Lafarge-Agent

1. How can Lafarge-Aget divergentiate its position in the eyes of guests? Aget is direct in a commodity market. Is only agency to avoid footing wars and to gain more market shargon is by differentiating themselfs from the other suppliers by providing there clients additional value. Aget should invest in establishing a node supplier relationship. This relationship should address the following issues * More frequent written/electronic communication trim attainment costs for firms * More frequent cause to face communication , written / electronic communication- lower operation costs. macrocosm flexible towards the nodes needs lower firms acquisition and operations costs. * Quality lower firms acquisition and operations costs. * Invest in closer facilities lower firms acquisition costs 2. Although cement is a commodity at large, does pricing arrogate demand in the industry? The market demand for cement is elastic, so pricing plays an important subprogram in the demand of cement. If suppliers higher their prices honourable a little bit, it entrust have a big depression on the demand, that will decline.But also the other way around, if suppliers lower their price, thence demand will increase. But it is non the only factor that plays a role. Demand for cement also depends on macroeconomic factors such as * Population growth * GDP growth * Interest rates * sparing policies * Etc. Also the government can play an important role in this. In 2003, the demand for cement kept rising in Syria. The state-owned company then limited supplies by restricting imports. In this way the prices were kept high. 3.Amidst a commodity product and a highly rivalrous market how can Aget escape the commodity trap? Price is not the only thing that is important in the cement industry. For starters, there are quite some different kinds of cement. So its important for a company to have a broad product range for cement. Second, the bore of the cement has to be very good. The cement industry is a very local one, so it is important to be available and to deliver on time. Aget should also divide the market in different segments.Every segment believably wants a different kind of cement, but probably also a different kind of proceeds. So Aget has to give the safe service to the right segment of the market. So its important that they adjust their service for their different costumers. Aget should also look for new kind of cement. By investing in research and development in order to be one timbre ahead of the competition. This all will lead to a good customer relationship and customer loyalty. 5. How can Aget develop a profitable customer relationship, without cutting prices?The first step of developing a profitable customer relationship is to understand what factors may affect customers final decision making. As we known, the factors include previous experience, tone of objectives, the salesman, sale strategy, service, price etc. In terms of these f actors, without cutting price, we can adopt following actions to attract customers, begin customers satisfication, develop and maintain a profitable customer relationship. 1. Product pass must go beyond customers expectations, and better than their previous experience. * Increase the quality of offering Provide product augmentation (for exceeding customers expectations) * Develop a inwardness product with prominent character to attract customers attention 2. Establish a superior customer service network. * Provide full transaction service * Establish multi-channel service (combine head office, distributors, retailers, online, telephone service together) * Develop customer-support teams (which will aid the customer starting with the project design and materials specification through with(predicate) to the maintenance phase) * Establish management information and advisory teams (at the disposal of customers) 3.Improve the invasion of the whole sales team (which link is also impor tant in establishing good customer relationship). * Train the sales to improve their sales and customer relationship management skills(for enhancing their customer service awareness and maintain their semipermanent relationship with the customers) * Adopt effective sales incentives