Active Teaching: Business Systems Analysis
Author’s Note
Contents
Introduction
Problem statement
TC Medical Devices Inc. is a small business concerned with providing quality and price-friendly medical goods to customers. The employment status of TC Medical devices Inc. employees is two full-time employees dedicated to all the daily activities and three part-time employees. The business has an essential website that showcases a list of few products, and clients can only make purchases physically by visiting the store. Nevertheless, this attribute of buying goods physically by visiting the premise disadvantages the TC Medical Devices Inc. since it cannot efficiently serve its customers, unlike its competitors, including Medtronic and Philips, whose online presence and operations are swift and sophisticated for its clients. The owner requires an upgrade of the e-commerce section of the venture making the ultimate goal of the company to be to promote growth by significantly improving the online presence and become more customer-focused. The fusion of the brick-and-motor with e-commerce is paramount in this regard to ensure effective competition.
Two technologies
Social computing is a trend in almost every sector currently. In this regard, the need and utilization of social networks play a vital role in the business industry (Nawaz et al., 2017). E-commerce, on the other hand, enables trade to be carried out remotely facilitating the active exchange of goods (Song, 2019).
Business Requirements
Objectives
Technology is a crucial tool in current commercial activities. In this regard, integrating trending technology like social computing and mobile commerce aims at ensuring reliable, fast, and efficient service delivery to clients (Nawaz et al., 2017). Moreover, the growth of TC Medical Device Inc. will be evident as its online presence and reliability will increase exponentially and therefore becoming more customer-focused through efficient service delivery (Song, 2019).
Project Description
Abed et al. (2015) reinforce e-commerce significance in businesses, suggesting that the internet can effectively carry out various business activities. There are a number of functions that need to be considered to ensure that the goals are achieved smoothly. First, the business should engage with customers and potential customers on social media platforms. In any case, at least one social media page must have a post every day. This ensures that the business remains relevant in this world that is ever-changing. Second, social network platforms should run at least one promotion every two months. The promotions will include things like discounts to the most loyal customers and fans. This will then encourage customers to follow us on social media platforms and also generate general business acceptance online. Third, there will be a report that will be generated daily. Also, every negative review will be recorded and evaluated to find out where the problem is. In the event of a change or immediate action, the owner will have to choose the best solution. This then makes the business be known for thinking about its customers' concerns and taking actions fast when its customers are upset. Furthermore, social computing facilitates interactions between the clients and TC Medical Device Inc.
The utilization of the two technologies results in increased customer confidence and trust towards the venture (Nawaz et al., 2017) hence enabling them to easily recommend us to other clients, thus the growth of the business in the competitive business world (Song, 2019). New technology incorporated into the market eventually results in quality and trustworthy business relations with clients. We, therefore, believe that after the implementation of this project, we are going to reach customers not only from within the local community but also oversees. Through the implementation of these technologies, we are going to reach many people and increase sales.
Technology Requirements
Reliable internet connection from a trusted service provider, availability of mobile phones, and various websites and software that are currently available facilitate the success of e-commerce and social computing. Song (2019) affirms that for e-commerce to work, the availability of internet technology efficiently is key (Song, 2019). Additionally, internet access through the World Wide Web counters geographical location problems as our business can be expanded to reach clients that are far from the physical premise.
Implementing new innovations is more than ensuring that we do have a program that may do anything we want it to do. We need to ensure that the hardware available is ready and capable of running the soft wares used. We have to ensure fast internet connection, which is capable of processing data quickly and on time since the main reason for using technology is for convenience. Computers which we use in processing order and managing records on the Web must be equipped with processors which data can be processed fast. Also, a server is needed to host a website for e-commerce.
The database system must be configured so that data about the items we sell can be stored, for example, price, image, size, description, and various details that we may need to include. Also, a secure system is needed to protect our customers as well as our business from fraudsters. The program compatibility must also be developed so that our customers can easily browse our website, regardless of the search engine used, and also, they can download the application without issues. We also need to ensure that the domain name is visible and stands out to our customers. Also, the technology will have to offer our online customers with suggestions items that are popular. The technology should be in such a way that it can review the previous requests, create a wish list, pay safely, and search for items with very little information.
Competitors and Technology
Social Computing
Medtronic is a worthy opponent in regards to the stiff competition that is offered in the medical device sector. The venture has fully incorporated trends in the current technology, including social media, into their business operations, enabling them to stand out business-wise and attract clients with big budgets at their disposal (Nawaz et al., 2017). The company's presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube is phenomenal boastings several channels that communicate with their clients of the products they offer. They have kept on leading the way through creating social media masters and have also maintained the best in social media. Medtronic creates trends; they do not wait for them.
