Achieving competitive advantage through e-business at multiple hauliers (E.A) limited Kenya

Abstract

Today’s dynamic business environment has forced business managers to constantly review their firms’ business activities and strategies in order to compete effectively. Strategic managers often develop strategies that will give their firms an edge over their competitors. Businesses therefore frequently adopt innovations to gain competitive advantages or capabilities. The objectives of this study were to establish the adoption of e-business by Multiple Hauliers (E.A) Limited as a strategy in achieving competitive advantage and to determine the factors that influence adoption of e-business for competitive advantage by the company. The research design was a case study. The case study was considered appropriate because the focus of the study was to answer “how” and “why” questions and the study covered contextual conditions that are relevant to the phenomenon under study. Primary data was collected using an interview guide focusing on adoption of E-Business in achieving competitive advantage in Multiple Hauliers (E.A) Limited. This gave an original and authentic view of the issues being sought after that enabled valid generalization about the company. The questions were addressed to Staff in charge of the Modernization Program. They were twenty respondents for the interview. This incorporated positions of senior managers in the departments of fleet management, clearing and forwarding and internal container depot. The data collected was cleaned, validated, and edited for accuracy, uniformity, consistency and completeness. Content analysis was used considering the qualitative nature of the data that was collected through in-depth personal interviews. The study established that e-business practices has been adopted and implemented by the company in the departments of fleet management, clearing and forwarding and internal container depot. It was also established that e-business practices helped the business in maintenance of inventory, proper maintenance of inventory, compliance, cost reduction, reduced delays, data safety and improved customer service. The study further established that the factors that influence adoption of e-business include knowledge of e-business benefits, existing ICT infrastructure, cost of e-business implementation and available ICT skills and knowledge of the employees. From the study, the most important factor to influence adoption of e-business practices is the knowledge of benefits derived from e-business. This forms the basis on which the business puts in relevant effort to adopt and successfully implement e-business for competitive advantage. the study recommended that since e-business is increasingly becoming an important tool for businesses to gain a competitive advantage and in turn drive economic growth, the government should come up with relevant policies that will support the education of owners and employees of different companies on importance of adoption of e-business and also improve on the current infrastructure available to companies. This is based on the finding in this study that the main consideration in adopting e-business is the knowledge of the benefits accruing from its use. In addition, owners and employees of companies should be encouraged to regularly attend workshops and courses to constantly improve on their technical skills and knowledge of e-business given the fickle nature of Information Technology. The findings would be useful when developing policy guidelines for making changes in the institutional frameworks and policy interventions in E-Business activities. With regard to theory the study will add value to the body of strategic management discipline especially in the more demanding concerns of strategic issues in management and will form the basis of further research by identifying the knowledge gap that arises from this study. With respect to practice, this project presents ample opportunity for business people to acquire clientele by improving on services offered through E-Business