Four Seasons Greenhouse: POS System Analysis and Recommendations

This report analyzes the application of IT, specifically POS systems, within the context of a business, Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery. It begins with an introduction to the importance of IT in modern business and the role of POS systems in streamlining sales processes and facilitating data-driven decision-making. The report then delves into the advantages and disadvantages of implementing a new POS system, emphasizing its role in providing competitive advantages, such as improved transaction speed and customer relationship management. The benefits of a centralized database are also highlighted, along with the ways in which POS systems can facilitate effective decision-making. Furthermore, the report contrasts the efficiency of POS systems with manual data tracking methods, exploring the types of questions that can be answered through POS data analysis. It discusses the strategic importance of the information derived from POS systems for better business management and evaluates telecommunication options, network types (LAN), and media choices (wired connections). The report concludes by outlining the risks associated with POS systems, including security, confidentiality, and privacy concerns. The report emphasizes the importance of data security and proper management for companies like Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery.

IT for Business

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Contents
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................1
Advantage and disadvantages of new POS system................................................................................2
POS gives competitive advantage..........................................................................................................2
Advantage of Centralised database........................................................................................................3
POS system facilitating decision making................................................................................................3
POS systems processes business activities more effectively..............................................................3
Can information be effectively tracked by manual methods..............................................................4
Type of questions that could be answered.........................................................................................4
Information utilised for better business management........................................................................4
Telecommunication option available....................................................................................................4
Type of Network................................................................................................................................4
Type of media....................................................................................................................................5
Type of risks in POS systems................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES......................................................................................................................................6
INTRODUCTION
In the era of digitalisation, IT has become one of the crucial aspects of the modern day
business. It helps in smoothening of the business processes (Adeoti and Osotimehin, 2012).
In different departments various technologies have been installed in different departments.

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POS systems help in the sales department. It helps in transaction processing that is done when
purchase is being done. This data can be utilised by different departments for making of the
decisions as per the requirements.
Advantage and disadvantages of new POS system
POS is one of the most significant technologies that help in the process of making business
activities smoother. Some of the advantages of using POS systems are as follows:
 It assists management in finding crucial information from their transaction at sales.
 It removes manual errors in the recording data.
 It minimises the time that is taken for doing the sales transactions (Gomzin, 2014).
 Data redundancy is managed with the help of POS system.
 Timely details of transactions are monitored and stored.
 It helps in providing customer satisfaction which is necessary for CRM as its alerts
people at the time of their transactions.
 It brings transparency in the work process and hence ensuring accountability of the
overall unit.
Disadvantages are as follows:
 Cost of system maintenance is higher since regular upgrading of the technology is
needed (Hansen and Sia, 2015).
 For maintaining the systems, specialist IT professional are needed.
 Several privacy and security risk is present as if when the system gets hacked then it
may lead to heavy financial loses.
POS gives competitive advantage
With the various benefits that POS offers to a business, it helps in providing competitive
advantage to the firm (Hongqiang, 2011). This is so because it makes the decision effective
with the help of data that is collected through various transactions. It also gives the idea
regarding the products that is generating higher profits as well as the timing when the sale is
highest. Both these data are crucial for making of the product related strategies hence giving
competitive advantage to the firm that uses it. POS system speeds up the process of
transactions and hence consumers do not have to wait for long at the time of billing. CRM
plays a vital role in management and POS system due to its dynamic nature reduces the flaws

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in the work process. It also helps in reduction of additional workforce. Since Four Seasons
Greenhouse and Nursery is in the developmental stage hence all these things gives them
competitive advantage.
Advantage of Centralised database
It is crucial for modern day firm like Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery to ensure that
they have a centralised database system for managing the information. Several advantages are
linked with the use of centralised database. Few of the advantages are:
 Since the location of attack is single hence the chances of getting hacked also remains
at the lower side.
 At the time of decision making data can be easily availed as it is store the data
collected anywhere at the central location (Pantano, 2013).
 Data management and portability becomes easier.
 Since in centralised data storage less number of resources is required hence it is
highly cost efficient.
 Making alterations and data management is easier.
POS system facilitating decision making
Data is the essential for making decisions effective. Since this system is capable of handling
large amount of real time data hence it helps in making decisions that helps them in their
growth (Polasik, et al., 2012). Since highly data driven approach is utilised hence POS helps
in gaining edge in the market. Exact and accurate data is provided by the POS system which
helps in making of decisions that are unique and is according to the need of the organisation.
Evaluative and analysed decisions could be made based on the gathered data which also assist
in finding loop holes in the operations.
POS systems processes business activities more effectively
Previously data was manipulated and stored by manual methods. It was considered to be a
highly time taking process (Rese, Schreiber and Baier, 2014). There was higher probability of
making wrong decisions. POS systems eliminate the data redundancy chances as well as data
can be easily tracked. This has a specific significance in the case of real time data. The data
that was gathered through manual methods cannot be easily sorted out for making of exact
decisions. Use of POS helps the Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery in making of

