Computer Skills and Technological Advancements for Business Success

This report focuses on computer skills and their application in a business context, specifically for Suma Ltd., a retail store. It begins with an introduction to computer skills and their importance, followed by an analysis of business data using Microsoft Excel, including data and formula views. The report then delves into the benefits of Microsoft Office applications, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, highlighting their features and how they enhance business productivity. Furthermore, it examines technological advancements, including cloud services, electronic payments, and hardware solutions, and their role in reducing carbon footprint. The report concludes with recommendations for Suma Ltd. to leverage these technologies for improved efficiency and environmental sustainability. The report also includes references to relevant books, journals, and online resources.

Computer Skills

Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................1
2.0 PRESENTATION & EXPLANATION OF BUSINESS DATA..............................................1
3.0 THE BENEFITS OF MICROSOFT OFFICE TO BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY..................2
3.1 Microsoft Word.....................................................................................................................3
3.2 Microsoft Excel.....................................................................................................................3
3.3 Microsoft PowerPoint............................................................................................................4
4.0 TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS FOR BUSINESS...................................................4
4.1 Technology Advancement 1: Cloud services (Software)......................................................5
4.1 Technology Advancement 2: Electronic payments (Software).............................................5
4.1 Technology Advancement 3: (Hardware).............................................................................5
4.1 Technology Advancement 4: (Hardware).............................................................................5
5.0 CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................5
6.0 REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................7

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Computer skills refers to the set of expertise which an individual can gain in order to operate
a computer effectively (Wilson, Scalise and Gochyyev, 2015). This report is based on various
computer skills, especially abilities related to Microsoft office. The purpose of this report is to
advice on the benefits of using technology so that business organisations like Suma Ltd. can
enhance their productivity. Suma Ltd. is a retail store which deals in mainly five departments
which are Men, Women, Kids, Homeware and Canteen. This report aims to develop an excel
document supporting the data of this company’s monthly sales revenue. In this report, various
Microsoft office software applications are discussed along with data and formula view analysis
of the excel produced. At last, this report discusses various advanced technologies which can be
used by a business organisation to improve their productivity along with its limitations.
2.0 PRESENTATION & EXPLANATION OF BUSINESS DATA
In task 1 of this report, a table along with bar graph is developed with the aim to compare
sales revenue of six months for five departments. From the completed excel, various findings are
gained which are discussed as follows.
There are total of five departments of Suma Ltd. from which it has been observed that the
department of Women is resultant in highest revenue and department of Homeware is observed
to provide minimum revenue among all sections. Total revenue for all the months is £19800 in
which December month has managed to gain the highest revenue as £8600, November to be the
second highest sales month as 3200 and January is resultant to have the lowest sales revenue as
£1200. By reviewing the bar graph, it is easier to ascertain which department of which month is
most profitable. Women section of Suma Limited in December month was most profitable which
managed to score revenue of £3500 individually.
Total sales have been divided in terms of percentage in which 15% is set as a benchmark.
By using the function of “IF”, every month has judged on the basis whether it is capable enough
to manage the sales of at least 15% or not. After analysing the below screenshots of data and
formula view, it has been observed that only Homeware department of Suma Limited fails to
gain minimum bar of 15% sales revenue.
1

(Illustration 1: Data View)
(Illustration 2: Formula View)
3.0 THE BENEFITS OF MICROSOFT OFFICE TO BUSINESS
PRODUCTIVITY
Microsoft Office is a client software or suite in which involves number of applications which
benefits its users to record, manage and analyse the data. This software is used by numerous
business organisations and individuals to manage their important information. There are various
benefits of this software which can result in productivity and enhancing management of a
business organisation (Kurtz and et.al., 2015). Suma Ltd. can use this various applications of
software in order to gain ample benefits which are:
 Microsoft office is a Universal software which is used and applied by businesses of all
over the world which can bring transparency and ease in dealing with other businesses.
2

 Microsoft office is a client software with interface which is easy to be used by anyone,
this software does not even require professional training to be gained by its users.
There are various software applications of Microsoft office which are considered as ideal
for business organisations. These applications along with their useful features are mentioned
below:
3.1 Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a word processor application which assist its users to use various
templates as per their requirements. This application is used by the organisations of all over the
world. This incorporates designing, handling and even publishing of data which helps its users to
develop documents for both external and internal uses. Few features of Microsoft word are
discussed below:
 Mail merge: Usually, if an individual want to create a letter to share via mail; the user
needs to use various applications in which he/she can first create the data and then
convert it into a mail. But by using Mail merge function or feature of Microsoft office,
an individual can automatically prepare a letter template with appropriate contact. Suma
Limited can use this feature to save their time and send promotional mails to their
prospect customers.
 Different types of document: Microsoft word does not only facilitate to develop word
document, but it provides automatic templates for brochures, posters, booklet etc. The
above mentioned company can use this feature to develop material for their promotion
like posters.
 Build brand: Suma Limited is a small scale organisation but in order to develop their
business operations they need to build the fame of their brand in which this application
can be used (Kovacic, 2012).
3.2 Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a developer of spreadsheet which can help its users to develop sheets
and support its with graphs, charts and tables. Few features of this application is mentioned
below with can help Suma limited:
 Pivot tables: By using this feature, businesses like Suma Ltd. can manage huge data on
the basis of specific parameters so that whenever any data is required it can be acquired
in seconds.
3

