Information Technology's Impact on Autologic Business Operations

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of information technology on Autologic's business operations. It begins with an introduction to the role of IT in businesses, emphasizing its importance in data storage, security, and various operational aspects. The report then reviews relevant literature, exploring the significance of IT, including electronic commerce, electronic data interchange, data warehouses, and real-time data access. It delves into networking technologies like LAN, WAN, and enterprise private networks, detailing their functions and applications. Ethical and social issues related to technology use, such as plagiarism, piracy, and hacking, are thoroughly discussed. The report also examines the importance of the internet and intranet for business operations, highlighting their roles in communication, data sharing, and brand awareness. An analysis of Autologic's IT infrastructure, including the use of Management Information Systems (MIS), is presented, along with a discussion of networking technologies employed by the company and the ethical and social issues it faces. The report concludes with a discussion of the benefits and challenges of IT implementation within Autologic, providing valuable insights into the practical application of technology in a real-world business context.

Impact of Information Technology
on business operations of Autologic

Abstract
This report describes use of technology and computer to create and share information which is in
digital form. There are various roles which plays in organisation and that is why these are
important for business organisation. This report included networking technologies LAN, WAN,
etc. Study explains ethical and social issues related to use of technology have also been discussed
in this report. This discussion has been followed by importance of internet and intranet such as
cost effective manner of sharing information.

INTRODUCTION
Use of computer is done to store information and to keep data secure for longer duration.
This report discusses role of IT in businesses. This report includes Autologic company for its
discussion the reasons being selecting this company for the discussion is that it is a real time
repair assistance and specialise in providing advanced aftermarket automotive diagnosis solution
for vehicle manufacturer. For its services Autologic it makes an effective use of advanced
technology and other reason is that Autologic has an ability to use software based diagnostic tool
which makes it able to repair several car brands and accessories.
2 Literature Review
2.2 Role of IT in organisation
As per the view of Margaret Rouse, (2020) Information technology (IT) is helpful tool
that supports in keeping records and securing details in significant manner. In resent business
environment there are various reasons which suggest that technological advancement is very
important for business success. In this context it also plays important role and some roles which
are played by information technology are as follows-
Electronic Commerce
This refers to the sharing of information or conducting operations online. Through use of
information technology companies are able to do all these activities.
Electronic Data Interchange
This is another role that is played by information technology in businesses this allows
businesses to carry out business activities according to business standards. In this information
technology allows for EDI which refers to capability of organisations of communicating
information within each other in electronic format instead of traditional forms of communication
exchange. Some benefits of this are, quick processing of data which is not possible otherwise,
improved service for customers, less need of paperwork, increased productivity, this form is cost
effective.
Data Warehouse
Information technology allows for data warehouse which means storage of large number
of files which are maintained separately from a organisation's production system.
Real-Time Data

Information technology in logistics allows for access to real time data. Through its use
consumers and businesses are able to track and access location, this makes information
technology more transparent. This also helps in efficient management of supply chain which cuts
down activities which are wasteful and assist in sticking to the schedule.
2.3 Networking Technology
According to Stéphane Bourgeois, (2016) networking technology refers to technology
that helps in exchanging information in significant manner. There are various type networking
technologies which allows sharing and exchange of information large and small information
system which are as follows-
Personal Area Network (PAN)
This network is known as wireless network in which person use this network for personal
use only. Within office premises or office premises it is used. .
Local Area Network
LAN connects low voltage computer or devices together across a short distance. Short
distance refers to within a building or two. Business organisations usually maintains local area
networks so that they can share information.
Wireless Local Area Network
This network also works like LAN but the difference is that in this wireless technology is
used rather than wired technology and connection like WiFi.
Metropolitan Area Network
In this network technology network span across a geographical area. In this network
covers city and sometimes campus. Its ownership is either maintained by individual or by
company.
Wide Area Network
In this computers can be connected at a longer physical distance. It is helpful in
developing connectivity globally. This type of networks are maintained and managed by various
administrators.
Enterprise Private Network
This kind of network is generally used by companies because they have to share their
information to other business locations securely.

