2009/07/22

Group project for assignment 2

Customer relationship management (CRM) consists of the processes a company uses to track and organize its contacts with its current and prospective customers. CRM software is used to support these processes; information about customers and customer interactions can be entered, stored and accessed by employees in different company departments.

For example, feedback received by customer support agents can provide other staff members with information on the services and features requested by customers. Typical CRM goals are to improve the quality of services provided to customers, and to use customer contact information for targeted marketing.

CRM includes many aspects which relate directly to one another:

• Front office operations — Direct interaction with customers, e.g. face to face meetings, phone calls, e-mail, online services etc.

• Back office operations — Operations that ultimately affect the activities of the front office (e.g., billing, maintenance, planning, marketing, advertising, finance, manufacturing, etc.)

• Business relationships — Interaction with other companies and partners, such as suppliers, vendors and retail outlets, distributors, industry networks (lobbying groups, trade associations). This external network supports front and back office activities.
Operational CRM provides support to "front office" business processes, e.g. to sales, marketing and service staff. Interactions with customers are generally stored in customers' contact histories, and staff can retrieve customer information as necessary.

The contact history provides staff members with immediate access to important information on the customer (travel history, customer favour etc.), eliminating the need to individually obtain this information directly from the customer.

The Columbiana Discovery is here to serve you, the Columbiana visitor. As service consultants, we not only handle your general queries but also provide comprehensive tourist information which helps you keep abreast of the latest happenings and attractions in this vibrant city.

The Columbiana Discovery is pleased to provide you with some valuable planning resources. To get the big picture of Columbiana as a destination, Columbiana A traveler's guide captures much of the history, culture, sights, sounds and tastes awaiting your arrival. The Columbiana Map folds into your pocket to help you navigate must see attractions in and around Columbiana. Cultural Kaleidoscope introduces you to a variety of activities hosted by the city's cultural connoisseurs, giving you a chance to view the Columbiana known only to the locals. Use them to help turn your Columbiana Vacation into the trip of a lifetime.

To help you plan your itinerary, please also visit our Tour Planning Reference Manual section, which lists Columbiana special interest tours or products (grouped in different categories) identified by Columbiana Discovery as viable and saleable. In addition, the Regular Tours section lists the great varieties of tours you can feature in your itineraries.

Columbiana has introduced a user-friendly online tool, named Interactive Trip Planner, which enables visitors to create personalized itineraries before arriving in Columbiana. The Interactive Trip Planner presents the total Columbiana experience, combining recommendations on sightseeing, culture and heritage, as well as local tours.

Visitors can also change, add and mix and match activities best suited to their interests, or choose among the five themed itineraries. These include first-timers' finds, family fun, culture caravan, islands and green, and transiting thrills. Try the Interactive Itinerary Planner now!

Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. Customer service may be provided by a person (e.g., sales and service representative), or by automated means called self-service. Examples of self service are Internet sites.

Customer service is normally an integral part of a company’s customer value proposition. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue.

Columbiana Discovery invites passengers to send text messages whilst riding the bus or cruise. This has been shown to be useful as it allows companies to improve their customer service before the customer defects, thus making it far more likely that the customer will return next time.

Twine is a new way to collect content and connect with people who share your interests. Use Twine to track, find, and share what interests you. Twine ties it all together by topic, so you can have it in one place. Post comments or add images, videos and bookmarks to a twine. The Twine bookmarklet tool makes it easy to share a bookmark to any twine instantly.

Campaign management combines elements of Operational and Analytical CRM. Campaign management functions include:

• Target groups formed from the client base according to selected criteria

Whether you are a Vacationer, Nature Lover, Cultural Explorer, Family Vacation, Romantic Vacation, Spa & Massage or Senior Travelers, Columbiana Discovery can cater for your every desire. Discover the myriad things to see and do in one of the most diverse and exciting destinations in the world.

• Sending campaign-related material (e.g. on special offers) to selected recipients using various channels (e.g. e-mail, telephone, SMS, post)

Columbiana Discovery has offer vivid videos and RSS feeds that take you to the heart of the action. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, download photos of European city, and more. We have the interactive Corner: e-Newsletter, Videos, Virtual Tours, Photo & Video Sharing, RSS, Webcam, and Columbiana Discovery Photo Gallery.

