Few quality distributors are available in the industry.
Distributors or retailers have high profit margins.
Distributors are very expensive, unreliable or unable to meet firm’s distribution needs.
The industry is expected to grow significantly.
There are benefits of stable production and distribution.
The company has enough resources and capabilities to manage the new business.
When the same manufacturing company starts making intermediate goods for itself or takes over its previous suppliers, it pursues backward integration strategy. Firms implement backward integration strategy in order to secure stable input of resources and become more efficient. Backward integration strategy is most beneficial when:
Firm’s current suppliers are unreliable, expensive or cannot supply the required inputs.
There are only few small suppliers but many competitors in the industry.
The industry is expanding rapidly.
The prices of inputs are unstable.
Suppliers earn high profit margins.
A company has necessary resources and capabilities to manage the new business.
Advantages
Advantages of VI:
Lower costs due to eliminated market transaction costs
Improved quality of supplies
Critical resources can be acquired through VI
Improved coordination in supply chain
Greater market share
Secured distribution channels
Facilitates investment in specialized assets (site, physical-assets and human-assets)
New competencies
Disadvantages
Disadvantages of VI:
Higher costs if the