2.4 Ethics and Social Issues
Various issues stated by Spiegel, (2018) which are connected with using technology on
broad terms issues can be described as follows-
 Issues of intellectual property rights issue.
 Violation of Privacy and associated rights.
 Opportunities to commit crime.
 Professional Responsibility.
These issues are when further divided than issues of using technology are-
Plagiarism
This refers to copying work of others but author of the work present that it their own
work. This practice is highly unethical and with help of internet and technology this have
become more easy for people to do so this is why its frequency has increased. This happens in
the field of education and internet have made two ways in which plagiarism can be practised by
students. In this, students are able to copy and paste electronic texts which publish on various
sites.
Piracy
It is considered that 50% of all the programmes on computer are pirated. Pirated refers to
illegal copying of software. This is a very serious problem because programmers spend hours
and sometime weeks and months to create software and programme using elaborate code which
need to be protected. There are arguments that some pirating should be permitted but in such
case this is very unfair with corporates and those who design the programme. This leads to
reduce their profit margin which is a serious issue.
Hacking
One of the most unethical practice which is exercised by those who are experts of
computer and technology. Hacking refers to getting access to without authorization to computer
system to identify security flows. There are various reasons which makes hacker (individual who
is known to get access to others computer) to practice hacking. These reasons include getting
access to private and secured information of others which may include individuals and
organisations as well. To damage system of other people and organisation so that they lose their
all information.

2.5 Intranet, Internet and their importance to business
As per opinion of Odokuma and Azorji, (2017) Intranet can be defined as secure and
private network which is generally used by companies to share detail inside the office premises.
The main purpose of using internet is to enhance communication and share each small detail in
most significant manner. This allows for a virtual space where employees of an organisation can
work together specially useful when employees are geographically spread. Importance of
Intranet for a business is as follows-
 It makes it easier to complete repeated task by streamlining daily activities.
 It enhances collaboration as employees can share information easily
 Personalised details are shared easily hence person can get immediate detail related to
task or role.
 Intranet is important for company as it is helpful in getting easy access to each essential
detail such as policies and rest updates of firm.
As stated by Boarcăs, (2017) Internet which refers to global interconnected network
which provides a variety of information and facilities for communication for which it uses
standardized communication protocol. There are various reasons which suggest importance of
internet for the business some of them are stated below-
 More easy and rapid Communication- There are various sources available from which
communication becomes more easy and rapid and internet enables to share all kind of
information which is available in different forms. Major platforms which allows for
communicate over internet are email etc.
 Through internet it becomes more easy to share information.
 Brand Awareness.
 Applications for online accounting and bookkeeping apps.
 This allows businesses and its owners to find tools for market research and data mining.
 Business automation application to reduce requirement for human associated with
business in form of employees.
 Internet provides tools from which business can check its performance and growth.
 Internet provides applications for planning and making necessary development in
business.

 Internet provides tools which are useful to build healthy relationship with employees and
improves information.
3. Analysis and Discussion
3.1 IT role in Autologic
Like every business for Autologic information technology is equally important. Being a
vehicle logistics company which is based in UK role of information technology have become
more significant in Autologic. Information technology allows businesses to communicate with its
customers (ŞAHİN and TOPAL, 2018). Email which is a part of information technology
contribute major part in which businesses and its customers can contact and communicate with
each other.
Other important role of IT in Autologic is that it creates internal network which keeps all its
employees connected with each other and this also have resulted in better collaboration.
Information technology is used by Autologic in all its vehicles so that it can be updated with
location of all its vehicles which have enhanced transparency in the organisation.
In Autologic to create, store and share information, information system which are used by
the company are-
Management Information System (MIS)
A system which serves as backbone of all operations of organisation MIS is used by
Autologic. It has two major element hardware and software that supports management in
aligning detail and taking right decision for the growth of company (Novickis, Mitasiunas and
Ponomarenko, 2017). This is used by Autologic because this allows it to make better decision as
this provide information to people who are involved in the process of decision making. This also
facilitate communication within and outside the organisation, this is possible as employees are
able to easily access all the information which is required for completion of day to day task.
Along with that SMS and Email make it more easier to communicate within organisation and
people who are outside organisation who are customers of the organisation.
Record keeping, MIS records all the information of transaction of an organisation and provide
reference point for all the transaction of Autologic.
All these reasons and benefits of the MIS states its significant and why Autologic is using this
system.

3.2 Networking Technologies
There are various type of networking technologies which are available for use and
organisations and individuals use these as per their suitability and what are the benefits of that
particular system for business.
Autologic uses Local Area Network which are known as LAN. In this all the computers of
Autologic are connected with other computers and other devices such as printer and scanners are
also connected with computers (Feng, 2020). This is mostly used network in organisation as this
connects computers and devices across short distance. In this one drawback of this is that all the
devices are connected with wires which requires that all the computers and devices are in limited
distance otherwise use of wires can make it complicated for organisation.
Other network which is used by Autologic is Wide Area Network. it is used by all organisation
the reason behind this is that this includes internet which is used by all the organisation including
Autologic. There are various reasons which require companies to use this network important are
communication and easy access to data and various other reasons like connecting with customers
and building brand image and equity. There are various platforms on internet which make it easy
to share information of all types and forms.
Enterprise Private Network (EPN) is other network which is used by Autologic. This network
has been created by the Autologic itself. This network includes all the employees and their
computer connected with each other and major difference in this and LAN is that computers of
employees are connected with each other including those who are working on vehicles and are
not physically at organisation (Kembro, Danielsson and Smajli, 2017). EPN allows organisation
to gather information from and share information with all the employees who are not physically
not available at organisation. In LAN this only connects computers within a fixed area.
3.3 Ethics and social issues in Autologic
These issues stated here refers to issues of using technology in organisations. All the
organisations have different type of structure and different type of information that is why issues
which are faced by Autologic are different than other business organisation. Issues which may be
faced by Autologic are-

