The Steps of Boots Business - Essay Example

 The Steps of Boots Business 1- Management Summary Boots business has taken a lot of steps in order to enhance potential business value and generate revenue. In this scenario the business is always seeking to offer its customers an excellent shopping experience along with various facilities. The establishment of the web based technology platform is also part of the huge plan for the superior customer experience and satisfaction. In this scenario this report will offer a deep insight into the investigation of the influence and impact of the new IT/IS system on the culture and productivity of the organization as well as will assess and identify the evidence that corroborates, or falsifies, the argue that the new system has delivered value and provided competitive benefit to the Boot’s management (CRM odyssey Inc., 2010), (Laudon & Laudon, 1999) and (Turban et al., 2005). New developments and evolutions in information technology and information systems technology and transformations in clients’ behaviors are motivating businesses nowadays to implement better client association management like a decisive business and planned focus of the management. However, a lot of business managers have not been found serious in establishing main technologies, mentioning a need of understanding, danger of expenditures as well as implementation complexities. In this situation the overall business areas suffer in the areas of customers’ relationships as well as business management. Presently lots of business organizations are taking the establishment of new and advanced technology based systems seriously. In this scenario the business of Boots has taken imitative to establish an e-business platform that can effectively organize and handle business processes and diverse areas. This initiative comprises lots of impacts aspects. This report is aimed and planned to assess and discuss all these areas. The main intention is to assess the way we need these systems. The main idea of these technology based systems emerges with the business development and customer-association progress. After the potential enhancement in the business of Boots the overall management of businesses operation management and customer affiliation supervision became complex. In this scenario management has assessed that new technology based platforms are the only solutions for such kind of business management. These IT and IS tools offer better business management and Interactive Decision Tool will offer Boots business managers an access to the synchronized or real-time business data and information employed in the Campaign Management Comparative Analysis, that permits administrators to influence measures foundational upon business-specific necessities. Therefore, managers are competent to tailor the analysis to facilitate and make sure assortment of the software that most excellent convenes their business’s requirements. Users just point-and-click on those systems features, significant to their business, along with the Interactive Decision Tool will offer a personalized status of the business dealers (CRM odyssey Inc., 2010), (Laudon & Laudon, 1999) and (Turban et al., 2005). This research report presents a comprehensive analysis of all those factors and aspects that I have outlined and mentioned above. 2- Introduction The business of Boots is in retail market and enjoying large business customer circle. In this scenario the business of the Boots is striving to proficiently enhance the business output as well as ROI (return on Investment). In this scenario the business commence the loyalty card system for its customer’s attraction as well as durable business relations. After that business has initiated its Advantage Card scheme all over the country in September 1997. That scheme was also quite flourishing. After launching its Advantage Card scheme the business began the analysis of customer behavior to better serve the customers. All this arrangement led toward the growth of better business management and assessment technology systems. However, the main intention of all such developments and technologies is to offer a platform that can better assess and analyze consumer behavior and provide the management a much clear picture of customer needs and requisites that can be better fulfilled for enhanced customer trustworthiness. In case of launching such system Boots Business is hoping to have sign up of eight million card holders during the scheme’s first year, however that amount was exceeded its original estimate with 10 million card holders by December 1998 and an ongoing toward the healthy level of new workforce. In this overall technology based system establishment the business has invested around £25 million. On this return the business also gained enormous business advantages in addition to customer fidelity (Case Study). In case of web based E-business establishment at the corporation the business is expecting a number of far-reaching impacts of the business working and management of operations. The biggest impact that can be assessed in case of technology based system application at the corporation is about the better management support and customer satisfaction. This report is also aimed and intended to analyze some of the prime and extensive impacts of fresh IT/IS system on the background and output of the organization. This report will also assess main prospects regarding new system and key importance that has to be offered through this technology to the business regarding organizational competitive advantage that Boot’s management were seeking. 