Strategic Plan Part II SWOT Analysis

VOIP

With the advent of information technology, the ways different aspects of life work and operate have changed a great deal. The advancement in telecommunication sector have revolutionized and redefined the communication systems at all aspects around the world. The process of bringing the world closer that started with the invention of Morse codes has now entered an era of its own where distances of miles are bridged to a few seconds. This is the world of internet protocol. The invention of the internet and then its integration with the telecommunication system has redefined the meaning of communication and revolutionized the way it is done all together.

Blue Wire Communication Solutions Inc. is a company that deals in providing to comprehensive communication solutions, products and services to its customers. The customer base of the company includes both B2B and B2C customers. The company will be providing a diverse range of manufactured and repaired products and services pertaining to telecommunication, mainly specializing in the VoIP industry. The following sections evaluate the internal and external forces that are likely to influence the business activity and the business behaviour.

Competitor's Analysis

As mentioned earlier, the telecommunication industry is getting more and more saturated each day. As far as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is concerned, major competition comes from free online communication software such as Skype and social network companies such as Facebook. It has been observed that these freeware applications are getting much more popular especially after their easy interface support by smart phones and tablet gadgets, and user prefer communicating via specialized freeware apps rather than the conventional route. It allows the users of the apps to connect with one another from any destination at very low costs, sometimes even free.. Apart from that, VoIP industry also faces competitive pressures from websites that allow free downloading of pirated material and torrents .

The best way to promote the Voice over Internet Protocol is by ensuring that the firm's official website appears in top search results of top search engines such as Google. This can be done by ensuring that the website's content is written using an excellent SEO language. The firm can also use social networking websites such as Facebook in order to promote its services (Hazlett, 2006).

Over the years, telecommunication technology has improved and progressed rapidly all around the globe. Not only developed but the less economically developed countries are also now enjoying the accessibility to the World Wide Web. This has resulted in the increase in globalization and in turn, paved way for the advent of E-commerce. When Ecommerce came took over, there was a notion that it is only going to benefit the B2B sector (Plant, 2000). However, proving the myth wrong, it went on to target the mass consumer market. This became evident when huge online shopping arenas started to spring up all over the internet. From groceries to garments to holiday trips, everything can now be purchased from anywhere in the world in one click. Initially, people were still reluctant to freely give their payment details. Credit card thefts were a serious issue. Then came more secure websites that ensured never like before secured payment options. With Verisign and PayPal entering the cyberspace, online shopping has seen a phenomenal growth (Godwin-Jones, 2005).

While marketing has always been a backbone component of any business plan, marketing methods have also evolved over a period of time. The basic idea behind marketing remains to convince a customer to make a purchasing decision and satisfy his/her want. This involves effective communication of message. The methods of this communication, however, have rapidly changed with the changes in technology. Marketing was once only restricted to print and electronic media. The advent of E-commerce changed the way marketing was done. The evolution though did not stop at the computers. The new advent of smart phones has now added another dimension to how marketing is done.

Forces of Change

Political Factors

The political factors in the Global Business environment deals with the political scope and limitations for the Blue Wire Communication Systems Inc. This includes all the assistance provided by the government as well as all government policies that hinder the business objectives.

Many governments such as Saudi Arabia has imposed restrictions on certain smart phone applications such as some application on Blackberry phones. This mean the company will have to face limitations in provisions of app related services in those regions.

On the political front Blue Wire Communication Solution is a viable venture. This is because the government recognizes telecommunication as an important industry and provides immense support to the industry in terms of infrastructure, ancillary services and international exposure.

Economic Factors

The Economic factors for the telecommunication industry are usually more favorable than political ones. The increased saturation of telecommunication market and the influx of newer apps and technology have allowed the companies to provide low priced economical services to the consumers. The customers prefer these services, mostly freeware apps especially after the economic downturn. Moreover, the increasing aware of need of efficient communication systems in organizations has created a strong B2B market for the companies dealing with VoIP. Almost all organizations today are concerned in getting the best possible communication systems installed in their organization in order to ensure smooth flow of information and thus creating string demand for companies providing communication solutions.

Social Factors

Having the most sophisticated and latest communication gadgets is now a fashion trend and a status symbol. This has created opportunity for the company to throw in the most innovative of the communication technologies in the market from time to time.

Technological Factors

The companyl shall be well equipped technically. This will help strengthening the Business to Business dimension of the proposed venture, which will in turn have positive and progressive implications on the Business to Consumers dimension. The rapid advancement in technology sector has resulted in emergence of world class communication hardware along with other hi tech telecommunication facilities. The existence of progressive technological infrastructure and Information and Communication Technologies in countries does not only attract direct customers, but also opens prospects for progression of other corporate sectors..