London School of Commerce: Integrated Professional Skills Report

This report, prepared for the London School of Commerce, analyzes integrated professional skills in the digital age, focusing on the impact of information technology on business operations. It explores communication and collaboration tools used during the COVID-19 pandemic, including cloud storage and cloud computing, highlighting their advantages, disadvantages, suitability, and applications. The report also examines customer relationship management applications and the positive and negative aspects of online versus offline product and service sales, providing insights into how businesses adapted to the changing landscape. The report concludes with a discussion on the evolution of professional skills in the digital age and the importance of technology adoption for business success.

INTEGRATED PROFESIONAL
SKILLS IN THE DIGITAL AGE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Communication and collaboration tool supported to survive in current pandemic situation......3
Discussion of advantages, disadvantages, suitability and application of cloud storage and
computing....................................................................................................................................5
Positive and negative aspects of products and services being sold online and offline................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
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INTRODUCTION
Information technology is a system used by the businesses to manage the coordination
and communication at the organisation level. This report is based on the case study of
information and communication tools used by many businesses. Henceforth, report will
emphasis over different communication and collaboration tools that business houses use to
manage the communication at the work place. How the communication tools helped and
supported the business ventures to achieve the best level of communication effectiveness at work
place. Furthermore, report will emphasis over the aspect that cloud storage and computing
become significantly important in replacing the need of the business to acquire and maintain the
own infrastructure of the business entity. Different aspects associated with th cloud storage will
also discuss in this study. Compare and contrast will also do over the positive and negative
aspects of the service and products being sold over internet.
MAIN BODY
Communication and collaboration tool supported to survive in current pandemic situation
The world has seen and noticed the pandemic like situation due to the covid 19 virus.
This could spread all over the place and could not favour the business houses to sustain the
operation flow as lockdown like situations has been arises at a global level. The world has
stooped completely in the pandemic situation that could motivate to business houses to explore
the information technology tools by channelizing work from home like practices (Sharma,
Nawab and Alam, 2021). In context to the every single business operations communication and
coordination play a huge role in order to achieve the best level of work efficiency. Following are
the communication and collaboration tools that could support the business houses to sustain the
flow of operations even in the existing pandemic situations at a global level.
Cloud storage
Cloud storage is a system that allows the companies to store all the data and information
necessary for the business operations. This function is made in such way that companies can
manage all its data and information with support of internet. The lockdown situation could
impose work from home like practices for the business entities and in such situation cloud
storage like technologies make it more necessary for companies to sustain a good flow of
operations in the market. Every business sustains its operation flow with support of the
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technology. Cloud storage worked as a coordination tool in between the human resources
appointed at various business organisations (Pattison and Petry, 2020). The technology of cloud
storage allowed the employees to get access of all the information stored in the system
maintained by the businesses. Work from home like practices are followed by the majority of the
business houses and in such a time this technology could allow the employees to entertain all
important information that can support the human resources for achieving the best level of work
efficiency. Cloud storage is an important process that not only support the organisations to
provide necessary data and information to all employees associated with the company but this
software also supported in updating the necessary information so that more advanced level of
work efficiency could have been achieved by the company.
Cloud storage has been a major supportive tool for businesses as this is very easy to
collect the information in current technology world but this is equally challenging for storing the
information in the systems established by the business houses (Munir and et.al., 2021). Cloud
storage worked positively in such a context by allowing the business houses to store as much
number of information that businesses are required to sustain a positive flow of operations and
functions of the company.
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is another key technology that has been used by the business houses at
a global level in process to sustain an effective flow of operations and functions even in case of
the lockdown like situations. Cloud computing has favoured the employees of company to
coordinate with other employee over the company system. This is the tool that also allows the
employees to communicate about different business issues by exploring the level of information
required for achieving the best level of work efficiency. Cloud computing is among the most
used tools of the information technology (Avtar and et.al., 2021). This tool not only support the
businesses to support employees with support of quality of information and data but also to make
things better for the employees for delivering the best level of work satisfaction. Senior
management also get to communicate with the employees of company over this system.
In the lockdown, like situation when it was so necessary and challenging for all the business
houses and senior management to coordinate with thousands of work force this technology
played a vital role in addressing all different issues.
Customer relationship management applications
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Customer relationship management is another key technology that has been consumed by
the businesses in the current work from home like conditions. This technology has allowed and
supported the business houses to establish the proper relationship with the potential customers of
the organisation even in case of the work from home like situation when employees of company
were not able to personally communicate with the customers (Hussain and Al-Turjman, 2020).
This platform has played a role of a channel where coordinating with the customers become
more easy. This technology has been widely used by the business houses in the work from home
like situations.
The above mentioned technologies are prominently utilised by the business houses to
achieve a key flow of operations and the functions to take the competitive advantage even in case
of the lockdown like situation in business environment.
