Paper Example on Agri-Foods and The Impact On the Electronics Industry

Introduction

Agri-food industry focusses on the production of food through agricultural means. Integrating agriculture and technology is as important as the need to boost production of farm products. The world is embracing technology based farm where everything in farming is digitized. In most of the countries, the agri-food industry is the most substantial sub-section of the manufacturing sector which represents 10% to 30% of the manufacturing industry.

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Agri-food is composed of several sectors including cereals processing, processing of oil seeds and also animal products. Growth in the agri-food industry is stagnant in developed economies, steady in the emerging economies and rapid in the developing countries. Takimaki has an excellent opportunity for establishing new markets in these economies, and the company could leap well from these countries if proper strategies are put in place.

There is need to support continued development and embrace new agri-food technologies in a way that stimulates improvement in farm production, food storage and processing of raw food for value addition. Technology plays an essential role in the functioning of the agri-food sector. According to McKinsey Global Institute's Digitization Index, agriculture is the least regarding digitization of industries. According to UK government statistics, use of agri-tech accounts for 14.3billion euros Gross Value Added in the UK and more than 542,000 new jobs. The production in the agri-tech sector has also sprung up by 16% in the past five years. Takimaki should focus on particular areas both short term and long term in establishing new markets in the agri-food industry.

Short-term projects for Takimaki to focus on would be those projects that can be attained with the current knowledge and expertise, considering that Takimaki is an upcoming Small-Medium size enterprise and therefore it needs to invest in projects that utilize its level of expertise.

Focusing on providing internet infrastructure to farmers and farm employees would significantly improve Takimaki's marketing strategy. Agri-food companies have not yet exploited Internet's potential. For instance, companies still use the traditional ways of communicating with their partners. Adding the web dimension to agri-food industries would transform them into virtual enterprises, and this is a step forward for both Takimaki and the food industry. Large companies are moving towards web-based supply chain integration while SMEs are using the internet as another communication tool (European Commission, 2002). One of the benefits of using the internet that it promotes an effective and efficient way of sharing data and information. This results in a supply chain condonation. Takimaki needs take this advantage and use Internet-based applications to lure other agri-food industries to partnering with them.

Takimaki could also develop new markets through Production of weatherproof entertainment systems, for example, outdoor surround sound systems, mp3 and mp4 player devices for workers. Entertainment is part of customer and employee motivation. Production of waterproof mp3 players will ensure the farmers in the agri-food industry become a potential market for the products. The devices should be portable making them efficient as farmers can use them while in the field.

The agri-food industries are digitalizing, and therefore this is an opportunity for Takimaki to establish new markets. Takimaki can sell monitors to the firms for displaying large data. The screens could also be used as televisions for the entertainment of employees. Providing the strict monitors for the industries could be the start of a new market.

The company, Takimaki can also invest in CCTV camera installation in the agricultural industries. Monitoring of the progress in any firm is the most important. CCTVs act as a security measure by many companies. The cameras monitor the interior and exterior by recording the video and transmitting it to monitors. The camera system also provides people with assurance and peace of mind in places where there is a high risk of security. Takimaki can use this as a way of establishing new markets for agri-food firms.

Long-term projects for Takimaki could involve Use of Integrated farm management system (IFM). The IFM is used for more sustainable agriculture. It combines modern technology with traditional farming promoting increased production and profits. A reliable management system could include A management system for dairy cattle where records of every cow are kept in a computer database for easy access. Takimaki will benefit through this as there is a need for hardware to be used including monitors, computer hardware and also software applications.

Takimaki could integrate its new materials from agriculture into its products to establish a market. Use of Biodegradable packaging could help in reducing pollution. Such packaging can include cartons made from dry organic materials; others could be made from the pulp of corrugated papers. Massive demand for original packaging in the market makes Takimaki a beneficiary of this opportunity.

Use of IC boards made from organic material could also show sustainability of Takimaki as a company, and this will boost its reputation and in turn its market. There is high demand for natural substrate and environment-friendly electronic devices. Use of organic circuit boards gives customers confidence when it comes to environmental conservation and this, in turn, helps build trust between the customer and the company providing the devices.