3- Strategic Evaluation Contemporary commercial businesses need recurrent innovations and transformations in business trend as well as reformation of business implementations, models, procedures and progress in work being completed. Since 1998, producers did not experience a complete business adjustment or did not develop Internet technologies stopped to subsist. However, the companies developed and evaluated the technology based systems support in business revivals have to be completed as a minimum one time a decade, since integrative turnaround plans. Additionally, the technology-supported alteration of companies can dole out as a roadmap to developments of the business in a same organizational disaster. As of this turnaround occurrence, it turns out to be obvious that company knowledge, modernized procedures and e-Technologies function jointly to get a competitive benefit intended for contemporary producers. In this regard, modern company solutions offer high value if customer is regarded and web-based. In addition, the avant-garde e-business system, tools and technologies that put substitute old Windows-based client/server systems offer straightforward entry, simple implementation and maintenance and less expense of privileges. Thus, to uphold their competitive benefit businesses are convinced to promote an atmosphere of constant developments by means of repeated wide-ranging business amendments; they are repeated to encourage cooperation at the entire stages of the business. On their reconsideration, to take advantage of prospects and reduce hazards, established business requirements to reduce experimentation and furthermore reconsider shift costs, opacity issues, formation of liability and political threats, encircling their asset cots. Furthermore, the distributors and producers have to recognize their providers and clients as co-workers in the alteration procedure and importune their response as frequently as probable. Patenting novel business paradigms as being infatuated by means of advanced client service, outlines raising the organization’s competitive benefit. At the similar time, it outlines rising opportunities of continuous consumers’ loyalty (Jeremic, 2010), (Summers et al., 2003), (Turban et al., 2005) and (Ray, 2004). Position and Industry Analysis 3.1- SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis is one of most important strategic planning tools that are used by organizations to make certain that there is a understandable and apparent purpose defined for the project or business enterprise. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. In this analysis, Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors on the other hand, Opportunities and threats are external factors (Tatum, 2010), (MindTools, 2010) and (MarketingTeacher, 2010). This section presents the SWOT analysis for Boots business. 3.1.1- Strengths The business of Boots is moving toward the possible business enhancements in case of customer augmentation. Present conventional client management approach is well suited for the business functioning as well as operations. In case of new technology based E-business system application this present system will be of no use. The new technology based working arrangement will be based on the better customer shopping and understanding. In this scenario the need of new technology based system is really vital. There is dire need for the application of some customer relation management system and as well a number of campaign management systems. These systems will support the enhanced business customer support and as well for the better business operations management. The main strength of these new technology based systems is to offer more concrete business hold up in all areas and diverse departments like finance, decision support and as well promotion. 3.1.2- Weaknesses The new E-business technology based system is expected to support the business for the enhanced business working and operational support. In this scenario the business will be competent to perform in an effective and enhanced manner, however several flaws also exist in the implementation of such technology based applications. One of the main and biggest weaknesses of such project is its cost and time. Most of the Information technology projects fail due to lack of superior management and control. The business of Boots has invested a huge amount in this project. Its successful application and onward proper management needs to be effectively administered. In this scenario the technology based system also requires regular maintenance and supervision for the enhanced performance as well as handling. In this scenario some deficiencies at any stage of the system handling and management can escort to severe harm to the business reputation. In this regard some of the weaknesses can be system incapability to handle large number of customer transactions, long time of data loading, long query response, etc. In case of such a huge system that has to competently handle and manage almost 10 million customers, these factors are having great significance. 3.1.3- Opportunities When any business applies some new technology based systems, the prime and fundamental aspect or factor that is considered by the business management is the possible chances to formulate greater sales or profits in the environment. Here all businesses desire to have some potential augment in the business and enhanced return on investment (Levya et al., 1999) and (Wynn, 2008). In scenario of new technology based system application at the Boots business the management was expecting to experience possible augment in profit and business customer profits. In this connection business is also expecting to have better competitive edge in the marketplace through the application of such new plus innovative technology based platform. The online business platform will lead to higher customer access as well as satisfaction that will positively add to customer constancy for the business. This directly boosts business sales. Consequently we can definitely get radical augment in the business profits as well as sales. 