 Conditional formatting: This feature allows to format a particular cell as per the
requirement. In produce excel for Suma Ltd. all amounts are formatted with the
denomination of currency symbol.
 Absolute References: This feature helps in saving the time of its user. This function is
used in produced excel, in this formula applied to one cell can be applied to multiple cells
without rewriting the formula every time (Page and Childers, 2012).
3.3 Microsoft PowerPoint
It is a tool which is used in giving a presentation by applying various visuals kicks and easy
assessing of information. Various features of this application which can benefit organisations
like Suma ltd are mentioned below:
 Smart Art: By using this feature, users of Suma ltd. can present their ideas to investors
by using diagrams, shapes, graphs, charts and images. It aids as a visual kick.
 Slide transitions and animations: This can be used to enhance overall look of the
presentation. The above organisation can make their information and data look way more
professional.
 Security and multipurpose are other benefits of Microsoft PowerPoint which can be
gained by Suma Limited and their data of sales revenue of various months can be saved
and used whenever required as this application involves encryption and user
authorization functions (Features of Microsoft PowerPoint, 2018).
4.0 TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS FOR BUSINESS
Technology in today’s world plays an important role due to which, it has become necessary
for all the business organisations to use technology so that they can attain growth and
development in market. Retail industry is considered to be the most promising and growth
sectors and there is a cut throat competition in this industry. Organisations dealing in this sector
uses various advanced technology so that they can reduce their carbon footprint and environment
can be sustained so that it can fulfil their agenda of enhancing brand equity.
There are various technological advancements (hardware and software) which can be
used by Suma Ltd. to reduce their carbon footprint. These advancements are discussed below:
4

4.1 Technology Advancement 1: Cloud services (Software)
Suma Limited can store their data and all the important information using cloud platform
instead of physical files which can reduce the physical paperwork and will benefit the
environment and organisation as well.
Limitation: This technology requires skilled workers which can result in increased costs.
4.1 Technology Advancement 2: Electronic payments (Software)
The above mentioned organisation is a retail firm which distributes various goods to their
end users. This organisation can exchange the goods against the payment which are made by
using electronic platforms it reduces the paperwork of physical receipts and will decrease their
carbon footprint.
Limitation: Government policies regarding electronic payment changes rapidly which can
even result in high taxation and also this payment mode is not appropriate for all the customers
(Kurnia and et.al., 2015).
4.1 Technology Advancement 3: (Hardware)
Usually all retail companies use energy which has major carbon footprint on society as non
renewable sources of energy are exploit. Suma limited can use solar energy in their stores which
is a hardware technological advancement and can benefit environment as well as organisation.
Limitation: Solar energy requires huge space and its installation is expensive.
4.1 Technology Advancement 4: (Hardware)
Suma ltd is a retail organisation which has its operations relied upon procurement of goods
from various suppliers which needs efficient transportation. But harmful gases involved in
transportation process results in increasing carbon footprint. To reduce this, vehicles having
electronic energy can be used.
Limitation: Vehicles having electronic energy are expensive and complicated to be
maintained (Basker, 2012).
5.0 CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that computer skills are necessary to grow a
business in competitive world. An excel document is developed in this report which is
interpreted using charts and graphs. Various Microsoft applications are also discussed by which
it has been observed that the features of these applications can actually help the organisation in
5

gaining competitive advantage. At last various technologies are also discussed which should be
used by retail companies to reduce their carbon footprint. By developing above report, it is
recommended that Suma limited should use cloud storage service and electronic vehicles for
logistics.
6

6.0 REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Basker, E., 2012. Raising the barcode scanner: Technology and productivity in the retail
sector. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics. 4(3). pp.1-27.
Kovacic, W. E., 2012. From Microsoft to Google: intellectual property, high technology, and the
reorientation of US competition policy and practice. Fordham Intell. Prop. Media & Ent.
LJ. 23. p.645.
Kurnia, S. and et.al., 2015. E-commerce technology adoption: A Malaysian grocery SME retail
sector study. Journal of Business Research. 68(9). pp.1906-1918.
Kurtz, M. M. and et.al., 2015. Social skills training and computer-assisted cognitive remediation
in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia research. 162(1-3). pp.35-41.
Page, W. H. and Childers, S. J., 2012. Antitrust, innovation, and product design in platform
markets: Microsoft and Intel. Antitrust LJ. 78. p.363.
Wilson, M., Scalise, K. and Gochyyev, P., 2015. Rethinking ICT literacy: From computer skills
to social network settings. Thinking Skills and Creativity. 18. pp.65-80.
Online
Features of Microsoft PowerPoint. 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<https://learn.filtered.com/blog/5-features-of-microsoft-powerpoint-you-should-be-
using>
7