Involves the planning, marketing, and forecasting of products throughout their lifecycle
Product managers
Focus on guiding every step of a product's lifecycle, from development to positioning and pricing, by prioritizing the needs of the product and its customers
Global Brands
Recognized worldwide and employ a unifiedmarketingstrategy to support their brand and its development across different markets
Global Brands
Perceived to offer value to consumers through better quality or by enhancing the consumer'sself-perception as being cosmopolitan, sophisticated, and modern
Global Brands
Internally, global branding involves tightening organizational relationships and sharing best practices in brand management across different regions
While globalbrands may excel in high-profile categories, localbrands may still be preferred by consumers for everydayproducts
Core Product
The benefit and service that a customer gets by using the product, satisfying the most basic need of the customer
Tangible Product
What the customer can touch and see in order to evaluate and decide depending on what it looks like with regards to the packaging, quality, brand name, and aesthetics
Intangible Product
Symbolizes the brandimageof the product, positioning and the countryoforigin
Augmented Product
The "extra" of every product, offering additional customer services and benefits
Alternatives in approaching international markets
Selling the product as it is international marketplace
Modifying products for different countries or regions
Designing new products for foreign markets
Incorporating all the differences into one flexible product design and introducing a global product
Factors affecting adaptation
Market Characteristics
Cultural Differences
Legal and Regulatory Environment
Economic Factors
Competitive Landscape
Technological Factors
BrandImage and Reputation
Resource Constraints
ConsumerBehavior and Preferences
OrganizationalCapabilities and Culture
Goods is an object, a device, a thing. These tangible items that can be seen, touched, and physically possessed
Services, on the other hand, is a deed, a performance, an effort. These are intangible actions or activities performed by one party for another
Characteristics of services
Intangibility, Personalization, and Customization
DifferentiatedMarketingApproach
Cross-Border Transfer
Customer Transfer and Service Territory
DifferentApproach to Customer Satisfaction
Solution Based
Service-Goods Separation
Services may complement goods; at other times, goods may complement services. However, services do not always come bundled with goods.
Czinkota et.al: 'Services may complement goods; at other times, goods may complement services'
Services do not always come bundled with goods
Goods are tangible products that can often be accompanied by services, but services can exist independently without any physical product
Platforms like Netflix or Spotify
Provide streaming services for movies, TV shows, and music without accompanying physical goods
Customers pay for access to content and the convenience of streaming, without receiving any tangible products
Customers may use physical devices (such as smartphones or computers) to access these services, but the devices themselves are not directly sold by the service provider and are separate from the service offering
Service Competition
Unlike goods, which may compete primarily based on features, quality, and price, services often compete against each other directly
In the globalmarket, various service providers offer similar services, leading to intense competition
International marketers need to differentiate their services through branding, customerexperience, and value-added offerings to stand out in crowded marketplaces and attract customers
Companies like Uber and Lyft
Offer transportation services through their mobile apps, competing directly against each other in the market
To stand out in the competitive ride-sharing market, companies may offer unique features like carpoolingoptions, premiumvehiclechoices, or loyaltyrewards programs to attract and retain customers and differentiate them
Intangibility of Services
Services cannot be seen, touched, or possessed like physical products
They involve experiences, actions, or expertise provided to customers
This intangible nature poses unique challenges in marketing, as marketers must find creative ways to communicate the value and benefits of services to customers who cannot physically evaluate them before purchase
Consulting firms
Provide expertise, advice, and solutions to clients in various industries, such as managementconsulting, financialadvisory, or ITconsulting
These services are intangible and primarily involve knowledge transfer and problem-solving rather than physical products
Marketing consulting services requires highlighting the expertise and experience of consultants, showcasing successful case studies, and building trust with potential clients through effective communication and branding
Services can still be dependent on goods in various ways
A logistics service
Relies on transportationvehicles (goods) to deliver goods efficiently
A software-as-a-service (SaaS) company
Requires hardware (goods) to host its software platforms
commerce platforms like Amazon or Alibaba
Offer online marketplaces where sellers can list and sell their products to customers worldwide
These platforms provide services such as onlinestorefronts, paymentprocessing, and orderfulfillment
While e-commerce platforms primarily offer services, they are dependent on physicalgoods (such as products sold by third-party sellers) for their business model to function
Without a wide range of goods available for purchase, these platforms would notattractcustomers or generaterevenue
CustomerInvolvement in Service Delivery
In the delivery of services, customer involvement is often significant, with production and consumption occurring simultaneously or closely together
This process, known as co-production of service, entails customers participating in the service delivery process or even servicing themselves
The physical presence of the service provider during delivery becomes crucial, presenting both challenges and opportunities for service providers
Customer Sensitivity in Service Delivery
Services are frequently custom-made and culturally sensitive
Delivering a service in a culturally inappropriate manner can lead to failure
Understanding and respecting cultural beliefs and preferences are crucial in the services industry
Due to cultural differences, international service businesses often develop stand-alone business systems in each country to ensure cultural appropriateness and effectiveness
In countries with specific dietary restrictions or cultural norms, hotels
May offer custom meal options or amenities to ensure guests feel comfortable and respected
Service Consistency
Maintaining service consistency is challenging due to the real-time nature of service delivery
Errors can occur, and individual influences can affect service outcomes
Quality control is essential for fulfilling customer expectations
The behavior of customer-contact employees significantly impacts customers' perception of service quality
Internal marketing, aimed at employees, is vital to address their skills and ensure proactive handling of complaints
Fast food chains
Strive for service consistency across their locations worldwide
They implement standardized processes and training programs to ensure that customers receive the same quality of service and food regardless of the location they visit
Market Transparency for Services
Unlike goods, services are often heterogeneous and difficult for buyers to observe and evaluate
Service quality may vary for each delivery, making it challenging for customers to make informed choices among service providers
This heterogeneity arises from the inability to establish production lines for consistent service delivery
Services may require new forms of distribution, such as direct delivery and short distribution channels, due to their perishability and need for quick delivery
The impact of these aspects is heightened for international marketers, who must navigate cultural factors, changing expectations, and varying national regulations
International services are particularly sensitive to cultural differences, requiring careful consideration in service delivery
The general requirements of effective marketing communications apply to global marketers as well as their domestic counterparts