The Impact of Digital Technology on Business Activity

Introduction

The main objective of this report is to define the impact of digital technology on business activities like operations, marketing, accounting Human Resource. In this report, we have select a Company ASDA and we have to define a project management plan. In this era, people likes to use online business because they don’t have to work to get facilities. If anything that they want to buy, they just have to place an order online and that thing is provided to them at home. The scope of ecommerce is very bright the reason behind is that now a days each and every person is having their own smart phones in each and every hand they are also having many electronic gadgets with them through which the consumers are always looking for online shopping in which they are able to see many brands and also able to see many varieties under it. Consumers are also having the option of cash on delivery and online payment option also. Therefore they can save their time to travel.

In this report, we have to focus on the business plan of ASDA, It is not easy for any company to launch its business. Every Company to build a business, it has to face many difficulties and obstacles. Through this report, we will describe an efficient way of research in which we will find the impact of business plan. (Reference Link: 1)

Business Overview - ASDA

As ASDA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart following its 1999 acquistion.ASDA has 604 retail locations, 196 which are super markets. ASDA is one of the leading grocery store based, headquartered in Leeds .It had been working to transform its digital experience and has transformed its brick and mortar sales to online sales with the state of art technology making website and the functionality that can viewed as click and collect to enhance customer loyalty and maintain a platform good for the customer loyalty and awareness. ASDA offers its customers a great and digital in-store exposure and data driven platform for customer loyalty. Besides its core supermarkets, the company also offers a number of other services, including financial services and a mobile phone provider that uses the existing EE network.

As technology has always removed the need for some types of jobs, it also creates new ones. Technology is a set of tools that we use in different ways to increase efficiency.ASDA has been investing a large amount of its resources on technology and always been working in order to get involved in new technology and its improved CRM (Customer Relationship management).It worked not only for customer's satisfaction but also earns more and more and continually working and progressing all fields of finance, marketing. It is always retained its competitive advantage by introducing new technology and innovation in digitalization of the business activities and operations. (Reference Link: 2)

Reason of Choosing ASDA for Digitalization in Business Activities

Today, every business needs to start requires an IT infrastructure for the growth of their business. Innovations is the great way to success in this digital age.IT has totally changed the life of people and organizations. Currently online shopping, digital marketing, social networking, digital communication and cloud computing etc. are the best examples of change which came through the wave of information technology.ASDA should make such innovative plans which would provide ease for the owner to develop plans that could use the good technology.ASDA has a name in grocery and fast moving customer goods company. And it is using best-selling platforms and techniques in order to satisfy and reach their customers and also ASDA is working on digitalization and in IT and other areas of interest.

Project management plan

This project is about the digitization on the innovative activities of the company. It is using and working on the app which is ‘scan and shop ‘that are digital in-store and for those people who are busy enough and they have no time to go to stores and keep standing in lines and then buy the product of their wish. Due to these issues, they buy from nearby small stores. Also the people do payments online from their accounts. It also a digital aspect of IT technology in such kind of retailers. In case of rush hours, there is a possibility that the devices of scan and shop will be unavailable, so that the prices of the products will be much more.

Moreover, TCS collaborated with Asda to support a digital makeover needed for 'to you' service as part of its 'Click & Collect' digital transformation program named 'Connect'. The team developed and delivered key constituents to integrate disparate systems such as Order Management, Parcel Tracking, Customer Contact Centre, Kiosks etc. Simultaneously, our business intelligence team led the way in consolidating data and providing reports on parcel tracking, sales, and finance. To empower ASDA’s store colleagues, we developed a bespoke mobile application for Store colleagues to manage receipt of parcels & put away in Stores enabling efficient collection and return process for customers.

Brief Summary of project

To expand its business and do improvements in its working model, ASDA has been investing a lot in digital in-stores like 'Scan as you shop’, self-registration stations and handheld gadgets. ASDA has also working on generations of computerized receipt and self-check out cameras in order to watch the movement of customers that they come in stores.

In you've finished shopping: make your way to the checkout and scan the "End your shop" barcode. There is no need to unpack you bags, just follow to instructions to pay.

Scope Management

This project also open doors through technology for its customers who are unable to go to the shops and have not enough patience to keep standing long time in lines. Through digitization customers get their desired things online while staying in home. In this way they can save their time.

Deployment Plan

All organizations are using some topologies to communicate their customers and clients but this system, bus topology is enough to work. Bus Topology alternatively referred to as a line topology, a bus topology is a network setup in which each computer and network device are connected to a single cable or backbone. It's the easiest network topology for connecting computers or peripherals in a linear fashion. The company should use LAN network and that topology to deploy it. (Reference Link: 2)

Cost Management

ASDA should have to take into account the financial structure because it should exceed this limit. ASDA will happily bear this cost as they know that tradition selling which used to be through manual system is more expensive, outdated and time taking. Therefore, ASDA will adapt to this cost structure happily because they were facing high costs before developing such kind of cost structure.

Resource Management

For projection and operation of such kind of a system certain resources would be required by the firm such as machinery, technology, vendors and other tools for managing these resources. For effective execution of this project ASDA should follow certain objects which include:

• Internal management: Experts should be hired for managing the procedure in a effective manner. ASDA has good and efficient internal management just there is a need to maintain this efficiency for this project.
• Computer Machines: the computer machines that are needed for this procedures is the server where all the records of data of the products will be recorded.

Suppliers: suppliers have to work efficiently because they are well aware of outside behaviour of ASDA. The online service would be appropriate and also will be used by them but ASDA have to supply the goods. So, this task should be handled by the experts of field.

Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart

From the WBS, all the complicated task are categorized into sub categories in order to avoid any complexity. In this way we can oversee the tasks more efficient way than the complex activities. As we can see that how the work is divided through divide and conquer rule. All the above resources are further categorized into sub branches so that each branch is highly focused and work is done in a best way in order to meet all the requirements.

Work Breakdown Structure

Research Methods and Questions

Research Methods

1) when you shop at ASDA, what is main purpose of Scan and Go app?

2) which are the main products that ASDA will provide both online and at in-store digitalization?

3) which kind of effects of Internet service on ASDA?

4) what kind of factors will be exists in the development of app?

The internal structure of ASDA should also use wireless communication because wired communication is not preferred in modern days. ASDA should connect phones and other networks via the wireless medium. Hardware components will include computer systems and other machines that will be used in the company. Different applications will be used to facilitate the customer services and the modern database will be used to store the customer’s data.

Methodology

The analysis would be done by a two-way interview and usage technique. This would allow the research to be done both from the customers and the company owners or easily accessible people the manager. The survey was done from the customers on volunteer basis since it required a lot of time to build a rapport with the customers since they should be requiring a lot of time. An interview question list was developed that was semi-structured and the results would be analysed manually by the thematic analysis. Since the theme of the research was set and on that basis their answers and responses would be analysed. There would also be an interview session with the employees and the management of the ASDA in order to find out the need of the project and its chances of success. (Bjerke, 2008).

Research Analysis and Recommendations

Analysis and results

All the data and results show that the company is taking a very good step and that the project under consideration will show new avenues for the company that is already in the leaders of the industry and is thus working a lot on its innovation and technology process.

Answer 1: ASDA major product is to sale grocery through online services. After some time, they will try to produce more products because they will have great market value in future

Answer 4: Security system for ASDA includes two points

• Confidential data security
• Security with others technologies

Answer 2: the major purpose of this idea is to develop the new business plan that will facilitate the customers through online service. By using this plan, a customer could get grocery products at home. This kind of business is an effective way to deal with the customer.

Answer 3: ASDA is developing the new business plan for IT, so they have the ability to develop new IT techniques. Wired network is not popular nowadays because there are many problems that arise by using coaxial and fibre optic.

Recommendations

Every organization is need to define the topology of working. There are so many topologies in networking from them tasks can be carried. For ASDA bus topology is one of the big advantages to using the bus topology is that it will connect to host and other systems so that communications can be done in a very efficient way. Receiving information in a very good way requires a structure to be defined. To do changes in an existing structure is not easy task .ASDA’s administration has to inform the team in about structure so that the start project. Development of a network should not be complex; network must be easy to understand. LAN is the best networks and bus topology is the best topology that would provide some useful operations to the members that are in ASDA

There are some advantages that the ASDA can use in order to use new technology:

• Connection with input/output devices: LAN provides the connection with other peripherals devices such as printers.
• Fileserver: centrally fileserver could also be handled if ASDA uses LAN.
• Send/receive E-mails: this point is also considered in above statements that LAN would provide the easier way of communication.
• Data load: by using bus topology each connection will carry its own data load.
• Strong structure: structure of bus is strong therefore network will also become strong.
• Diagnosed a fault and security: bus topology provides an easy way for diagnosing the problem and is efficient in developing protection.
• Penetration test: this point must be considered for developing the security on IT techniques.
• User learning: virus free structure should be developed.

The main purpose of recommendation is to provide the structure of disaster recovery. A natural disaster could affect the company’s networks. ASDA have to develop such type of technology that could secure our network whenever any natural disaster occurs. Our new networks include LAN, topologies and ISP services. These 3 are basic services that should be secure whenever a disaster occurs. There are some pints that can be considered:

• Develops disaster recovery plan: ASDA always keep a disaster plan which would allow having a better recovery plan.
• Take your priority first: always focus on what is your first priority to secure?
• Mark your networks: always try to focus on company’s network. If they fail, provide everything to remake them as soon as possible. (Schafer, 2007).
• Backup: provide data backups to secure data. Use any online server for backup of data.

Limitations

Research is not easy for any task which is going to be accomplished. As ASDA deals with online services, so research is also very difficult to perform. There are some limitations that ASDA had to face during the research:

• Unavailability of data: this is one of the problems this is faced while doing research. As ASDA is planning for the new business that’s why it is difficult to analyse the data.
• Analysis related problems: Analysis is one of the difficult tasks that are performed in popular organizations. Analysis is not easy to do because it will have a deep effect on the business plan. So, this factor should have to be performed by the professional because professional researcher will provide efficient means that will be considered.

To minimize the limitations, company should have to find such way that would help in collecting data. If the data is not in a large amount it is not easy to do analysis on it because large amount of data provides a very good results regarding research. Also to get an efficient data company should hire the great experts in order to do this task efficiently.

Performance Analysis

This project was to given to improve the user experience good and best. This should be accomplished by an app called "shop and go”. In this app,digitilaization concept is introduced in order make people to get rid of waiting during shopping process and make them feel easy and relax able regarding shopping. This project was made in order to save the time of people and make them loyal to the company.

The project work and duration was very good because people was not only happy after the development of this product but also they felt very relax that they don’t have to wait too much time and without any hustle and bustle they can buy anything that they want. Through the development of this project, the billing area and cash counter has been reduced and in this way customer satisfaction is increased. The service delivery was improved in a very efficient way. The during the development of the product, the team had to face various issues and problems regarding the bar codes that had to feed correctly. There was a long delay happened in doing this task. Later the team did this task and correct the issues regarding barcode and analysed where the problem was. The thing which we learnt during the project report is that analysis is very important at every and changes are very difficult if we miss any process of step inspection.