The Websites of Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi - Case Study Example

Issue Toyota started in 1937 and is one of the pioneers in the automobile industry. The company is based in Japan and since its operation has grown its business over entire world. The company performs in different segments like automobiles, commercial vehicles, engines, and motor cycle. The company employs over 13 lacs employee and is listed in Japan. The company further has over 522 subsidiaries worldwide and has grown on superior quality and service (Toyota, 2012) Honda started in 1948 and is one of the pioneers in the automobile industry. The company is based in Japan and since its operation has grown its business over entire world. The company performs in different segments like cars, motor cycle, power equipment, engines, robots, aircraft, solar cell, and similar other products. The company employs over 1.8 lacs employee and is listed in Japan (Honda, 2012) Mitsubishi started in 1870 and is one of the pioneers in the automobile industry. The company is based in Japan and since its operation has grown its business over entire world. The company performs in different segments like mining, ship building, telecom, financial services, insurance, electronics, automobiles, and others. The company employs over 3.5 lacs employee and is listed in Japan (Mitsubishi, 2012) Domain The domain name used by Toyota is very simple and represents the name of the company. The company has ensured the use of the name of the automobile maker in the domain name so that it is easy to remember. Further, the domain name has been such that it has looked towards adding the last few words so that it can represent the name of the region for which it has been searched (Lawrence & Tavakol, 2007). This has made the domain name of the company to be remembered as www.toyota.com which has the following characteristics The domain name is of the company It is short and easy to remember Different regions have different domain name as Australia has .au, Europe has .eu and so on which has given identity and easy way to remember it In case of spelling errors the same domain name is reflected due to the high position that the domain has in the search engine The domain name used by Honda is very simple and represents the name of the company. The company has ensured the use of the name of the automobile maker in the domain name so that it is easy to remember. Further, the domain name has been such that it has looked towards adding the last few words so that it can represent the name of the region for which it has been searched. This has made the domain name of the company to be remembered as www.honda.com which has the following characteristics The domain name is of the company It is short and easy to remember Different regions have different domain name as Australia has .au, Europe has .eu and so on which has given identity and easy way to remember it In case of spelling errors the same domain name is reflected due to the high position that the domain has in the search engine The domain name used by Mitsubishi is very simple and represents the name of the company. The company has ensured the use of the name of the automobile maker in the domain name so that it is easy to remember. Further, the domain name has been such that it has looked towards adding the last few words so that it can represent the name of the region for which it has been searched. This has made the domain name of the company to be remembered as www.mitsubishi.com which has the following characteristics The domain name is of the company It is short and easy to remember Different regions have different domain name as Australia has .au, Europe has .eu and so on which has given identity and easy way to remember it In case of spelling errors the same domain name is reflected due to the high position that the domain has in the search engine This has thereby ensured that the domain name looks as follows Holden Toyota Mitsubishi 1. holden.com toyota.com mitsubishi.com 2. Holden.com.au toyota.com.au mitubishi.com.au 3. Holden.com.eu toyota.com.eu mitubishi .com.eu 4. Holden.com.as toyota.com.as mitubishi .com.as 5. Holden.com.af toyota.com.af mitubishi .com.af 6. Holden.com.nz toyota.com.nz mitubishi .com.nz         Domain 1 1 1 Search Engine Position Honda features on the top of the list when someone searches for the company through the navigation site. It is also witnessed that the country where the company is searched is witnessed on the top followed other links. It is also highlighted below Honda features on the top of the list when someone searches for the company through the navigation site. It is also witnessed that the country where the company is searched is witnessed on the top followed other links. It is also highlighted below Mitsubishi Motors features on the top of the list when someone searches for the company through the navigation site. It is also witnessed that the country where the company is searched is witnessed on the top followed other links. It is also highlighted below Search Term: Spelling Mistakes Users while looking to get details of a particular automobile player is able to search the desired automobile maker by typing in the name. Even a mistake in spelling is considered and the nearest name which has a resemblance to the automobile players is depicted. Search Terms: Automobile Using the term automobile helps to bring the name of most of the automobile players in the front page which ensures that the user is able to get the link through which the required source can be navigated. It is also seen that the search engine based on the country for which it is searched helps to present the information of companies which is the leading market player in that region.         