Non-price competition
In the modern competitive market, firms that compete solely based on price are not always successful. Success of a company does not solely depend on its price categorization. Therefore, firms are increasingly becoming less dependent on competitive pricing as a factor contributing to their competitive advantage. Non-price competition refers to a wide variety of activities through which firms can outdo competition and establish a competitive edge in the market, apart from pricing. This paper provides a thorough analysis of non-price competition and its various aspects.
An effective strategy to compete non-price means competing on related factors such as customer service, product availability and quality and so on. A few of these widely practiced techniques of competing on non-price basis are discussed in this paper. Advertising is widely practiced method of non-price competition. Firms use this to create an image in order to differentiate themselves from their competitors. It also helps firms in communicating new products and services to potential customers. Firms use contemporary methods and media to create customer awareness of their products and services.
Product innovation is another important aspect of non-price competition. Firms strive to develop and launch new and improved products to establish their superiority in the market. The innovation can be in the form of a better design, a unique technology or it can be also achieved by developing and launching new products. New products often create a higher demand and help a firm to gain market share and for certain firms it could even be a monopoly depending on the sector and competition.
Product availability is a major factor for customers when making purchasing decisions. This means that if a firm can provide the item to customers at more convenient locations, more customers will be inclined to buy and there would be higher sales volume. Here, geographical and logistical considerations play a major role. A firm should be able to deliver and stock items at convenient locations to compete effectively on product availability.
Product bundling is when a firm combines similar products or services and presents it as a single package. This attracts customers, as they get value for their money. It builds customer loyalty as customers feel that their money is saving due to the incentive. Product bundling is a very effective feature of non-price competition.
Customer focus, customer service and customer experience are integral to winning customers in a competitive market. As customers are now more aware of their rights and expectations, firms have to offer a superior customer service and experience to win customers. This includes initiatives such as providing superior after-sales service, unique customer experiences and training staff to treat customers well and so on.
Finally, branding and loyalty programs are also important factors in competing in non-price basis. Firms try to develop an image through advertisements and marketing campaigns to differentiate themselves from their competitors. They also offer loyalty programs to incentivize their customers to stay with the brand. These programs help in customer retention and building customer loyalty over the long-term.
In conclusion, it can be seen that firms have numerous techniques available to compete on non-price basis. It is important to note that price is still an important factor in competing and firms should not ignore it. Non-price strategies need to be assessed and implemented in an effective manner to establish competitive advantage and outdo competition.