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Ing Direct (“Ing-D”) Case Study - Marketing Fundamentals

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ING DIRECT (“ING-D”) Case Study

Course: Marketing Fundamentals

Submission Date: 17th November 2009

Executive Summary

ING-Direct (ING-D) is a marketing orientated bank that has launched into established markets in the last decade using differentiation as a way to build competitive advantage.

This report splits into Section A, based on information provided by the ‘ING Direct USA – Rebel With A Cause’ Case Study by IMD International, and Section B which critically assesses the ING-D website.

Section A

The Nature of the ING-D’s Value Proposition

Customer Value Proposition Creation

By engineering processes and products from the customer inwards, ING-D aimed to construct a customer value proposition that offsets …show more content…

Previously these banks had core strategies of targeting specific markets. They focussed on their main product offerings such as Checking Accounts, and on branch network service provision.

However, because ING-D’s success many of the established banks implemented new competitor target strategies in which they went head-to-head with ING-D and the other new entrants, internet banks, which had been attracted into the direct market.

ING-D’s competitors fall into two key groups;

Bricks & Mortar

The traditional banks such as Citibank & HSBC have principally eroded ING-D’s unique selling propositions through the availability of high interest savings accounts.

They had the advantage of building on existing relationships and offer the convenience of being a one-stop-shop for customers. As holders of the primary checking relationship this has been a credible market position which has resulted in savings balances switching from ING-D.

Internet

Internet competitors have operating models more like the “no frills” approach adopted by ING-D.

The main competitive threat has been around interest rates but they also attacked ING-D’s brand values and personality, such as the use of less formal marketing messages and communication channels.

Impact

The result of these strategic changes has been a proliferation of ‘me too’ savings products from a range of providers which have created price competition, choice and consumer

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