netflix technology case study

How Netflix Moved Operations to the Cloud and Saw Revenue Boom: A Digital Transformation Case Study

Remember the time you had to request mail-order DVDs to catch the latest flicks while munching popcorn on your couch?

Me neither.

It’s strange to think that about a decade ago, streaming giant Netflix had a business model built around direct mail.

Request a movie, put a few in your queue for next time, and let the anticipation build as you wait for your first DVD to arrive on your doorstep.

Now, our instant gratification bells ring daily as we pour through episode after episode of new material. And, we can barely remember the (dark) time where we waited days for entertainment instead of having it literally at our fingertips.

The shift from mail-in orders to a cloud streaming service improved customer satisfaction and made Netflix billions.

The company’s move to the cloud came with a hike in customer loyalty and a brand that competitors still fight tooth and nail to beat in the market.

Netflix serves as the ultimate digital transformation case study.

They transformed their entire business model and charted unprecedented waters. Here’s how to use their model as inspiration for your contact center’s digital transformation.

How to move your operations to the cloud, Netflix style: A digital transformation case study.

21 years after they started renting DVDs, Netflix now sits at a valuation of almost $145 Billion .

They came to market as a disruptor of traditional video stores like Blockbuster and Family Video.

Netflix founders Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph wanted to bring customer-centricity to the video rental market. At the time, renting videos was inconvenient and costly, with customers often plagued by expensive late fees.

They created an entirely new way to watch movies and consume content. And as time went on and subscribers grew, they continued to shift to keep pace with new consumer demands.

In 2007 , they took their first step into the world of streaming video. They offered customers a streaming subscription in addition to the more traditional DVD rental service, giving customers the option to chart their own path.

Since then, they’ve seen exponential growth in subscribers and revenue. Let’s take a look at their trends over time. We’ll skip over the first few years of the company’s infancy and jump to the year the company went public.

Here’s how Netflix has grown since 2002.

That incredible growth trajectory, and willingness to change, made Netflix stock skyrocket by 6,230% in a 10-year period.

And, they did it all without crazy price hikes, keeping customers top-of-mind.

While Netflix has adjusted prices over the years, they strike a balance by adding more value and services for the dollar. In 2019 , the Basic plan increased by $1 a month (adding up to $12 annually). While the Standard and Premier plans rose by $2 per month, (adding up to $24 annually, for each plan).

Meanwhile, the company is putting some $15 billion towards creating new content binge-watchers will love.

After this price change, Netflix saw a slight blip in subscriber growth, with growth in Q2 coming in low. But, analysts don’t think for a second it’s the beginning of a downward trend. In fact, a similar event happened back in 2010 when Netflix moved to a pricing model that broke out streaming and video rentals. And they clearly rebounded.

When you put the numbers into perspective, you see this is the first dip in subscriber growth in nearly a decade. That’s pretty remarkable. And, revenue still increased for the quarter. It’s clear the value of the digital innovator’s services still outweighs the cost for most.

Plus, if you can post positive revenue numbers for over a decade and become a multi-billion-dollar company in about 20 years, you’re doing alright.

Here’s what Netflix did to reach these lofty heights. And, how you study the same tactics to lead your contact center through a successful digital transformation.

Stay true to your vision.

Netflix started out with the idea to make it easier and less expensive for people to watch movies.

But they didn’t want to stay in the DVD game forever. They had the foresight to predict that consumer behaviors would continue to shift. And, they wanted to stay ahead of the competition.

Only, they didn’t sacrifice their vision when it came time for company-wide changes. Instead, they realigned their business strategies to fit their vision, even as consumers and trends shifted.

What you can do:

As you make digital shifts in your contact center and your company, keep your vision constant. While tons of other factors may orbit around you, your vision keeps you grounded.

Use your company vision to guide your decision-making. And, use data and trends to predict how your customer behavior will shift.

As you shift to keep pace with your customers’ needs, align your operations to your customer behaviors to realize your vision.

Reinvent the wheel if the old one doesn’t solve customer problems.

Netflix soared from seed idea to a $145-billion-dollar valuation in only 21 years. (Wow, they did that in less time than it took big tech vendors to break CSAT scores.)

And they didn’t get there by spinning up a new-and-improved version of Blockbuster.

Ted Sarandos, Head of Content at Netflix said when he came on board at the early stages of the company founder Reed Hastings used his vision to scale and innovate at Netflix.

“We never spent one minute trying to save the DVD business,” said Sarandos .

The company leaders didn’t stick to traditional best practices because they no longer worked for modern customers.

Instead of piggybacking off what other companies did, Netflix solved problems differently. And, they solved them better. The proof is in a bankrupt Blockbuster and dwindling Family Video stores.

Want to know what you’re missing when you only look at digital transformation best practices? Pop over to our article on the topic.

Tailor your path and contact center strategies to your specific business needs. Focus on listening and understanding your customers, with the help of better data and customer surveys .

Find out what’s causing your customers’ pain. See what common questions your customers have. Work with your sales team to find out why customers are fleeing competitors. Discover why they choose your products and services in the first place. Then, work with your contact center and company leaders to develop the methods to solve these pains.

Don’t get caught up in what your competition is doing. What they’re doing might work, but your actionable data and customer information can guide you to a way that works better.

If you’re going to be consumed by one thought, let it be this one: how might we better serve our customers?

Don’t force your customers down a single path.

