How Technology Has Revolutionized Business In A Positive Way - Research Paper Example

of the English of the Teacher 7 November How Technology has Revolutionized Business in a Positive Way It is a fact that business has always been an aspect of human concern that used the available technologies to revolutionize the way goods and services are produced, packaged, marketed and sold. There is no doubt that technology has always helped the business organizations to better every aspect of their day to day functioning. However, the contribution made by technology to the world of business has achieved a manifold importance in the current times marked by the use of new IT based business utilities. Going by the fact that today information travels, gets processed and duplicated at a much faster pace, technology has done away with the barriers that earlier limited the business operations. This stands to be truer in the case of food business, where the exploitation of modern technology has led to many positive innovations and opportunities. The amazing thing is that technology has positively revolutionized every aspect of the food business in the nation are it agriculture, supply chain management, standardization of the products and services, centralized processing of ingredients and inputs, vending, marketing, processing, preparation, etc. It is a fact that just a few decades ago, it was impossible for big businesses associated with the production, sale, marketing and processing of food items, to centralize their global purchasing operations at one facility. Hence, no wonder the food industry, which is in a way an important aspect of the national economy remained vulnerable to supply, demand and price fluctuations. Practically speaking, it was not possible for the companies to gather process and analyze data in a manner that allowed for a realistic estimation and planning of the coming uncertainties. Hence, for a burger chain operating in New York, it was impossible to estimate that a fall in production in the local beef markets could be managed by procuring additional beef stocks from Latin American farms. There existed no mechanism that allowed for the collection and processing of the required information at a centralized facility. It would not be wrong to say that fast food chains like McDonalds or retailers like Walmart would have never been able to register such an impressive global presence, had it not been for the available technological innovations. Technology has made it possible for the American food producers, vendors and processors to benefit from the economies of scale resulting from the technology enabled centralized purchasing (Schlosser 5). Technologies like high speed internet, organizational intranets, data storage devices, data analysis software, IT based supply chain management has enabled food suppliers and procurers to make the best business decisions based on a knowledge of the price and availability of the food items all over the world (Schlosser 218). The businesses today are not under the compulsion to be at the mercy of the local producers. They do have a choice to procure their inputs from markets all over the world. Technology has increased the options available to the food producers, vendors and retailers. As per Choice, the leading food industry magazine, if on the one side the companies associated with food business are able to manage the uncertainties caused by changes in supply and demand of food commodities, on the other side they are able to provide their customers with value for money by selling to them the best products at most affordable prices (Woods, Velandia & Holcomb et al. 1). Technology has created new economies of scale for the food sector and “and the nation’s industrialized and centralized system of food processing has created a whole new sort of outbreak (Schlosser 183).” This has in a way provided the contemporary consumers with more choices. The consumers today do have the option to do their shopping through a range of actual and online stores, to purchase food items at the most competitive prices, all because of the modern technology. The other important way technology has influenced the national food industry is that it has made it possible for institutions and organization working at all levels in the national food supply chain to offer standardized products. There is no doubt that food is a commodity that is directly linked to public health. Hence, it is but natural for consumers to expect the food items they purchase to be of high quality and hygienic. Before technology overtook the national food industry, much of the operations at all levels in the national food industry were manual. This made it very difficult to produce food items that satisfied the required health and production standards. However, it is not the same today. Technology has made it possible for the farmers, suppliers, processors, and sellers to mechanize all aspects of food production. Right from the field to a shelf on the superstore, every food item today is prepared and processed by using automatic facilities. Therefore, it is possible for the producers and health agencies to assure that the food items they produce are as per the set quality and hygiene standards (Schlosser 204). Hence, the standardization of the food items made possible by the latest bio-technology, mechanized processing and IT enabled supply chain management, has assured that the consumers today get the food items that are processed and prepared as per the minimal quality and health standards (Maurino 5). No doubt, any customers today walking in a say KFC outlet could remain assured of the fact that all aspects of the product he is purchasing, are they the poultry, corn, or other ingredients, the preparation techniques and the packaging is as per the set quality and health standards (Maurino 5). This is just one aspect of the standardization of commodities made possible by the modern technology. The other good thing is that technology has also immensely benefitted the companies dealing with food products. Sticking to high quality and health standards made possible by technology has also helped food companies to establish themselves as trustworthy brands that enjoy consumer confidence. Hence, in a way the modern technology has reinvented the food business all over the world. It has touched every aspect of the food business and has made the production, processing and packaging of food faster, better and more reliable. Still, there are people who believe that technology has done more harm to the food industry than good. For instance there are people who believe that technology has only benefitted the large vendors like Walmart and Tesco. They hold that since these large vendors command a better money power, they are able to use technology to their advantage by forcing the small farmers and producers to sell to them their produce at low prices. However, this is just a lopsided argument. The good thing about modern technology is that it is accessible to all. In fact the small farmers and producers today are more so in a position to sell their produce in the international markets, to the highest bidder, by using the information technology (CareerFuel 1). The small producers can also sell their products online to the consumers willing to pay a price for their quality products (CareerFuel 1). In that sense, technology has made the food industry more open and fair. Technology has democratized the food industry and has largely done away with “the concentrated economic power that posed a great threat (Schlosser 125)” to the small farmers and vendors. Thereby, there is no doubt that technology has revolutionized business in a positive way. It has made each and every aspect of the national food supply much better, faster and more reliable. Technology has made the food industry more stable and predictable by making possible a centralized processing and planning of procurement decisions. It has allowed the food vendors, producers and retailers to manufacture products as per the set quality and health standards. This has benefitted both the business people and the ordinary people who have the choice to buy the best products at most competitive prices. Technology has empowered every farmer, supplier, manufacturer and consumer by allowing for a better utilization of the scarce resources. Works Cited Maurino, Romina. “Push to Lower Prices amid Grocery Wars not Ideal for Overall Food Industry”. The Canadian Press 6 April 2014. Print. Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation. New York: Mariner Books, 2012. Print. “Small Biz Success Story: Mycoterra Organic Mushroom Farm”. CareerFuel. YouTube. 11 March 2013. Web. 7 November 2014. Woods, Timothy, Margarita Velandia, Rodney Holcomb, Rebecca Dunning, & Eric Bendfeldt. “Local Food Systems Markets and Supply Chains”. Choice 2013. Web. 7 November 2014. Outline I. Introduction A. Thesis- The amazing thing is that technology has positively revolutionized every aspect of the food business in the nation are it agriculture, supply chain management, standardization of the products and services, centralized processing of ingredients and inputs, vending, marketing, processing, preparation, etc. II. Centralized Procurement A. Better able to deal with demand and supply fluctuations B. Best business decision making C. More choice to consumers III. Standardization of products and processes A. Standardization made possible by automation and IT B. Consumers getting products produced as per high quality standards C. Companies able to establish themselves as brands IV. Opposing view A. Technology only helping big business B. Technology accessible to all C. Small farmers and producers able to get better deal V. Conclusion. Read More