Hacking- this is most likely issue that Autologic can face. Autologic is leading UK company
which have many competitors who can hack information of Autologic (Spiegel, 2018). This is
very obvious that this may be done by competitors who are either in envy or want to damage
image and reputation of the company in order to get ahead in competition.
Information Leak- it has become very common these days that information of the organisations
get licked and which is able to break all the privacy of the company which includes its privacy of
data.
Information of Autologic is easily available to its employees which put up the threat that
employees may use this information in unethical manner for the sake of their profit and for
completion of their motive.
3.4 Intranet, Internet and its benefits to company
There are various reasons which make it important for Autologic to use intranet and
internet. Intranet which is private network. Intranet in Autologic has been designed for internal
communication. This allows authorised employees of the Autologic to share and gather data
from their peers (Boarcăs, 2017). In this form information can only be shared with internal
people and not external people. The reason which make it important for Autologic are-
 This make it easy for internal people to communicate and share data with each other
specially which is in digital and other form.
 This reduces need of paperwork which increase security of the data.
 This is important as this is cost effective once it has been designed.
 It improves collaboration of employees which increase efficiency and improve
performance.
Internet on the other hand which refers to interconnected global network. There are
various reasons which make it important for Autologic (Odokuma and Azorji, 2017). Some of
them are as follows-
Customer Support becomes more easy, efficient and timely with the help of internet.
Communication, this helps Autologic to communicate within organisation and with those who
are outside organisation.
Internet is a cost effective way to share information.

This allows Autologic to research about organisation and their strategies and internet also offers
various apps which can help organisations to develop various plans and programmes which can
improve its operations.
3.5 system development life cycle
It is a model for project management which are involved in bringing a project from its
inception to completion of the project. These stages have been explained below-
Planning- This involves defining planning and scope of existing system. This includes
determination of objectives and confirm feasibility of the project and produce the project
schedule.
System Analysis- This includes gathering, analysing and validating information. Defining
requirements and prototypes of the information (Lemke, 2018). Evaluate alternative and
prioritize the requirements.
System Design- This is the phase that ensure transformation of SRS details into more specific
and logical structuring that can easily apply in programing language.
Implementation- When such codes are implemented then many times errors occur and user has
to make changes in coding in order to get desired results.
Maintenance- This is responsibility of user that to ensure getting physical on site support and it
is done after completion of installation process.
CONCLUSION
Study can be summarises as information technology which is very important for all
business organisations in present environment of business. This becomes more important for
businesses who are working in logistics industry. Information technology have made it more
transparent and easy to track the vehicles. This report also includes networking technologies
which are of various type and which are used by Autologic are LAN, WAN and EPN. As
technology is growing day to day and its uses and users are increasing it has also raised many
issues which are logical and ethical in nature. These issues have also been included in this report.
Finally, report includes importance of intranet and internet for the organisations.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Boarcăs, C., 2017. BUSINESS COMMUNICATION IN THE INTERNET AGE. Economics,
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Feng, X., 2020. Application analysis of artificial intelligence in Computer Network Technology.
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Kembro, J. H., Danielsson, V. and Smajli, G., 2017. Network video technology. International
Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management.
Lemke, G., 2018. The Software Development Life Cycle and Its Application.
Novickis, L., Mitasiunas, A. and Ponomarenko, V., 2017. Information technology transfer model
as a bridge between science and business sector. Procedia Computer Science. 104.
pp.120-126.
Odokuma, E. E. and Azorji, I. E., 2017. Development of an Intranet-Based Workplace
Productivity Enhancing Enterprise Social Networking Tool. International Journal. 7(3).
ŞAHİN, H. and TOPAL, B., 2018. Impact of information technology on business performance:
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Iranica. 25(3). pp.1272-1280.
Spiegel, J. S., 2018. The ethics of virtual reality technology: social hazards and public policy
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Margaret Rouse. 2020. Information technology (IT). [Online]. Available From:
<https://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/definition/IT>.
Stéphane Bourgeois. 2016. 11 Types of Networks Explained: VPN, LAN & More.[Online].
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