Introduction to Information Technology and its Impact on Marks and Spencer

Introduction to
Information
Technology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................3
Types of Application softwares that could be used by Marks & Spencer..................................3
Ethical and Social issues in the Digital world.............................................................................6
Impact of Information and Communication technology on Marks and Spencer in responding
to the customer' needs.................................................................................................................8
Role of IT in facilitating managers to manage business.............................................................9
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Information Technology is the use of information systems and computers that help in the
formation and processing of big data and information. It facilitates the storage and retrieval of
data and information contained in electronic form. It assists the big organizations in keeping
large information in an organised manner so as to ensure its retrieval as and when required. In
the retail industry, IT facilitates the businesses in managing the accounting and financial
systems, managing human resources and facilitating decision making (Devi and Rizvi, 2022). It
also helps in inventory management, distribution & warehouse management. The following
report will cover the description about use of information technology in context with Marks and
Spencer. It is a UK based multinational public limited company headquartered in London,
England and engaging in offering the products like clothing, home and food products. The report
will cover the types of softwares that could be used by Marks & Spencer. It will also explain the
ethical & social issues in digital world and the impact of IT in responding to the customers'
needs. Further, the report will also explain the role of IT in helping managers.
TASK
Types of Application softwares that could be used by Marks & Spencer
The businesses are required to use various types of softwares to facilitate the business
functions such as finance and accounting. This assists the big companies like Marks and Spencer
in efficiently storing, processing and accessing the information. IT plays a great role in the retail
industry as its supports various functions like invoice billing, digital marketing and other
automation processes that bring innovation in the organization that helps them to increase their
customer base by adding to the customers' experience that eventually increase their market share
in the retail industry (Malik, 2022). Through the adoption of IT, retail organizations bring
innovation such as virtual reality that impacts consumer behaviour and make them switched to
the products of company. In context with M & S, the application softwares will assist the
company in automating the tasks like inventory management , pricing regulations, warehouse
management etc.
The real time visualization will provide the company in controlling and managing the
warehouses and shop floors in online mode and in identifying the situation of out of stock to
ensure availability of stock all the time or as and when required. Marks and Spencer can use the

retail softwares in the areas like customer relationships, inventory management, marketing
management and human resource management etc. It helps the organizations in improving
efficiency of different business areas and thereby ensuring offering of quality services to the
customer. It helps the businesses in saving time as well as efforts. In context with M & S, it can
utilise the following application softwares to improve the operations of its large business-
 Retail ERP systems – This is an Enterprise Resource Planning software that integrates
various components for managing and controlling all the areas or stages of business.
Those modules or components include Financial resource management, supply chain
management and customer & employee management etc. This software assists the
businesses in resource planning such as obtaining the customers' data like their needs and
preferences, purchase history and location to decide the target market. It also helps in
planning strategies for marketing, sales and pricing on the basis of collected information
and marketing research as well (Egerton-Doyle and Ford, 2022). ERP systems also
facilitate financial planning by supporting and providing the accurate money flows and
facilitate in commercial transactions as well. As this system supports in making balance
between the orders for stock and warehouses, it helps in inventory optimization that
facilitates effective Inventory management. It also facilitates in planning for inventory
requirement. The system supports project management module by categorising the
product and controlling their life cycles. It does so by keeping record of the expiry dates
of products of the company. In context with M & S, it has created a joint venture with
Ocado to deliver online efficient and fast delivery of its food products. Also, the company
has implemented SAP ERP for financials and has took partnership with Deloitte to bring
improvement in payment process.
 Retail CRM (Customer Relationship management) – This software helps the businesses
in managing company's relationships and managing interactions with existing as well as
potential customers. It basically improves the relationships of business with customers to
ensure growth and success of the organization. Businesses offer real time experience to
their customers by using this technology for improving customer interaction. It helps the
company in keeping track of the sales made by the customers. By this, companies can
store the information regarding existing and potential customers like their contact
information , service issues, reviews, shopping record etc. It helps the businesses in