Discussion of advantages, disadvantages, suitability and application of cloud storage and
computing
Cloud storage can be stated as system that allows individuals to store their respective data
as well as information on internet. It also enables individuals to upload the information through
making use of internet connection to cloud based server. In recent scenario, businesses are
making use of cloud storage in order to store and share their document with other individuals for
different purpose. On the other hand, cloud computing is mainly used to work on and completing
the specified project in the best possible manner. So it is directly linked with cloud storage in
which individuals can move data which can be used by it and send back for different purposes.
Therefore, the advantages, disadvantages, suitability and application of cloud storage and
computing can be illustrated as follows:
BASIS CLOUD STORAGE CLOUD COMPUTING
ADVANTAGES  The advantage of
cloud storage is that it
leads in instant transfer
of data from one
person to another. As it
have lots of storage
space that contribute in
retaining more and
 Restore of necessary
information and data
of individuals thus
helps company in
storing it large
information in safe and
secure manner for
further use.
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more information.
 Have better safety and
security feature that
helps in protecting
personal information
of individuals as well
as company to keep
protect or cannot be
used for unnecessary
purposes (Tadapaneni,
2018).
 Less chance of
addition expenditure as
reputable seller
provides cloud based
storage thus offer
technical support and
better guidance for
effective services.
 Secondly it can be
stated that cloud
computing provide
easy as well as quick
access to store
information at
anytime, anywhere
across worldwide
through having better
internet connection.
 Thirdly, the cloud
computing have lower
maintenance cost both
in terms of hardware
and software.
DISADVANTAGES  Cloud storage is too
much dependent on
internet connection in
order to provide
services to various
users. So individuals
might face difficult
while transferring data
that have limited
internet connection or
network.
 There are additional
Despite of so many
advantages, there are certain
areas in which cloud
computing lack such as:
 Performance can vary
such as when an
individual’s is working
in cloud environment
can simultaneously
provide resources to
other business (Zhe
and et.al., 2017).
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cost that users might
have to pay for
uploading and
downloading the file
from cloud.
 Moreover, in cloud
storage there are more
possibilities of losing
vital data by hacker or
infiltrators.
 It is always prone to
technical issue despite
of maintaining high
standard.
 Limited control over
the cloud infrastructure
as it is completely
owned, managed as
well as monitored by
the service provider
itself.
SUITABILITY The cloud storage is suitable
for individuals as well as
company that have strong
internet connection.
The organisation that wants to
more securely and safely
retain the information are
suitable for cloud storage.
It is suitable for the large
enterprise that wants to store
plenty of their information and
share with other individuals.
APPLICATION  Object storage is one
of application that
allows users in storing
vast scalability and
metadata
characteristics
information.
 File storage is other
application that helps
in access and share of
file from one
individual to another
It can be stated that cloud
storage provide varieties of
application in the field of art,
data storage and backup
services.
 Likewise art
application contributes
users in quickly and
easily designs
booklets, images and
attractive cards.
 Another application
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through network
attached storage.
 So all this are some
application that are
provided by cloud
storage to provide
better user experienced
and store maximum
information
(Venkatesh, and
Eastaff, 2018).
provided by the cloud
storage is data storage
and backup application
that helps in
effectively storing
information and
accessing through
internet connection.
Business application it helps
organisation in expanding
their business by delivering
their services 24*7 hours for
better customer’s satisfaction.
Positive and negative aspects of products and services being sold online and offline
With impact of covid-19, people are making use of both online platform in order to
attract more and more customers in order to enjoy huge profit margin and growth in future
circumstances. In offline selling of product, company sell its product through its official stores
by personally delivering services to range of customers. The key positive as well as negative
aspects of products and services that are being sold in online and offline can be explained as
follows:
Positive impact
 Helps in providing more convenience to customers: The positive impact of online
shopping is that customers can easily make purchase of products and services while
staying safe and secure at their home. Moreover, they can easily review products of
company and its existing competitors thereby take right decision to purchase from
specific firm at particular price for satisfaction of their overall requirements. Such as, it
saves their time and efforts in searching best products and services as per their wants.
 Reduce overall cost of business: The second positive impact of e-commerce platform
for company is that it reduces overall cost of company as it can easily market products
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and services to maximum customers in limited time frame (Aisyah, Harahap and
Salsabila, 2020). Overall cost of maintain the stores as well as staff member to delivered
services to customers is reduced thereby company is able to delivered qualitative
products at lower cost.
 Access to wide market: Online selling has provided opportunity to company to access to
wide market or attract more and more customers in the organisation. Enterprise are able
to easily generate its awareness through e-commerce platform among range of people that
are residing in different parts of the country thereby able to enjoy high profit margin.
Negative impact
 Less trust among customers: With increase number of online frauds, people are not able
to easily trust online shopping. They are more interested to have offline shopping of
products and services rather than online thus it has created barrier for company in
attracting several individuals in the organisation.
