Competitor Analysis - Coursework Example

Extended presence through local branch offices present in 350 locations across US, Canada, Japan, UK, Australia and Hong Kong. Availability through phone 24/7, email alerts and information from schwab.com. Products: Includes brokerage accounts (one brokerage account, one organization account), bank checking and brokerage, individual retirement plans (traditional, roth, rollover, custodial, inherited), annuities, business retirement plans, Schwab personal choice retirement account (PCRA), estate planning (one trust account, one estate account, charitable gift account), college (college savings plan, educational savings account, custodial account) and Charles Schwab bank.

Employees and programs used: 13,400 full time employees and growth rate of 11.4%. Has an open corporate culture, various work/life and career advancement programs, employee surveys, rewarding work environment, employee stock plans, open door policy and inclusive corporate culture. Employee programs include Schwab university (in house learning resource), formal mentoring program, Women's Interactive Network (WINS, an employee resource group on women's issues), and VisionQuest (to bring together new hires of Schwab as part of employee orientation).

IT platforms for CRM: In Fall of 2007, the company adapted the CRM software of Junxure. This software has been built by financial advisors for financial advisors. The system automates critical processes, thus providing a high level of client service and enhancing profitability and productivity. Issues: In 2003 there were certain instances of late mutual fund trading. The issue was fixed by upgrading systems and processes.GartmoreCompany background: This independent fund management company has 30 years of experience and works with a strong focus on asset management.

Its offices are located in Tokyo, Boston, Madrid and Frankfurt. During 2006 to 2007, the organization received over 40 awards and also the Gold standard award for fund management. The organization operates through investment specialists who work in small teams. Clients and client relationship: Services both retail and institutional clients. Customers are classified and serviced on the basis of their locations in UK, Europe and Japan. In these regions they are further classified as private customers, professional advisors and institutional customers.

Products: Offers an array of products and services like the Gartmore Cautious managed fund for pension savers, cash fund, corporate bond fund, China opportunities fund. Emerging markets opportunities fund, European growth fund, European focus fund, global focus fund and a range of MultiManager funds. Its products are classified in distinct categories like Gartmore OEICs (Open Ended Investment companies), Gartmore SICAV (Luxemborg based fund range) and Gartmore Investment trusts (includes a generalist worldwide trust, fledgling trust, European specialist trust and a range of trusts concentrating on smaller firms).

Employees: Committed to long term success of employees, such that many of their senior employees are now company owners.IT platform for CRM: The organization has licensed Financial fusion Server SWIFT libraries. This platform provides solutions to retail and e-financial service companies. The Financial Fusion's message broker technology and SWIFT libraries will also translate internal messaging to SWIFT format messaging. This will facilitate Gartmore for application integration and