The PESTEL analysis is a framework that can help marketers assess whether macro-economic factors are affecting an organization. This is a critical step that helps organizations identify potential threats and weaknesses that can be used in other frameworks such as SWOT or to gain a broader and better understanding of the overall marketing environment.
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Why does a PESTEL analysis matter?
A PESTEL analysis is one of the tools and frameworks that marketers can use to assess the impact of external market forces on the organization’s growth and profitability over time.
Indeed, the PESTEL analysis becomes a companion framework to other tools, and frameworks, like the SWOT analysis as it allows to gain a broader perspective on the overall market and industry where the organization operates.
In too many cases marketers fall into the trap of analyzing an organization as it operated in a vacuum. Understanding macro trends, and how those are and will affect the organization is a crucial skill for marketers to gain perspective on the company’s overall marketing strategy.
And to perform a better analysis of the current and future scenario. This also allows an organization to formulate a better business strategy. This also helps organizations adapt their business models based on the changing macroeconomic landscape.
Related: Business Strategy: Definition, Examples, And Case Studies
What are the critical components of a PESTEL analysis?
The PESTEL analysis comprises six macro-environmental factors that span from political to legal:
- Political: how much is the government involved in the economy or in that particular market? And how much a government policy can influence that?
- Economic: how many economic factors, such as interest rates, employment, foreign exchanged, unemployment and other factors will affect the company’s profitability?
- Social: how much emerging trends or demographics, such as population growth, age distribution, and so on affect the organization?
- Technological: how much technological innovation, development, and disruption might affect a market or the industry in which the organization operates?
- Environmental: how much the surrounding environment and the impact of a business on ecological aspects are influencing the organization’s policies as well?
- Legal: how will change in legislation affect the organization’s profitability, sustainability, and growth?
- Read next: SWOT Analysis
Case Study: Amazon PESTEL Analysis
Amazon PESTEL Analysis Introduction
Let’s now evaluate the global retail giant Amazon in the context of a PESTEL Analysis by looking at the following external factors:
- P – Political.
- E – Economic.
- S – Social.
- T – Technological.
- E – Environmental.
- L – Legal.
Amazon PESTEL Analysis
Let’s now perform a PESTEL Analysis on Amazon, addressing each factor in more detail.
Political
Political factors encompass the level of governmental intervention in an economy. This may include policy decisions relating to foreign trade and tax or laws relating to labor or the environment.
As a global retailer, Amazon is not immune to political factors. Politically stable western countries with similar laws to the USA offer Amazon expansion opportunities. However, the company has faced stiff competition in China where the government tends to back Chinese e-commerce companies.
Economic
Economic factors are those that directly impact on the performance of the economy. In turn, these factors influence the profitability of an organization. Economic factors may include unemployment rates, raw material costs, and foreign exchange rates.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Amazon has benefitted tremendously from economic stimulus measures that have increased consumer discretionary income. However, this income has also allowed competitors to enter the market.
Social
Social factors describe the general beliefs and attitudes of a population, most often related to cultural and demographical trends. These factors ultimately determine and then drive consumer behavior.
With the shift toward convenient, fast, and contactless delivery, Amazon has again taken advantage. Savvy and computer literate millennial consumers are also driving huge growth in mobile shopping as the availability of 5G networks increases.
Technological
This describes the rate of technological innovation and development and how it might influence a given market. Digital technology is often the focus, but non-tech companies also look for advances in distribution, manufacturing, and logistics.
Amazon is highly innovative within the retail sector. The company has invested heavily in drones to deliver parcels. It has also created an unattended locker system called Amazon Hub so that consumers can receive parcels when it is convenient for them to do so.
Environmental
In the 21st century, environmental factors are becoming increasingly prevalent. They encompass such things as carbon footprint, waste disposal, and sustainable access to raw materials. Climate change has also meant that businesses must be more adaptable to frequent natural disasters.
As Amazon’s distribution network grows, the company must sustainably address its greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, Amazon Prime is particularly polluting because of the promise of 1 or 2-day delivery.
Legal
Large organizations that operate in many countries must have a detailed understanding of the laws applicable to each. This is especially true in countries where employment, consumer, tax, and trade law directly impacts on business operations.
Amazon has had to deal with legal challenges regarding its tendency to subvert tax law and move profits into tax havens such as Luxembourg. The company was also recently investigated by the US Federal Trade Commission for misleading discount claims on over 1000 of its products.
Key takeaways:
- The PESTEL analysis is a tool that businesses use to analyze macro-environmental factors that have the potential to impact on performance.
- PESTEL is an acronym for six factors: political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal.
- As a large, global retail company, Amazon has been able to take advantage of the shift toward convenient and contactless consumer goods delivery. However, it’s global reach also leaves it vulnerable to sustainability trends and investigation for tax evasion.
Other case studies
Other connected frameworks
Porter’s Five Forces

SWOT Analysis

BCG Matrix

Balanced Scorecard

Blue Ocean Strategy

Scenario Planning

References:
- Porter’s Five Forces
- SWOT Analysis
- BCG Matrix
- Balanced Scorecard
- Blue Ocean Strategy
- Scenario Planning
Other resources:
- Successful Types of Business Models You Need to Know
- Business Strategy: Definition, Examples, And Case Studies
- What Is a Business Model Canvas? Business Model Canvas Explained
- Blitzscaling Business Model Innovation Canvas In A Nutshell
- What Is a Value Proposition? Value Proposition Canvas Explained
- What Is a Lean Startup Canvas? Lean Startup Canvas Explained
- What Is Market Segmentation? the Ultimate Guide to Market Segmentation
- Marketing Strategy: Definition, Types, And Examples
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