Analysis of IT Systems and Their Impact on JS Supermarket Operations

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the business information technology systems employed by JS Supermarket. It begins with an executive summary highlighting the crucial role of IT in streamlining operational activities such as inventory control and accounting. The report delves into the various functionalities of IT systems within the supermarket, including stock control, purchasing, finance, marketing, and sales. It explores how IT systems contribute to achieving organizational objectives, such as improved communication, decision-making, and cost efficiencies. Furthermore, the report examines the use of IT systems for customer relationship management, communication management, data management, and knowledge management. It also investigates how IT supports value-added changes to improve business operations, sustainability, and overall performance. The report concludes with recommendations for IT systems that can address various business issues within JS Supermarket, offering valuable insights into the effective utilization of technology to enhance business outcomes.

BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS -
VALUE OF EFFECTIVE IT SYSTEM

Executive summary
Business information technology helps deploying several operational activities, such as,
inventory control and accounting, in efficient manner. The study is based on shading light on
significant contribution of IT on business operations. In order to drag in attention severe role of
IT systems for storing and processing data, organisational managing areas, such as, customer
relationship, communication, data and knowledge, has been flaunted in this report. In case of
accentuating value-added change, three areas of improvement, such as, business operations,
sustainability and performance, have been exhibited through this piece of study material.
Throughout this report, it has been highlighted that upgraded technology has indeed effective
role in improving business activities of JS Supermarket.
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Task 1: LO1.....................................................................................................................................4
1.1 Usage of IT systems with different functionalities of JS Supermarket..................................4
1.2 Ways, in which, IT systems contribute to achievement of organisational objectives...........6
Task 2: LO2.....................................................................................................................................8
2.1 Several ways, in which, IT systems store and process data for customer relationship,
communication, knowledge and data management.....................................................................8
Task 3: LO3.....................................................................................................................................9
3.1 Ways, through which, IT systems can be utilised for supporting value-added change to
improve business performance, operations and sustainability.....................................................9
Task 4: LO4...................................................................................................................................11
4.1 Recommendations regarding IT systems that helps in solving range of business issues
within JS Supermarket...............................................................................................................11
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................13
References......................................................................................................................................14
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................16
Appendix: Glimpse of featured software systems, throughout.....................................................18
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Introduction
Business information technology systems broach ultimate involvement of digital technologies for
improvement of operational activities. This piece of learning material is associated with focusing
strongly on business activities and technological adoption, of one of the supermarkets, named, JS
Supermarket. In this report, several IT systems are going to be highlighted in quite a specific
manner. One of the pinnacle parts of this entire piece of study is going to be the categorisation of
organisational objectives of JS Supermarket. In addition, the study is greatly watchful towards
supporting role of IT systems in bringing value-added change to business operations of the
supermarket.
Task 1: LO1
1.1 Usage of IT systems with different functionalities of JS Supermarket
● Different functionalities of JS Supermarket
In order to be watchful towards various functionalities of JS Supermarket, vivid categorisation is
made below with specific range of activities.
Stock Control ● Undertaking delivery of new stock
● Disposing of unsold stock
● Monitoring of stock level
● Provision of management reports
(Jssupermarket.com, 2018)
Purchasing ● Ordering of new stock items
● Up-gradation of both stock items
and supplier details
● Monitoring process of deliveries
● Management of reporting
(Jssupermarket.com, 2018)
Finance ● Making of supplier payments
● Accepting customer payments
● Managing of customer accounts
● Preparation of financial reports
(Jssupermarket.com, 2018)
Marketing or Pricing ● Decision-making of stock items
regarding sales
● Setting of price-tags
● Prices discounting
● Advertisement of campaigns
(Jssupermarket.com, 2018)
Sales ● Recording of cash sales
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● Recording of account sales
● Making of deliveries and recording
of orders
● Sales reporting
(Jssupermarket.com, 2018)
Table 1: Categorisation of JS supermarket functionalities
(Source: As influenced by the view of Hamilton et al. 2016, p.1685)
Figure 1: Paramount categories regarding range of functions within JS supermarket
(Source: Winter et al. 2018, p.3297)
● Application of IT systems for several functions
While it comes to stick eyes towards IT application in business, first and foremost is indicative
towards RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). In view of Lu et al. (2015), it can be highlighted
that with help of RFID, supermarkets track products, when they leave shelves and checked out.
