Kodak Chain Business Transformation Strategy Research

The ever-changing science and technology in the 21st century not only brings people life changes and conveniences, but also new requirements of innovation and transformation on many businesses. Ever since 90s of 20th century, many businesses have achieved their transformations and changed their core businesses. Some more are attempting to do that for future better development.With more and more such practices of business transformation appearing, theories and researches on such a topic are becoming a hot issue in the academic field worldwide.Since September.2003, when Kodak Corporation, leader of Imaging industry, announced its full transformation to digital business, including business imaging, image printing and digital photography, it has witnessed many ups and downs in the course of its reform till 2009 when it declared initial success of transformation. During this period, what has happened to more than 8000 internet photography chainstores at its peak, second to the largest chain net of China Post net system? What strategies have been adopted to meet the business transformation? What will happen to them in the future? These are questions not only for Kodak Chainstores, but for the whole imaging industry, which demands further exploration and research.After reviewing the history of Kodak's market development in China, this paper focuses on the analysis of series of attempts and practices of business transformation which Kodak chainstores have made in the face of rapid popularization of digitalization and change of consumption habits in the imaging industry. New directions of printing industry is also another focus of this paper. This paper is intended to offer some suggestions on business transformation for Kodak chainstores and image printing industry.