3.1.4- Threats In case of any web based business or else platform there are all the time constant threats from online security along with confidentiality attack. In case of web based business these attacks are considered more severe. If a number of illegal individual gains access to the business database of Boots business, this scenario can typically lead to some of the extensive plus dangerous outcomes. One of the chief dangers is to collapse or else misuse customer database. In web based business system for the Boots business we will have an online transaction plus payment facility. That takes some of the customer sensitive information parameters. These parameters can be his name, phone number, email and most significantly the credit card number. In case of any outsider or else insider security attack the customer information plus details is in great danger. In case of hacking or theft of customer information the attacker can use this information in a negative way that leads to higher damage in business credibility. This can also lead to high loss of business sales, due to insecure business platform (Norton, 2001) and (Shelly et al., 2005). 3.2- PEST Analysis PEST Analysis is a straightforward however significant and widely-used technique that helps the organizations to recognize the big picture of the Political, Economic, Socio-Cultural and Technological environment they are working in. In addition, PEST is utilized by business leaders internationally to develop their idea of the future (MindTools2, 2010). Below is the PEST analysis for Boots Business: 3.2.1- Political Factors In each business some political factors are as well involved. In case of Boots business the new technology based framework is going to revolutionize the traditional business practice and working. In this scenario we are having some of the political factors involved. The prime factor that is involved is about the traditional performance of the business. In such working situation some people (staff members) are used-to such practice of the business. In case of some new technology establishment these staff members will generally feel some sort of insecurity regarding loss of their jobs. In such conditions there is an utmost need of taking all those people into confidence regarding new technology based system application. 3.2.2- Economic Factors New technology based system also involves some of the economical or monetary factors. In this scenario business needs investment for the sake of application of new business system. For instance, boots business is going to invest £25 million for the implementation of new technology based platform. In this situation the business needs to take care of the overall investment and also assess the prime sources that will generate this investment. The return on this investment is expected in a long-run however there is a need of better handling and administration the economical factors. If the business does not manage the overall investment in enhanced way then this will lead to a number of complicated problems regarding business. In case of any delay or else trouble in the business project, the cost of project will definitely increase, so there is also a need of enhanced management of vital resources as well as project areas in case of new investments for this new technology based project. 3.2.3- Social Factors The present age is the age of technology. The way of living and working is also changing all through the world. In this scenario the way people purchase is also changing. Presently people are moving toward the web based shopping in addition to buying. There are new and modern trends of web based shopping. The new technology based system that Boots business is going to implement is according to the present social and living style. This new web based e-business platform will attract new customers and also offer more facilities to the present business customers. This will also add to constancy of the business customers through offering more enhanced business plus societal support. This new web based platform at the Boots business is also proposed to offer enhanced support in case of business customer supervision and management decision support. The new business system will also offer better support to the business management in case of offering enhanced decision making and decision support facility (Turban et al., 2005) and (Norton, 2001). 3.2.4- Technological Factors The new technology for the Boots business is expected to offer enhanced working and personal support. However this as well involves some of the technological factors. These technological factors can be about the web based technology that, we are going implement for the Boots business. The technological factors involve the support of technology in case of user working and also market support. In scenario of user support, we are aimed to implement such technology system that is more adoptable and useable for the customer. It means that for any web based shopping and searching, the customers do not feel any problem. On the other hand the businesses also observe some of the main factors like market support. For the market support point of view we generally assess that how much technical support is available in the market for the business system handling as well as management. Now in case of any problem or crisis, better technical market support can proficiently facilitate in a superior way for the enhanced business performance and persistent working (Summers et al., 2003). 4- Impact of new IT/IS system In this section I will assess the impact of new technology based system at Boots business regarding culture along with productivity of the organization: 4.1- New IT/IS system impact on productivity In case of new technology based system for the E-business management for the boots business, we will have a lot of productivity based impacts on the business. In other words, the productivity of the business will improve extensively through the new technology based system application: 4.1.1- Staff Performance The new web based system for the Boots business will offer much better facility in the form of staff performance improvement. This technology based system will improve the business staff working performance by offering superior tools, approaches as well as facilities for routine tasks management in addition to operational management. 