Analyzing the Impact of Digital Technologies on SME Operations

This report analyzes the influence of digital technologies on the business activities of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), using Educ8 Group as a case study. The introduction provides background on Educ8 Group, a UK-based education and training firm, and outlines the research objectives, questions, and rationale, emphasizing the importance of digital technology in enhancing business operations, storage, and distribution. The literature review explores various digital technologies and their impact on business functions, including marketing, storage, and distribution, while also discussing the positive effects on business efficiency. The research methodology section details the application of positivism research philosophy and a deductive research approach, along with a descriptive research design. Primary and secondary data analysis methods are employed. The report examines the impact of digital technology, focusing on digital tools and techniques used for storage and distribution of goods and services at the firm. The report concludes with recommendations and a reflection on alternative research methodologies. The study aims to provide recommendations for Educ8 Group, by assessing the impact of digital technologies on their operational efficiency.

UNIT 11 RESEARCH
PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Research proposal ..................................................................................................................3
Introduction and Background Study.......................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
Primary and Secondary Analysis............................................................................................6
Research Methodology....................................................................................................................7
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION.............................................................................9
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................19
REFLECTION...............................................................................................................................19
Alternative research methodologies that are used by Educ8 Group.....................................20
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................22

INTRODUCTION
Digital technologies take in consideration a good range of operations that are taken in
thought process will benefit in significant growth in functions and achieving of targeted business
objectives and aims supporting good handling of operations and actions that will aid to an
effective management of business activities and operations followed by the firm. At SME level,
use of digital technology will help in increase in functionality and achieving the set operations
and business activities that will support the generation of a good quantity of revenue and
handling of trade functions in better way (Fitzgerald and et.al., 2014).
Research proposal
Topic
Influence of Digital technologies on business activities of a SME
Introduction and Background Study
Company background:
Educ8Group is a UK based education and training firm that provides the better
management of study materials and other education related services. With the incorporation of
digital technologies, this firm has developed an effective database about the children’s or
scholars who are associated with firm in order to provide them effective educational and other
supportive services. We have chosen this firm because it helps the organisation to carry out their
learning processes and its effective storage with distribution in much effective and significant
manner, using latest digital tools and techniques.
Aim
“To analyse the influence of digital technology on storage and distribution of products
and services within a firm- A case study of duc8 Group”
Objectives
 To identify various digital technology used in a business.
 To analyse the influence laid by a digital technology on storage and distribution of an
organisation.
 To identify various digital tools used in storage and distribution of goods and services at
a firm.
 To provide proper recommendations and conclusion over actions and operations that is
followed by Educ8 Group.
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Research Questions
Some major research questions are as follows:
 Have firm effectively used the digital technologies?
 What effect do Digital technologies have on storage and distribution of Educ8 group?
 Is use of digital technology beneficial for the firm?
 Does the use of digital tools and techniques have positive impact on firm?
Rationale
The effective research by the researcher will look after the proper assessment of
operations and thus will help in gaining an understanding about the growth measures that are
been undertaken by an SME that will contribute to its growth. Thus, will lead to the rise in the
effectiveness of the operations and thus, will help in carrying out the data assessment process for
identifying the impact laid by digital technologies on operations and growth of a SME.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Terminology of Various Digital Technologies in Business
According to Fitzgerald and et,al., 2014, Digital technology are systems, tools, resources
and devices that generate, process data or store. This also includes online games, social media,
multimedia, applications, cloud computing, mobile devices and productivity. It analysis the
various digital technologies which help in business more simple to operate and covers the entire
organizational department. In firm various tools of digital technology helps to increase business
make marketing in enterprise. Various firms use social media to do marketing with their
products. For example Educ8 Group used social media to do marketing for their product and post
their organizational content as well as pictures on their social media. The digital technology help
business to easier and the digital resource also make simple to operate business.
Apart from that various digital technology edges exists digital information and physical
resources together creates revenue, value and success with organisation. As per the view of
Blackwell and et.al., 2014, digital technology covers product management, project management,
digital marketing, app development etc. Now a day’s digital technology in business opens many
doors to make success in business. As it makes many new procedures where business can exists.
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For example- in business the digital technology help to selling goods and services online
for the help for various applications like Flip-kart, Amazon, Voonik etc. those applications are
help to start business and also purchase products for the business. Digital technology make
modern world now every person in business world operate business with the help to digital
technologies. The digital technology in small enterprise helps to optimizing each and every
record.
Now days' computer have to record all business data which have an insert all important
information which is related business like product record and their process details, selling and
supplying details etc. each transaction is also record in small computer and it also helps to store
large number of data or store long time, the digital technology in business reduce paper work
because each procedure in business operate by the machines.