• Tracking, storing, and analyzing campaign statistics, including tracking responses and analyzing trends

We also send the questionnaire to our target customers, in order to gather more information to improve our service.
When is the best time to visit Columbiana?
Where are the best places to stay?
What are some experiences off the beaten path that should not be missed?
When are you planning to travel to Columbiana again?
Which topics and activities are of interest to you?

Columbiana excitement never ends. There will be unforgettable spectacles for you to see and share. Your feedback and suggestions are valuable in helping us provide the highest service standards. Should you have any comments on Columbiana Discovery suggestions on how we can strengthen our support for the travel trade, please do not hesitate to write to partnernet@columbianadiscovery.com.

According to our plan, we act as an consultant of government to promote Columbiana, mainly attract traveler, providing wide range of useful information in our website. Also as a middleman for the investor to build up their business in Columbiana.

Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP) is one of the system to be used to ours project. Let’s study what is ERP, which is: Packaged business software which is used to collect and manage information across different functional areas in an organization.

In our website, we can collect the information from the customer when they are visit us for enquiry & searching information. Visitor should sign up by fill in a Opt-in model form in the website, such as their name, number of the groups, age group, nationality, planning date for the trip etc... all these information they provide into our website, the hotel, agency of local tour whom we work with also can get the same information in ERP system, ERP allows to share common data, the same data to be used by multiple functions and business processes, for example, the customer approve given one credit card for all payment from the beginning till the end, as all parties have had the same record.

When the visitor do further searching, we can collect data by what they click to search, let say, mainly for hotel, Touring, dinning.

ERP supports integration since the entire business uses a common set of applications, supported by a centrailized and integrated database, We Columbiana Discovery is acting a centralization. Our linker cooperated also can get the same information at the same time that the customer provided in our website. The purpose is to identify the sales prospects, process the orders, manage the orders with arranging correct services & smoothly to the customers.

The extensive database provided by ERP are likely to provide the platform for decision support, data mining and supply chain management.

In our website, information given the decision support for the government in Columbiana for development for touristism, data mining for all traveler or even only for enquiry people by visit our website. Supply chain such as the hotel, day tour agency, cruise ship company or any investors of Columbiana thought us are involved. Every parties can pick up the information needed from this platform to proceed, work out their project by supportive with all these data.

Finally, the process can go smoothly, as all parties did have the same information for proceed.
Apart from ERP, Decision support systems (DSS) is one of the system is suitable to apply. Better decision making is more and more important nowadays, because New technologies and better information distribution have resulted in more alternatives for management. Rapidly changing global economies and markets are producing greater uncertainty and requiring faster response in order to maintain competitive advantages.

At the website, we have provide wide range of the useful information for the visitor. They may advise the purpose for this trip, how much they would like to spend, activities prefered etc though what they have been clicked the page. The hotel, agency of local tour also can get the same information in ERP automatically The marketing and sales department will reaction make decision accordingly, they will think of which level of room or activities can promote to this specific customer, for example, if a couples is visit for honeymoon, then the marketing of the hotel will suggest a package of LOVE, e.g. a room with full of heart decoration, candle night, and any kind of couples activities.

AS well as the we will cooperate with the hotel to get some discount or special offer, while with the credit card for more rebate, special discount if the customer arrange payment with specific credit card, It is the decision making from the sales & marketing for promotion with figure given.

On the website, there have a blogs, which is the place for the updates highlights of Columbiana, visitor can go into the blogs to share the photo, video and comment of their journey. This is another kind of present data can be kept in the ERP, and finally is one source of Management information system (MIS). we can arrange a kind of report to show the performance such as the monthly or annual figure of traveler, how much they spend in the trip, which is the most favour activity, how many people would like to driven themselves, it is another kind of source can provide for the government decision of touristism development.

We will have the data for the number of views, which is the data for the investors to decide to place advertisement on our website or not.

Besides, in our website, there have a lot of tool providing to the visitors, as well as a information centre, giving a guide to the travelers. The very important is to show all the location of every attraction points, dinning place, meeting point or activities, a kind of map, a Geographic information system (GIS) are applied. Data visualization tools present data in graphical from to help users see patterns and relationships in large quantities of data. To analyze and display data in the form of digitized maps.

Government, all the investor can make decision by GIS support decisions that require knowledge about the geographic distribution of people or other resources. Such as casino location, where is the most suitatble place? we need data from the visitor, where they prefer to have a casino? For the investor, is very useful component for making decisions, and evidence to shows for discussing with government.


