Detailed S.W.O.T Analysis of Sony Corporation – Global Electronics and Entertainment Giant

Previously we looked into the SWOT Analysis of one of South Asia’s most known electronic retailers, Panasonic. This time, we will delve into the SWOT Analysis of Sony Corporation in full depth

Sony is a well-known global consumer electronics brand from Japan, with a reputation for cutting-edge technology, innovative digital concepts, and superior after-sales support. They began their sales mid-1900s and since then have made a name for themselves for unwavering quality.

One of Sony’s fallbacks is its marketing strategy, putting them at a disadvantage regardless of their superior quality products. Marketing evolves with time, according to the demands and preferences of the present population. If you want to learn more about doing effective marketing in today’s world, check out the Free MasterClass on Digital Marketing 101 taught by Karan Shah, CEO and Founder of IIDE.

Do you want to learn about how Sony Corporation has flourished over the years and the factors that helped it become a global giant? In order to answer that, in this case study, we will do a detailed SWOT Analysis of Sony Corporation. Before we begin, let us learn more about Sony, its founding, products, financial status and competitors.

About Sony 

The Sony Corporation is a Japanese multinational business with headquarters in Tokyo. It is a significant technological business that is one of the world’s largest producers of consumer and professional electronic goods, as well as the world’s largest video game console manufacturer and publisher. 

The electric rice cooker was the company’s first consumer product. Despite the dismal sales of this product, Totsuko, as the company was known then, didn’t suffer a significant setback as it had a profitable repair operation for radios and other electrical equipment. The company went big when they released their very own music device which was powered by a transistor.

SWOT Analysis of Sony Corporations - First Sony product, rice cooker | IIDE

In the 1960s and 1970s, Sony moved into the international markets of the United States and Europe, and it has been a significant worldwide player – long before most of its competitors.

Quick Stats About SONY
FounderMasaru Ibuka
Year Founded1946
OriginMinato City, Tokyo, Japan
No. of Employees109,700
Company TypePublic
Market Cap$139.77 Billion
Annual Revenue¥8.999 Trillion
Net Profit¥1.191 Trillion

What’s new with Sony?

Here’s what was buzzing around Sony recently:

  • Sony PlayStation 5 VR2 headset: The PlayStation 5 VR2 headset is scheduled to be released in early 2023. It features a high-resolution display, eye tracking, and haptic feedback to provide a more immersive VR experience.
  • Sony PlayStation 5 Pro console: There are rumors that Sony is developing a PlayStation 5 Pro console, which would be a more powerful version of the current PlayStation 5 console. However, Sony has not confirmed these rumors.
  • Sony PlayStation Plus revamp: Sony is revamping its PlayStation Plus subscription service in 2023. The new service will offer three tiers of subscription, with each tier offering different benefits, such as access to a library of games, online multiplayer gaming, and cloud gaming.
  • Sony Xperia 1 IV smartphone: The Xperia 1 IV is Sony’s latest flagship smartphone. It features a 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a quad-camera system, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor.
  • Sony Xperia Pro-I smartphone: The Xperia Pro-I is a unique smartphone that features a dedicated camera module with a large 1-inch sensor. This makes it one of the best smartphones for photography and videography.
  • Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones: The WH-1000XM5 are Sony’s latest flagship noise-canceling headphones. They feature improved noise cancellation, better sound quality, and a more comfortable design.
  • Sony WF-1000XM5 noise-canceling earbuds: The WF-1000XM5 are Sony’s latest flagship noise-canceling earbuds. They feature improved noise cancellation, better sound quality, and a more comfortable design.
  • Sony Bravia XR TVs: Sony’s Bravia XR TVs feature a new Cognitive Processor XR that uses artificial intelligence to improve the picture and sound quality.
  • Sony Airpeak S1 drone: The Airpeak S1 is Sony’s first professional drone. It is designed for cinematographers and photographers who need a high-quality drone for aerial photography and videography.
  • Sony Vision-S 02 electric car: Sony is developing an electric car called the Vision-S 02. It is a seven-seater SUV that is expected to be released in 2025.
  • Sony AI: Sony is investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI). The company is developing AI-powered products and services for a variety of industries, including healthcare, finance, and entertainment.

Let’s now understand the target audience of Sony better with the help of a buyer persona.

Aditya Shastri

Lead Trainer & Head of Learning & Development at IIDE

Updated on: Nov 27, 2024

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Author's Note:

My name is Aditya Shastri and I have written this case study with the help of my students from IIDE's online digital marketing courses in India.

Practical assignments, case studies & simulations helped the students from this course present this analysis.

Building on this practical approach, we are now introducing a new dimension for our online digital marketing course learners - the Campus Immersion Experience.

If you found this case study helpful, please feel free to leave a comment below.

Aditya Shastri

Lead Trainer & Head of Learning & Development at IIDE

Aditya Shastri leads the Business Development segment at IIDE and is a seasoned Content Marketing expert. With over a decade of experience, Aditya has trained more than 20,000 students and professionals in digital marketing, collaborating with prestigious institutions and corporations such as Jet Airways, Godrej Professionals, Pfizer, Mahindra Group, Publicis Worldwide, and many others. His ability to simplify complex marketing concepts, combined with his engaging teaching style, has earned him widespread admiration from students and professionals alike.