In accordance Henderson and et.al., (2015), stated that the digitalisation in business also
support many security systems like automated process technology which provides the best
security of business and due to minimal resources consumed processing business activities. To
talk about the security for business much procedures are covered security system of business
like finger print system, face reading system etc., which are help to only allows to see important
information which operate business.
As per the view Oldham and Da Silva, (2015), several technology now days are used in
the firm but digital technology not only increased the functionality of a business but also effects
on organizational working performance like digital marketing which helps in marketing of Educ8
Group products. Various digital technology procedures are used in a firm which helps to make
strategic decisions and adopts the latest technologies products like iPHONE, iPAD etc.
Impact of digital technology on storage and distribution of a firm
As per the view Al Helal and et.al., 2016, digital technology on storage and distribution
of a firm comprised of technology that automatically transforms sales into orders and filament
process. The impact of digital technology on distribution firm helps to making business easily
the retails business holds the functionality of business like retail business adopts the online
transaction procedures an also holds online delivery processing which help business growing and
increased productivity. In the distribution of firm defied the retails business which selling their
product to adopts business tactics and their resources which help to increased business. Influence
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of digitalisation on the storage, warehousing and distribution of firm analyse business resources
to implement all kinds of products used by an organization. The digital technology impacts
always is positive on business because it main impacts going to business product and its cost,
that impact some time positive and some time is negative.
According to Brown, 2015, the digital technology impacts are defined the role in of
procedure which is used in digital world and those resources are make Morden world. The
digitalization impacts on the storage system many ways, like store numerous data which help for
the organization to most of the data in business. The impact of digitalization is also helped to
increased sale in organization for example – Mark ad Spencer are selling their product and make
promotion with help for social media, the give advertisement on media and also post details
about the product and exclusive deals which is increased sales in business and also increased
productivity in organizations.
As per the view of Selwyn, 2016, the major impact of digitalization in distribution of firm
is to increase technology to manage all resources which maintains popularity of a business. The
impact of digitalization on storage and distribution of firm has been analysed many technologies
are used in business and that directly impacts goes to the business cost because now days many
people are using the latest technology products and their cost is high like Iphone, the latest
technologies' laptop etc. for the increasing selling the organizations cost is also become high and
their product popularity is also high. The main impacts on digital technology on storage and
distribution firm comprised the Educ8 Group is retail firm which is selling numerous products in
cheap prices and digit technology impact on firms to save all transfection in the machine which
is called computer where all are transaction and data are saved secure. The digitalization main
impact going to distribution firm is to maintain the all-working promotional and marketing
techniques of organizations. Which help to increased popularity of products and their firms
working capabilities?
Primary and Secondary Analysis
For a research process, the primary and secondary process of data analysis and collection
has been used to help in effective management of business operations that helps in good rise in
the effective handling of data and enabling its analysis. The basic primary research process will
help in effective increase in the effective management of the business operations that are been
taken in consideration by firm (Mazzarol, 2015). It involved the use of close or open-ended
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questionnaire to generate the data. On other hand, Secondary research process will benefit in
better improvement in achieving of goals and actions taken in thought process by the company. It
uses analysis of magazines, journals and other data sources to generate the output.
Research Methodology
Once the literature review part is accomplished in the research study, then next chapter is
research methodology that helps the researcher in solving issues of research problems (Pangestu,
and Dewi 2017).
Research methodology is a systematic procedure for collecting, analysing, assessing and
interpreting information through which effective solutions can be found out. With the help of
research methodology, a researcher can take effective decisions by collecting information related
to topic.
Research Philosophy- Research philosophy is the actual phenomena that aids in
clarification of the aim and objectives of research study. It allows scholar to understand the aim
of study in deep manner so as solution can be easily obtained (Salemink, Strijker and Bosworth,
2017). Positivism and interpretivism are two major kinds of research philosophies that help
scholar in solving issues of research. In the positivism research philosophy, researcher focuses
on the authentic information which assists in obtain logical solution of research problem. On the
other hand, interpretvitism research philosophy, various models, concepts and theories are used
by scholar for understanding study and finding out solutions to research problems. In the current
study, positivism research philosophy has been applied by scholar for assessing the impact of
digital technology within company (Oldham and Da Silva, 2015). The utilization of Positivism
will help the scholar to collect suitable and effective data, which is authentic in nature. This will
increase the preciseness of the research process undertaken by the data investigator.
