Unit 11 Research Project: Impact of Digital Transformation on Business

This research project examines the impact of digital transformation on the wholesale delivery industry, focusing on the changes in business operations, profitability, and the need for digitalization within the sector. The report includes a literature review exploring existing research on digital technology's influence on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), consumer behavior, and market competition. Primary research was conducted using a survey of 30 professionals at Norsk European Wholesale, focusing on their perspectives on the implementation of digital technologies. The findings reveal the perceived need for digitalization, its impact on profitability, and the comfort levels of employees with digital tools. The report analyzes the survey data, presenting themes related to the positive impact of digitalization, the customer experience, and employee comfort levels. The project concludes with a discussion of the findings, recommendations, and consideration of alternative research methodologies.

UNIT 11 RESEARCH PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
P1 Produce a research proposal that clearly defines a research question or hypothesis,
supported by a literature Review............................................................................................3
P2 Examine appropriate research methods and conduct primary and Secondary research.. .7
P3 Conducting primary and secondary research using suitable know-how for a business
research project.....................................................................................................................10
P 4 Apply the suitable analytical tool for analysing research finding..................................12
P 5 Communicate research outcomes in an appropriate manner for the intended audience.13
Research Findings .........................................................................................................................22
P 6 Reflection on the effectiveness of various methods of research applied for
accomplishing objectives of the business research project.................................................23
P 7 Consider alternative research methodologies and lessons learnt in view of the outcomes.
..............................................................................................................................................23
Recommendation ..........................................................................................................................24
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................25
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................26

INTRODUCTION
In present scenario, digital technology has the changed the way of doing business. It has
contributed a lot a towards bringing the positive change in business system. Digital technology
has assisted an enterprise in reinventing as well as reimagine the business structure. It has aid an
enterprise in eliminating the hurdles which might occurs in delivering the services to customers
and informing them about the products offered by an organisation. Digital transformation has
created several opportunities for the business, at the same time has created the major challenge.
It has provided business entity an opportunity to offer additional facility to customers and
provide them with high level of satisfaction. No by utilising the digital technology an
organisation can expand business operation at very low cost. An enterprise can easily promote
brand, product or services at domestic as well as international level.
The purpose of the research project is to analyse the changes in the business activity of
wholesale delivery industry due to digital transformation. It also intends to have focus on
identifying the needs as well as importance of digitalisation. Assignment emphasizes on
analysing the impact of digital technology on the growth as well as profitability of small medium
enterprise.
P1 Produce a research proposal that clearly defines a research question or hypothesis, supported
by a literature Review.
Background
The research will be helpful in highlighting the impacts of the digital technology in the
trade practices of wholesale devilry entities. The research will be based over analysing the
various effects over the organisational performance of the business due to digital advancement.
In addition to this it can be said that this technique helps in bring the smoothness in the business
operations of the entity as well as bring the best suitable B2B, B2C, C2C relationships. It brings
the adequate services to the consumers in terms of tracking the shipment of the goods they have
order. It will also being beneficial for the entities in terms of having proper control over all the
departments of business.

Overview
The research will be based on highlighting the technical changes in the wholesale delivery
business. The organisation Norsk European Wholesale will be a helpful example for the
succession of the research. Here, the researcher will make the adequate survey with the help of
various techniques which will be beneficial in highlight the adequate needs of the professionals
and the favourable changes which helps in enhancing the business performance. This firm is
working for facilitating the lorry services which transports or delivers the goods in the express
way. It also provides the facilities like warehousing, storage and technical specialist services.
Aim and Objectives
Aim: To study the changes in the operation of wholesale delivery industry due to digital
transformation”
Objectives:
 To ascertain the need of digitalisation in managing the operations of firm.
 To determine the profitability due digital reforms.
 To analyse the current market competition and trends
 To suggest the sufficient techniques which are need to be implement by the professionals.
Research question
 Why there is need of digitalisation in managing the operations of firm?
 How profitable are the digital reforms?
 What are the current market competition and trends?
 What are the sufficient techniques which are need to be implement by the professionals?
Rational
To highlight the issues and obstacles in the daily tasks of the firm there has been various
reasons behind conducting the research. This will help the professionals in the Norsk European
Wholesale to analyse the current market requirement and the internal ability of the firm to meet
such needs. However, the rational behind the research will be based on several questions such as:
What: The reasons which are effecting the operational practices of the organisation such
as late delivery of goods, manipulation of the profit as well as improper control over all the units
in the business.

