Final answer:
The exporter did not properly complete the step of conducting market research.
Step-by-step explanation:
The step in the exporting process the exporter did not properly complete is conducting market research.
In this case, the U.S. company failed to understand the electrical current requirements in Italy and did not make the necessary changes to their kitchen appliances to make them compatible with the Italian electricity supply.
By properly conducting market research, the exporter would have been aware of this difference and could have modified the appliances to meet the needs of the Italian market.