Search Engine Position 2 2 1 Content As expected for a company dealing in automobiles Toyota looks towards presenting its users with a lot of information which includes visual as well as pictures so that the company is able to make the users understand its position. There is a strong position of the different offerings being made by the company and provides different links and hyperlinks through which navigation to the different objects are possible. The content has ensured that the names are small and depicts what the site contains. The website aims at having proper sound and videos which make the user understand the product better and are thereby able to understand the different interest and their domain better. The website looks towards presenting the different products aling with the offers to promote their products so that the users are provided with different choices and providing a catalogue with complete description of the different features enable the customers to understand the product better and have their buying decisions based on it. Similarly to Toyota, Honda has looked towards having a mix of different videos, sounds and pictures so that the content of their offerings are better placed. There is a strong position of the different offerings being made by the company and provides different links and hyperlinks through which navigation to the different objects are possible. In addition to it while designing the content special focus and emphasis has been made where the users are able to navigate to the sections that fit them and the type of vehicle they are looking for. The website aims at having proper sound and videos which make the user understand the product better and are thereby able to understand the different interest and their domain better. Similar to the other website of the automobile industry, Mitsubishi has relied on having a proper mix of both videos and pictures. The website has been designed by ensuring that the content is succinct and easy to remember so that navigation becomes easy. . In addition to it while designing the content special focus and emphasis has been made where the users are able to navigate to the sections that fit them and the type of vehicle they are looking for. The website for the different markets have been developed on similar lines but ensuring that the requirements matches the country requirements and looks towards having all the different models and products which the website looks to offer. Having proper videos loaded and having links through which the users are able to navigate to the other pages provides the user an advantage to understand the different services which they are able to observe as it directly helps to see the feelings of the other users (Acharya, Kagan, Lingam & Gray, 2008).         Content 2 2 2 Community The website of Toyota has been designed that it provides accessibility to different social networking sites by clicking on the icons that are available. This has helped the website to ensure that a different range of applications are being used through their website. The company has ensured consistency by ensuring that all the regions have a similar interface which has allowed people to move towards different social networking sites. Further Toyota, has ensured that they have over 21,161 subscribers on YouTube. The website of Honda has been designed that it doesn’t provides accessibility to different social networking sites as there are no direct icons available and it can be reached after moving from one page to another. This has resulted in affecting the manner in which people are able to use social networking sites and is a major hurdle in the path of Honda. The website of Mitsubishi has been designed that it provides accessibility to different social networking sites by clicking on the icons that are available. This has helped the website to ensure that a different range of applications are being used through their website. The company has ensured consistency by ensuring that all the regions have a similar interface which has allowed people to move towards different social networking sites. Further Toyota, has ensured that they have over 612 subscribers on YouTube. A look at the manner in which different subscribers are available to different automobile companies along with the different tweets and subscribers shows the following   Toyota Honda Mitsubishi Facebook 11,387 NA 3945 Twitter 106307 NA NA You Tube 21161 NA 612 The result for the different countries is also consistent and has more and more followers looking towards following the websites of company whom they find most admiring.         Community 2 0 1.5 Connection The website of Toyota looks towards providing the following links through their website Social Media Facebook.com Twitter.com Youtube.com Find a Dealer Build Your Toyota The website thereby provides different links which makes it possible for the user to move through other links The same format is applicable for all the regions and looks towards providing similar information to the user. The different varies with regard to the number of dealers who can be accessed for the different regions. The website of Honda looks towards providing the following links through their website Other links Honda Automobiles Honda Powersports Avura Automobiles Honda Racing Honda Power & Equipment Honda Marine Honda Engines Honda Jet Social Media Facebook.com Twitter.com Youtube.com Find a Dealer The website thereby provides different links which makes it possible for the user to move through other links The same format is applicable for all the regions and looks towards providing similar information to the user. The different varies with regard to the number of dealers who can be accessed for the different regions. The website of Mitsubishi looks towards providing the following links through their website Social Media Facebook.com Twitter.com Youtube.com Find a Dealer The website thereby provides different links which makes it possible for the user to move through other links The same format is applicable for all the regions and looks towards providing similar information to the user. The different varies with regard to the number of dealers who can be accessed for the different regions.         