Woolworths SWOT Analysis / Matrix

SWOT analysis includes techniques to understand the current Strengths (S), Weakness (W), Opportunities (O) & Threats (T) being faced by Woolworths in an existing business environment. Experts assisting university scholars in Woolworths swot analysis say that it helps in determining the internal strategic factors, like strengths and weaknesses, and external strategic factors like opportunities and threats. 

SWOT Analysis: Objectives

Before we discuss the Woolworths SWOT analysis / matrix, it is important to understand its objectives. The experts say that the main purpose of SWOT analysis is to determine the strategies of an organization that can utilize to counter threats, exploit external opportunities, and build strengths, and annihilates its weaknesses.

Step by Step Guide for Woolworths SWOT Analysis

As we know, SWOT analysis mainly focused on four key factors – 

• SO (strengths-opportunities) Strategies
• WO (weaknesses-opportunities) Strategies
• ST (strengths-threats) Strategies
• WT (weaknesses-threats) Strategies

So, let’s start the process. 

Strength 

Woolworths includes strengths that make it precede in the marketplace. It is one of the dominant companies in its industry. Its strengths assist the company to protect its market share in the current market. As per the research of Fern Fort University – the key strengths of Woolworths are:

• Strong Brand portfolio
• Good Returns on Capital Expenditure 
• Reliable suppliers
• Strong Distribution Network
• Superb Performance in New Markets
• Strong Dealer Company

Weakness

That is one of the most important areas where Woolworths need to concentrate. Weaknesses are the areas of improvement for any organization. If we talk about Woolworths, it should make appropriate choices with help of SWOT analysis and build competitive positioning.

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Few important weaknesses of Woolworths are – 

• The product sold by the company have different product range. As a result, it lacks in a product range which gives a new opportunity to the competitors.
• The second weakness to take care of by Woolworths is organization structure. This weakness is suitable only for existing business modules which leads to limited expansion in different areas of the product.
• Another weakness is, “the company is not much good in forecasting product demand”. 
• The company is not much efficient to tackle the challenges present by the new entrants in the segments and has lost a small market cap in the recess categories.
• The product marketing left a lot that to be desired. However, the products are succeeded in terms of sales, but when it comes to their USP and positioning, they were not well defined. 

Opportunities

Woolworth’s opportunities include external strategic factors. Some of them are discussed below – 

• Setting up of a new market due to government agreement – adopting latest technology standard and free trade government agreement offered an opportunity to Woolworths to enter the new market.
• Engaging customers from the online channel. In recent years, the company has focused on investing money in the online platform. However, investing in the online platform has opened the door for new sales channels. 
• The change in customer behavior can bring chances for Woolworths to enter into new markets. It creates opportunities for the company to enter new markets and generate new revenue.

Threats 

• No regular supply of innovative products 
• Increasing raw material might pose a threat to the company’s profitability
• Woolworths may face lawsuits in several markets – continuous fluctuations and different laws related to product standards in a particular market.
• Change in consumer purchasing behavior from the online channel can also be seen as a threat for Woolworths because of its current physical infrastructure-driven supply chain model.
• Enhancing the strengths of native distributors may also show a threat in certain markets because the competition in the market is offering a high margin to the local distributors.
• Lack of skilled workforce in some of the global market is another threat for Woolworths.
• Low-quality product and counterfeit limitation is another threat to Woolworths’s mainly in the low-income market and emerging markets.

These were the few internal and external factors identified by the experts. The experts providing  Woolworths SWOT Analysis / Matrix for university scholars focuses on effective coordination among different departments of the company, such as – finance, marketing, management information systems, operations, and strategic planning.