Brand positioning strategies for industrial firms providing customer solutions

• Published in: The Journal of business & industrial marketing 2014-03, Vol.29 (3), p.253-264
• Main Authors: Maarit Jalkala, Anne, Keränen, Joona
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brand management; Brands; Business to business commerce; Business-to-business marketing/industrial marketing; Competition; Competitive advantage; Customer services; Customers; Distribution channels & markets; Information technology; Market positioning; Market strategy; Marketing; Studies; Target markets
• ISSN: 0885-8624; 2052-1189
• DOI: 10.1108/JBIM-10-2011-0138

Purpose – Despite increasing interest in customer solutions, and the importance of brand management in the B2B context, prior research provides little understanding on brand positioning strategies adopted by solution providers. The present study aims to examine the possible brand positioning strategies for industrial firms providing customer solutions. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical part of the present study consists of a multiple case study, involving four industrial firms providing customer solutions. Primary data was gathered by semi-structured interviews from a total of 22 business managers from the case companies. Findings – The present study identifies four possible brand position strategies for industrial firms providing customer solutions: customer value diagnostic, global solution integrator, high quality sub-systems provider, and long-term service partner. The identified strategies highlight the tendency of solution suppliers to position their brands around different capabilities that are needed at different phases of the solution delivery process. Research limitations/implications – The present study was conducted from the industrial supplier's perspective and is context-bound to companies operating in solution-oriented process and information technology industries. Practical implications – Managers need to identify the capabilities that are central to delivering customer value and acquire and/or develop capability configurations that differentiate their brand positioning from competitors. Originality/value – Existing literature on branding lacks understanding about the specific characteristics of building brands in solution-oriented B2B contexts. The present study identifies four brand positioning strategies that illuminate the special characteristics of branding customer solutions.