4.1.2- Business Revenue The new web based system will also contribute to the business revenue as a better business practice. The web based business will open new horizons for dealing and working through the web based links. Additionally, the customers will be capable to have much easier practice of shopping and distant buying. This will all contribute to the potential improvement in the business revenue generation process. 4.1.3- Decision Support The new web based system will also offer facility of business management for the enhanced decision support. In this regard business management will be able to have business data in-time that will lead to enhanced and effective analysis. In this circumstance business managers and other administrative personnel will be able to gain a better and quick look at the business issues as well as diverse aspects. This arrangement will take to the better decision making plus business support. 4.1.4- Data Security The new business data will be in digital form. In this scenario we would have multiple backups of this data for the enhanced business data security as well as performance. This will also lead to better business handling and operations management in case of any disaster or else problem situation. 4.1.5- Business Revenue Boots business will also gain higher business revenue by implementing this E-business system. This will offer better market coverage in addition to more clients that jointly leads to much better business revenue generation. 4.1.6- Customer Satisfaction Customers’ satisfaction will also be gained through the new technology based system application. The new system will be according to customers’ expectations and needs, it means that customers will increasingly like the business system and become more satisfied with the business web based services as compared to traditional local retails services. 4.1.7- Customer Requirements The new web based system for the Boots business will offer greater fulfillment of all the customers’ requirements. In this scenario the new business system will be competent to offer greater business hold up as well as functionality in web based shopping and payment. In this way the customers will be able to shop every thing by sitting at their homes. 4.1.8- Market Capturing The business of Boots will be able to proficiently capture the high business market. This new web based E-business platform will offer enhanced functionality for the business in capturing wider business market and also offer enhanced support for distant business customers. The E-Business system will be able to offer efficient support for capturing the maximum business areas plus markets for the better business coverage. 4.1.9- Competitive Edge The new e-business platform for the Boots business will offer more competitive advantages for the better business performance and support. In case of its market competitor the business will be capable to have a better coverage of all the areas of business market regarding capturing all domestic as well as remote areas for better customer experience. 4.2. New IT/IS system culture on productivity Here are some of the prime impacts those will be brought by the new E-Business of Boots: 4.2.1- Customer Loyalty The new E-business system will add more value to the customers’ loyalty. In this scenario the old customers will become more loyal to the business by having more enhanced and better web based shopping. 4.2.2- Staff Satisfaction The new E-business platform will offer better satisfaction to the business staff. In this scenario the business staff will be more comfortable with the business working and operational management. This will be because of non-paper based working arrangement. 4.2.3- Staff Practice The new web based system will alter the traditional paper based culture of business staff members. In this scenario they will become more innovative through some electronic platform. 4.2.4- Customer Support The new E-business of Boots will also offer enhanced customer support for the customer orders management and issues handling. Here the customers will be able to have a web based platform from where they could easily resolve or manage their problems and related issues. 4.2.5- Business working practice The business working culture will also alter though the new technology based platform. This will happen due to much better electronic data plus operational practice administration system. 4.2.6- Management Practice In case of new Boots business application management’s working and decision making practice will as well be changed. This system will alter the conventional reporting and decision making culture of the business. Now Boots business management will take decisions on the basis of electric and in-time data reports. 4.3 Actinic v8 In this section I will present a comprehensive analysis of one of the well known E-commerce application for the Boots business. In this scenario I have selected the Actinic v8 that is an off the shelf products for the enhanced E-Commerce business management and operations’ handling. Actinic v8 Ecommerce management system is a desktop Windows application that facilitates the client to design as well as distribute a demonstrated, on-line business system, offer enhanced protected working, Business orders encryption over the Internet link, and manage these business orders internally. It up-holds the development of an e-commerce website through shopping cart, catalogue, safe disbursement and later order processing. Actinic V8 carries-on to necessitate small expedients to construct a flourishing store. All they need to do is to avail a dialup account from an ISP and a website through CGI admittance facility. In addition, through the improvement made in new version Actinic-v8, Actinic Catalog turns out to be the most complete inexpensive web based e-business solution obtainable nowadays. Actinic Catalog comprises all a small business requirements to make, propose as well as manage its own protected web store. Actinic-v8 Business offers an extra useful atmosphere intended for users who have a practically extensive volume of business sales going in the