In the early phases of Netflix, internet speeds weren’t built for streaming movies. People who tried to download and view movies online were only frustrated by the lengthy, often interrupted experience of watching a film online.

Netflix didn’t want to enter the streaming market until the right infrastructure was available to support a platform with high-quality and high-speed content. They didn’t want to taint their brand from day one, linking the Netflix name to all the baggage that came with poor streaming experiences.

At the same time, they were watching postage prices. The price of postage kept rising, and internet speeds were on the ups. By watching how the market and internet infrastructure changed, they identified the right moment to launch their first streaming service.

They tested their streaming service with lower-quality video, first. They wanted to gauge interest and customer experience without canceling their bread-and-butter DVD service.

Those who wanted access to the crisp DVD picture could still order movies to their doorstep. Others who wanted instant access could forgo the high-quality picture for convenience, instead.

Your contact center and customer experience will change. It has to. But as you make changes and shift your operations to the digital era, keep options open for your customers.

Just because chat and email are on the rise as popular customer service channels doesn’t mean every customer wants to use them. Use past data and communication history to learn more about your customers. Then, coach your agents to handle each interaction based on the customer’s preferences.

Bringing changes to your contact center has the potential to transform your customer experience for the better. But, without careful intention, it can also cause friction. Introduce changes to your customers slowly, and make sure your agents are always there to offer extra help through the process.

Use data and trends to personalize your customer experiences.

This one’s huge. It’s how Netflix keeps customers engaged with their platform, and how they coined the term binge-watching

As Netflix made changes in their operations, they watched their data like a hawk. They looked for trends on how people watched content, what kept them watching, and how personalization fueled content absorption. Then, they used an algorithm to serve up content tailored to their customers’ specific interests.

“Like a helpful video-store clerk, it recommended titles viewers might like based on others they’d seen.” – Twenty Years Ago, Netflix.com Launched. The Movie Business Has Never Been the Same , by Ashley Rodriguez for Quartz .

And, as their new cloud-based business let them scale globally, their data points multiplied.

Previously, Netflix could only mail DVDs to U.S. customers. Shipping DVDs overseas wouldn’t have been financially sustainable while keeping prices fair for all customers. Moving to an online business model allowed Netflix to target and reach new audiences without taking on the costs of shipping globally.

Doing this not only scaled their business, but it diversified their data and made their algorithm smarter. Enter, extreme personalization and binge-watching fever on a global scale.

Track and analyze data from your customer interactions. Create custom reports and dashboards to distill important findings from your data. Then, use the trends and patterns you find to personalize your customer service experiences.

From the way you send customer surveys to the tone your agents use, your interactions tell you what your customers want. Lean into your analytics for valuable insight into how to help your customers.

And, use the data to transform your contact center too. Customer data is a powerful tool to drive business change. If your metrics show customers aren’t happy, your company leaders want to know about it. And, they’ll want to fix it. There’s no better case for company transformation.

Netflix took risks to transform their business. But, there’s no bigger risk than stagnation. Staying the same doesn’t help you reach your contact center goals. Innovating and trying out your big ideas is what separates the leaders from the laggards.

Can your tech vendor survive in your digital transformation?

Learn how to choose vendors who make your transformation strategy possible.

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How Netflix Expanded to 190 Countries in 7 Years

• Louis Brennan

The majority of its revenue now comes from outside the U.S.

Netflix’s global growth is a big factor in the company’s success. It operates in over 190 countries, and its international streaming revenues now exceed its domestic revenues. But only eight years ago Netflix was only in the U.S. How did it expand so quickly? First, it didn’t enter all markets at once. It started slowly, in countries that were similar to its U.S. home market. Using what it learned in these markets, it expanded to a few dozen countries by 2015, and then continued learning and growing from there. Second, it adapted to local cultures and preferences, using that knowledge to appeal to customers all over the world, both with its content offerings and with the partnerships it formed with local stakeholders. Netflix’s strategy constitutes a new approach to growth that the author calls exponential globalization , and it’s one that other companies can use too.

Netflix’s global growth is a big factor in the company’s success. By 2017 it was operating in over 190 countries, and today close to 73 million of its some 130 million subscribers are outside the U.S. In the second quarter of 2018, its international streaming revenues exceeded domestic streaming revenues for the first time. This is a remarkable achievement for a company that was only in the U.S. before 2010, and in only 50 countries by 2015.

• LB Louis Brennan is a professor at the Trinity Business School at Trinity College Dublin. His areas of teaching and research interest include international business and operations strategy.

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Netflix’s Competitive Strategy & Growth Strategies

Netflix’s competitive strategy and growth strategies define the operational activities and tactics for developing the business. The competitive advantages based on the company’s generic competitive strategy support competitiveness against many large firms in the entertainment industry. Netflix’s intensive growth strategies use these competitive advantages to grow the business, such as by competing to grow the company’s market share. The company’s strategic objectives indicate the importance of low costs and a large international subscriber base. The combination of Netflix’s competitive strategy and growth strategies ensures that the company improves its financial performance and finds new ways to generate more revenues.

The appropriateness of Netflix’s competitive strategy depends on the industry situation and the competitive environment. The company’s strategic prioritization of cost effectiveness for competitive advantage is based on the industry environment where many firms compete based on price. As a result, Netflix’s growth strategies prioritize market share growth to ensure profitability despite low-cost measures.

