WU has re-invented itself once more. This time over the past 20 years the corporation serves as a bank for people without bank accounts by transferring money around the world at the tune of $20 billion/year. WU has grown exponentially over the last few years, especially internationally. The bulk of the transfers consist of small amounts earned by immigrant workers in wealthy countries sent home to assist families in poor countries.
As WU expands into the Middle East, India and China, revenue is growing at a 20% annually. Yet it is estimated that WU has only penetrated 15-20% of the $150 billion global money-transfer market.
Today, 75% of WU agents are outside the US, including more than 25,000 locations in India and China and over 2,000 new agents in the Middle East, mostly from Pakistan, a source of many millions of migrant workers.
In 2003 WU set up operations with a state-controlled Syrian bank. The agent in Jordan and Palestinian Territories is Arab Bank. The best way to add capacity is to simply authorize additional agents and affiliates.
What strategy would you pursue to achieve corporate goals?