United Parcel Service - Case Study Example

Chapter One

United parcel service (UPS), is a highly efficient tracking system that was invented in 1907. The tracking system offers shipping services in more than 220 countries across the world; the firm has so far well managed its deliveries in all these countries offering good leadership and highly prioritizing customer satisfaction. The firm has therefore been very successful; it has become the world's largest package deliverer both on-air and on the ground.

UPS has used information systems technology to achieve its strategic goals of being more efficient and customer-oriented in several ways. Let's take a closer look. First, different customers have a different definition of efficiency; some may value cost efficiency while some may value delivery speed and quality; UPS system caters for all these customers through their investment in advanced information technology. This enables the customers to track their orders using the UPS tracking numbers. This has enabled the firm to be more customer as the customers are given more control over the deliveries. They are also allowed to choose picking stations of their convenience; the deliveries are made at low costs and hence customer efficiency.

The automated package tracking system is one of the essential elements in the UPS; its unavailability would prove to be a downfall, especially when it comes to providing efficiency for the customers. The firm provides information to millions of customers from different countries through the information and tracking system, and its absence will slow down the process. The customers will not be able to track the deliveries anymore, and this reduces efficiency.

Friedman (2017), the author of the ‘World is Flat’, listed UPS as an example of how globalization has flattened the world. UPS has enabled the world to have a universal global supply; a delivery chain is developed that connects different customers to the standard supplier; indeed, the world has become a small village through globalization.

Chapter 2

The invention of the information systems has greatly transformed businesses of a different kind. Information system in business is defined as a set of procedures which depend on one another; its main aim is to process data related to business with the aim of publishing useful information. Information systems have greatly transformed the business sector by feeding them with quick and accurate information for a faster decision making process. The operations are also improved thanks to IT; high accuracy is achieved while repetitive tasks are eliminated.

The NFL uses different types of systems; all the systems used have different objectives. To start with, the NFL uses a radio frequency identification system (RFID). In this system, tags are placed on the shoulders of players. The main objective is to have a track of the player's movements. This includes a record of their speed, velocity, the distance they have travelled and many more. The NFL teams use this same system to improve their training strategies. Besides, the Zebra system has also been widely used in the NFL and its teams. The system seems to have similar objectives with RFID as is also seeks to collect information on players speed, the time they took in sprinting, the time they jogged, their location in the field, their acceleration among other useful information.

These systems play important roles in improving both operations and decision-making in the NFL and its teams. The systems supply the management and commentators with quick and accurate information that enables them to make accurate information; in this way, the decision-making process is also shortened. Besides, the information provided enables the NFL to compare player performance; this is essential, especially in determining who the best players are. The systems deployed to cut the cost of data processing hence improving operations. The speed of operations is also improved as the fans and commentators are fed with timely and highly accurate player information.

Chapter 3

For any business to achieve customer satisfaction, they need to have access information about their respective customers. This includes their personal information such as name and email address, information on customer behaviour such as how often do they purchase the product or access the service, their feedback, among others. Such information is rare as customers are always reluctant to give them out.

Collaboration and information sharing is, therefore, vital for businesses. Collaboration prepares a common platform for different businesses with the same objectives. For the case of Under Armour, the company collaborated with other companies such as AppleWatch, iPhone and iPad with the aim of reaching out to the customers’ effectively. The electronic companies enabled Under Armour to track their customers and to obtain data that enabled them to improve their services. Collaboration also enables in reducing the workload in the respective businesses. Information sharing, on the other hand, aids in the improvement of other businesses by cutting down the cost of obtaining information. For example, Under Armour Company, having a rich database aided the third party companies by allowing them to have access. The information shared allowed the advertisers to have rich information about their target customers. The information shared also benefited Under Armour; it increased their customer base and boosted their sales.

Smart product is defined as a device that connects the physical product and the software interfaces. It is an object that processes data; smart products are interactive in use. An example of a smart product is a smart meter; this is a digital meter that enables customers to use secure wireless communication network to communicate to con Edison about their needs.

Smart products are shaping competition among various firms in several ways. Recently, competition has been all about prices; the smart product has brought in new competition criteria that includes product differentiation. Smart product has also increased rivalry among firms on the basis of providing value to their customers. Rival firms are forced to conform to the latest technology to ensure they provide value-added products.

Chapter Four

New technology trends have come with many benefits, in cars to be specific; technology has enabled automatic driving, a 360-degree camera that has proved to reduce accidents, lane departure warning, among others. These trends in technology have, however, caused a lot of ethical dilemmas. First, the new technology trend has violated the privacy of individuals. For example, the event data recorder (EDR) that is installed in cars records the bulk of personal information about the driver. This includes tracking their movements, what they are doing at every moment, and the driver's eye movement, among others. Though this information has helped both the developer company and the insurance company to reduce accidents, it has infringed the deriver’s privacy.

Cybercrime has been a famous political issue raised by embedded cyber connections in cars. The data that s collected by the automakers in cars has proved to increase crime in many countries. The security of the data has been questionable. For instance, the data about the driver's behaviour and his or her unique fingerprints can be used by individuals in crime. Kidnappers, for example, may use the information about the driver's whereabouts and the places he likes to visit to kidnap him or steal from him.

Big data analytics are being applied to all of the data generated by motor vehicles in several ways. It has been used to know customer preference by analyzing the data collected from the customer's behaviour. This information is used by the automotive companies to improve their services, and ensure the security of their customers. Big data analytics have also been used to update the driver's maps automatically to give a right direction to the driver and even help them pick the best route for their destination. Motor insurance companies have deployed big data analytics to predict the drivers’ behaviour and monitor their safety.