course of their store plus who desire to additionally computerize their web based business processes. It is as well proposed for suppliers who contract online with different businesses (B2B) and retailers who need to provide regular customers an additional customized service (Actinic Software Limited, 2006) and (Actinic Software Limitedb, 2006). In case of Boots business the new web based system of Actinic-v8 will offer the following main advantages: (Greater Vision, 2010) It is simple to use and insightful Windows interface for Boots business customers and staff. It offers inclusive design as well as store design; capability to produce Boots business individual distinctive, customized store working and management. There is refined marketing facility for Boots business that offers products as well as customer management facility. This facility comprises higher discounting aspects plus customer explicit pricing to construct constancy as well as support in increasing our online business. The new features of Actinic-v8 system offers widespread store management and handling for Boots business comprising order processing aspects to augment efficiency in a elevated-volume order environment The Actinic-v8 system will be more feasible for the Boots business in case of elastic product catalogue supports that is amazingly up to 20,000 goods comprising digital goods. Actinic-v8 system involves a multi-site as well as multi-user improvement alternatives intended for large size as well as numerous sites. Incorporation by means of accounting as well as back-office systems to improve production for the Boots business This system will offer self-governing criteria to incorporate by the entire top online payment gateways as well as business hosting suppliers for the Boots business 5. E-Marketing Strategy 5.1 E-Marketing strategy In case of Boots business we are aimed to develop such marketing strategy that is competent to offer enhanced business promotion. In this scenario we need to make such policies as well as strategies which can effectively offer business support and market support. For this reason we have decided to make use of multi-channel strategy for the business promotion. In this scenario we will use numerous physical in addition to online promotional areas and channels for the business improvement. These physical channels involve newspaper, posters as well as retail store based promotion. Here we will also use the web based marketing facilities, these can be for the better promotional campaign designed for the business. Here we will use the customer email marketing, website ads publishing, social network based marketing along with other paid ads based promotional campaign for the business of Boots (Summers et al., 2003). 5.2 Differential advantage of Strategy In case of new web based technology at the Boots business we will take the following advantages: Better business promotion Effective contact with the customers Effective targeting of the customers Better support for the business clients Reduced expenses of marketing through the web based marketing Taking better competitive edge Enhanced support for business retails 6- Legal and ethical issues In case of new E-business platform application for the Boots business we need to consider some of the prime legal and ethical issues regarding organization that need to be competently assessed and analyzed to protect the business from possible outsider or else insider security and privacy attacks. Some of these issues are: 6.1- Privacy Today’s concerns regarding customer privacy and security are extremely elevated. In this scenario business staff and customers’ data can be hacked and used in some wrong way. All this leads towards dangerous privacy issues. Here business Management and Technology staff needs to take some suitable steps for the protection and management of some of the major privacy related issues. This will also enhance customer satisfaction for business policies as well as procedures. 6.2- Information Security The business also needs to take care of the overall business network, E-business website in addition to working system’s security. In this regard business needs to take care of security issues for better management of fundamental security issues. 6.3- Network Attacks In case of Boots business, the business network needs to be protected against some of the following attacks: Virus Attacks Malware Attacks Phishing Attacks DOS (Denial of Services) Attacks Identity Theft Attacks For the optimum protection against such attacks the business needs to develop some effective security policies and then implement a number of effective counter attacks policies that can be in the form of network firewall as well as security software. 7- Conclusion Boots business management has taken a decision to renovate the traditional business practice of the business through a new web based business platform. In this scenario this report has presented a deep analysis of some of the prime areas and concerns of the Boots business. This report presented a comprehensive assessment of Boots business along with its potential operational areas in order to establish a new technology based E-business system. This report has offered a deep and thorough overview of how this technology can influence and change the business culture and performance. In addition, this report has outlined the major risks and problem areas which are hindering the way of effective business management along with handling. I hope this report will offer a better insight into the Boots business new application for e-business development. References Actinic Software Limited, 2006. Actinic Version 8. [Online] Available at: http://www.actinic.com/documentation/Release_Notes_v8.pdf [Accessed 28 December 2010]. Actinic Software Limitedb, 2006. Release Notes for Actinic Version 8. [Online] Available at: http://www.actinic.co.uk/docs/release_notes/ReleaseNotes800.pdf [Accessed 27 December 2010]. CRM odyssey Inc., 2010. Campaign Management Software. 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