Porter’s 5 forces is a model that helps to identify the weaknesses and strengths of an industry, empowering the potential investor with insights. In fact, the model is used by more than just investors, companies and analysts also make use of its structure, allowing them to analyze the competitive forces in an environment and build an appropriate business strategy.

Below we outline how the Porter’s five forces model works, where it came from, and how you can use it to your advantage. 

What is the Porter's Five Forces model?

Porter’s Five Forces focuses on identifying and analyzing five competitive forces within an industry that can be used to establish what the industry’s strengths and weaknesses are. The five forces analysis can be applied to any segment of the economy and can determine a company’s business strategy, level of competition, or long-term industry profitability. 

The Five Forces are:

• Competitive forces in the industry
• Potential of new entrants into the industry
• Power of suppliers
• Power of customers
• The threat of substitute products

This model is designed to help analysts and managers comprehend the competitive landscape that a particular company faces and how the company is positioned within it.

Where did Porter’s Five Forces model come from? 

The five forces analysis model was created by and named after Michael E. Porter, an established Harvard Business School professor. The model was introduced in Porter’s book, Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors.

Developed in 1979, the five forces analysis model was created to provide industry outsiders with insight and knowledge into the positioning and competitive strength of an organization. The business analysis model has become an important tool in the financial sector and is still widely used today, over 40 years later.

Breaking down Porter’s Five Forces

Below is a breakdown of the Five Forces analysis model which is universal across almost every market and industry in the world. The model looks at the company’s positioning within the market to determine how much power it holds. 

1. The competition in the industry

The first of Porter's Five Forces analysis model focuses on the number of competitors a company has and its ability to undercut them. The more existing competitors and competitive rivalry a company has, along with the number of similar products and services they offer, the less power the company holds. 

When the company has a high level of competitive rivalry, suppliers and buyers will gravitate toward the lower prices, while when competition is low, companies have more control over the prices they charge and the terms of their deals.

More power equates to a competitive advantage which typically equates to more sales and profits. Hence, why industry competition and competitive forces shape strategy.

2. The potential of new entrants into an industry

Of course, new entrants into the market also pose a threat to a company’s power. This can be measured by looking at the amount of time and cost it would take to be a potential competitor. The more resources needed, the more established the company’s position. 

The stronger the barriers to entry, the better for companies already positioned in the market. 

3. The power of suppliers

This point in Porter's five forces analysis model looks at the power the suppliers hold in terms of driving up the costs of resources. This can be determined by looking at the number of suppliers available, how unique their products are, and the cost of a company switching to another supplier. 

The fewer the number of suppliers, the more a company depends on them in turn driving up the supplier’s power. The supplier then has more control over their input costs which can result in lower profits for the company. 

4. The power of customers

The power of customers looks at how much control the consumer has to drive a company’s prices down. This looks at the number of customers a company has, the impact of each customer, and the cost of finding new customers or markets to sell to. 

The smaller the customer base, the more power they have to negotiate lower prices. While a larger customer base with many smaller clients is able to charge higher prices and in turn increase profitability. 

5. The threat of substitutes

The final of Porter’s Five Forces analysis model is the threat of substitutes and looks at the threat that substitutes goods and services can pose to a company. The more unique and more difficult a product or service is to substitute, the better the company’s positioning. As consumers will have little else to turn to, the company automatically accumulates more power. 

These Five Forces analysis can assist a company in building a strategy that ensures well-utilized resources and boosted profits, however, this strategy will need to be consistently visited to ensure that any changes in the external environment are factored in. 

What are the downsides of Porter’s Five Forces?

The most pressing downside of the Five Forces model is that it was designed to look at an individual company, as opposed to the wider industry. Additionally, this proves difficult when the company falls into two or more industries, making the framework less impactful. 

The final downside is that the model is designed to measure all five aspects equally against each other which isn’t always the case. Some factors might be more prevalent in one industry but less relevant in another. 

Porter's Five Forces Model vs SWOT analysis

Another tool used in the business sector is SWOT analysis, which looks at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of existing companies. When comparing the two the most prominent differentiation is that Porter’s Five Forces model tends to examine the external environment and competitive strategy of a company while SWOT looks at the internal aspects of an organization. 

In conclusion

This business analysis model aids in assessing the competitive landscape within a company's industry. The level of influence a company wields across these factors could potentially shape future profitability.

Porter’s Five Forces forces company’s to look beyond their organization and at the greater industry structure in order to map out future plans and strategies. While this framework still plays a valuable role in the business sector, it should not be the only tool used by a company to determine its strategy. 

