In: Operations Management
Evaluate Walmart's globalization strategy over the last two decades. Where did the retailer struggle? Where did it do well? Can location characteristics explain the differences in Walmart performance?
Walmart is the world leading retail giant and company has a global presence through the different business process. Basically company global strategy over the last two decades is like as follows-
Satisfy customer needs- In some countries, like Brazil, Japan, and South Korea, Walmart could not adjust its strategy to better fulfill local customers’ needs.
Choose entry mode- In some cases, Walmart did not find the best way to enter a market and fully meet local regulations.
Adapt to culture difference -Walmart operated very well in the countries which have a similar culture as the US. In contrast, it struggled in countries with relatively different culture.
These are the few reasons about the walmart success
Walmart has a large amount of capital which enabled it to expand globally. It invested significantly in some countries to get economies of scale and grab market shares.
It has accumulated a lot of experience in American market. It applied those knowledge and leanings in other countries so it could adapt to a new environment quicker.
It has operational expertise. It could provide good customer experience, and at the same time maintain low costs.
Local characteristics can explain part of Walmart’s performance. In the countries with distinct cultures and unique local regulations, Walmart consistently operated poorly.