Use of natural casing for electronic products would be a good idea. Televisions and radio sets could have wooden housing instead of plastic; rubber could also be used as a casing of the products to make them environment-friendly.

Linking social innovation, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility policies with those of production, R&D, and marketing for Takimaki can help in the marketing of its products. The following strategies can be used: Use of renewable energy such as integration solar energy to their products in a way that the devices like radios have a solar converter in it for use instead of batteries and electricity. Customers would like to listen to the radio even when there is no electricity and use of a solar could help. Takimaki can also use packaging that can be recycled so that there will be no wastage and therefore maintaining a clean environment. This way it is easier to convince the government on the sustainability of Takimaki's products.

Computer Software and The Implications of Open Source

Electronic companies like Takimaki are facing high demand for the 'solution' from their customers. Takimaki needs to consider integrating software and software service in their hardware to deliver a solution to their customers. This will increase the profit margins and also improve the value of their solutions to customers at the same time.

Software-based services need to be built by electronic companies around their hardware since this is a new revenue opportunity. An example of a big company that has developed a strong portfolio of the software business is IBM. IBM is more of a software and service oriented company and commoditizes the hardware. This has enabled IBM to shift its profit where software and services accounted for 80% of IBM's revenue in 2012.

Takimaki needs to focus on services and product software to make more money from the business and also create a broader market. Some of the software can be served based on offering cloud services, online shopping software or product based such as music player software.

Takimaki would face some challenges in establishing its software arm. Meeting the customers' demands is always challenging. It is hard to know what a customer would want in software. Any company is faced with this challenge as there is a need for the developers to put themselves in the customer shoes.

Another challenge is the language problem. The software is designed and developed using one language which is then translated to satisfy customers from different places in the world. Incorrect software localization could lead to difficulty in navigation by the user. Translation of software would be the best option to take for any company and so for Takimaki.

Culture and beliefs is another challenge faced by companies in developing software. Different people have different cultural values A software's interaction with the user represents the company, and therefore wrong representation would be vital to the success of your company. This would be bad news for the company since it can be the end of their market in such places. Takimaki needs to check local values to align the software according to those values.

To link the software developed to social innovation, sustainability, and CSR, Takimaki needs to make their software sustainable through ensuring it follows all relevant political, social, economic, technical and environmental concerns. This will also improve its reputation on social responsibility. The stakeholders in the development of the right software including the government, Takimaki expertise and management, and potential customers need to be involved in ensuring the sustainability of the software.

The Impacts From Different Industries on International Business and Its Products

Takimaki has the opportunity to develop new products for its market. Solar panels would be the best product to start with falling under energy. Solar panels convert sunlight energy into electric power using silicon cells. Manufacturing solar panels could create interest to the people considering the current situation with climate change where people are turning to environmentally friendly sources of energy. Many countries cannot support nuclear energy production and the water levels in dams that produce hydroelectric power keep changing making it unreliable. Solar power is, therefore, a more reliable source of power.

Takimaki could also come up with strategies to start producing their smartphones. This is in the communication industry. Customers need quality phones that are cost friendly regardless of the company to enhance their communication. The need to access the internet through phone technology is increasingly becoming familiar, and it's spreading day by day. Takimaki should take this opportunity by establishing a new market to for its new products

The other new product for Takimaki to develop is electric wire and PVC cable manufacturing firm. Considering that Takimaki is a growing company, the wire and cable business is best for the company since it can be done on a small scale. Due to ambitious programmes by many governments for electrification of urban and rural areas, indulging in electric wire and PVC cables would be a good idea for Takimaki. There is a ready market for the products, and therefore the company will only need to come up with a good marketing strategy for the products.

The printed circuit board (PCB) making is also an excellent product to develop. PCB making would be good for an electronic company like Takimaki since it will lower the production cost of other electronic products therefor the company will make good profits. The company should improve the long-term reliability of the product to make sure the customers keep coming back for more. The advantage of PBC printing is that it is less complicated and most profitable business.

Generator manufacturing is also a viable business for Takimaki. Generators are primarily used for domestic and commercial purposes. Different generators also produce different power capacity making them marketable depending on customer use.

It is essential to compare the new products using the frameworks below to com...