Connection 1 2 0.5 Compliance The website of Toyota doesn’t appear to be fully compliant with W3 disability standards. This is clearly evident from the fact that the website has been developed with Flash content and requires flash player to view the different event. The requirement of an adobe flash player has made it difficult to carry out all the functions smoothly and has made visualization difficult. Along with it there are some other errors as well as there is text missing on linked images due to accessibility errors being witnessed in the website The company has also ensured the development of an extensive privacy policy where it looks towards ensuring that they look towards preserving the vital information. The company and its affiliates to ensure supportive customer relationship has ensured that they preserve the vital information that has been provided by the customers by requesting a service like a drive to any other outside parties. The company has also ensured that the private information will not be sold to any other party or marketing company The privacy policy of the company has been clearly stated where they look towards sending customers mails and messages on their phone number which is provided after regular intervals. This is done with the intention to make people come across new products and services, discounts and offerings. It is also done with the intention to remind customers regarding valuable services and provides an alternative through which they can contact the customer care and request them not to be contacted in the future. Lasly, Toyota has ensured that it looks after the responsibility for its actions and service partners by ensuring that there are no hyperlinks which will direct them towards the website of other companies. For this safety no links have been provided which will guide people to the website of other companies. Honda website doesn’t appears to match the requirements of W3 disability standards The most important barrier which has made accessibility difficult is the requirements of adobe flash player especially to see different videos. The website also experiences other difficulties like certain images are difficult to open and doesn’t open making viewing difficult. With regard to the privacy policy Toyota has looked towards ensuring that the information provided by the customers doesn’t get leak and is not passed on to the third parties. The company and its affiliates to ensure supportive customer relationship has ensured that they preserve the vital information that has been provided by the customers by requesting a service like a drive to any other outside parties. With the development of customer care the services have been developed where no information is passed on. With regard to the responsibility for their actions Toyota looks towards preserving the authenticity and privacy by ensuring that they send information to the customers by sending mails. This is done so that customer has the required update regarding their services. Along with it Toyota has ensured that it doesn’t provide any hyperlinks through which the user will be directed towards some other website and will require special consideration as it ensures that the users are not misguided to false links. Similarly to the other website Mitsubishi doesn’t adhere to the W3 disability standards. The requirement of an adobe flash player has made it difficult to carry out all the functions smoothly and has made visualization difficult. Along with it there are some other errors as well as there is text missing on linked images due to accessibility errors being witnessed in the website The company has also ensured the development of an extensive privacy policy where it looks towards ensuring that they look towards preserving the vital information. The company and its affiliates to ensure supportive customer relationship has ensured that they preserve the vital information that has been provided by the customers by requesting a service like a drive to any other outside parties. The company has also ensured that the private information will not be sold to any other party or marketing company (Wenham & Zaphiris, 2002) Lastly, Mitsubishi has ensured that it looks after the responsibility for its actions and service partners by ensuring that there are no hyperlinks which will direct them towards the website of other companies. For this safety no links have been provided which will guide people to the website of other companies.          Accessibility  0 0  0  Privacy  1  1.5  1  Complaince  1 1.5  1.5  Corporate The global website designed by the company looks towards providing all the corporate information from the same page by browsing it through the website. It contains the following information Our Company Our News Toyota Worldwide Toyota Financial Services Career Investor Relation Share Prices Dividend Financials Balance Sheet Income Statement Cash Flow Ratios FAQs Contact Us The financial information is provided through investor relation where it looks towards providing different information which the investor is interested in Honda has developed their website similarly to that of Toyota and looks towards providing all the information which an investor requires and provides the basic corporate information directly through their website and contains Honda Corporate Honda Worldwide Careers at Honda Investor Relation Share Prices Dividend Financials Balance Sheet Income Statement Cash Flow Ratios FAQs Contact Us It is seen that most of the information provided by Honda is directly through their website where all the information pertaining to the corporate information is directly available directly through their own webpage. Similar to the other automobile player the corporate website of Mitsubishi is directly available through their main website which looks at providing the data pertaining to the corporate information from the page and contains the following Our Company Our News Mitsubishi Worldwide Career Investor Relation Share Prices Dividend Financials Balance Sheet Income Statement Cash Flow Ratios FAQs Contact Us Thus, the website of all the automobile players looks towards depicting the same information where all the financial information is clearly provided. The difference here is that the investor has to move from one page and link to the other to gather valuable information regarding the products and services is provided.         Corporate 1 1 1 Scoring Scheme 0 – Not Present 1 – Present 2 – Done Well         Domain 1 1 1 Search Engine Position 2 2 1 Content 2 2 2 Community 2 0 1.5 Connection 1 2 0.5 Accesssibility 0 0 0 Privacy 1 1.5 1 Compliance 1 1.5 1.5 Corporate 1 1 1 Total 11 11 9.5 References Acharya, R.N., Kagan, A., Lingam, S.R. & Gray, K. (2008). Impact of website usability on performance: a heuristic evaluation of community bank homepage implementation, Journal of Business and Economics Research, 6 (6), 139-148 Honda. (2012). Honda. Retrieved on October 24, 2012 from www.honda.com Lawrence, D. & Tavakol, S. (2007). Balanced website design – optimizing aesthetics, usability and purpose, Springer Mitsubishi. (2012). Mitsubishi. Retrieved on October 24, 2012 from www.mitsubishi.com Toyota. (2012). Toyota. Retrieved on October 24, 2012 from www.toyota.com Wenham, D. & Zaphiris, P. (2002). User interface evaluation methods for internet banking web site: a review, evaluation and case study, School of Informatics. Read More