Why: These factors affect the functioning of the firm which are not adequate as the costs
of delivering the goods are higher in comparison with the revenue gathered by the firm. The
mismanagement and manipulation of the monetary system in such organisations are rising these
issues.
How: The lack of appropriate technologies and influence of traditional methods more that
the modern techniques are affecting the industrial practices.
Literature Review
According to Quinton and et.al., (2017), In the current market scenario the
organisations are implementing the technical influence in their daily practices. It has been
analysed that such reforms are brought promptness in the method of business. The best network
system will be helpful for the managers to track the activities in the premises as well as they
make changes in the operations which were being helpful to the organisational professionals.
According to (Klapper, Miller and Hess,2019) digital platform are creating the
relationship between customer,employees, workers, etc. with the help of silicon chip's reach
permeates everything like buying cloths online, groceries or finding dating partner online. When
the computing power increase, it impact on the people to involve more in digital economies.
Technology plays key role in the development of any business. As digital technologies has
created many new opportunities for that impact on the small scale industries to grow its business
with the help of innovation in business. The entrepreneurs have less budgets to use digital
technology which creates the financial issues and use the limited resources that are available to
the entrepreneur due to which they have to face many challenges in the dynamic world for the
growth in market. Digital technologies impacts the small business in various ways like change in
consumer behaviours, competitions, technologies, etc. all these factors impacts on business
sustainability as they need to be improved with the help of business operations and creating the
scaleable business. According to the author (Klapper, Miller and Hess,2019) digital marketing
can support the small business to reap the benefits and they can able to serve costumers with
confidence. Digital technologies impacts the small business to face challenges on the global
bases as they required to invest more finance in the business which will impact on the financial
management of budget in the company. Digital revolution impacts to transform job of peoples as
they are required t have people who are skilled and trained in the fields to technologies. When
the employees are skilled in the handling the matters related to the advance digital technology.

According to author (Ferreira,Fernandes and Ferreira, 2019 ) the obstacles that are faced
by the small business are mainly two that impacts on the growth of the small business in the
domestic as well as global market. First obstacle is financial problem as the small business are
not able to afford technology the preference is given on using labour capital rather then
technology because labour capital is less costlier then technology. When technology is adopted
by small business it impacts on the working culture of the organisation and tries to bring the
changes in the organisation as it impacts to improve the quality standard of the product and
services offered by the company. The impact on small business is that it improves it competitive
skills and success of business for growth in market. Use of digital technology implements small
business to increases and improve their competitive capabilities in the changing market. Another
impact of digital technology in small company is that it requires maintenance of technologies as
the company is required to spend huge cost on the regularly maintenance of the technologies and
investment in new technology. The impact to small business is that it requires innovative
technology to deal with the dynamic changes in the digital economy. Small industries adopting
new technology improves that living standard of people in the local economy. Implementation of
digital technology has improved the working life of people and consumer are getting comfort in
the use of product and services offered by small business.
Time frame:
The research will be based on analysing the various issues of the organisation which in
turn helpful in gaining the authenticated information from the professionals in such industry.
However, in the present research there has been use of simple random method on which 30
professionals of Norsk European Wholesale has selected. These professionals have been asked
out 9 questions which are based on the digital transformation and its impacts over organisational
performance.
GANTT CHART
Task name 1 week 2 week 3 week 4 week 5 week 6 week 7 week 8 week 9 week
10
week
Research
planning