Netflix’s Competitive Strategy

Netflix’s competitive strategy is cost leadership , which functions as the primary strategy for the company’s competitive advantages. According to Porter’s model of generic strategies, cost leadership ensures competitive advantage based on low costs that can be used to offer competitive prices to the company’s target customers, e.g., subscribers. The cost-based nature of this competitive strategy has wide-ranging effects on Netflix’s strategic objectives. For example, competitive prices facilitate market reach maximization, which is a strategic goal based on Netflix’s mission statement and vision statement . Low costs enable profitable operations despite low prices, which attract more subscribers around the world. This means that Netflix’s competitive strategy of cost leadership facilitates endeavors for growing the company’s market share.

Netflix also uses differentiation as a secondary competitive strategy. The goal of this strategy is to develop competitive advantages based on factors that make the company stand out when compared to rivals. For example, as one of Netflix’s competitive strategies, differentiation is implemented in the production of original content (movies and series), which ensures the company’s competitive advantages by retaining subscribers who prefer to watch content that is not available from competing video streaming services. These competitors include the entertainment production and streaming services of Disney , NBCUniversal, and Sony , as well as Google’s (Alphabet’s) YouTube, Apple , Amazon , Microsoft , and Facebook (Meta) . The Five Forces analysis of Netflix demonstrates that these companies’ competitive strategies create a challenging industry environment. Netflix’s competitive strategy of differentiation helps address this competition and its strategic challenges.

Netflix’s Growth Strategies

Netflix’s growth strategy is market penetration , which is the primary driver of the company’s growth and expansion in the international market. In Ansoff’s matrix, this intensive growth strategy’s objective is to grow the business by selling more of current products to the company’s current market. For example, Netflix aims to gain more subscribers through its current operations in North America, Europe, and Asia. A bigger market share equates to higher revenues and a bigger market presence that can be used to launch new products. For this intensive growth strategy of market penetration, the competitive advantages enumerated in the SWOT analysis of Netflix are used to penetrate markets and gain market share despite competition. Also, the generic competitive strategies of cost leadership and differentiation enable attractive pricing and unique entertainment content, respectively, to attract more subscribers for this growth strategy of market penetration.

Netflix also uses product development as a secondary growth strategy. The Ansoff matrix states that this intensive growth strategy involves offering new products to the company’s current market. In this case of Netflix’s growth strategy, the company’s strategic objective is to produce new original movies and series, which are new products for current and new subscribers in current markets. New original content makes the company’s streaming service an attractive option for customers. The requirements of product development as an intensive growth strategy apply to Netflix’s operations management , such as in maximizing productivity in producing new movies and series. New entertainment content resulting from the application of this growth strategy contributes to uniqueness that enables the company’s generic competitive strategy of differentiation.

Netflix applies diversification as a minor growth strategy with a limited impact on the company’s current business growth. In Ansoff’s matrix, this intensive growth strategy’s objective is to produce new products for new markets. In this case of Netflix’s growth strategy, product development involves offering entirely new products other than the company’s initial core offerings. For example, the company now offers mobile games. The mobile gaming market can support new business growth by attracting gamers, especially those who do not yet have a Netflix account. As a growth strategy, diversification involves new teams, groups, or divisions in Netflix’s organizational structure (business structure) , which influences the availability of resources for implementing this growth strategy. The generic competitive strategy of differentiation ensures that these new products are unique. Also, Netflix’s competitive strategy of cost leadership determines the cost structure and limits for these new products’ competitive advantage based on low costs that translate to affordability.

• Gómez, R., & Munoz Larroa, A. (2023). Netflix in Mexico: An example of the tech giant’s transnational business strategies. Television & New Media, 24 (1), 88-105.
• Iordache, C., Raats, T., & Mombaerts, S. (2023). The Netflix Original documentary, explained: Global investment patterns in documentary films and series. Studies in Documentary Film, 17 (2), 151-171.
• Leppänen, P., George, G., & Alexy, O. (2023). When do novel business models lead to high performance? A configurational approach to value drivers, competitive strategy, and firm environment. Academy of Management Journal, 66 (1), 164-194.
• Netflix, Inc. – Form 10-K .
• Netflix, Inc. – Long Term View .
• Netflix, Inc. – Top Investor Questions .
• U.S. Department of Commerce – International Trade Administration – Media and Entertainment Industry .
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• This article may not be reproduced, distributed, or mirrored without written permission from Panmore Institute and its author/s.
• Educators, Researchers, and Students: You are permitted to quote or paraphrase parts of this article (not the entire article) for educational or research purposes, as long as the article is properly cited and referenced together with its URL/link.

Digital Innovation and Transformation

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• Assignment: Digital Winners & Losers

Netflix’s Growth Alongside Digital Transformation

Netflix has used the changing digital landscape to its advantage as its become one of the biggest entertainment companies today.

Netflix has been a big winner with the advancement of digital technologies. To date, they have amassed an astounding 117.6 million international subscribers in nearly 200 countries around the world. This success has come from primarily three reasons: 1) advancements in streaming capabilities accelerated in line or better than expected as Netflix transitioned to a primarily streaming service; 2) the proliferation of mobile phones and tablets as well as the introduction of smart televisions allowed Netflix to be available to its customers at all times; and 3) the change in viewing tastes because of the first two greatly enhanced Netflix’s value proposition.

