Case Study: Box
Box: Building the Next Generation Enterprise Software Company
Box is an online file sharing and cloud content management services for businesses. It was established in 2004 by two college students; Aaron Levie and Dylan Smith. The company currently offers 3 account types: Enterprise, Business, and Personal [1]. As of 2013, Box has acquired more than 22 Million users, which add up to 1100% growth since 2009 [1]. Although Box’s growth has been phenomenal, there are many competitive challenges that lie ahead in the Enterprise Software industry. Box’s business-level strategy is of a broad differentiation strategy. In order to compete with large organizations such as Microsoft and Oracle, Box has managed to differentiate itself by providing …show more content…
I recommend three strategic initiatives to provide Box with a sustainable competitive advantage. The first strategy involves improving customer acquisition by reducing risks faced by clients. Enterprises need to obtain a certain level of trust before committing towards a purchase. Box’s current Freemium solves that problem. Allowing customers to test drive a product establishes a level of trust. On top of that, Box needs to be more proactive in market research and communication; finding out what the customer wants and tailoring the products to the needs of the market. The second initiative involves innovation. Box has to develop a research and development team that focuses on development and architecture of future technologies that could possibly leverage Box’s value in the future. The last initiative includes maintaining Box’s core values by improving work environment. Box’s core values of creative and out-of-the-box thinking environment needs to be maintained in order to ensure sustainable competitive advantage. This requires a larger investment in creating a more conducive work environment which encompasses company’s core values, as well as more diverse talent acquisition policies. Recruitment should not focus on achievements but instead, to focus on the alignment of candidates’ values with the core values of the company.
Works Cited
[1]
"Select a Plan," Box, [Online]. Available: https://www.box.com/pricing. [Accessed 10 02 2013].
[2]
Box: Building The Next Generation Enterprise Software Company, 2013.
Box is an online file sharing and cloud content management services for businesses. It was established in 2004 by two college students; Aaron Levie and Dylan Smith. The company currently offers 3 account types: Enterprise, Business, and Personal [1]. As of 2013, Box has acquired more than 22 Million users, which add up to 1100% growth since 2009 [1]. Although Box’s growth has been phenomenal, there are many competitive challenges that lie ahead in the Enterprise Software industry. Box’s business-level strategy is of a broad differentiation strategy. In order to compete with large organizations such as Microsoft and Oracle, Box has managed to differentiate itself by providing …show more content…
I recommend three strategic initiatives to provide Box with a sustainable competitive advantage. The first strategy involves improving customer acquisition by reducing risks faced by clients. Enterprises need to obtain a certain level of trust before committing towards a purchase. Box’s current Freemium solves that problem. Allowing customers to test drive a product establishes a level of trust. On top of that, Box needs to be more proactive in market research and communication; finding out what the customer wants and tailoring the products to the needs of the market. The second initiative involves innovation. Box has to develop a research and development team that focuses on development and architecture of future technologies that could possibly leverage Box’s value in the future. The last initiative includes maintaining Box’s core values by improving work environment. Box’s core values of creative and out-of-the-box thinking environment needs to be maintained in order to ensure sustainable competitive advantage. This requires a larger investment in creating a more conducive work environment which encompasses company’s core values, as well as more diverse talent acquisition policies. Recruitment should not focus on achievements but instead, to focus on the alignment of candidates’ values with the core values of the company.
Works Cited
[1]
"Select a Plan," Box, [Online]. Available: https://www.box.com/pricing. [Accessed 10 02 2013].
[2]
Box: Building The Next Generation Enterprise Software Company, 2013.