 Website cost: The Company in order to market its products and services through online
platform need to incur website cost to attract more and more customers. The company
must have skilled and talented employees that have capabilities to delivered services to
customers through digital technology so that they are happy and satisfied to be part of
organisation.
 Security and fraud issue: The another disadvantages of online shopping is that online
fraud or cyber crime has increased at rapid stage which results in threat to personal
information of company (Bassan, 2018). Likewise, hacker may hack company accounts
gather its information or its customers and employees thereby use them for unnecessary
purposes that can ruin brand image of the enterprise in external environment.
So, all these are major positive and negative impact of selling products through online or
digital media in order to higher profit margin and sales in future circumstances. Whereas the
positive and negative impact of selling product through offline method to range of customers
are as follows:
Advantages of offline selling
 Helps in customer’s satisfaction: Company through offline channel can easily
gained trust and confidence of people by understanding their actual taste and
preferences and providing what they want. Offline channel contribute in providing
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varieties of options, touch and feel experienced to customers thereby enhancing their
satisfaction level to maximum extend (Bhanushali, D and et.al., 2020).
 Personalised services: Moreover, the enterprises are able to provide personalised
experienced to customer through offline channel thus build loyal customers that are
ready to shop with specify firm for satisfaction of their respective requirements. Thus
it leads in building brand image and increasing overall profit margin of the company.
Disadvantages of offline selling of products and services
 Limited reach top targeted audience: The one of the biggest disadvantages of offline
selling is that company is unable to reach wide range of customers thus it has limited
approach to grow and expand its business operation. Only people that are able to hear the
advertisement come at physical stores and make purchase as per their desired.
 High marketing cost: The second disadvantage of selling product through offline
method is that company need to incur huge marketing cost on billboard, advertisement in
newspaper and several other method. Thus it overall resulted in increase cost of company
and lead barriers in effective achievements of goals (Zhe and et.al., 2017,).
CONCLUSION
Form the above report it can be concluded that different communication and
collaboration tolls contribute company in grow and sustain its business operation in covid-19
situation. At the same time cloud storage and computing helps company in strong large
amount of information that could be used for different purposes while working online. Thereby it
can be concluded that with impact of covid-19, online is best method to interact and connect with
range of customers living in the society for benefits of organisation.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Aisyah, E. S., Harahap, E. P. and Salsabila, N., 2020. The Effect Requirements Selling In The
Marketplace For Security Against Buyer Trust. Aptisi Transactions on Management
(ATM), 4(1). pp.67-75.
Avtar, R. and et.al., 2021. Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on the Fisheries Sector: A Case
Study from Three Harbors in Western India. Remote Sens. 2021. 13, 183.
Bassan, C., 2018. Online selling strategies: the matrix scheme case.
Bhanushali, D., Koul, A., Sharma, S. and Shaikh, B., 2020, February. BlockChain to Prevent
Fraudulent Activities: Buying and Selling Property Using BlockChain. In 2020
International Conference on Inventive Computation Technologies (ICICT) (pp. 705-
709). IEEE.
Hu, Y., 2020. How online and offline selling channels affect word-of-mouth among
customers (Doctoral dissertation).
Hussain, A. A. and Al-Turjman, F., 2020. 2 Resource Allocation in Volunteered Cloud
Computing and Battling COVID-19. AI-Powered IoT for COVID-19.
Munir, S. and et.al., 2021. Changes in Air Quality Associated with Mobility Trends and
Meteorological Conditions during COVID-19 Lockdown in Northern England,
UK. Atmosphere. 12(4). p.504.
Pattison, G. and Petry, J., 2020. Innovations in simulation: Experiences with Cloud-based
Simulation Experimentation Taylor, SJE, Anagnostou, A., Abubakar, NT, Kiss, T.,
Deslauriers, J., Terstyanszky, G., Kacsuk, P., Kovacs, J., Kite, S.
Sharma, D., Nawab, A. Z. B. and Alam, M., 2021. Integrating M-Health with IoMT to Counter
COVID-19. In Computational Intelligence Methods in COVID-19: Surveillance,
Prevention, Prediction and Diagnosis (pp. 373-396). Springer, Singapore.
Tadapaneni, N. R., 2018. Cloud Computing: Opportunities And Challenges. Available at SSRN
3563342.
Venkatesh, A. and Eastaff, M. S., 2018. A study of data storage security issues in cloud
computing. International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science,
Engineering and Information Technology, 3(1). pp.1741-1745.
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Zhe, D and et.al., 2017, May. Study on data security policy based on cloud storage. In 2017 ieee
3rd international conference on big data security on cloud (bigdatasecurity), ieee
international conference on high performance and smart computing (hpsc), and ieee
international conference on intelligent data and security (ids) (pp. 145-149). IEEE.
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