As several organizations use Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to promote, Medtronic uses these platforms of the online network to obtain customer and employee feedback and also carry out “word of mouth” advertising. Influential persons like the CEO tweets, occasionally portraying how the company significantly values social presence (Nawaz et al., 2017). The thought to allow personnel to use social media for business purposes is an incredible idea. Likewise, we will keep observing Medtronic and carefully monitor the trends to determine how the curve is to know how we can be ahead of everyone. If this technique is implemented, the entire company's online business will run smoothly with no issue.
Wireless, mobile computing, and mobile commerce
Philips, an old company in the field of manufacturing lighting and healthcare products, has recently neglected its analog ways of business operations and adopted a digital approach (Song, 2019). Additionally, Philips began digitizing its products and creating mobile apps that are associated with the upgraded devices. Recent updates of ultrasounds in the United States, for instance, are currently mobile, and scans that have been taken are immediately digitized onto the applications. Furthermore, the various digitized products like pacifiers, bottles, and thermometers allow the company to work closely with mothers and children as the e-commerce platform allows customer-led interactions (Song, 2019). The thing that separates Philips from different merchants in mobile commerce is how the app doesn't lose the last place the customer was online. When one starts to view things in the app, and then he or she needs to leave the app to answer a text or call, when he or she gets back, the app will still be on the last position one was in the previous visit.
Technology Benefit
Social media provides a unique, cost-effective platform to advertise the product and numerous services of a company. Potential clients across the world can access the social media platform available and purchase anywhere (Nawaz et al., 2017). In this regard, Medtronic has portrayed the actual merits of utilizing the social platform for the venture gains, for instance, communication with customers, marketing, and gathering meaningful feedback from the public. TC Medical Device Inc. can adopt social media technology in its operations for marketing and communication with customers to increase its sales and retain more clients (Nawaz et al., 2017).
Technology Solutions
Social Computing
The current age of fast communication has had innovations from all parts of the business sector. Moreover, mobile phones, fast internet, and numerous social media applications have allowed ease of social media access for free (Nawaz et al., 2017). The availability of the readily available resources enables social computing incorporation into TC Medical Device Inc., thus advertising its discounted offers on medical devices and PPEs, among other products (Nawaz et al., 2017).
The technology implemented by Medtronic perfectly includes the objectives that this company may want to use for a smoother social computing operation. Giving the employees the ability to post on online platforms offers an enabling wok setting for the staff. In general, employees will be happier and therefore, will post more and more positive messages. When customers realize how optimistic representatives are, they want to visit the site often. Another advantage is that employers constitute the "field group." Everything, reasonably and systematically, passes through the eyes and ears of employees. Employees directly feel the employees' satisfaction and disappointments through their complaints and praises. When it comes to sharing the customer experiences and implementing the practices, we should follow the employees are the best shot. In addition, we will allow our representatives to follow the trends that are beginning to stand out closely and try to follow them before the competitors do.
Wireless, mobile computing, and mobile commerce
E-commerce is applicable due to the availability of various business platforms that are currently available. Money transactions have been made wireless, and numerous applications that act as selling and buying platforms like Amazon have been invented to facilitate trade. TC mobile Device Inc. can utilize multiple platforms to trade with clients easily (Song, 2019). With mobile commerce, we hope to create a mobile app that can be downloaded to both android and apple phones and add the shopping option to our website. With this, we will be able to reach individuals that normally would not come into our brick-and-mortar location and those who do not live in the area. I do see that with the budget, a gap may occur because it will take time to get to the level of sales to account for having this type of technology incorporated. The requirements needed for this type of technology will cost us a large amount, and it may take time for us to see a return on our investment.
Recommendations
Technology Solution
I recommend that the effective utilization of social computing in the form of social media platforms and e-commerce to carry out trade online is a significant move on the future of TC Medical Devices Inc. Today's fast-evolving society requires fast, precise, and effective communication to the client for any venture to make any meaningful sales. Mobile commerce could give our customers more freedom and add convenience to their shopping experience while social computing is more of advertising technology.
Statistics by Pew Research Centre (2019) shows that 96% of Americans own a mobile phone. However, by 2011, 81% owned smartphones, which is a favorable number when looking for potential customers online (Pew Research Centre, 2019). Social media and e-commerce complement each other in ensuring the business’s goal is achieved (Abed et al., 2015).
Overall Benefit
The vast population of users online gives an upper hand to TC Medical Devices Inc. as the lucrative offers on the products such as will attract potential clients looking for cost-effective medical equipment. Furthermore, the ease of trade carried out online makes satisfies customers' needs and is likely to be retained as future clients (Abed et al., 2015).
