SWOT Analysis of CVS: Major US Healthcare Provider

(CVS Health Cosmetics & Convenience Foods, Source: RTTNews)

Products & Services by CVS

• CVS Pharmacy & Drugs
• Beauty products and cosmetics
• Convenience Foods
• Health Care Provider
• Pharmacy Benefit Manager
• Virtual Care Services

Competitors of CVS

• Express Scripts
• Avella Specialty Pharmacy
• Apollo
• Walgreens
• Rite Aid

SWOT Analysis of CVS

SWOT stands for strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats which is an analytical technique used for assessing your business in the four aspects. SWOT analysis is simple to analyse and determine what is best for the company at present as well as to formulate a successful strategy for the future. Accordingly, the SWOT analysis of CVS is carried out.

To better understand the SWOT analysis of CVS, refer to the below infographics:

Let’s first start by analyzing the strength of CVS from the SWOT analysis of CVS.

Strengths of CVS

• Dependable Suppliers: The firm has a good quantity of competent raw material suppliers, which allows it to bypass many supply chain bottlenecks.
• Well-built Brand Portfolio: Over the years, CVS has funded in forming a strong brand portfolio. This brand portfolio is remarkably useful when the organization wants to expand into new product sections.

(CVS Health – Virtual Care Services, Source: IIDE Creator’s Room)

• Digital Transformation: CVS works broadly on digital innovation which makes CVS one of the leading digital health solution providers. Their virtual care services include 1-on-1 online consultation with doctors and their CVS Health mobile application lets customers order prescription medicines and a range of CVS Health products and services anytime and anywhere. 

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• Powerful Distribution Network: CVS has built a solid distribution network that reaches its products to its potential market.
• Mergers & Acquisition: Prospering track record of blending corresponding firms through mergers & acquisitions. The firm has successfully integrated various technology companies into streamlining its operations and developing a strong supply chain.
• Adequate Profits on Capital Expenditure: CVS is reasonably successful at the execution of new projects and making good returns on capital expenditure by forming additional revenue streams.
• Strong Dealer Association: It has established a culture amongst distributors & dealers where the dealers not only promote the company’s products but also spend in training the sales team to show the customer how they can get the maximum benefits out of the product.  

Weaknesses of CVS

• Limited Success Beyond Core Business: Despite being one of the industry’s leading companies, CVS Health has struggled to expand into other product sectors due to its current culture.
• High Staff Turnover Rate: Compared to other companies in the sector, CVS Health has a higher attrition rate and must spend significantly more on employee training and development than its competitors.
• Weak in Anticipating Demand: In comparison to its competitors, it is not particularly effective at anticipating product demand, resulting in a greater percentage of missed chances. One of the reasons CVS Health day’s inventory is so high in comparison to its competitors is that the company isn’t particularly effective at anticipating demand, so it ends up holding more inventory in-house and in the channel.
• Lost Modest Market Share: Because the firm was unable to meet the difficulties posed by new entrants into the industry, it lost modest market share in narrow sectors. To address these issues, CVS Health must develop an internal feedback process that includes direct input from the sales staff on the ground.

Opportunities for CVS

• New Technologies: CVS Health may use the new technologies to implement a differentiated pricing approach in the new market. It will allow the company to keep its current consumers by providing excellent service while also attracting new customers through various value-oriented offers.
• Benefits of New Taxation Policy: The new tax policy will have a big influence on how businesses operate, and it will provide new opportunities for existing companies like CVS Health to enhance their profits.
• Reduced Transportation Costs: As a result, decreased shipping costs can cut the cost of CVS Health’s products, giving the firm the option to either increase profits or pass savings on to customers to acquire market share, focusing on the advantages to customers.
• Consumer Behaviour Patterns: New consumer behaviour patterns may offer up new market opportunities for CVS Health. It gives the company a wonderful chance to expand into new product categories while also generating new income sources.
• New Markets as a Result of Government Agreement: CVS Health has been given the chance to join a new emerging market as a result of the adoption of a new technological standard and a government free trade agreement.

Threats to CVS

• Local Distributors: Local distributors’ growing power poses a danger in some areas, as the competition pays local distributors larger margins.
• Rising Raw Material Costs: CVS Health’s profitability may be jeopardised by rising raw material costs.
• Wage Levels: Rising wage levels, particularly movements such as $15 an hour, and rising costs in China may put a severe strain on CVS Health’s profitability.
• No Consistent Supply of Creative Items: The firm has produced several products over the years, but they are frequently in response to the development of other companies. Second, the supply of new items is irregular, resulting in high and low swings in sales numbers over time.
• Counterfeit Drugs: CVS Health’s product is also vulnerable to counterfeit and low-quality product imitation, particularly in emerging and low-income regions.

This ends our irresistible SWOT analysis of CVS. Let us conclude our learning below.