The first company to think about delivering content via streaming technologies was not, in fact, Netflix, but rather its old competitor Blockbuster. In the early 2000s, Blockbuster formed a team to explore the possibility of having its content library available to its customers online. However, as most people still had dial up internet connections and with broadband just beginning, streaming did not function well enough to serve its customers with adequate connections. When Netflix pivoted from its lucrative DVD mail order business to a service that relied on streaming first, the technology had finally caught up and its customers could watch many of its movies and shows online clearly and completely. The transition happened faster in the United States than Netflix had anticipated, leading to an increasing number of subscribers from which Blockbuster and other services could not match. As internet connections have improved throughout the world, Netflix has continued to ride this trend and provide its international customers with the same, clear experience.

Not only did Netflix have faster connections to its customers’ computers so they could view its content online, mobile technology advanced so that Netflix could function across multiple of its customers’ devices, making it a much more necessary subscription service to have. The success of the iPhone in making Americans want smartphones and the follow on introductions of other smart devices like tablets gave Netflix platforms to have more touches with its customers. In 2010 it launched the Netflix application for iPhones and iPod Touches. Again this accelerated with international growth and the proliferation of smartphones around the world.

Pathways to a Just Digital Future

Finally, as a byproduct of the changing technological landscape, customer tastes changed in the way in which they viewed content and what they were viewing in ways that Netflix took advantage of. Because screens were now available at all times, video became more of an essential part of people’s lives. No longer did people feel they had to sit down in movie theaters or wait for their weekly television shows. Because they were constantly connected to fast internet, they could watch short form video whenever they wanted. Netflix, unlike traditional film and television production studios, was in the prime position to deliver this content. Their data showed what their customers watched, in what increments, and what they desired more of. All this made Netflix the behemoth it currently is.

As Netflix goes forward it will have to continue to use technological advancements to be everywhere consumers watch content and have the content that allows them to keep growing subscribers. But since their origins as a DVD by mail service, they have used digital transformation to grow passed most of their competitors.

Student comments on Netflix’s Growth Alongside Digital Transformation

Interesting post, Ari! Tough to imagine a life without Netflix now! I wonder what the future has in store for the company. When Netflix started streaming, it was providing a product that was pretty easy to replicate and, as a result, we’ve seen a multitude of other content streamers enter the space. As you mentioned, Netflix then moved to original content to differentiate, and many of their competitors followed suit. I remember reading that Disney even pulled their content from Netflix for their own streaming service. Moving forward, there is increased pressure on Netflix to continuously produce great content or find some other way to prevent itself from becoming essentially a commoditized business. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out!

Thanks Ari! My biggest concerns about Netflix are old people and poor people. In the US, Netflix has super high penetration in the younger crowd but still has a ways to go with the old and the poor. As broadband penetration stops growing, (in the high 80%’s in the US), we are seeing that for some the internet, and therefore Netflix, is either not affordable or important. Although the international growth you describe is encouraging and likely to distract for a while, I fear a meaningful slow down in the US will change the stock’s narrative and bring its valuation back to earth.

Interesting post. It’s been very interesting watching how Netflix has remained nimble and responsive to its users over time. They’ve readily adapted their business model, embracing change and new technology paradigms as they’ve come along. It seems this is largely guided by their data-driven analyses and focus on customer behaviors and experience. It will be further interesting to see how this plays out compared to Amazon Instant Video and other streaming offerings.

Thanks for the post! Whenever we talk about Netflix’s success, I’m always reminded of the power of data. It only helps provide better recommendations to its customers creating a better customer experience, but more importantly, Netflix was able to create original content tailored to customer’s needs. I was surprised to read in an article that Netflix’s efforts in original content have been earning near 100 Emmy nominations in recent years. I’m interested to see how the market changes as more networks provide their own streaming services, as well as more tech companies start to create original content. (For example, Facebook recently launched the Facebook Watch.)

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InfoQ Homepage News Netflix Adopts Virtual Threads: a Case Study on Performance and Pitfalls

Netflix Adopts Virtual Threads: a Case Study on Performance and Pitfalls

Aug 05, 2024 3 min read

A N M Bazlur Rahman

Netflix, a long-time Java adopter, recently upgraded to Java 21. They are now harnessing new features such as generational ZGC , introduced in JEP 439, and virtual threads , introduced in JEP 444, to improve performance across its extensive microservices fleet. While virtual threads, designed for high-throughput concurrent applications, showed early promise, they also brought unique challenges in real-world scenarios.

In a recent post on the Netflix Tech Blog, the JVM Ecosystem team shared insights from their experience with virtual threads, particularly an issue where services experienced timeouts and hung instances. The issue was related to the interaction of virtual threads with blocking operations and OS thread availability, resulting in a deadlock-like situation in their SpringBoot-based applications.

Initial diagnostics suggested that virtual threads were implicated in the issue, although they didn't appear in traditional thread dumps. Using jcmd Thread.dump_to_file , the team found thousands of "blank" virtual threads, indicating threads created but not yet running. The issue was traced to Tomcat's request handling, where new virtual threads were created but couldn't be scheduled due to the unavailability of OS threads.

The analysis revealed that Tomcat's virtual thread executor was creating threads for each request, but these threads were stuck waiting for a lock. Specifically, the threads were pinned to OS threads due to blocking operations within synchronized blocks, exacerbated by the limited number of available OS threads in the ForkJoinPool .

The problem resulted from a classic deadlock scenario in which virtual threads could not proceed because the required lock was held by other virtual threads pinned to all available OS threads. This prevented new virtual threads from being scheduled, effectively stalling the application.

