ZARA is a Spanish clothing and accessories retailer based in Arteixo, Galicia. Founded in 24 May ,1975 by Amancio Ortega and RosalÃa Mera, the brand is renowned for it’s ability to deliver new clothes to stores quickly and in small batches. Zara needs just two weeks to develop a new product and get it to stores, compared to the six-month industry average, and launches around 10,000 new designs each year. Zara was described by Louis Vuitton Fashion Director Daniel Piette as “possibly the most innovative and devastating retailer in the world. The company produces about 450 million items a year for its 1,770 stores in 86 countries. The Zara has made of use of Information Systems (IS) and to advance in many areas. This has resulted in huge success for the company. This included application of Business intelligence (BI) involves technologies, practices for collection, integration and applications to analyze and Continue reading
Business Information Systems
Case Study: Success of Starbucks Mobile Payment Application
Starbucks redefined highly competitive coffee shop business and successfully created an uncontested market by turning the simple coffee drinking experience into a way of life experience by drastically redefining the coffee shop environment by adding music, Wi-Fi, relaxed seating and luxurious interiors. Till Starbucks disrupted the traditional coffee shop market most of the focus was on the price, location and quality of coffee shops. Starbucks innovative value proposition includes wide variety of mostly coffee based menu along with other types of drinks that catered to wide range of audience who are willing to pay top buck for the luxurious and relaxed interiors that are perfect environment for socializing with friends and relax. Another important aspect that Starbucks focused was on the quality of customer service with an exclusive aim of maximum customer delight and they meticulously recruited and trained the best talent in the industry that has added huge value Continue reading
Types of Information Systems Used in Business
The implementation of the information system in the development of the business is most necessary now days. For most business, there are varieties of requirements for information. In every organization different level of management need different type of information for development of business. For example, senior management needs information to help with their business planning. Middle management needs more detailed information to monitor and control business activity. The employees at lower management need information to help them to perform their duties. In this global world information systems are playing important role in any organizations to meet their strategic goals. For the development of the business it very important to have good information system in each department of organization such as accounting, finance, marketing and human resource department to perform business operations. In addition, the technical terms of information system refers to the interaction between algorithmic process and the technology. The Continue reading
ERP Support and Maintenance
You have some decent computerized applications running in your enterprise. But you feel that you are actually leveraging the benefits of automation. Your inventory levels have not come down and items in slow moving category are on the rise. You are not getting the required Management Information Reports (MIS) as you would like to get. You realize that it is time to have a fresh look at your systems. You may approach a company that offers ERP consultancy as well as ERP support services. Generally these kinds of companies have expertise in business process re-engineering, project life cycle management. They may offer ERP support services like Enterprise Information Technology Policy, Planning, Requirements Analysis, Product configuration, Product Integration, Test and Evaluation etc. Based on your consultant’s recommendation, you may go for ERP implementation. There are many companies approved by ERP vendors who undertake ERP configuration, customization and implementation. These companies bring Continue reading
What is Dumpster Diving?
In the world of information technology, dumpster diving is a technique which is used to retrieve information that could be used to carry out a fraudulent activity. Many people throw away their sensitive documents that contain their personal information without destroying them properly that a fraudster can find in trash cans and as a result use this information to commit a fraud. Dumpster diving is not too meant to probing through the trash for noticeable resources like identity numbers or passwords written down on papers. Apparently useless information like a phone list, calendar, or organizational chart can be used to obtain valuable information. Shopping, can easily memorize your details including name, address and the last three numbers of your credit card during the short time it takes you to write a check. Dumpster Diving in Process There is another type of computer-related “trash” that we might not consider. In the Continue reading
ERP Planning
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is an integrated information system to take care of all departments within an enterprise. An ERP system generally includes software for sales, manufacturing, materials management, accounts receivable and payable, general ledger, warehousing, transportation etc. Many ERP systems also offer human resource management module or HRIS. Lot of effort is required for ERP planning and implementation. First step of automating your enterprise is to set up a committee to look into the requirement and feasibility of various ERP systems, which may lead eventually to ERP planning. The first stage is ERP planning and organizing. Two types of questionnaires may be prepared. One questionnaire shall address the needs of the organization to collect the information “as-is” and the second questionnaire to compare various features required in the new system (ERP). This questionnaire helps you to shortlist an ERP vendor. Then you need to define the scope of your Continue reading