RECOMMENDATIONS

When it comes to IKEA there are certain issues or complications that rely within the company which are the following:

Problem with Social Media?

IKEA's social media pages are not used to the fullest. When you look closely to the two pictures below, the IKEA Brooklyn has more followers then the main IKEA USA Help page. This may not seem like a huge issue but when a single store has more customer interaction then a main page, the use of social media is diminished.

As a recommendation, we propose an integration of the social media pages and create one cohesive page for all customer inquires named "IKEA Worldwide." The silo thinking that they have right now of having multiple twitter accounts for each individual store prohibits the company from reaching its potential in this space. The company needs to direct all customers to one single page and from there they can provide links for separate locations, specials, new products, etc. With this change this will allow IKEA to excel in social media and provide excellent customer service through the media platform of their choosing.

Is IKEA's Hardware Outdated?

Just like IKEA has multiple success and a bright future ahead, in order to move further there has to be some changes made. One issue that relies among IKEA is the hardware part of the five components. Because IKEA has outdated hardware like computers, all the computers run on one server making it easier to be insecure and hacked. Due to this fact an individual can walk up, insert a flash drive, and steal valuable information.  

A solution for this that’s already being implemented is Having IKEA substitute most of their computers for tablets making it easier for the customer to gain help and keeping their information safe.

Threats of Substitution

Threats of substitution is a big problem that IKEA has been facing due to the existing competitors such as WayFair, Walmart and Home Depot. IKEA sells pre-assembled furnitures which requires customers to assemble them or purchase a service in which a third party logistic company may come to the person’s or business’ location which starts at a set price and may increase depending on the cost of the goods. What makes this a large threat is the fact that the furniture sold by these competitors are already assembled. Also, companies and Wayfair and Walmart has an online feature where anybody can purchase an item through any platforms such as mobile, tablets and pc and pick them up from the nearest store. 

As a recommendation, We suggest that IKEA start integrating an online store on their website to make it easier for customers to buy their products. IKEA has a limited number of items in their store; however, the company has the ability to expand further, and also include items that are only available to current stores from different geographical areas.