Options
The Timberlake Company has a lot of options while implementing its business plan. First, it has several markets to sell its products. For instance, it has been noted that there are 1000 restaurants, 524 hospitals, and 800-daycare centers. All these markets present a wide range of customers to consume the products of Timberlake Company.
Also, it has the option to manufacture various forms of products such as liquid, powdered, or bar soaps. It can produce each form of soap based on the requirements of their customers. Furthermore, it has a wide range of suppliers of raw materials. As a result, Timberlake Company has a lot of power to influence the price of these supplies.
However, the best option is to incorporate a technology that will enhance the production of chemical-free soaps. This means that the Timberlake Company will be able to meet the needs of each category of customer. This is because each customer has a unique preference.
Therefore, to accommodate them all, it is important to produce all types of soaps such as solid, powdered, and liquid. This will increase the company’s returns and enhance its competitive advantage and customer loyalty.
How the products will meet the consumers’ needs
Though this strategy targets day-cares, restaurants, and hospitals, it is not limited to these areas only. This plan extends its market to the public because they are also affected by communicable diseases. The chemical-free soaps, which are the main products of the Timberlake Company, will be produced in various forms.
This means that it will meet the specific preferences of each category of customers. Also, this plan intends to link the customer and the manufacturer directly. Therefore, it will reduce brokerage costs. This means that the soap will be affordable and readily available to customers.
Furthermore, this plan does not produce soaps laced with hazardous chemicals. This means that it will be a natural product. Therefore, it will not have any side effects compared to chemical soaps. As a result, more customers will prefer this brand of soap because it will be environmentally friendly.
Types of technologies
Integrating technologies in business transactions and operations helps in making the company cost efficient (Abrams, 2012). There are various technologies used to produce soap. These are a cold process, hot process, and re-batching method (Chaudhury & Kuilboer, 2002). The cold process is more complicated compared to others.
It integrates art into science by creating the base through a process called saponification. In this process, the manufacturer adds ingredients during the formation of the base. Therefore, the manufacturer can determine the number of resources used in the production, and undesired ingredients can be eliminated.
The hot process involves the use of heat to speed up the process. Therefore, the hot process is time-efficient. The re-batching method is similar to the melting process except that the manufacturer does not use a pre-made base.
Among these techniques, the hot process is the most preferable. It is expensive at the initial stage because it requires more inputs compared to other techniques. However, it is capable of meeting the needs of the customers promptly. Also, it saves time and has a high productivity rate. Therefore, it enhances customers’ loyalty because of its promptness and ability to produce different forms of soaps.
Technological policies
There are two categories of policies that will apply to this product. The first policy will serve to promote the safety and health of the environment. Therefore, it advocates for principles of safe operations and a safe working environment to promote the dignity and working standards of employees.
The second policy will integrate environmentalism with production. This means that it will serve to protect the environment and the health of consumers (Tsai, 2002).
However, these policies have impacts on the Timberlake Company. For instance, the safety and health standards will cause the company to incur a lot of costs to ensure that the system is safe for workers. Therefore, the company has to install technologies which are not hazardous to the workers. However, it will increase productivity because a safe working environment will motivate its workers.
It will also create a rapport between the management and employees. The second policy of safe and healthy working environments will make the company attract qualified individuals. This is because the strategy serves to create competition for the jobs available. As a result, this will increase creativity in the company. However, this may raise the cost of employment because technical skills require considerable remuneration.
The third policy of environmentalism will mean that the company undergoes extra costs to protect the environment. In other words, the company will have to reduce pollution to meet the requirements set by this standard. However, this policy reflects the company’s strategy of avoiding the integration of harmful chemicals into its products.
Therefore, these costs have already been planned, and hence will not negatively affect the company. Also, this policy serves as an attraction to customers because the company promotes the health and safety of the consumers.
Consequently, this policy will increase the quality of products to meet the international standards of environmental protection. Therefore, this translates to increased profits for the company. However, these policies may reduce the productivity of the company. This is because a lot of resources will be required to meet the required quality and standards.
References
Abrams, R. M. (2012). Entrepreneur-ship: A real-world approach: hands-on guide for today’s entrepreneur. Palo Alto, CA: Planning Shop.
Chaudhury, A., & Kuilboer, J.-P. (2002). E-business and e-commerce infrastructure: Technologies supporting the e-business initiative. Boston, Mass. [u.a.: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
Tsai, H.-L. (2002). Information technology and business process reengineering: New perspectives and strategies. Westport, CT: Praeger.