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In line with our how-to-budget pieces, today we're looking at how to monitor your spending. There's no good in building an impressive budget without keeping track of whether you're sticking to it or not. Yes, it might sound tedious, but it is always worth it, especially during the festive season when things tend to get a little out of control.

Paving the road from good intentions to excellent outcomes, tracking your spending is imperative.

Why tracking expenses is important (use your bank account to save money)

Before we get started, let's first cover the bases of why this step is so vital. First and foremost, it's essential to hold yourself accountable to your proposed budget. There's no good assigning each dollar you earn to a specific function only to disregard the budget entirely and spend impulsively.

If you're not tracking your expenses you'll land up in square one where you started a month ago. Monitoring your spending habits will show you exactly where your money is really going, and help you to make more informed decisions. The best part is that after a month or two you will get the hang of it and the process will become a lot less tiresome and feel like more of a habit.

Keeping an inventory of your expenses (and income)

First, you'll need to create your budget. Once this is established and the time frame you've set it out for has started, it's time to get tracking. You can do this through a budgeting app, a spreadsheet, or a piece of paper if that makes you most comfortable.

Step 1: track your income

In your income section, confirm all income in the columns provided. If you make money in an unexpected avenue, be sure to add this in too. This step is particularly important for those that earn irregular income through freelancing or side hustles.

Ideally, you would have listed your income avenues as a low estimate, so revel in adding the higher amounts into the columns provided. You can then enjoy reallocating those funds to various items in your expenses column. Don't think you need to be a robot with your finances, you're allowed to enjoy them too.

Step 2: track your expenses

For this step you need to track every single time money leaves your account. For the entire month. From emergency fund allocations to debt payments to monthly expenses, and any payments on a separate spending account. Each time you spend money, record it in the relevant expense categories.

When you buy groceries, add this to your grocery expenses; when you eat out, add this to your entertainment expense. Make sure that your budget is updated to reflect the new total so that you and your checking account are always in the know.

For example, if your grocery budget is $100 and you spend $23, add the $23 as an expense item under the title and ensure that your new grocery total reflects as $77.

There are plenty of expense tracker apps out there if this helps you stay on track. If you are using a budgeting app be sure to check in and review how each category is doing so that you can make informed decisions on what you spend your money on.

Step 3: make it a habit

You might like to do this daily or biweekly at first until you get the hang of it. Make yourself a nice cup of tea and make it a pleasant habit, instead of something you resent and put off. Understanding your cash flow is imperative to understanding your spending patterns and to better manage money. This is where the magic happens (and how financial goals are achieved).

Different methods of tracking your expenses

Below we outline the four most common methods used to track expenses, looking at the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Whether you prefer paper receipts or accounting software, settle for the expense-tracking method that works for you.

1. Handwritten

There's nothing wrong with the old-school pen and paper option, if this feels right to you then go for it! Make sure you store it in a safe space.

Advantage: studies suggest that writing things down increases your retention of the information and boosts your ability to make more informed decisions. While typing is probably the preferred method, writing is actually more efficient when it comes to learning.

Disadvantage: this option is more time-consuming and will require you to physically remember all your purchases and retain your slips. Alternatively, you could sit with a printout of your bank accounts and manually write out each expense.

2. The cash process

This step requires you to withdraw the cash outlined in each budgeted category and store it in an envelope. Every time you make a transaction, you use the cash from the relevant envelope and replace it with the receipt. For debit orders, you can use your imagination. While the envelope method might be considered an old-school option for money management, if it works for you then go with it.

Advantage: using this method of tracking monthly expenses you can physically see how well your budget is going and how much you have left to spend.

Disadvantage: in these modern times paying with cash isn't always very practical.

3. Spreadsheet

Probably the more common option when it comes to tracking your expenses, using a spreadsheet can be practical and it does the maths for you.

Advantage: with tons of templates, the ability to quickly customize or revise your budget and the automated calculator, spreadsheets are a great option.

Disadvantage: you'll need to physically sit down with your laptop when tracking all your transactions. This will become more challenging the longer you leave it so ideally you;ll need to make this a daily occurrence. Remember, without monitoring your expenses your budget is simply a plan.

4. Budgeting apps

There are several budgeting apps available (for free) that can link to your bank account and automatically track all your expenses.

Advantage: It's all done for you, in real-time. Some apps might require you to assign the transaction to a category while others might automatically categorize it for you, either way, it requires minimal effort and can be regularly updated.