To resolve the issue, Netflix's JVM Ecosystem team used a heap dump to inspect the lock's state and confirmed that no thread owned it, yet the threads waiting for it were unable to proceed. This was a transient state that should have resolved but was instead causing a deadlock-like situation.

The team identified the root cause and developed a reproducible test case to prevent similar issues in the future. While virtual threads in Java 21 have shown potential for improving performance by reducing overhead, this case highlights the importance of understanding their interaction with existing threading models and locking mechanisms.

Adding to Netflix's findings, a recent case study on InfoQ also delves into the practical challenges and benefits of virtual threads, particularly in scenarios involving heavy concurrent workloads. This study underscores the need for careful consideration and testing when integrating virtual threads into production systems, as even small architectural details can lead to significant performance impacts.

In addition to virtual threads, Netflix’s adoption of generational ZGC has also played a crucial role in optimizing its systems, as mentioned in one of the recent articles . ZGC, with its ability to maintain low pause times even as heap sizes grow, has significantly improved Netflix's application performance by reducing garbage collection overhead and enhancing responsiveness. More on generational ZGC can be found in this InfoQ news item .

Netflix also has a robust alert system, leveraging its Atlas Streaming Eval platform, which was vital in identifying and diagnosing these issues. The system, designed for improved real-time monitoring and alerting, enabled the team to catch instances in a problematic state and provided critical data for retroactive analysis.

Despite the challenges, Netflix is optimistic about the future of virtual threads and anticipates further improvements in upcoming Java releases, particularly in addressing the integration challenges with locking primitives. This case study is a valuable example for performance engineers and developers as they explore virtual threads in their applications.

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Netflix & Blockbuster – Case Study Of Disruptive Innovation

Written By:

Post Date – Update:

It’s rare for a week without me tuning into Netflix to watch something or at least browse its offerings to find my next binge-worthy series. I know I’m not alone in this habit; countless others probably engage in the same routine.

That’s why examining the Netflix and Blockbuster case study is so enlightening. It offers a riveting look at how disruptive innovation can permanently alter the digital landscape. One company survived and flourished, while the other faded into business irrelevance. As we delve into key learnings from this case study, we also discuss what contemporary companies can do to avoid meeting the same fate as Blockbuster.

Table of Contents

Understanding disruptive innovation, netflix’s early challenges, low-end footholds, new market footholds, blockbuster’s missed opportunities, the importance of transformation in business, 1. adapt or perish, 2. recognize low-end footholds, 3. embrace technology early, 4. customer-centric approach, 5. stay ahead through innovation, 6. use data intelligently, 7. anticipate future trends, 8. understand market signals, 9. transformation is continuous, listen to our podcast about streaming wars chronicles: the netflix & blockbuster case study of disruptive innovation below or by clicking here., 5 questions to ask when considering a solid wood furniture manufacturer, what is solid wood vs. engineered wood, hardwood solids furniture, what does the term mean, netflix & blockbuster: a case study in disruptive innovation.

One of the most compelling case studies in disruptive innovation is the saga of Netflix and Blockbuster. This story provides valuable insights into how Netflix managed to upend the industry, positioning itself as a dominant force in today’s digital landscape.

Continue reading as we delve deeper into the disruptive journey of Netflix and Blockbuster.

Digital disruption has been a game-changer in entrepreneurial strategies since the late 20th Century. Contrary to popular belief, disruptive innovation is not the same as mere creativity.

While creating a fuel-efficient engine might draw a new consumer base, the minor variations from standard engines do not categorize it as disruptive. True disruption focuses on targeting sectors that established companies overlook or revolutionizing an existing system.

This case study delves into how Netflix applied disruptive innovation to dethrone Blockbuster in the home entertainment industry.

Brief History Of Netflix

Understanding its history is crucial to grasp the scale of Netflix’s disruption fully. Netflix was founded in 1998 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scott’s Valley, California, with an initial investment of $2.5 million from Hastings.

Opting to distribute DVDs rather than bulky and fragile VHS tapes, Netflix started with 30 employees and 925 available titles. Over time, the company introduced a monthly subscription model, eliminating the single rental system. It positioned itself as a consumer-friendly alternative to Blockbuster’s model, often including late fees and hidden charges.

Netflix wasn’t always the giant we know today. In 2000, the company even offered to sell itself to Blockbuster for $50 million—an offer that Blockbuster refused.

Following the dot-com bubble burst and the 9/11 attacks, Netflix was forced to lay off two-thirds of its staff. However, the proliferation of affordable DVD players and an IPO in 2002 helped the company regain its footing.

Disruptive Strategies Used By Netflix

Netflix employed various disruptive approaches to outmaneuver Blockbuster in the market. Continue reading to uncover two of these critical, innovative strategies.

Netflix initially targeted lower-end markets that Blockbuster ignored. It presented itself as a hassle-free alternative to Blockbuster by eliminating late fees. This allowed Netflix to grow its customer base steadily.

The company focused on improving service speed and video quality, gradually becoming a preferred choice over Blockbuster for many consumers.

Netflix further disrupted the industry by introducing DVDs and streaming services. Their easy-to-use online interface and innovative recommendation algorithm provided an experience Blockbuster couldn’t match.

They also invested in creating original content, widening their market appeal, and keeping audiences engaged.

Blockbuster’s business model worked well for a time, but their complacency in innovation left them vulnerable to disruption. They continued to rely on an aging model that included late fees and did not adapt quickly enough to new technologies.