Topic search
for research
preparation of
problem
statement
Analysing the
research
procedure
Resource
allocation
implementing
plans
Literature
review
Research
methodology
data collection
preparation of
questionnaires
data analysis
Recommendat
ion
Collaboration
of project
Project
submission
P2 Examine appropriate research methods and conduct primary and Secondary research.
In present study on topic analysing the modification in the operation of merchandising
delivery commercial enterprise due to digital transformation, investigator has utilises the several

methodologies as well as techniques for executing the research in systematized way. Researcher
has utilised various techniques for executing the various activities during the investigation
process. These methods have assisted scholar in gathering the data or information which are
required for achieving the objectives. Scholar has used the several strategies for recognising the
problem as well as analysing the solution to such issue. In present research is based on the
case study of Norsk European Wholesale , researcher has developed the understanding about
the different investigation philosophies in order to analyse the importance of digital technology
within an organisation. The another reason for utilisation of research philosophies is to conduct
investigation in systematic manner and avoid the chances of risk or other major issues. Purpose
of utilising the different investigation method is to gather all relevant information or data related
to the digital technology including its use as well as impact on the company operating in
wholesale retail industry. Some research methodologies , approaches , design and strategies used
by researcher during the investigation are :
Research design : Conclusive , explanatory , experimental , and exploratory are
considered to be as some design which can be used or applied by investigator in order to reach
some conclusion (Mukhopadhyay and Gupta, 2014.). In the present research , researcher has
applied the explanatory research design. This research design has assisted the scholar in
analysing the importance of digitalisation and measuring its impact on the company
profitability.
Research approach: It is recognised as a crucial element in research methodology.
Deductive as well as inductive are considered to be as two research approaches which can be
utilised by scholar for executing investigation in systematic manner. In present study , researcher
has utilised the inductive research or investigation approach which has assisted investigator in
getting the answers to different questions. The selection of research approach is depended on the
combination of several variables or constituents liker field of investigation , philosophies on
which the complete study has been based, nature of the problem etc.
Philosophies : The investigation philosophy is directly related to the clarification of
assumption about the nature and the source of knowledge. All the researcher activities includes
some kinds of assumptions. Research philosophies help researcher in gaining the knowledge
about topic. It also helps investigator in recognising problem as well as support in analysing the
suitable solution. Interpretive and positivism are the two form of research philosophy (Quinton

and Simkin,2017.. Present research topic is analysing the changes bought by digital technology
in wholesale delivery industry. scholar have use the Interpretive philosophy. The Interpretive
philosophy is considered to be as objective approach which relies on qualitative information or
facts.
Sampling: It is recognised as the techniques which is utilised by the investigator for
selecting the few people as participants for gathering the information. This technique is applied ,
as there is limited time it will not be possible for investigator to collect the information from
each and every worker (Mukhopadhyay and Gupta, 2014.). There are different techniques which
can be scholar for selecting the participants these random ,systematic, cluster , probability etc.
In present research, the investigator have utilised random sampling technique for
selecting the participants from wide population. Researcher has selected 30 employees as
participants those who will help or support researcher in arriving to the conclusion Workers has
been chosen as a participant as scholar perceives that , these are the people who have much
knowledge about business operations as well can give the reliable information. This strategy has
assisted researcher in analysing the needs as well as importance of implementing the digital
technology in Norsk European Wholesale organisation.
Research strategies : There are two types research strategies these are qualitative as
we;ll as quantitative. In qualitative research strategies phenomena are described in a narrative in
form of summary. Whereas , in quantitative Phenomena are described in numerical form.
Quantitative investigation strategy includes the statics, formulas, calculation which assist
Scholar in making the suitable decision. It also allows them to present the numerical facts and
figures related to the investigation topic (Morgan-Thomas, 2016.). The selection of strategies for
executing the investigation is based on the nature of research as well as topic of investigation.
As present study is on topic to analyse the changes in the operation of wholesale
delivery industry due to digital transformation, considering the nature of investigation topic as
well as information required , researcher has planned to apply or implement the qualitative
investigation strategy.
Data collection : It is considered to be as an important part of investigation plan .As
without the information or data, scholar will not be able to reach any conclusion or decision. The
data collection is also necessary in order to gain knowledge about the topic on which research
has to be conducted. Data collection activity also assist investigator in analysing the perception

