Operation Management Practices and Technology Integration in ASDA

This report analyzes the operation management practices and technology integration in ASDA, one of the largest supermarket chains in the UK. It examines the impact of operation management on organizational work efficiency and the use of technology in improving productivity. The report also discusses supporting functions and their role in optimizing operations.

BM563 Operations and Service
Management

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BOODY...............................................................................................................................3
1: Operation management within company.................................................................................3
2: Impact of operation management on organizational work efficiency.....................................4
3: Technology embedded within working...................................................................................5
4: Supporting functions................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is the area of organization which is being concerned with the process
of controlling and designing the process of redesigning business operations in the production of
services and goods. ASDA is the chosen business for the analysis in this report. ASDA is one of
the biggest supermarket chain of UK which tend to provide products on the bases of
psychographic market segmentation by which customer requirements can be fulfilled. Evaluation
on the operation management practices of ASDA is being done in this report, with that analysis
on the impact of operational management upon the organizational working of the company is
also being done within the report. With that Identification of organizational approaches in terms
of embedding the technology within the process and the analysis on the effectiveness of the
embedded technology is being done within the report.
MAIN BOODY
1: Operation management within company
Operation management practices refers to the methods of operating an business in terms of
managing daily practices, such that integrated concentrated efforts can be made for the
achievement of the desired target. In order to manage the organizational operations organization
tend to use different approached which include activities like supply chain management (Souza-
Monteiro and Hooker, 2017). This is the organizational approach in which different
organizational steps are being integrated within different approaches. This include organizational
actions like development of goods from the raw material to the final product which is to be
provided to the customer.
Now since ASDA is an retail store due to which it uses different approaches for proving
organizational services to the customers. Following are the different operational management
approaches. Reducing inventory is an organizational step in which the company tend to make
business collaboration for proving products as per customer requirement, rather than developing
product. Through this approach it ensures that it is able to provide different alternatives to
customers for a same type of product (Roy, 2018). Through this approach company motivate
customers to purchase products which is outside of their shopping list and because of which sales
are also being increased.
Restructuring of warehouses and transportation network, is the approach in which ASDA tend to
integrate within its traditional working approach. Through this approach it ensures that it is able

to achieve a proper monitoring of the product availability and with that also tend to install a
centralized working. Through this approach it ensures that it is able to attain elevated level of
work output by which the overall quality standards of the organization can also be accomplished.
This is important step for the organization because in the present time the company tend to
supply its services through the means of internet as well. Due to which the transaction period of
the product is being increased rather than traditional means of in stores sales (Ramanathan,
Subramanian and Vijaygopal, 2017). Therefore, because of this approach ASDA has to
implement sensor based mechanism for product placement by which it ensures that it is able to
accomplish high level of work efficiency and also the documentation time consumption is also
being reduced.
Increased number of retail store, is an organizational step in which ASDA install a new store at
different geographic location by which the customers are able to make purchases within the
shortest span of time to fulfil their requirements (Bentham, 2018). This with this approach it
ensures that it is able to achieve desired working objective by which the chances of goal
accomplishment can be increased.
2: Impact of operation management on organizational work efficiency
ASDA tend to guarantee that it is able to achieve high level of work output and also at the same
time provide uniform quality of services to the customers. Therefore, because of which company
tend to implement several operational management practices by which it tend to ensure that
customer requirements are being fulfilled (Odudu, 2020). This is being achieved by making
appropriate changes in the product placement, this is being achieved by analysing the daily
organizational sales. Then on that bases forecasting the expected sales which the organization
can achieve, thus with this approach it ensures that it is able to limit the organizational
expenditures to be made upon purchasing the unnecessary items. But rather than concentrating
efforts on making concentrated efforts on the bases of forecasted probability, thus with this
approach company make sure that initial capital expenditures are reduced. Due to which overall
organizational profitability is being increased and also space consumption of unnecessary
products within the warehouses is reduced. Through this approach organizational capacity to
introducing new products to the customers is also being increased by which high returns can be
achieved.