Another instance of IT effectiveness is customer mobile apps. As opined by Celdrán et al.
(2016), with help of apps, supermarkets ensure returning of customers and increase loyalty as
they allow customers in creating shopping lists from anywhere at any time. On that note, it is to
sentence that application of IT systems within JS Supermarket is framed below.
Several operations Application of IT systems
Point of Sale In case of maintaining touch and keyboard
billing counters, the supermarket utilises the
software, named, “Nextar”.
Lots and Barcode Management In turn of creating lots or batches, print
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JSsupermarketfunctionsStockControlPurchasingFinanceMarketing/PricingSales

barcode levels and auto-generated codes, JS
uses “EZOfficeInventory”.
Invoicing In order to generate invoices or converting
quotes to invoices, JS is focused to “Marg
ERP 9+Billing” (Dwivedi et al. 2015).
Operations and Process JS uses “Freshservice ServiceDesk” for
grouping products and services.
Loyalty Management In case of assigning points for sales and
redeeming them, JS utilises “Apex
Loyalty”.
Purchases JS focuses on “Procurify” for maintaining
purchasing orders and estimates ((Wang et
al. 2018)).
Tally Import In order to import excel files undertaken
from tally, JS uses “XLTOOL”.
Sales JS utilises “HubSpot Sales” for sales
invoice, return and recurring.
Access In case of maintaining multi-user operations
with menus of restriction, JS uses
“Microsoft Access” (Wu et al. 2015).
Auditor View JS focuses on “Qualityze EQMS Suite” for
having financial report availability.
Bank Synchronization In order to sync bank statements, JS utilises
“Ledgersync”.
Table 2: IT systems application for discrete functionalities of JS supermarket
(Source: As influenced by the view of Karampour and Sawalha, 2018, p.253)
1.2 Ways, in which, IT systems contribute to achievement of organisational objectives
● Organizational objectives of JS Supermarket
Long-term objectives
The long-term objectives of JS Supermarket include -
● To be the customers’ first choice
● To remain market leader all the way
● To run business that is always customer centric
● To train employees for managerial levels
● To aware employees of customer relationship management
● To achieve international standards
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● To drive and support ISO standards (Jssupermarket.com, 2018)
Definite objectives
The specific objectives of JS Supermarket cover -
● To control shrink, expenses and payroll
● To build innovations for effective business operations
● To provide the best possible services
● To never ever compromise on rules and regulations
● To keep organisational environment conflict free
● To ensure sales floor is sufficiently signed, stocked and merchandised for brand
presentation
● To provide high quality fashion basics at cost-based prices (Jssupermarket.com, 2018)
Figure 2: Objectives segregation within JS Supermarket
(Source: Jssupermarket.com, 2018)
● Contribution of IT systems in achieving objectives
In accordance to aforesaid objectives of JS Supermarket, significant contribution of IT systems
can be seen in -
1. Communication Systems: JS focuses on using Emails for gathering and distributing
information with ultimate effectiveness.
2. Operations Management: IT application helps JS in gaining cost advantage over rival
brands and differentiating itself through offering of better customer service.
3. Decision-Making: Accurate upgraded information through IT systems helps JS in
making choice with confidence. According to Al-Haddad and Kotnour (2015), if there are
more than one appealing choice, information system can be used to run different
scenarios
4. Record-Keeping: IT helps JS in storing documents and reviewing histories as well as
taking care of operational data and communication records.
