parts industry
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts has created an environment where the organization is dominated by functional specialists rather than management generalist. This has resulted into product oriented approach rather than marketing oriented approach or consumers oriented approach.
Need for greater diversity
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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 dependence on Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts ‘s star products
– The top 2 products and services of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts still accounts for major business revenue. This dependence on star products in Auto & Truck Parts industry has resulted into insufficient focus on developing new products, even though Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative at Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts, in the dynamic environment of Auto & Truck Parts industry it has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts has a high cash cycle compare to other players in the Auto & Truck Parts industry. It needs to shorten the cash cycle by 12% to be more competitive in the marketplace, reduce inventory costs, and be more profitable.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts is just above the Auto & Truck Parts industry average. It needs to redesign the compensation structure and incentives to increase the revenue per employees. Some of the steps that it can take are – hiring more specialists on project basis, etc.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the Auto & Truck Parts industry, Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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.
Interest costs
– Compare to the competition, Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts has borrowed money from the capital market at higher rates. It needs to restructure the interest payment and costs so that it can compete better and improve profitability.
Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Opportunities | External Strategic Factors
What are Opportunities in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The opportunities of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts are -
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in Auto & Truck Parts industry. This can help Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts to build a more holistic ecosystem for Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts products in the Auto & Truck Parts industry by providing – data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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 Auto & Truck Parts industry.
Buying journey improvements
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts can improve the customer journey of consumers in the Auto & Truck Parts 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.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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.
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. Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Changes in consumer behavior post Covid-19
– consumer behavior has changed in the Auto & Truck Parts industry because of Covid-19 restrictions. Some of this behavior will stay once things get back to normal. Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts can take advantage of these changes in consumer behavior to build a far more efficient business model. For example consumer regular ordering of products can reduce both last mile delivery costs and market penetration costs. Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts can further use this consumer data to build better customer loyalty, provide better products and service collection, and improve the value proposition in inflationary times.
Manufacturing automation
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Auto & Truck Parts 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.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Auto & Truck Parts sector.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts in the field of marketing communication. It will bring down the cost of doing business, provide technology platform to build new products in the Auto & Truck Parts industry, and it will provide faster access to the consumers.
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 Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts can build a diversified supply chain model across various countries in - South East Asia, India, and other parts of the world. This reconfiguration of global supply chain can help Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts can leverage digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate the production process, customer analytics to get better insights into consumer behavior, realtime digital dashboards to get better sales tracking, logistics and transportation, product tracking, etc.
Threats Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts are -
Aging population
– As the populations of most advanced economies are aging, it will lead to high social security costs, higher savings among population, and lower demand for goods and services in the economy. The household savings in US, France, UK, Germany, and Japan are growing faster than predicted because of uncertainty caused by pandemic.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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 Auto & Truck Parts industry.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry to Auto & Truck Parts industry are lowering. It can presents Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the Auto & Truck Parts sector.
Capital market disruption
– During the Covid-19, Dow Jones has touched record high. The valuations of a number of companies are way beyond their existing business model potential. This can lead to capital market correction which can put a number of suppliers, collaborators, value chain partners in great financial difficulty. It will directly impact the business of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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 Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts prominent markets.
Regulatory challenges
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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 Auto & Truck Parts industry regulations.
Technology disruption because of hacks, piracy etc
– The colonial pipeline illustrated, how vulnerable modern organization are to international hackers, miscreants, and disruptors. The cyber security interruption, data leaks, etc can seriously jeopardize the future growth of the organization.
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. Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Auto & Truck Parts industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Increasing wage structure of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts
– 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 Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts.
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 Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Environmental challenges
– Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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. Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Auto & Truck Parts industry.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Auto & Truck Parts sector.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Template, Example
Not all factors mentioned under the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats quadrants in the SWOT Analysis are equal. Managers at Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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 Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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 Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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 Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts 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 Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
