Kodak lost the position of American digital camera

In released a disappointing quarter earnings, Eastman Kodak (E astman K odak C O.) re transmission of news". International Data Corporation (IDC) released a research report shows that Kodak lost to Japanese rivals, lost the United States digital camera market share ranked first position, suddenly fell to the position of the old three.

Despite 6 consecutive quarters of losses, but Kodak in the previous 5 quarters has been in the U.S. digital camera market leader status, and proud. But the latest data IDC, once again to this already scarred companies poured a pot of cold water, but also to think that has been relatively stable development of digital business Kodak is quite embarrassing. Data show that the first quarter of this year, Kodak's market share fell from 19.7% to 14.5%, down 5 percentage points. Meanwhile, Canon, the world's leading position in the digital camera market, took the top spot in the U.S. market by 18.6% in the first quarter. Similarly from Japan's Sony Corp, despite its mediocre performance, fell from 17.5% to 17.1%, but due to Kodak's decline, making the company's share of the U.S. market rose to 1 in one fell swoop. IDC said that overall, the U.S. digital camera market in the first quarter of this traditional off-season growth of only 3%.

With the statistical data of IDC, a Kodak spokesman said the company will remain in the top three to. In addition, the spokesman also explained that the company intends to give up part of the market share in order to improve the company's gross profit.

No matter how to explain Kodak, indisputable facts have been presented: due to Kodak's own mistakes, from Japanese competitors have advantage. The same is a Japanese company, which is not only reminiscent of the situation in the U.S. auto industry, general motors as the representative of the United States Department of traditional giants were forced from Japan's new everywhere constrained. One of the reasons why GM defeat is its arrogant style and late to market changes. Kodak is no exception, the wrong estimate of the speed of the development of digital imaging market, the bitter pill Kodak can swallow.

After recognizing its strategic mistakes in 2003, Kodak entered a period of transition from traditional chemical imaging to digital transformation. However, after the loss of Kodak digital business development opportunities, the restructuring of the road is not flat, then catch up and easier said than done. Net loss of $298 million in the first quarter of this year has been placed in front of the company.

Today, like the general motors of the seller, Kodak also had to move the idea of selling high-quality assets. In its first quarter earnings announcement, the company said it intends to sell its profit - 110 years of medical imaging business. GM after several twists and turns finally sold a controlling stake in the biggest shake Qian Shu GAMC's return for large silver to support the reorganization of the company, the deal on the future of GM has not yet fully apparent. Kodak has also begun to move this way, which makes the market worried. Because the poison and snatched from the jaws of death only one step away.

This is the story of a traditional American and Japanese rival. All of these lessons for American companies are clearly more than cameras and cars.