Case Study 3
Answer 1
Data management is highly recognized as the implementation of policies as well as procedures that, to a great extent, put a company in control of its business data irrespective of where it is located (Huberman, & Miles, 1994). As far as our case study is concerned, it becomes of great significance to note that data management was so problematic at Automotive Resource International (ARI). This was because of various reasons. For instance, the huge volume of data that was collected, or in other words, gathered by ARI on licensing, maintenance, including compliance, appeared to be horrible to be appropriately managed. Additionally, the organization had only six call centers in place, and all of them were located in North America. This made it tough to get things moving at the company. Every time the users would request data, it would take about five days before the report and information were generated, something that ended up slowing things up. It is, therefore, proper to argue that the lack of an effective system of handling data made it tough for ARI to manage the huge volume of data collected.
Answer 2
It is worth realizing that data analysis plays a tremendous role when it comes to discovering useful information for use in making decisions in a company. As such, it is always proper to consider an organization’s capability when it comes to data analysis (Green, et al., 2007). As far as this is concerned, it is essential to note that the earlier capabilities of ARI for data analysis, as well as reporting, revolved around the collection and analyzation of more than fourteen thousand units of data, and this was per every vehicle. Additionally, there was what can best be described as too much manual work hence time-consuming, and there was also a provision of very limited information, including reporting, something that made authoritative workers take about five days to create the report. All of these resulted in various impacts on the operation of the business. For instance, ARI’s method for data evaluation was highly delayed, and this meant that data provision emerged as a challenging process at the company. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Answer 3
Every organization would consider a decision that would benefit it, but sometime a company may make some mistakes in its decision-making process. However, I do believe that ARI’s approach to embracing SAP HANA was an excellent solution for the entire company. As far as this is concerned, it becomes essential to remember that HANA, as SAP’s in-memory computing platform, is deployable. SAP HANA played a tremendous role in helping ARI to determine exact figures in terms of its cost, something that made it possible to create extra value for the company’s customers. With HANA, it also became possible to enjoy what can best be described as a quicker response to the simple history of organization expenditure. Additionally, each time required for a call center to handle cost savings, including transactions, was reduced because of SAP HANA. The approach also enabled the company to identify a new way of storing its data in RAM rather than relying on a flash disk. As such, ARI was now able to enjoy quick access to data.
Answer 4
It is always said that the choices one makes can result in either positive or negative consequences. As such, embracing HANA highly triggered various changes. For instance, it became possible to generate responses to various requests in just about three to three and a half seconds. It is to say that the speed improved significantly in this case. Upon the adoption of HANA, the company stood in a better position in terms of extracting its huge data resources, including the creation of projections that are, to a great extent, based on results. Additionally, embracing the HANA approach made it possible to decrease the time for every contract by five percent hence resulting in substantial cost savings.
Case Study 4
Answer 1
SCM, which is an acronym for Supply Chain Management, is highly recognized as the active management of supply chain processes with the sole intention to ensure that there is the maximization of consumer value as well as a realization of what can best be identified as a sustainable competitive advantage. SCM can be advantageous to Zappos in a couple of ways. For instance, it will, to a great extent, improve customer service, including ensuring that there is a decrease in the company’s operating costs (Al Falah, Zairi, & Ahmed, 2003). It is through SCM that Zappos will be in a better position to enjoy a quick distribution of its commodities hence avoiding expensive inventory. SCM will also play a tremendous role in streamlining everything, and this is starting from product flow to unexpected disasters. It is worth noting that when there is effective SCM, this can assist Zappos in diagnosing various challenges, including disruptions.
Answer 2
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) has, for a long time, been embraced by various organizations. As far as this is concerned, it becomes proper to remember that CRM refers to all of the activities, technologies, including strategies that are highly considered by companies as a way to manage, or in other words, care for their interactions with their current as well as potential clients. Various benefits can be enjoyed by Zappos by embracing CRM. With CRM, for instance, Zappos will be in a better position to generate a relationship with their customers, something that will play a great role in creating loyalty and also what is known as consumer retention (Zeng, Wen, & Yen, 2003). Additionally, Zappos will be able to enjoy the increased profit, especially as a result of the consumer loyalty established through the use of CRM. It will also aid the organization in having what is identified as the basic purchase history, and this includes details of the clients.
Answer 3
As seen earlier, SCM is identified as the active management of supply chain processes with the sole intention to ensure that there is the maximization of consumer value as well as a realization of what can best be identified as a sustainable competitive advantage. On the other hand, CRM refers to all of the activities, technologies, including strategies that are highly considered by companies as a way to manage, or in other words, care for their interactions with their current as well as potential clients. ERP is recognized as a method that is highly utilized by organizations as the means to manage as well as integrate the significant parts of their businesses. It would be a great idea for Zappos to consider the use of SCM, CRM, and also ERP as they all form significant parts for a smooth business operation. It is worth noting that SCM systems create what is known as a tight process, including information linkages between all participants, especially when it comes to matters revolving around supply chains. SCM will be advantageous to Zappos in the sense that it will allow the organization to bring together all members of the supply chain hence preventing the tendency of linking them together one by one. It is also proper to remember that embracing CRM would be an excellent approach as this enable Zappos to interact with customers on an individual level hence easily learning about their shopping preferences and also behaviors. In addition, CRM would play a great part by ensuring that Zappos delivers the uppermost levels of consumer service and that these customers are in a position to purchase new products. Because of ERP, it will be easy to integrate all departments as well as functions into a single IT system (Adaileh, & Abu-alganam, 2010). This is something that will end up ensuring that all employees in the company make enhanced decisions by considering enterprise-wide information concerning all business operations.
Answer 4
A merger is described as a situation whereby two companies, or in other words, organizations agree to come together as one single firm instead of them existing separately. As far as this is concerned, it becomes imperative to realize that Amazon.com acquired Zappos for eight hundred and eighty million dollars. This merger resulted in Zappos employees having to share forty million dollars in cash, including stock with the management staying intact. Although numerous individuals firmly believe that the merger is good, this does not mean that there are no potential issues for Zappos consumers. Because of the merger, there will be reduced competition hence the increased possibility of the customers being overcharged for commodities. Additionally, this merger may result in fewer customer service representatives, something that would make it even harder for consumers to get answers to their various concerns or questions. The merger may, to a great extent, led to a decrease or even increase of consumer options. With a merger, there are also high chances of a decrease in supplies.
Answer 5
It is worth noting that Zappos can utilize the supply chain of Amazon as the means to grow its sales as well as customer satisfaction. Considering the use of the supply chain of Amazon.com is ideal, considering the fact that the company has, over the years, been recognized as a master of the supply chain. As such, using Amazon’s supply chain will play a tremendous role in helping Zappos increase its sales, including enhancing customer satisfaction. It is imperative to remember that Amazon.com has a huge capacity. Zappos can seek to keep, or in other words, store some of its items in warehouses run and managed by Amazon that seem to be close to consumers. It is an undertaking that will make sure that Zappos has a continuous flow of products to its clients. Additionally, it is essential to discover that for a long time, Amazon has focused a lot on customer experience. As such, it would be an excellent idea for Zappos to have Amazon take care of customer experience, something that will lead to amazing accomplishments.