Operation management is also important for the organization because since ASDA is an retail
organization which tend to provide retail products to the customer. Due to which organization
has to make sure that appropriate products are being provided to the customers, such that they
are able to identify the specific organizational requirements. With that the company also has to
make sure that the pricing which is being established upon the organizational products, tend to
ensure customers that they are able to purchase a value of money product (Moran and et.al,
2020). Thus with this approach it ensures that it is able to achieve high organizational sales,
through this sustainable economic growth of the company can be achieved.
Operation management is also important for ASDA because since company is an retailer,
therefore it tend to develop several business collaborations. Through this it tend to make sure that
it is able to achieve high sales and also at the same time it can guarantee customers that company
is able to fulfil their different types of requirements. Thus with this approach it ensures that it is
able to attract different types of customers towards the organization. This also becomes
important for the organization because of the fact that ASDA provide products on the bases of
psychographic market segmentation. Therefore through this approach it ensures that customers
from different cultural, age groups or economic background are being attracted towards the
organization. Thus with this approach it ensures that it is able to reach elevated sales and also at
the same time diversity in customer base is also being achieved.
Implementation of technological advancement within the working area is an important
step for ASDA, this happens the corporation has to make sure that it is able to achieve high sales
by which strong financial growth can be achieved (Mesa and et.al, 2020). Therefore, in order to
achieve this company tend to monitor its performance on various aspects then on that bases take
appropriate steps such that it is able to achieve high sales by which the return of investment can
also be increased.
3: Technology embedded within working
ASDA tend to provide retail services to a wide range of customer base and due to which in
order to maintain high level of work productivity and efficient quality of services to customers,
organization tend to integrate several technological advancement within the working process.
Through this approach business make sure that its consumers are having best in class services,
following are the different ways in which technology can be embedded within the working
process of ASDA.

Computerised monitoring and documentation of stock availability is the technological
advancement which is often being used by the ASDA. This is done for the purpose of stock
management by which company tend to make sure that stock availability is being maintained by
which specific customer requirements can be fulfilled. Stock monitoring is also important
because company tend to evaluate the daily sales and customer’s buying preferences, on which
bases product placement is done.
ASDA is having its branches at various geographic locations and due to which company
tend to establish internal communication system and personal login ID’s to its employees
(Martin-Neuninger and Ruby, 2020). At which the employee is only provided the specific
information as per its job profile. By which it can make sure that employee is empowered to take
appropriate decision which is required to accomplish a target. Thus with this approach it makes
sure that the problem solving skills of the employee is increased and also with that company is
being able to achieve high work productivity. This happens because since ASDA tend to
integrate communication channels because of which it is able to implement collaborative
approach of the employees by which chances of goal achievement can be increased.
Customer data storage is also an type of technology which is being used within ASDA,
this is done because company has to develop a proper communication bridge with the customers.
Due to which company has to store the critical information about the customers, this include
information like their banking id as well. It happens because in the present time customers prefer
to make payment through mobile transactions or cards because of which ASDA is having a
proper documentation of sensitive information (Filimonau and Gherbin, 2017). Therefore,
organization installed advanced data security steps and other equipments like card readers and
many more. Thus through this it ensures that it is able to provide customers best in class services,
which is able to fulfil their requirements.
ASDA also use to advertise itself to different types of customers, by the use of social
media marketing and for which the organization uses different approaches. By which it make
sure that it is able to maintain customer’s high level of engagement with the organization.
Through which it ensures that it is able to company is able to identify the level of experience
which the customers achieve with the organization by which loyalty towards the corporation is
also being amplified.

