How KFC competes and what role operations play ?

Colonel Harland Sanders' famous fried chicken company, KFC, has stayed on top of the fast food
world with a well-oiled mix of competitive strategy and operational excellence. Let's look into how
these two things work together to keep KFC loud.

Strategy for competing:

There are three main parts to KFC's plan for staying competitive:

Differentiation: KFC's secret recipe and special pressure-frying method make chicken that people
want, which sets it apart from other fast food chains that focus on burgers. They also offer regional
menu changes to suit the likes of people in different areas.

Cost leadership: KFC uses efficient supply chain management and standardised processes to keep
costs low. This lets them offer low prices that draw customers who are watching their pennies.

Focus: KFC doesn't try to be all things to all people like some of its competitors do; instead, it focuses
on fried chicken and a small menu. This laser focus helps them get better at what they do best and
gives customers a constant, high-quality experience.

What role do operations play in achieving competitive strategy?

The operations department at KFC is very important to making its competitive strategy work. It does
this in the following main ways:

Standardized processes: From preparing the chicken to cooking it and serving it, KFC has carefully
thought out and written down procedures to make sure that all of their stores are the same and
serve the same high-quality food. This cuts down on mistakes and boosts productivity.

Supply chain management: KFC has built a strong network of suppliers for packaging and
ingredients, which makes sure that the company always has a steady flow of goods at prices that are
affordable. In turn, this means lower costs and consistent quality of the goods.

Integration of technology: KFC uses digital ordering systems, self-service kiosks, and mobile apps to
make the ordering process easier for customers and speed up the process. This makes operations
run more smoothly and makes customers happier.

Training for employees: KFC spends a lot of money teaching its workers how to make food, deal
with customers, and follow safety rules. This makes sure that the employees are skilled and driven,
which gives customers a good experience.

Decisions about strategy, planning, and operations:

In KFC's operations function, the following are examples of strategic, planning, and operational
choices that have been made:

Menu innovation: Adding new, limited-time items to old favourites keeps the menu interesting and
brings in new customers.

When KFC opens new stores, they carefully choose where to put them by looking at things like
population density, competition, and traffic patterns.
Cost-control measures: KFC negotiates with suppliers, makes sure that food portions are just right,
and reduces waste as a few of the ways it keeps costs down.

Initiatives to improve operational efficiency: KFC is always looking for ways to be more efficient.
Some examples are automating kitchens, easing delivery processes, and changing the layout of
restaurants.