Disadvantage: You still need to monitor your spending, even if you're not physically putting it in. If you've reached your grocery budget, you need to be aware as the app is not going to cut your spending for you.

In conclusion

Whichever method you opt for, tracking your expenses is imperative to sticking to your budget and getting you one step closer to your financial goals.

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BAT is now available for trading on the Tap mobile app. You can now Buy, Sell, Trade or hold BAT for any of the other asset supported on the platform without any pair boundaries. Tap is pair agnostic, meaning you can trade any asset for any other asset without having to worries if a "trading pair" is available.

We believe supporting BAT will provide value to our users. We are looking forward to continue supporting new crypto projects with the aim of providing access to financial power and freedom for all.

Basic Attention Token (BAT) is an Ethereum-based utility token integrated into the privacy-focused Brave browser. Launched in 2016, Brave aims to revolutionize the digital advertising industry by promoting fairness and transparency between advertisers, publishers, and users.

Users receive cryptocurrency rewards in the form of BAT for viewing ads, which allows publishers to deliver more impactful advertisements. This empowers advertisers to make better use of their budgets and better target their target audience. Users then have the flexibility to hold, exchange, or use BAT to support their favorite content creators.

BAT acts as a settlement currency for publishers within the Brave browser ecosystem, facilitating transactions between advertisers, publishers, and users based on their web activity. This token streamlines business between the three parties

Get to know more about Basic Attention Token (BAT) in our dedicated article here.

Bienvenue dans l’univers fascinant des NFT. Les Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) sont des actifs numériques uniques qui ont bouleversé le web. Contrairement aux cryptomonnaies classiques, les NFT représentent des objets uniques — d’œuvres d’art numériques à des terrains virtuels — dont la propriété et l’authenticité sont vérifiables grâce à la blockchain.

Acteurs majeurs du mouvement Web3, les NFT redéfinissent la manière dont on valorise, achète et échange des créations numériques. Dans cet article, on décrypte ce que sont les NFT, comment les acheter, où les trouver et quels avantages ou inconvénients ils présentent.

Que sont les NFT ?

Les NFT sont des actifs numériques uniques basés sur la blockchain. Contrairement aux cryptos comme le Bitcoin ou l’Ethereum qui sont interchangeables, chaque NFT possède ses propres caractéristiques et ne peut être échangé à égalité avec un autre.

C’est justement cette unicité qui leur donne de la valeur. Que ce soit pour de l’art numérique, des objets de collection ou même des biens immobiliers virtuels, les NFT ont ouvert la voie à de nouveaux modèles de propriété numérique. Certaines œuvres se sont vendues à des prix records — comme « Merge » de l’artiste Pak, adjugée à plus de 91 millions de dollars fin 2021.

Les NFT permettent aux créateurs, artistes et gamers de prouver qu’ils sont les propriétaires originels de leurs créations, ce qui change profondément la manière dont on perçoit la valeur et la rareté dans le monde numérique.

Comment fonctionnent les NFT ?

Un NFT est un fichier numérique inscrit sur une blockchain (comme Ethereum). Une fois “minté” (créé), son historique de propriété est enregistré de manière permanente et immuable sur le réseau.

Les smart contracts — des programmes autonomes stockés sur la blockchain — assurent la création, la propriété et la revente des NFT. Ils permettent, par exemple, à un artiste de toucher des royalties à chaque revente de son œuvre.

Les NFT suivent des standards spécifiques, comme ERC-721 (le plus courant) ou ERC-1155, qui permettent une meilleure efficacité et des transferts groupés. Ces standards ont permis la croissance rapide des marketplaces NFT et ouvert la voie à de nouveaux usages.

Comment acheter un NFT et utiliser les marketplaces ?

Pour acheter un NFT, il te faut d’abord un portefeuille numérique compatible avec la blockchain du NFT — Metamask est une des options les plus populaires.

Ensuite, direction une marketplace comme OpenSea ou Rarible. Tu pourras y découvrir des collections, choisir un NFT et procéder à l’achat en connectant ton portefeuille. Une fois la transaction validée, le NFT est envoyé dans ton portefeuille, avec la preuve de propriété inscrite sur la blockchain.

Tu veux vendre un NFT ? Il te suffit de le mettre en ligne sur une plateforme en suivant leur processus, et en définissant les conditions de vente.

À quoi servent les NFT ?

