Intuit QuickBooks Case Solution And Analysis, HBR Case Study Solution & Analysis of Harvard Case Studies

Introduction

Intuit is a company that provides financial management and business software for three different set of customers which include Small and Medium Businesses (SMB), accounting professionals, and consumers. The company has attained a market capitalization of $19.4 billion and is recognized as customer-centric technological companies. However, even though it has achieved much of its success, the CEO of the company examines that the most powerful technological companies possess platforms with network effects which has allowed them to attain sustainable advantage. Therefore, the company decides to transform Quickbooks from a product to a platform which seemed as a legit choice due to two reasons. First, the company believed that it cannot alone fulfill the demands of its SMB, and secondly, because the network effect provided durable competitive advantage.

The company devised three ways in which Quickbooks could be transformed to a platform. The first include interactions of Quickbooks users within Quickbooks in a direct approach method. This allowed users to transact easily. The second way was through third-party developers in which applications were built by third-party developers and it was named as Intuit Partner Platform (IPP). Lastly, the company could find a way to leverage customer data which could be available at IPP and top build a platform for products and services for SMB. The company needs to develop a platform business model for Quickbooks financing and concierge.

Problem Statement

In order to seek durable competitive advantage, Intuit is focusing on transforming its product Quickbook into a platform with leveraging network effects. Therefore, the company needs to evaluate the investment needed for platform initiatives along with the allocation of resources amongst platform and product offerings. Furthermore, the company needs to decide a business model for the particular initiative.

Internal Analysis

SWOT Analysis

Strengths

The company develops products based on customer-centric approach while it focuses on targeting its customers through a wide array of products to Small and Medium Businesses (SMB’s) expansion, financial supplies, and tax software. The company develops products which are intuitive to use and which address the needs of its customers. The particular core competency also allows customers to become loyal. The company is financially strong as in the past 10 years the net income, total revenues, and gross profit are continuously increasing with greater margins and growth each year.

Weaknesses

The company always remains willing to make changes in its business model when it has been yielding greater revenues for the past 10 years. Also, the company does not provide integration of one product with another which increases the probability for developing a platform. The company has yet to develop a platform while the major competitors of the company which include Apple, Microsoft and other companies already have a platform.

Opportunities

Since the company has a higher market share in the industry, therefore, it makes it comparatively easier to launch new product or services. Also, the company has an opportunity for integration of its various products through a platform. Furthermore, Intuit can expand in its product line since it has never failed with its product and services due to following customer’s lead. Expanding into global market is a key to make its product renowned worldwide in emerging economies. Lastly, Intuit can acquire smaller firms in the verge of expansion into different market or expanding its product line.

Threats

There have been new companies emerging with an improved business model which pressurizes Intuit to perform better every year. Due to advanced technology, it also allows other competitive companies to perform at the same level while offering similar products and services. The company has threats from the bigger players such as Xero, Kabbage, and other companies.

VRIN Analysis

Customer-Centric Approach

The company offers products and services while maintaining its customer-focused approach which allows the company to retain its customers. The particular strength of the company is valuable for the organization because this has been the reason for a strong financial growth for Intuit. Moreover, it is a rare quality and it cannot be substituted. Therefore, this earns the company with sustained competitive advantage.

Financial Performance

The financial performance for Intuit is exceptional as the products of the company have been yielding strong financial growth for the past 10 years. This particular strength is valuable for the company as it aims to maximize the shareholders wealth. However, it is not rare to achieve a strong financial growth as many big players are accustomed to strong financial performance. Therefore, this sets up the particular strength in second quadrant with competitive parity.........................

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Online QuickBooks, a successful product with a strong brand and a 85% share of retail sales, faced the problem of meeting the expectations of market growth in a mature, slowing market. Create recurring revenue by providing value-added online services that complement the desktop software is regarded as an attractive solution for managing QuickBook in. Intuit now had to decide the best way to provide these services - that is, build them a house or buy them in partnership. In this case, the company had to assess ways to capture value in the brand Intuit QuickBooks, without damaging it. Education goals. He taught in the first year of a marketing ploy to identify issues related to the capture value "Hide
by Rajiv Lal, Purnima Kochikar Source: Harvard Business School 16 pages. Publication Date: November 27, 2000. Prod. #: Five hundred and one thousand and fifty-four-PDF-ENG