Research Approach- This is another effective method in research methodology that helps
researcher in conducting investigation in authentic and accurate manner. It is an effective master
plan that allows individual to understand the aim and collect information accordingly. There are
major two methods that is inductive and deductive research approach. In the present study,
researcher has applied deductive research approach for analysing implications of digital
technology within business enterprise. By the help of this method, scholar can effectively
understand actual objectives and conduct investigation in a very appropriate manner
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(Westerman, Bonnet and McAfee, 2014). The proper deductions which are been made by the
scholar assisting carry out its operations of company and actions plans.
Research Design- Research design is an effective tool that helps in management of business
functions. This assists in good increase in effective tools or techniques that will help the data
investigator to analyse and interpret data and information in an effective and effective
manner. For the current project, the researcher has used the descriptive format of research
design. The selected measure of research design will help the firm to provide the in detail
description of the data assessment activity that is executed to identify the impact of digital
technologies.
Research Techniques- The techniques that are followed by firm for effective management
of the operations and taking in consideration different sort of actions and activities to gain the
proper idea about the collection and handling of data measures. For current research,
researcher has taken Qualitative research technique that involves close-ended questionnaire
(Ivanova, 2017). This will narrow down the research and will make it more accurate and
precise for the data scholar.
Data Collection- Data collection helps scholar in gathering information about subject.
Without data collection method, it is difficult to perform study and get outputs. Data
collection is a systematic procedure that is conduct by scholar for collect information. It may
be either primary or secondary. Data collection method is divided into two parts that is
primary and secondary (Baller Dutta and Lanvin, 2016). If information is collected by
primary sources such as survey, interview, questionnaire, group discussion etc, the data
collection is known as primary data collection. Besides this, if data is collected by secondary
sources such as books, journals, online blog, newspapers, online articles etc then it is known
as secondary data collection. For assess the impact of digital technology, researcher has used
primary data collection method under which survey have conducted for collect information
about digital technology within Educ8 Group (Hess and et.al., 2016). The use of primary data
collection process using Questionnaire will help the scholar to get the clear idea about
outlook of people on digital technologies.
Sampling- For effective management of the research process, proper sampling of data is
needed to be followed. The proper sampling of data helps in analysis of vast range of people
to get variant data. For the current research report, random sampling involves 20
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employees as respondents from Educ8 Group which will be analysed. It will
provide the user with a clear idea to get proper outputs from the respondents selected to carry
out selected research process.
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name:
Gender:
Contact Number:
Is the Educ8 Group well aware about the various digital technologies used within the firm?
 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
Is Digital technologies are well implemented for the storage and distribution activities within
firm.
 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
Are digital tools and techniques used by Educ8 Group are adequate?
 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
What sort of digitalisation is taken in consideration at Educ8 Group that will help to handle
operations in better way?
 Use of Stock management system
 Handling of orders by Digital system
 Online billing and inventory management system
 Digitalization of placing and distribution of items in the stock of the firm
Are the measures selected by the Educ8 Group fulfils requirement of the firm in an effective
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and significant manner?
 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
Have the usage of digitalisation have improved the performance of an organisation?
 Yes
 No
 Not sure
Are workers at Educ8 Group effectively trained to use various digital technologies or tools?
 Yes
 No
 Not sure
Has use of Digitalisation improved the customer satisfaction level of Educ8 Group?
 Yes
 No
 Not sure
Has the use of digitalisation improved the effectiveness of a firm?
 Yes
 No
 Not sure
Does use of digitalisation have any positive impact on the organisation?
 Yes
 No
 Not sure
Which digital technique you think can be implemented by firm for improving its performance in
storage and distribution?
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 Implementation of ERP model
 Using the Mobile Application
 Connecting various departments of organisation
 All the above
Any recommendations:
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Theme 1: Awareness about various digital technologies
Is the Educ8 Group well aware about the various digital technologies used within
the firm? Frequency
Yes 15
No 2
Not Sure 3
Total 20
Interpretation: On the basis of the research process that is carried out by the Educ8 Group to
analyse the impact of digital technologies on the storage and distribution at a SME, 20
respondents were participated in the data investigation process, 15 respondents agreed that the
cited business entity is aware about the digital technologies, while 2 denied it. On the other hand,
3 candidates were not sure about it. Thus, based on the output, this can be interpreted that the
cited firm is well aware about the digital technologies that are used within the firm.
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Theme 2: Extent of implementation of digital technologies in firm
Is the Digital technologies are well implemented for the storage and distribution
activities within the firm. Frequency
Yes 16
No 2
Not Sure 2
Total 20
Interpretation: Based on the investigation of data at Educ8 Group, this can be said that 16
candidates said that digital technologies are well implemented within the firm while 2
participants denied it. Besides this, 2 other candidates were not sure about the effectiveness of
implementation of digital technologies at Educ8 Group. Thus, based on the outcomes received, it
can be said that the digital technologies are well implemented within the firm.
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