In the present time ASDA provide its services to the customers, through the means of
traditional stores and also with that company provide its services through online means. This
include services like selling products through the means of internet, by which the organizational
customers can remotely assess the type of service which they want to achieve with the company
(Cousins and et.al, 2019). This approach is highly being used by the customers in the present
time of COVID-19 in which customer travelling is being affected due to lock-down because of
which organizational sales are being done through the means of online means.
4: Supporting functions
Organizations like ASDA tend to perform several operations within the activity of operation
management and due to which it has to implement several supporting functions, through which it
ensures that it is able to achieve desired target within minimum expenditures. Following are the
different types of supporting functions which are being linked to the activities of operation
management.
Planning, this is the first stage in which different organizational requirements are being identified
in such a way that company is being able to ensure that all the requirements are being taken into
consideration. By which a proper time is being allotted to each task, through which the desired
target can be achieved in minimum time consumption and also at the same time organizational
teams can be developed. Thus with this approach ASDA can make sure that it is able to increase
its working efficiency because since specific tasks are being allotted to the customers on the
bases of their expertises (ChrIStoPhEr, 2018). Therefore, because of this approach it ensures that
chances of goal achievement can be increased.
Optimization of quality check is also very important for ASDA, this happens because of the
fact that company is well known for its high end quality products at an affordable pricing.
Therefore, by proving proper products as per the customer requirements organization can ensure
that its customer base is able to achieve best in class products. Through this approach,
customer’s level of engagement with the organization is increased and because of which chances
of brand switching is reduced.
In order to properly manage the organizational operations, ASDA tend to ensure that it is
implement proper monitoring upon the supply chain activities. Also with that through this use of
scheduled monitoring in work improvisations can also be made by which ASDA can accomplish

a high level of work productivity. This is important for the organization because since ASDA has
to properly manage its inventory by which it ensures that it is able to accomplish high level of
work productivity.
Developing design and new product availability is also an important factor which is being
linked to the operation management practices, this happens because of the fact that since ASDA
is able to develop a proper bidirectional communication with the customers. Therefore,
organization can use this to develop specific products such that customer requirements can be
fulfilled (Chaudhari, 2020). Thus by proving specific products which are able to fulfil customer
requirements company can make sure that it is able to increase the customer loyalty. Thus with
this approach efficient organizational sales can be accomplished for ASDA because customers
are motivated to purchase the product which is able to fulfil their requirements.
Thus it can be identified that organization tends to ensure that it is able to reduce the
initial investment for the product development. Through this approach it ensures that it is able to
develop a positive organizational image in front of the customers by which they loyalty towards
the company is also increased (Birades, Cholley and Gillieron, 2020). This step will resource
organization with an efficient economic growth and also at the same time company can achieve a
proper competitive edge.
CONCLUSION
From the evaluation it can be concluded that organizations have to insure that it is able to
achieve high work productivity and due to which have to analyse the internal operations of the
organization. Through which it ensure that it is able to develop a proper working process by
which customer’s chances of brand switching can be reduced. This is important for organization
because in this preset time customers are having a different opportunities for fulfilling their
requirements. Therefore, with this approach it ensures that it is able to achieve maintain its
economic growth within the market place. Also it can be concluded that organizations have to
implement different approaches for promoting itself to the customer base and because of which
have to take several necessary steps.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
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Chaudhari, V., 2020. Business Model Development Towards Event Management in Manchester,
UK.
ChrIStoPhEr, M., 2018. Supply management chain risk 09. Leading Procurement Strategy:
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in the UK grocery retail sector. Journal of Cleaner Production. 167. pp.1184-1194.
Martin-Neuninger, R. and Ruby, M.B., 2020. What does food retail research tell us about the
implications of coronavirus (COVID-19) for grocery purchasing habits?. Frontiers in
Psychology. 11.
Mesa, J.C.P. and et.al, 2020. Management strategies and collaborative relationships in the
agrifood supply chain. Evidence from the horticultural sector in Spain.
Moran, D. and et.al, 2020. UK food system resilience tested by COVID-19. Nature food. 1(5).
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Odudu, O., 2020. Feeding the nation in times of crisis: the relaxation of competition law in the
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from UK retail sector. Production Planning & Control. 28(6-8). pp.478-488.
Roy, S., 2018. Effects of customer experience across service types, customer types and
time. Journal of Services Marketing.
Souza-Monteiro, D. and Hooker, N., 2017. Comparing UK food retailers corporate social
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