When they finally attempted to catch up, it was too late, and they were already in decline.

While disruptive innovation is crucial for capturing market share, continual transformation is essential. Netflix’s willingness to adapt allowed it to evolve from a DVD rental service to a streaming giant.

Conversely, Blockbuster’s resistance to change led to its downfall. The case of Netflix vs. Blockbuster is a compelling example of how disruptive innovation can reshape industries and why companies must adapt to survive.

Lessons From The Netflix & Blockbuster Case Study On Disruptive Innovation

The evolution of Netflix and the decline of Blockbuster serve as an epic tale of disruptive innovation in the business landscape. This case study provides insights into strategic decision-making and offers lessons on how to deal with market transformation.

Here are ten key lessons companies can learn from this saga.

The inability of Blockbuster to adapt to emerging technologies and new consumer preferences, especially around the convenience of movie rentals, was a critical downfall. Companies must be agile and willing to adapt their business models to remain relevant.

Netflix capitalized on the aspects of the market that Blockbuster ignored, primarily around consumer annoyance with late fees. Companies should be cautious not to ignore market segments that might seem less profitable or secondary, as they may become entry points for disruptive competitors.

Netflix took a risk by betting on DVDs and online streaming. Companies should look towards emerging technologies as opportunities for future growth and be willing to invest early, even if the technology hasn’t yet reached mass adoption.

Netflix’s recommendation algorithm, easy-to-use interface, and concern for customer experience made them a consumer favorite. Companies should place the customer at the center of their business model and continually strive to improve the user experience.

Netflix invested in original content to differentiate itself further from Blockbuster and new competitors. Companies must continuously innovate and expand their offerings to keep customers engaged and deter potential entrants.

Netflix has been a pioneer in utilizing big data to understand customer behavior and preferences. Companies should leverage data analytics to make more informed decisions and to tailor their services/products to individual customer needs.

While Blockbuster remained committed to physical stores, Netflix anticipated the shift toward digital consumption. Forecasting and acting upon trends can differentiate between leading the market or becoming obsolete.

Blockbuster missed the signals when Netflix offered to sell itself for $50 million, and consumers began to show dissatisfaction with late fees. Recognizing and acting upon market signals, even subtle ones, can impact a company’s trajectory.

Even after establishing itself as a leader in streaming, Netflix continues to evolve and adapt. Understanding that transformation is an ongoing process rather than a one-time event is crucial for long-term success.

10. Learn From Failures

Both Netflix and Blockbuster had their share of mistakes. However, Netflix has shown an ability to learn from its failures, pivot, and recover. Companies should not only celebrate successes but also see failures as learning opportunities.

The tale of Netflix and Blockbuster is a masterclass in understanding disruptive innovation and market transformation mechanics. By recognizing early signs of disruption, staying adaptable, and being committed to continuous improvement and innovation, companies can remain competitive and relevant in their respective markets.

Find out more about how Mondoro can help you create, develop, and manufacture excellent home decor and home furniture products – don’t hesitate to contact me ,  Anita .  Check out my email by clicking here , or become a part of our community and  join our newsletter  by  clicking here .

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Related Questions

One of the things we look at when we go into a new solid wood furniture manufacturer is in-house kiln wood drying. We also want to know if they understand how to join the wood properly and have the equipment. Also, if the manufacturer is in a hot and tropical climate if they have a dry room to help control the wood moisture levels. We like to work with factories that cut and shape all the wood and have in-house finishing facilities.

You can discover more by reading our blog  5 Questions To Ask When Considering A Solid Wood Furniture Manufacturer ; read more by  clicking here.

Solid  wood is cut down from the tree , cut into wood boards, and then used for manufacturing. On the other hand, engineered wood is considered manmade as it is usually manufactured with wood chips, wood shavings, and an adhesive. Today the manufacturing of engineered wood is extremely technical.

You can discover more by reading our blog  All About Teak Wood And Outdod?  by  clicking here.

Hardwood solids can include non-solid woods such as engineered woods. Hardwood solids are used in furniture and other industries to classify what wood is used in a product. The terms usually do not classify what type of wood is used.

You can discover more by reading our blog  Hardwood Solids Furniture, What Does The Term Mean?  by  clicking here .

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Home » Management Case Studies » Case Study: How Netflix Took Down Blockbuster

Case Study: How Netflix Took Down Blockbuster

Blockbuster and Netflix are two big business within the domestic videocassette rent payment market place that skilled very much distinctive products. Netflix extremely multiplied its firm estimate even as Blockbuster dropped its leading market position and fallen into bankruptcy. Back to the late 20th century, whilst Netflix was just a small newly established business, Blockbuster ruled the video cassette rental business with over 9,000 shops all around the world. With the emergence of DVDs as the brand new video medium, Blockbuster be able to get special deals with massive Hollywood studios to rent new DVD releases after cinema showings ended. At that point in time, nearly every family had a videocassette recorder (VCR) for the reason of video watching, and Blockbuster rental shops were people’s familiar starting point for film selections. Technology and innovation performed a significant task inside the improvement of the apprehensive business. Today’s dynamic domain is completely centered on progression of technology and every area requires to carry out new intervention of technology to obtain success . The on-line video package providers companies are those who design a new to look at preferred programs. The business idea of Blockbuster change into related to serving the DVDs on a rental basis. Netflix become also using the equal idea however after a period of time, it changed to the online streaming video. This advertising approach of Netflix offers with the phases that Netflix used to promote its commercial enterprise businesses.

