Impact of Information Technology on Business: A Case Study of Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery

IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON BUSINESS
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Executive Summary
This study sheds light on the application of Point of sale system and its advantages in business
management process. As in the case scenario, there is a description of small nursery that
switched to point of sale system. Previously it is following to track manual registration system.
For individual products they were applying manual controlling process. With application of POS
system this company has not only accessed the work process in an accurate way but also it is
helpful to make the work process faster. The new system of management allows the owner to
give responsibility on the staffs and establish the goal of the company. It is recommended to use
the local area net work for more developed web based service in this firm. With the help of
centralised database process the firm can take ethical decision making and more constructive
business management process.
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Table of contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Findings and Analysis......................................................................................................................4
1) Advantages and disadvantages of the newly included POS system the company....................4
2) Competitive advantage gained by the business after the inclusion of POS..............................4
3) The positive outcomes of having a centralized Database............................................................5
4) Impact of POS in the process of decision making.....................................................................5
5) Recommendation of options of telecommunication in the POS business system.......................6
6) Risks faced by the company after including new POS system and the ways of controlling the
risks..................................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
Reference list...................................................................................................................................9
Appendices:...................................................................................................................................10
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Introduction
The study talks about the Impact of Information Technology on business. Taking the example of
a SME named Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery (FSGN), in Colorado the study is analysed.
The advantages and disadvantages of the newly included POS systems in the company have been
discussed. The competitive advantage that the SME will gain after the inclusion of this POS
System has also been analysed. The advantages of having a single database which can access by
multiple people and its importance in making better decisions have been discussed. A
recommendation for telecommunication options that shall help in the proper management of the
POS systems has also been talked about. The various security, privacy and confidentiality risks
that the company faces and the ways to overcome those risks have also been talked about.
Findings and Analysis
1) Advantages and disadvantages of the newly included POS system the company
Advantages:
Point of sale system can be integrated in the process of inventory control for a particular business
house. It generates purchase order automatically and can help to make reorders for different
items. It can help to decrease the work amount with expenses related to the running of business.
Additionally, product selection report is easily accessible in this method as in a venture; there is
no need to give focus on the selling amount. As suggested by Benjamin (2015), it will also show
the most popular item based on the selling percentage in one day. Requirement of update is
automatic in point of sale system where software is updated within a particular time (Refer to
appendix 1).
Disadvantages:
Timely update is necessary unless company may face security risks. Continuous and reliable
internet connection in POS system is necessary. Absence of reliable internet connection is not
effective to conduct a smooth business in the work process of the selected firm. It requires to
access with a monthly or yearly subscription fee. Using of credit and debits cards in point of sale
system may expose the financial vulnerability (Cummins and Cummins, 2018). As it is a web
based system it is mandatory to create connectivity in internet and hardware terminals.
2) Competitive advantage gained by the business after the inclusion of POS
POS system is helpful to conduct works faster and accurate within a company. There is no need
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