Les NFT ont des applications dans de nombreux secteurs. En voici quelques exemples concrets :

• Art : les artistes peuvent vendre leurs œuvres numériques de manière directe, authentifiée et traçable.
• Gaming : les joueurs peuvent posséder des objets rares, échanger des skins ou acheter des parcelles dans des mondes virtuels.
• Musique & divertissement : albums, billets de concert, accès exclusifs… les NFT créent de nouveaux ponts entre artistes et fans.
• Immobilier : certains projets utilisent les NFT pour faciliter la propriété fractionnée ou simplifier les transferts de titres de propriété.

Les avantages des NFT

• Preuve de propriété : chaque NFT est unique et traçable, offrant une transparence totale sur son historique.
• Autonomie des créateurs : les artistes peuvent vendre sans intermédiaires, toucher des royalties à chaque revente et garder le contrôle sur leur œuvre.
• Expériences interactives : dans le gaming ou les métavers, les NFT offrent des expériences immersives où les objets ont une valeur réelle.

Les inconvénients à connaître

• Impact environnemental : certaines blockchains consomment beaucoup d’énergie, soulevant des questions écologiques.
• Volatilité : les prix peuvent fortement varier, ce qui rend les investissements risqués.
• Arnaques et droits d’auteur : certains NFT sont associés à des fraudes ou à des œuvres utilisées sans autorisation, ce qui crée des zones grises juridiques.

En conclusion

Les NFT ont changé la donne dans l’univers numérique. Grâce à la blockchain, ils permettent de certifier la propriété d’objets virtuels, de valoriser la création artistique et d’explorer de nouveaux usages interactifs.

Comme toute innovation, les NFT présentent à la fois de grandes opportunités et des défis à relever. En comprenant leur fonctionnement et en restant vigilant, on peut s’immerger dans cet univers de manière responsable et éclairée.

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Que vous soyez fidèle à votre écran d’ordinateur ou adepte du smartphone, vous vous êtes sûrement déjà demandé comment insérer le symbole de la livre sterling (£) dans un document, un email ou un message. Ne cherchez plus — ce guide pratique vous montre comment taper rapidement le symbole £ sur Mac, PC ou mobile.

💡 Et si vous devez envoyer des livres sterling à l’étranger, Tap vous permet de transférer des fonds facilement avec des frais réduits et un excellent taux de change. Envoyez, dépensez ou échangez des GBP ou EUR depuis l’app, partout dans le monde — et gratuitement entre utilisateurs Tap.

D’où vient le symbole de la livre sterling ?

La livre sterling (GBP), symbolisée par £, possède une histoire riche de plus de 1 200 ans. À l’origine, elle représentait un poids d’argent dans l’Angleterre anglo-saxonne. Elle est devenue monnaie officielle en 1694 sous le règne de Guillaume III.

Avec l’expansion de l’Empire britannique, la livre a gagné une importance mondiale. Même après des événements majeurs comme les guerres, la dévaluation de 1967 ou encore le Brexit, elle reste une devise clé de l’économie mondiale.

Selon la Banque d’Angleterre, le symbole £ vient de la lettre L, initiale du mot latin libra, qui signifiait « une livre de monnaie ». L’ajout de la barre horizontale (le trait du £) remonte au moins à 1660, sur un ancien chèque conservé par la banque.

📌 En anglais, le symbole £ est toujours placé avant le montant : par exemple, £10 signifie dix livres. Petite anecdote : en 1970, un billet de £20 représentant William Shakespeare a été émis — une tradition est née, celle d’honorer des figures emblématiques sur les billets et pièces.

Comment insérer le symbole £ dans un document ?

Maintenant que vous connaissez son origine, voyons comment taper le symbole £ selon l’appareil que vous utilisez.

Sur Mac

Le raccourci le plus rapide est :Option (ou Alt sur certains claviers) + 3

Cette combinaison fonctionne sur les claviers européens. Si vous avez un clavier américain, vous devrez peut-être ajuster votre configuration régionale pour activer les symboles monétaires européens.

Sur Windows

Sur la plupart des claviers Windows, utilisez simplement :Alt + 0163 (en utilisant le pavé numérique)

Ou, si vous avez un clavier britannique :Maj + 3 vous donnera directement le symbole £, souvent visible juste au-dessus du chiffre.

💡 Vous pouvez aussi copier-coller ce symbole directement ici : £

Sur smartphone (iOS ou Android)

Sur votre clavier mobile, appuyez sur le bouton ?123 ou symbole, puis cherchez le £ dans les options.

Si vous ne le voyez pas immédiatement :

• Maintenez le doigt appuyé sur le symbole $ (dollar)
• D’autres symboles monétaires apparaîtront, dont £

Sans clavier ? Aucun souci

Si vous utilisez Microsoft Word ou Google Docs, vous pouvez insérer le symbole sans taper quoi que ce soit.