History of Blockbuster

History of netflix.

In 1997 Netflix turned into established in California, founded by Reed Hasting. At the preliminary level of this blockbuster advertising method the videos were offered on a hire charge base by the organization. But, in 1999, the business changed into commencing the delivery of obtained videos via postal facility of the United State. After a few year of its setting up order, in 2009, the business had a large and improved database system. In 2009, business was began delivering DVD such as distinctive titles. It can be referred that the business nearly contained a focus of 4.5 million customers. Within the same year, company had completed an affiliation with a digital company named as consumer electronics. This partnership made easy to get entry to the internet on specific appliances. In 2010, Blockbuster business turned into bankrupt. As in line with the facts collected, after this affiliation, people can easily get entry to internet over iPad, computer, mobile phone, laptop, and exclusive net devices. But, currently the company has 23 million contributors from different international location those make use of Netflix subscription.

How Netflix beat Blockbuster

A year after establish in 1998 Netflix gain control the marketplace of video industry through advertising and marketing strategy as well as their special offers attract more consumer than any other video industry. As a result it impact other entertainment business without doubt. In case that there is to some extent obstruct during the delivery sort out of DVD throughout mail or via post than the company do not charge for late fee and it became well turned-out change. On the other hand, before the setting up of this establishment, Blockbuster existed the growing enterprise in this business. Blockbuster company apply same “No late Fee” strategy as Netflix but unfortunately it did not work for this company and blockbuster challenged a massive forfeiture as well as the marketplace cost of its shares decline. Now Blockbuster Company is currently identified for instance bankrupt industry in the video business. Afterwards Netflix give emphasis to more on marketing strategy to go to next level and extended DVD business. There are several brands of competitors from another province who contested with Netflix. Aside from, Netflix has its distinctive line of attack to attain achievement and advance in the industry. The simple technique used by the organization for the fulfilment of organization objectives. The maximum critical part is associated with the market place expansion idea of DVD products. Aside from that customer relationship is the major strength and strategy for this organization to achieve their mission and vision. Every organization has two aspects of success, one is present commercial enterprise and another is organization consumer. The essential aspects is that company always selects current business. Aside from that, in the time of Antioco’s stage, Blockbuster made double revenue by implementing of low cost strategy “reducing late charges”. But this footstep draws attention lots of consumers to finance further in the Blockbuster Business. After the Examination, it turn into clear-cut that the forfeiture from reducing changed into 200 million dollars while; on-line campaign motion total yet again 200 million dollars. After this action, 5 years later Blockbuster Business was announced bankrupt. Netflix uses following strategy where Blockbuster never think of changes. These are;

Technological Advances

Low cost strategic is one of the most powerful strategic position for the movie rental industry. Blockbuster organization was making money by implement overdue price to its clients. The value of operational cost of this business movement is a smaller amount of cost that the price of market stores. Aside that the value of adjustments is likewise not as much of than the market things. For the fulfilment of achievement and advance Netflix advertising and marketing method, organization uses specific modern strategies and technologies. The business has start-off the idea of delivery the DVDs at the consumer’s location and subscription fee is comparatively subsequent the low-cost idea which was not carefully thought by Blockbuster. In USA everyday uses, on regular, almost 5 hours each day seeing video contents. And that may become pricey, rent out a movie can prevent a big expanse of cash while competed to actually go to a movie which can charge as extremely as $16 a ticket. When think about Netflix’s business standard, rate supports mail transport over in-store rental. Some plan via the mail cost $7.99/month limitless vs. the in-store $4/rental. Kiosk Rental acquisition market proportion with $1 nightly rental price. Video on call for is anticipated to maintain to lower in price as competition rises. When Netflix released its subscription version, it flashed significant attention between clients trying to find reasonably-priced movie rentals. A delivered bonus is that disc are brought directly to their doors ways, eliminating trips to a store and late fees. Netflix is the biggest on-line streaming video provider with over 23 million subscribers. Consumer pay a flat monthly fees of $7.99 for unrestricted log on to movies and Television indicate, presently ad- unrestricted. The provider is accessible on Nintendo Wii, Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Sony PS3 consoles, Blu-ray disc players, Internet-connected TVs, and many other Internet-supported video players.

Customer Relationship

Netflix advertising and marketing approach is associated to the subscription of the channel. This strategy of the organization is performed a crucial part within the improvement of the company. Concurrently, this strategy also consist of the delivery procedure of distribution DVDs via mail and streaming of videos. The subsequent crucial stage is connected to the method of consumer closeness . The phrase consumer intimacy allocates with the participation of consumers for business growth drive. This advertising idea primarily appreciated by the Netflix organization because it turned into aimed to get honest source consumer and right, way to applied most excellent sources for the success of organization objective and achieve the need of its clients. Aside, from this, the significance of these method is associated with offer the top facilities to the clients. The purpose in arrears the recognition of the Netflix organization is the advertising and marketing method of this business enterprise, the strategies put together the Netflix business finest on-line video issuer within the world. Further than, the importance is absolute to its clients. The principle goal of the Netflix business is to supply the high-quality customer service and respects in comparison to Blockbuster. The intention behind the leading quality of the Netflix business enterprise is an effective execution of these business strategies . But, these techniques might capable the Netflix business to stand marketplace opposition.

Netflix Innovation

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More From Forbes

4 case studies of businesses that scaled to greatness.