5. Product Development: In case of writing product requirements, IT helps JS in obtaining
market intelligence from customers, proprietary databases and sales representatives.
6. Stakeholder Integration: JS uses their websites of investor relations for communicating
with research analysts, shareholders and other market participants. As opined by
Valmohammadi and Roshanzamir (2015), through global 24/7 interconnectivity, service
of customer calling can be maintained effectively.
7. Process Improvement: JS focuses on Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for
reviewing sales, costs and other metrics of operations through one integrated realtime
software.
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Long-termDefinite

8. Cost Efficiencies: Application of IT helps JS in reducing costing of implementation and
transaction.
9. Competitive Advantage: IT involvement helps JS in saving cost, developing product
and improving processes to gain competitive advantage. As influenced by Quesado et al.
(2018), it can be quoted that businesses use software simulations, rapid prototyping and
other IT-based systems for bringing product to market cost, efficiently.
10. Globalization: IT helps JS in having financial and operational flexibility to grow both
locally and internationally.
Task 2: LO2
2.1 Several ways, in which, IT systems store and process data for customer relationship,
communication, knowledge and data management
Role of IT systems in storing and processing data for -
● Customer relationship management
While it comes to heed customer relationship management, JS Supermarket uses “Zoho CRM”
for maintaining effective relations. This software helps in -
1. Tracking success of marketing activities
2. Maintaining relationships with the loyal customers
3. Following up on prospective customers after identification
4. Understanding the customers, who have responded to promotional offer
5. Grouping customers types for developing personalised communications (Hashem et al.
2016)
● Communication management
In order to manage communication properly, JS focuses on using “Skype”. As per the view of
Gao et al. (2017), it can be sentenced that the communication software helps organisations in
below listed aspects.
1. Working remotely
2. Having easy integration
3. Boosting productivity
4. Minimising cost
5. Capturing pivotal information
● Data management
In order to be watchful towards data managing of JS, it is to drag in attention affirmatively that
the supermarket uses “MySQL” software. The database software system helps in -
1. Managing data dictionary
2. Maintaining data storage
3. Transforming and presenting data
4. Controlling security
5. Having control of multi-user access
6. Directing backup and recovery
7. Managing data integrity
8. Maintaining application of programming interfaces and database access languages
9. Managing interfaces of database communication
10. Running transactional activities (Ranjan, 2014)
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● Knowledge management
In turn of knowledge management, JS Supermarket is eminently focused towards usage of
“Bitrix24” software. As influenced by Manogaran et al. (2018), it can be mentioned that
knowledge management software helps in segregating functions in below highlighted aspects.
1. Intermediation, which indicates knowledge transferring between appropriate knowledge
seeker and knowledge provider
2. Internalisation defines knowledge extraction from external repository, and knowledge
filtering to give greater relevance to knowledge seeker
3. Externalisation, which refers to knowledge transferring from mind of its holder into
external repository through an efficient way possible
4. Cognition indicates system functionality for making decisions based on the available
knowledge
5. Measurement refers to every knowledge management activity that maps, measures and
quantifies performance of KM solutions as well as corporate knowledge
Figure 3: Role of IT systems in storing and processing data
(Source: Manogaran et al. 2018, p.377)
Task 3: LO3
3.1 Ways, through which, IT systems can be utilised for supporting value-added change to
improve business performance, operations and sustainability
Support of IT systems to value-added change regarding -
● Business operations improvement
While the turn of to be watchful towards operational improvement comes, it is to pull on peak
that JS Supermarket is beneficial due to value-added change through IT application. The benefits
include -
1. Propelling productivity
2. Faster acceleration
3. Embracement of new technology
4. Utilisation of interdependence and globalisation
5. Usage of hyper-converged infrastructure
6. Digitisation in strategies
7. Best practices regarding high performing operations of IT (Jssupermarket.com, 2018)
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In accordance to Brettel et al. (2014), three identified indicators of high performing IT teams
cover collaboration, constant communication and flexibility along with agility.