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decisions that are of strategic importance. POS is also associated with ordering diminishing
stock for finding the sellers who are doing well. Making of strategies like STP becomes
easier and hence products that are attracting customers can be promoted.
Can information be effectively tracked by manual methods
It could be tracked with the help of manual methods also but it is relatively a slower process
which is not suitable in the modern day business scenario. If the data gets tracked with the
help of manual methods then there is always a chance that it could lead to wrong decisions.
Even the whole process takes large human efforts. In manual methods the doubts regarding
the accuracy of data is always present. In many cases manual tracking is not very effective as
quick tracking of data could not be possible for instant decision making (Szell, Lambiotte and
Thurner, 2010).
Type of questions that could be answered
There are various types of question which could be answered through it especially once that
are linked with transaction and sales. It also gives answers that are linked with choice of
consumers or say the questions related with the trending products. It also up to certain extent
provides the answers regarding the things which give them competitive gains. It also answers
the questions related with changes that are required in the Four Seasons Greenhouse and
Nursery based on the performance of several units (D’angello, 2018).
Information utilised for better business management
Information that is of strategic importance can be gathered with the use of POS systems. This
data can be used for making changes in the operational procedures according to the flaws
highlighted by the data of POS system (McCarthy, 2018). Since the gathered data acts a tool
for elimination of inefficiencies in the business process hence a more sound management of
business process is possible.
Telecommunication option available
With the advancements in telecommunication sector there are several options available with
the cited company. Selection of particular telecommunication option must be based on the
requirement of the Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery. In this some basic and some
advanced telecommunication options are available in the market especially regarding the type
of network.

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Type of Network
Among the options that are available with the cited firm, taking use of LAN connection can
be beneficial. Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery Company is at the developmental stage
and it is having limited resource available with them hence this could be the best option.
LAN also provides higher speed data connection.
Type of media
Since the company has only one shop hence they can take use of the wired connection. This
is because of three reasons first; it is easier to maintain second, it provides high speed
connectivity and third, is that there is less chance of data leakage. Utilising Ethernet cable can
be advantageous as they are of lower cost and data loss through such cables is least.
Type of risks in POS systems
As it is also a part of IT system hence a large number of risks get associated with it. The cited
firm needs to understand the type of risk and its impact on the business. Common risks linked
with POS system are as follows:
 Security: Since data that is stored with POS system is present in large quantity hence
ensuring their security becomes strategically important. If security gets breached then
many information especially related with finance is at stake (Guinn, 2018). With the
use of data protection software higher security could be provided to the POS systems.
 Confidentiality: POS systems have data that is linked with their stakeholders
(Dontigney, 2018). For Example there are so many cards getting swiped through POS
machine and hence confidentiality needs to be maintained. Data abstraction feature is
also necessary so the lower level of staffs cannot be able to avail data of strategic
importance.
 Privacy: Large amount of data is gathered in POS systems hence it becomes essential
for the Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery to ensure their privacy. Data has
become a challenge in the time when the number of hackers are highly active and
aims to steal the data for their personal use (Expert market, 2018). If privacy is not
maintained then it may blots the image of the Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery.

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CONCLUSION
A conclusion can be derived from the above report that there are various advantages and
disadvantages associated with the use of POS system. It is also essential that a Four Seasons
Greenhouse and Nursery must utilise the data that is stored at centralised location. It helps in
strengthening of the decisions that gives them competitive advantage. Telecommunication
option like LAN facilities can be used. Along with this wired connectivity can be beneficial.
Privacy, security and Confidentiality are some of the major risk that is posed to the POS
systems. Huge amount of data loss can be possible if proper security measure are not adopted
by the firms like Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery Company.
REFERENCES
Adeoti, O. and Osotimehin, K., (2012) Adoption of point of sale terminals in Nigeria:
Assessment of consumers’ level of satisfaction. Research Journal of Finance and
Accounting, 3(1), pp.1-6.
D’angello, M. (2018) 7 essential POS system features for your retail business. [Online].
Available at: https://www.business.com/articles/essential-pos-features-retail-business/.
[Accessed on 14th may 2018]
Dontigney, E., (2018) The advantages of Centralised Database storage [Online]. Available at:
https://itstillworks.com/info-8623828-advantages-centralized-database-storage.html.
[Accessed on: 14th May 2018].
Expert market (2018) Expert Point-of-sale. [Online]. Available at:
https://www.expertmarket.com/pos/pos-system-advantages. [Accessed on 14th May 2018].
Gomzin, S. (2014) Hacking Point of Sale: Payment Application Secrets, Threats, and
Solutions, John Wiley & Sons.
Guinn, J., (2018) What is point off sale system. [Online]. Available at:
https://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/what-is-a-point-of-sale-system/. [Accessed on
14th May 2018]
Hansen, R. and Sia, S.K., (2015) Hummel's Digital Transformation Toward Omnichannel
Retailing: Key Lessons Learned. MIS Quarterly Executive, 14(2).

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Hongqiang, Z., (2011) The Application of 3G Technology at Electronic Point-of-sale System
[J]. Value Engineering, 12, p.170.
McCarthy, M., (2018) The benefits of Moving to a Point-of-sale (POS) System. [Online]
Available at: https://www.allbusiness.com/the-benefits-of-moving-to-a-point-of-sale-pos-
system-10206841-1.html. [Accessed on 14th May 2018].
Pantano, E., (2013) Ubiquitous retailing Innovative Scenario: from the fixed point of sale to
the flexible ubiquitous store. Journal of technology management & innovation, 8(2), pp.84-
92.
Polasik, M., Górka, J., Wilczewski, G., Kunkowski, J., Przenajkowska, K. and Tetkowska,
N., (2012) June. Time efficiency of Point-of-Sale payment methods: Empirical results for
cash, cards and mobile payments. In International Conference on Enterprise Information
Systems (pp. 306-320). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Rese, A., Schreiber, S. and Baier, D., (2014) Technology acceptance modeling of augmented
reality at the point of sale: Can surveys be replaced by an analysis of online
reviews?. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 21(5), pp.869-876.
Szell, M., Lambiotte, R. and Thurner, S., (2010) Multirelational organization of large-scale
social networks in an online world. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences, 107(31), pp.13636-13641.