First-Mover Advantage: DHL vs. Boeing
DHL International is a top company that offers global express delivery services for customers in various countries. It is leading among the competitors, such as Federal Express and UPS. DHL International was established in 1969 when it delivered documents from San Francisco to Honolulu. With time, the company offered its services to clients in Japan and other Asian countries.
Nowadays, DHL operates in most countries, employing thousands of people. It focuses on excellent customer service and employs local staff to build strong relationships with customers worldwide. DHL International faces competition challenges in Asia but maintains its leadership by using aggressive initiatives and prioritizing quality. For a manufacturing company like Boeing, being a first mover is more advantageous than a service company because it can use technology to attract clients and create barriers for competitors (Alonso, 2022). However, both types of businesses can benefit from establishing their customer base and brand loyalty.
Key Elements for Global Success in Service Companies
To achieve global success, a service company should implement several elements. For example, a firm needs a strong focus on customer service and a global presence (Alonso, 2022). Besides, it is important to have efficient operations and adaptability (Alonso, 2022). Maintaining high-quality services is another important element, along with competitive pricing.
Merits and Drawbacks of DHL’s Internal Global Staffing
The main merit of DHL’s staffing approach is its control over the quality of services. Besides, the company has consistent branding and can use local market knowledge to improve client relationships (“History of DHL,” n.d.). In turn, the drawbacks of this strategy include high costs, language barriers, and issues involved in managing a large workforce in different countries.
Potential Dangers of Being a First Mover
Being a first mover can include such dangers as risks of failure, high operational costs, and the need to optimize all processes (Alonso, 2022). As can be seen in DHL’s example, being a pioneer does not guarantee customer loyalty, and competitors can quickly attract more clients. Therefore, it is important to provide quality services to remain successful.
References
Alonso, T. (2022). DHL – the logistics company of the world. Cascade. Web.
History of DHL. (n.d.). DHL. Web.