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Joe Camberato is the CEO and Founder of National Business Capital , a leading FinTech marketplace offering streamlined small business loans.

Have you ever wondered why some companies succeed in unimaginable ways while others fade into obscurity? The best way to understand how to scale a company is to look at how the most successful companies have done it. Let’s look at four companies that started out small and become global players in their industries.

Amazon is one of the best-known companies in the world, so it’s easy to forget that founder Jeff Bezos started the company out of his garage . In 1994, Bezos financed Amazon, which began as an online bookseller, with $10,000 of his own money.

Amazon experienced many losses during its early days, but its revenue quickly grew from $4.2 million to $8.5 million in 1996. The company went public in 1997, and the following year, it expanded beyond books.

One of its biggest game changers came in 2005 when the company launched Amazon Prime, its subscription service. There are 180 million Prime members in the U.S. alone.

Amazon’s continued commitment to innovation has led it to be one of the world’s most successful companies. Amazon provides its customers with almost unparalleled convenience.

Under Armour

In 1996, Under Armour was founded with the idea of creating a T-shirt that wicks sweat away more efficiently and keeps athletes dry. The company started small , with founder Kevin Plank selling T-shirts out of the trunk of his car and to his former teammates on the University of Maryland’s football team.

Under Armour made several iterations of its original prototype, and the T-shirt was a huge success. The company began growing organically. Plank wanted to increase the company’s growth, so in 1999, he decided to take out an ESPN ad for $25,000 . It was a risky move at the time, and employees agreed to go without pay for a couple of weeks so the company could afford the ad. However, the risk paid off, and Under Armour generated $1 million in sales the next year and dramatically increased its brand recognition.

Under Armour’s initial funding came from Plank , but the company went public in 2005 . Under Armour began to diversify and release new products, but it never lost focus on its central mission—improving the performance and comfort of all athletes.

In 2007, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia couldn’t afford the rent for their San Francisco apartment, so they decided to rent out their loft space to earn some extra money. They didn’t want to post an ad on Craigslist , so they decided to create their own rental site.

In 2009, they were accepted into Y Combinator and received $20,000 in funding . Airbnb later received another $600,000 in funding in a seed round, despite receiving a lot of early resistance. By 2014, Airbnb had more than 550,000 properties listed worldwide and 10 million guests.

One of its keys to success is its focus on the user experience. By allowing people to rent out their homes, the company gives the average person a way to earn an additional stream of income.

In 1997, Netflix was started as a DVD rental service to help customers avoid getting hit with late fees. Customers selected the movies and TV shows they wanted online and could then have them delivered to their homes.

In 1999 , founder Reed Hastings introduced a subscription-based model. Once customers were locked into a monthly subscription, they were more likely to rent more movies. In 2000, Netflix released its Unlimited Movie Rental program, which allowed customers to rent an unlimited number of movies each month for a monthly subscription of $19.95.

In 2007, Netflix launched its online streaming service, and that was the first year the company surpassed $1 billion in revenue. The company later began entering into content licensing deals with television studios and, in 2011, started producing its own original programming.

Netflix has been a success because the company is flexible and able to adapt quickly to changes in the marketplace. And Netflix’s founders were able to see the long-term vision for what the company could become, unlike companies like Blockbuster.

Tips On Scaling Your Business

Scaling a business is the ultimate goal for most entrepreneurs, but how can you make it happen? First, it’s important to understand the difference between growth vs. scaling. Growing businesses focus on getting bigger and acquiring more customers and more team members. In comparison, scaling focuses on efficiency. Scalable companies can serve more customers without significantly more effort.

It’s near-impossible to scale a company by yourself, so you should ensure you have the right team in place. This isn’t just about bringing on more employees. It’s about finding those few, highly specialized employees who can help you move the company forward.

Research from McKinsey found that the highest performers are 800 times more productive than average employees in the same role. Focus on finding and keeping the right staff of people who believe in the company’s mission.

My company started with me. I worked as hard as I could and made some great progress in the beginning, but a business can only reach a certain level with only one person. It started with one hire, then two, then three. Before long, I was surrounded by amazingly talented people, and the business started to grow beyond what I was able to achieve on my own.

You also need to focus on understanding your customers and maintaining quality customer service. As companies start to scale, maintaining a high level of customer service becomes increasingly difficult. Ensure you’re meeting your customers’ needs by creating standard operating procedures, automating what you can and investing in 24/7 live chat.

Scaling your business requires investing in technology and systems, which aren’t cheap. Even if you don’t need the funds yet, start identifying potential banks or online lenders where you can access a loan or ongoing line of credit. Finding the right financing opportunities allows you to build the infrastructure necessary to scale.

Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms. Do I qualify?

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Article Versions Notes

Yang, Y.; Sun, Z.; Zhai, C. Evaluation of a Desalination System Combining Photovoltaic and Membrane Technology: A Case Study on the Benefit Analysis of an Apple Orchard. Water 2024 , 16 , 2306. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16162306

Yang Y, Sun Z, Zhai C. Evaluation of a Desalination System Combining Photovoltaic and Membrane Technology: A Case Study on the Benefit Analysis of an Apple Orchard. Water . 2024; 16(16):2306. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16162306

Yang, Yang, Zhilin Sun, and Chaoqun Zhai. 2024. "Evaluation of a Desalination System Combining Photovoltaic and Membrane Technology: A Case Study on the Benefit Analysis of an Apple Orchard" Water 16, no. 16: 2306. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16162306

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