Better to digitize or launch new products?
As engage the customer more?
What communication strategy will work?
What are the current difficulties?
These are just five of the most common questions that every entrepreneur or business manager has to answer on a daily basis in this historical moment dictated by uncertainty and continuous change. Data from the latest Ipsos study “Covid-19 and Businesses” have answered these questions: interesting opportunities in Digital Export are ahead for Italian companies. Here they are detailed below.
Ipsos“ ”Covid-19 and Business" study of 400 Italian companies speaks of change and optimism. For 61% of respondents, it is the time for change and not crisis. 56% are inclined to review their business strategies. 70% are ready to invest in new trends: export, digital and sustainability.
Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio said that the first quarter of 2021 «was very dynamic. The export figure marks +4% compared to 2020, but more importantly, in absolute values, we are at 118 billion euros-a higher value than the record of 2019.»
According to Ipsos research, those devoted to internationalization have more opportunities and digitization is preferred over new product launches.
Marketing has always played a primary role but today even more so. Above all, companies that decide to export will have to, in order to keep the customer active (Ipsos data), bring their focus on personalized targeting (43%), develop customer contact tools such as e-mail marketing automation (38%), have an advanced CRM system to manage the customer at every stage (31%), pay close attention to after-sales services (28%) and quality (26%).
As a first step, it will be important to have one.
The communication strategy is crucial and should focus mainly on the values and on the’social commitment of the brand while not forgetting the product. A key role will be that of the manager who, at this stage will have to lead the change and affirm the corporate vision.
In our view, there are 2 major difficulties to consider:
- the first is related to the container sea freight rates which have more than quintupled from June 2019 to today, while, at the same time, the punctuality of ship arrival at ports has dropped from a rate of 80% to today's 35%;
- the second is the Lack of experience and expertise on Digital Export. A market is opening up where many companies would like to advise their clients on business internationalization issues; unfortunately, however, many have known too little about this area for too short a time, or have never had direct experience.
We at Octagona we are able to pave the right path for you, seizing the opportunities of Digital Export and thus supporting the growth of your business. With direct offices in India, Vietnam, Brazil, and the USA and with local partnerships throughout the rest of the world, Octagona is in fact one of the leading companies in International Advisory and among the top 5 in Italy: in almost 20 years we have successfully worked on more than 750 projects of internationalization.
What can we do to grow your business? Click below and fill out the form to find out: we will contact you to study the best solution together:
According to the Ipsos study “Covid-19 and Businesses”, conducted among 400 Italian companies, 70% of the respondents are ready to invest in exports, digitalization and sustainability. Moreover, 61% believe that this is the time for change and not for crisis, while 56% are inclined to review their business strategies.
According to Ipsos research, companies oriented towards internationalization have more opportunities and prefer digitalization over launching new products. The context is favorable: in the first quarter of 2021, Italian exports rose by 4% compared to 2020, reaching 118 billion euros, a value exceeding the record of 2019.
According to Ipsos data, companies that export must focus on personalized targeting (43%), contact tools such as email marketing automation (38%) and an advanced CRM system to follow the customer throughout every phase (31%). After-sales services (28%) and product quality (26%) are also important.
First of all, you need to have a structured communication strategy. It should focus on the brand’s values and social commitment, without forgetting the product. Managers play a central role: they must lead the change and affirm the company’s vision, in a way that is consistent with the foreign markets to which they are directed.
The main difficulties are two. The first concerns logistics: maritime container rents have more than quintupled since June 2019, and the ships’ punctuality in ports has dropped from 80% to 35%. The second is the lack of experience with digital exports among many companies that offer advice on internationalization.
Octagona is among the top 5 Italian companies in International Advisory and, in almost 20 years, has overseen over 750 internationalization projects. It has direct offices in India, Vietnam, Brazil and the USA, as well as local partnerships in the rest of the world, and supports companies in seizing the opportunities of Digital Export.
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