of various people about the need of digitalisation in whole sector as well as its impact on
profitability or growth of an organisation (Mackey and Gass, 2015.). There are various methods
or techniques which can be utilised by scholar for gathering information related to the particular
field or topic.
Before planning to accumulate information, it is very much essential for scholarly person
to analyses the right sources. As this will help investigator in eliminating the wastage of time.
Primary and secondary are the two sources from where the investigator can collect information.
There are various methods as well as techniques which can be utilised by investigator for
accumulating information. Some of these methods are interview and questionnaire. In present
research the researcher has used the interview as well as questionnaire method for gathering the
information or data directly from the participants. This technique has been applied by the
scholar in order to eliminate the ethical issues of Plagiarism. Questionnaire has been prepared by
the investigator himself. Questionnaire form consist of some open as well as few close ended
question. As scholar has selected employees as participants , it has provided researcher an ease in
distributing the questionnaire to the participants. Questionnaire has been distributed by applying
two methods these are personal distribution as well, as by using E-Mail.
But considering the time factor , scholar has planned to appoint assistant for interviewing
the participants' dan collecting the information from them. A person who has been appointed for
conducting the interview process has been hired on the contract procedure.
In present investigation , some information has been gathered from the secondary sources
such a thorough newspaper , online articles , publication , books , journal etc.
Data analysis- It is considered to be as an important activity which is required to be
executed by scholar. As this tactic will assist researcher in recognising the useful as well as
most important information. Data analysis techniques assists scholar in reaching to the
conclusion. It also supports researcher in making the suitable decision (Daudt, van Mossel and
Scott, 2013). Thematic analysis has been used as a tool which assist researcher in presenting the
data or information in systematic manner. It allows researcher to make the information useful as
well as understandable by user.

P3 Conducting primary and secondary research using suitable know-how for a business research
project
It is very much important for the scholar to consider the cost , ethical issues when
formulating the research plan. As this strategy will assist investigator in eliminating the barriers
in executing the research in systematic manner. There are various ethical issues which might
occur during the investigation procedure. It is very important for investigator to formulate
effective plan as well as create appropriate strategies in order to eliminate obstacles as well as
risk. As the major barriers or hurdles in research activity can have negative effect on the
outcome as well as performance of researcher.
Cost : It is very important for the important for the researcher to consider the cost before
executing the investigation. As this strategy will assist researcher in eliminating the barriers
which might occur due to the lack of resources. The expenses include travelling , stationery
etc. Cost is incurred by scholar in purchasing the resources for executing the various activities
during investigation. Cost estimation activity is very much crucial in terms of avoiding the
complexities (Brody and Pureswaran, 2015). Scholar might have to pay high cost of conducting
the investigation. High labour cost can lead to the increase in expenditure on the project.
Access : Restricted access to the financial as well as other confidential record of the
company can be a major hindrance or hurdles which might incur in conducting the investigation.
Due to Strict budget and limited access to financial resources , scholar might face difficulty in
executing or facilitating depth investigation.
Ethical issues: There are various ethical issues which might have to be faced by the
investigator when conducting the research. In present investigation or study , majority of the
ethical issues has been considered by the investigators. Scholar has also formulated some plans
as well as strategies for elimination such type of problem during the investigation. This
consideration were made by the researcher when making the plan for investigation (Hernandez,
Prieto Martín and Ramalingam,2016) .During the investigation activity , all the participants were
informed about the objective of investigation. None of the employees were forced to provident
the information which they do not want to share.
Scholar has use special system and computer software which consists of password in
order to maintain the confidentiality of information which are shared by the employees or
participants.. All the information has been gathered from reliable sources , and data has not been

copied from any of the origins (Hutchinson, Donnell and Reid, 2015).Transparency has been
maintained between participants and scholar. Any type of misleading information, as well as
representation has been eliminated. The scholar in order to confirm the accuracy as well as
liableness of the information has used the data analysis techniques. Researcher has conducted all
the activities during the investigation in ethical manner.
P 4 Apply the suitable analytical tool for analysing research finding
The Present study has been executed at small scale due to the lack of sufficient resources
as well as time. Objective of the research is to study the changes in the operation of wholesale
delivery industry due to digital transformation.
Name:
Age:
Occupation:
Question 1: How much need of digitalisation in managing the business operation?
 Low requirement
 No requirement
 Great need
Ques 2. What type of impact digitalisation have on profitability of an organisation?
 Positive
 Negative
 Both
Ques 3. Does digital technology will help business entity in providing the good experience to
customers?
 Yes
 No
 Don't, know
Ques 4. How much comfortable using digital technology?
 Little comfortable
 Highly comfortable
 Uncomfortable
Ques 5. What will be the motive of employing digital technology at workplace?