Basic Security Considerations
Privacy and security are essential activities that must be taken into account when implementing this project. Customer satisfaction with this current activity will drop dramatically if their privacy and security are compromised. When updating the website, the owner must first seriously consider turning the domain into a secure website. This layer of security added ensures that customers can be sure that their financial data and personal information are protected. In addition, the employees must not compromise the customers' privacy integrity in their social media posts. All information must be collected legally and must not be used for any purpose other than to improve business. In addition, all posts in social media, coupons, and promotions on the internet must not bother customers.
Security Features
Utilization of a reliable antivirus that is regularly updated is critical in safeguarding TC Medical Devices Inc. file from malicious software like ransomware that encrypts delicate files and restored upon payment. Additionally, Virtual Private Networks (VPN) similarly allow private browsing in public Wi-Fi networks preventing information theft (Abomhara, 2015).
Third-party vendors
Contractual agreements between the business venture and third-party vendors not only specify data protection but also act as a standard for measuring the privacy efforts (Khan, 2016). Service Organization Control (SOC) audit reports affirm vendor compliance and cover all areas where third parties might store or process data. The only outsider merchants that the organization must take into account are any seller vital in guaranteeing that load is processed and delivered effectively. There may as well be outsider sellers that are employed to guarantee security and other IT-related practices. All other outsider sellers won't be utilized. Consumer satisfaction is the main concern, and no client or customer is happy with having their data shared with an outsider.
Internal Safeguards
TC Medical Devices Inc.'s information inventory, including laptops and smartphones, should be kept out of unauthorized personnel's reach and its best practice only to save what is necessary. Cybersecurity programs should be updated immediately updates are available to prevent malicious programs from accessing the company's information (Abomhara, 2015). In today's world of hackers and fraudsters, we need to put internal security to protect our data. We will select a safe platform with an additional verification method. We will also uphold a secure link for online payments and remove personal information about our customers so that cybercriminals cannot recover it. We will also have an authentication card and an address that sends out alarms for questionable activities. A simple internal protection is to have tracking information on every package we will deliver and to ask for a signature when delivering. With this setting, we can remove fraudsters' accounts. Finally, we have a plan to recover from disasters and ensure that all information is updated every day.
Read MoreThe utilization of the two technologies results in increased customer confidence and trust towards the venture (Nawaz et al., 2017) hence enabling them to easily recommend us to other clients, thus the growth of the business in the competitive business world (Song, 2019). New technology incorporated into the market eventually results in quality and trustworthy business relations with clients. We, therefore, believe that after the implementation of this project, we are going to reach customers not only from within the local community but also oversees. Through the implementation of these technologies, we are going to reach many people and increase sales.
Technology Requirements
Reliable internet connection from a trusted service provider, availability of mobile phones, and various websites and software that are currently available facilitate the success of e-commerce and social computing. Song (2019) affirms that for e-commerce to work, the availability of internet technology efficiently is key (Song, 2019). Additionally, internet access through the World Wide Web counters geographical location problems as our business can be expanded to reach clients that are far from the physical premise.
Implementing new innovations is more than ensuring that we do have a program that may do anything we want it to do. We need to ensure that the hardware available is ready and capable of running the soft wares used. We have to ensure fast internet connection, which is capable of processing data quickly and on time since the main reason for using technology is for convenience. Computers which we use in processing order and managing records on the Web must be equipped with processors which data can be processed fast. Also, a server is needed to host a website for e-commerce.
The database system must be configured so that data about the items we sell can be stored, for example, price, image, size, description, and various details that we may need to include. Also, a secure system is needed to protect our customers as well as our business from fraudsters. The program compatibility must also be developed so that our customers can easily browse our website, regardless of the search engine used, and also, they can download the application without issues. We also need to ensure that the domain name is visible and stands out to our customers. Also, the technology will have to offer our online customers with suggestions items that are popular. The technology should be in such a way that it can review the previous requests, create a wish list, pay safely, and search for items with very little information.
Competitors and Technology
Social Computing
Medtronic is a worthy opponent in regards to the stiff competition that is offered in the medical device sector. The venture has fully incorporated trends in the current technology, including social media, into their business operations, enabling them to stand out business-wise and attract clients with big budgets at their disposal (Nawaz et al., 2017). The company's presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube is phenomenal boastings several channels that communicate with their clients of the products they offer. They have kept on leading the way through creating social media masters and have also maintained the best in social media. Medtronic creates trends; they do not wait for them.
As several organizations use Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to promote, Medtronic uses these platforms of the online network to obtain customer and employee feedback and also carry out “word of mouth” advertising. Read More