Identify The Value-Chain
Identify The Value-Chain
COMPANIES.
Value-Chain.
Industry: Cellphone
Companies: Xiaomi and Huawei.
XIAOMI.
Xiaomi primary activities.
• Xiaomi Inbound logistics: involves the delivery and storage activities of raw
materials by the mobile internet company. Strategic relationships with
Taiwan-based manufacturers of various components is one of the main
sources of value for Xiaomi inbound logistics. Specifically, Xiaomi partners
with Inventec and Hon Hai for assembly, Wintek and TPK for screen
technology and Unicorn for PCB (printed circuit boards). Moreover, Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC) is the main processor
supplier for the company. Xiaomi also procures various electronic
components from nearby countries. For example, MOS and batteries are
mainly imported from Thailand.
• Xiaomi Operation: Refer to the processes of transforming raw materials into
ready products. The mobile internet company has established its presence in
70 countries and regions, and it is among the top 5 in 16 markets. Xiaomi
manufactures locally more than 75% of smartphones it sells in India. Location
of manufacturing units in China and India is one of the main sources of value
in Xiaomi operations. This is because the costs of human resources in these
developing countries are cheap. Along with proximity of manufacturing units
to the sources of raw materials, cost-effective human resources play an
instrumental role in sustaining cost advantage competitive edge of the
business. Moreover, Xiaomi sophisticates its manufacturing processes in a
systematic manner using advanced technologies and benefiting from
technological innovations.
• Xiaomi Outbound Logistics: practices were limited to the shipment of products
directly to end-users via couriers. At that stage the company was using only
online sales channels in order to save costs and maintain its cost leadership
position in the global marketplace. Increasing numbers of sales channels and
expanding geographical scope is expected to complicate Xiaomi outbound
logistics in the foreseeable future. This can create certain challenges for the
business.
• Xiaomi Marketing and Sales: practices are based on its cost leadership
business strategy. As discussed above, the mobile internet company was
initially selling its products using only online sales channels and later adapted
traditional offline sales channels as well. The company uses hunger
marketing strategy and flash sales frequently, making only limited numbers of
products available online for a short duration of time.
• Xiaomi Service: Xiaomi post-sale service was often criticized as poor. This
problem was rooted on company’s cost leadership business strategy,
because the mobile internet company was looking for opportunities to save
costs everywhere includin2g in customer services and post-sale services.
However, due to intensifying competition in home market and abroad, Xiaomi
had no choice but to pay greater attention to customer service aspect of the
business.
HUAWEI.