Voici comment faire :

1. Dans Word, cliquez sur Insertion > Symbole > recherchez £
2. Dans Google Docs, allez dans Insertion > Caractères spéciaux > puis sélectionnez la catégorie Monnaie

Cliquez sur le symbole £ pour l’insérer dans votre texte.

Et voilà !

Vous savez désormais comment insérer le symbole £ facilement, que vous soyez sur ordinateur ou sur téléphone. Que ce soit pour un mail professionnel, une facture ou un post sur les réseaux, vous êtes prêt·e à taper £ en toute simplicité

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As we delve deeper into understanding the global financial market and the investment opportunities within it, here we break down the difference between the capital market and the money market. Together, these two markets make up a large portion of what is effectively known as the financial market.

Capital market vs money market

As we break down the money market vs capital market debate, let's first cover the basics of what each entails.

The capital market is where stocks and bonds are traded between financial institutions, professional brokers, and individual investors with a focus on long-term price appreciation.

The money market centers around the exchange of short-term debt between governments, commercial banks, corporations, and other financial institutions. It entails borrowing and lending for a limited amount of time - anything from an overnight transaction to up to a year at maximum.

What is the money market, exactly? 

The money market refers to the market where short-term debt securities are traded among financial institutions, commercial banks and corporations. These securities typically have maturities of one year or less and are considered to be very low-risk investments.

Money market securities include instruments such as Treasury bills, commercial paper, certificates of deposit (CDs), and repurchase agreements (repos). These securities are issued by governments, corporations, and financial institutions as a way to raise capital quickly and at a relatively low cost.

How to participate in the market

Investors can participate in the money market by purchasing these financial assets directly or through a money market mutual fund. Money market funds invest in a variety of short-term debt instruments and are designed to provide a safe and liquid investment option for individuals and institutions looking to park their cash reserves or earn a modest return while maintaining a high level of liquidity.

What is the capital market, exactly?

The capital market refers to the market where long-term securities, such as stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments, are bought and sold among investors and institutions. Unlike the money market, which deals with short-term debt securities, the capital market deals with longer-term investments that typically have maturities of more than one year.

The primary market and secondary market are two different stages of the capital market where securities are bought and sold.

Stages: primary market and secondary market

The primary market is where securities, such as stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments, are first issued by companies or governments to raise capital. This is often referred to as an initial public offering (IPO) or a new issue. In the primary market, the securities are sold directly to investors through underwriters or investment banks.

The secondary market, on the other hand, is where previously issued securities are bought and sold among investors. This market allows investors to buy and sell securities with other retail investors, rather than directly with the issuing company. Stock exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange is an example of a secondary market where investors can trade stocks that are listed on the exchange.

Equity market

The capital market can be divided into two main segments: the equity market and the debt market. The equity market, also known as the stock market, is where shares of publicly traded companies are bought and sold. 

Investors can purchase shares of stocks, which represent ownership in a company and entitle the shareholder to a portion of the company's profits, known as dividends. Investors can also profit from capital appreciation, which is the increase in the value of the stock over time.

Debt market

The debt market, on the other hand, is where companies and governments issue bonds to raise capital. Bonds are essentially loans made by investors to the issuer, which promises to pay back the principal amount with interest over a specified period. Bonds are generally considered to be less risky than stocks, but they also offer lower returns.

How to participate in the market

Investors can participate in the capital market through various means, such as buying capital market instruments like stocks or bonds directly, investing in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or through alternative investment vehicles such as private equity or hedge funds. 

The key differences between the capital market and money markets

The capital market can be more volatile than the money market due to the longer-term nature of investments, but it can also offer the potential for higher returns over time. It is an important component of the global financial system and can play a significant role in economic growth and development.

On the other hand, the money market can be an attractive option for investors who prioritize safety and liquidity over high returns. Because money market securities are short-term and typically low-risk, they offer a lower yield than other investments, such as stocks or corporate bonds.

However, money market instruments can be an important component of a diversified investment portfolio, particularly for those who are looking to minimize risk and maintain a stable source of income in the financial market.

Which is best for you?

Determining which market to engage in will depend on each person’s financial goals, risk management levels, and interest in the markets. Speak to your financial advisor or conduct the research on your own to establish which investment options best align with your needs and goals. Both options present strong pros and cons, the ultimate decision will come down to your unique preferences.

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