● Improvement of business sustainability
In case of sustainability improvement, contribution of IT systems for value-added change
indicates three core areas, such as, smarter production lines, communications and improved
remote capabilities (Kumar et al. 2017). These aforesaid benefits can be well presented for JS
Supermarket in the below portrayed manner.
1. Smarter communications: Customer service has been accelerated through adoption of
people-powered messaging services on websites of organisation as well as social media
accounts. In view of Pietrobelli and Staritz (2018), it can be sentenced that it acts as the
attempt to go with chat-bots (computerised programs, which simulate conversation with
the users) and Internet of Things (IoT) for better communication process
(Jssupermarket.com, 2018).
2. Smarter production lines: In each and every point on production lines, sensors are
effectively present and connected with the sophisticated analytics. On that note, it is to
accentuate that this phenomenon ensure opportunity of calibrating robots to open up new
efficiency level (Jssupermarket.com, 2018).
3. Improved remote capabilities: Remote service technicians help customers through
simple repair procedures and for this, what really required is exact view about customers’
capability. This shortens repairing time and helps delighting customers by simultaneously
avoiding time, cost and resources spent on the on-site service (Jssupermarket.com, 2018).
● Business performance improvement
In order to be focused towards role of IT systems in bringing value-added change, nucleus
benefits of JS Supermarket are framed below.
1. In turn of finance, IT helps lowering costs and increasing annual revenue generation
2. In customer service, IT helps meeting and exceeding customer expectations
3. In case of operations, IT helps getting job done more efficiently
4. In turn of talent retention, IT helps creating more striking workplace
5. In case of employee productivity, IT helps keeping people productive in every situation
(Fernald et al. 2015)
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Figure 4: Support of IT systems to value-added change
(Source: Pietrobelli and Staritz, 2018, p.571)
Task 4: LO4
4.1 Recommendations regarding IT systems that helps in solving range of business issues
within JS Supermarket
Three recommendations are provided in the following section in case of IT system
implementation in JS Supermarket. Three areas have been chosen including RFID technology for
managing inventory issues, introducing card payment for customer satisfaction and introduction
of a mobile application for tracking orders of customers and managing them.
Recommendation 1: JS Supermarket can introduce RFID system that can help in
managing the issues of inventory and record keeping.
S - Specific The induction of RFID can be considered as
specific recommendation because it can
reduce interoperability issue of retail materials
M - Measurable The recommendation is measurable because it
can record the correct information from bar
codes.
A - Attainable The recommendation can be attained by
avoiding electromagnetic spectrum around
RFID tags
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R - Realistic The recommendation is realistic because it is
particularly used to share inventory data with
other sets of system
T - Time-bound It is time bounded with one month to
implement
Table 3: SMART recommendation for implementing RFID technology
Recommendation 2: In case of the finance department, JS Supermarket can introduce card
payment and credit card system for providing customer satisfaction with payment method.
S - Specific The recommendation is specific because card
payment helps in improving as well as
multiplying the customer base with faster
payment mode.
M - Measurable The recommendation is measurable as it can
help in promoting cashless transaction which
reduces hustles of slower payment mode
A - Attainable The recommendation to introduce credit card
system can help JS Supermarket to reduce
sales rate as customers are prone to shopping
with credit cards
R - Realistic The recommendation is realistic for JS
Supermarket as it can allow them to make a
sell on loans and also be able to process
transaction of payment
T - Time-bound The recommendation is time bounded with 3
weeks
Table 4: SMART recommendation for introducing credit card payment system
Recommendation 3: Regarding the management of customers, JS Supermarket can make
sure that they have an online presence which is efficient and reliable. It can be done
through mobile app which can rapidly process customer information and their online
orders.
S - Specific The recommendation can be considered as
specific because it might allow the company
to introduce online order and delivery system
through mobile applications.
M - Measurable The recommendation can be considered as
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