Summary
According to the CRM, ERP and DSS system, here we would like to take a summary action to fulfill the benefits. Columbiana is an attractive, tempting and expectative island. We, be the consultant of government to develop the island are the absolute pleasurable.

CRM is a combination of policies, processes, and strategies implemented by an organization to unify its customer interactions and provide a means to track customer information. It involves the use of technology in attracting new and profitable customers, while forming tighter bonds with existing ones.

The objectives of a CRM strategy must consider a company’s specific situation and its customers’ needs and expectations. Information gained through CRM initiatives can support the development of marketing strategy by developing the organization’s knowledge in areas such as identifying customer segments, improving customer retention, improving product offerings (by better understanding customer needs), and by identifying the organization’s most profitable customers.

To develop the island, hotel is the indispensable item. The action we take to popularize is through a web site from tourism board. According to the board, we could sitting the assigned hotel for customer research. By the ERP system, customer could search the hotel we allocated and hotel department could easy to take the follow up action. Such as, it takes their name, where the customer come from, come for business or holiday and any special affairs. Hotel department could easy to know all the information and do the relevance to harmony with customer. Also hotel department could through the ERP system to arrange the transportainment for customer.
Base on ERP system, when a new information is entered by one process, the information is also up date to other business. For example, if customer changed their mind, hotel could take the action for change a double bed room or customer could select their meal by enter their new information data. For hotel side, it could be easy to handle customers change immediately and control the disorder. Hotel sales department can achieve different sales for any customer change by ERP system. As the ERP system could get information by customer, another system CRM could be starting immediately.
CRM system achieve customer intimacy by integrating customer information. CRM is indicate to long term communicate. As hotel could through CRM system to support customer different requirement. For example, customer take a honeymoon holiday and our CRM system could get the information and fix it with special treatment. Such as, honeymoon specially room, special room service as champagne reserved. Through the CRM system , hotel sales department can co-operate with globe bank and introduce any credit card for customer get discount when they expenditure. Hotel could also take a action by using e-mail or post card for thank you customer's select. At this action, hotel and customer a making a relationship and customer would like to come back again. Sale department also can through e-mail to contact customer and make a cue for alarm customer keep eyes on our special offer. Such as room discount in special day, special function as the island take and hotel get supply for customer. Both of the action combine customer and hotel be a long term relationship.
Customer, Bank and hotel base on CRM system could take triple wins. All of them get exchange and contented what they needs. Finally, the most important system is DSS system for analytical all combine data by customer. DSS system is a model to determine the impact of change in more outcome. Hotel get the information thought ERP system, we take the action and analysis customer after DSS.
DSS is to respond what customer need and we give the relevance action. For example, hotel makes a form list for customer when they stay in hotel. The form list is to survey customer's hobby and favor that hotel and sale department can given .As customer like to gamble, we could through DSS system and send the data to government and supply the information for develop casino. When government tender to bulid up casino, customer take investment in our island and hotel can get the information form ERP and action for fulfill their business needs. Such as business room, business meal and we could transfer to government develop department for follow up action.
DSS could analysis customer's need and through ERP action and CRM to keep the long term relationship. For future planning, government develop different item, we could general the same investment machinery to keep stay in our assign hotel. Therefore, DSS, ERP and CRM could be re-cycle in future.

- Report end -

2009/07/06

Assignment marks~

Hi Jenny,

Could you advice how you mark the blogs? which is the highest points?

Completeness
Design
Content

My design got the lowest marks...I should try to do it better~ >_<

Our passing mark is 50, right?

Forgot to ask you, if we finished the IT lesson, will you continue to view our blogs?

Thanks,
Samantha

2009/06/25

Session 5: Assignment One Question



Think of the small database we used in our lab exercise - Products and Suppliers. Briefly describe how this database observes any two of the four design principles outlined above.

Ans as below:

A database management system (DBMS) is a special type of software for creating, organizing and assessing data from a database. It is a centralization and management of data which have a single, consistent source form all their data needs. The most important feature of the database is its ability to separate the logical and physical views of data.

Access is a relational database management system. In a relational database, you divide your information into separate, subject-based tables. You then use table relationships to bring the information together as needed.

From the above example, we entry the data in tables made up of one or more columns. Each table has a special field called the primary key which contains a unique value for each record. We divide the product and supplier table separately, the divides information into subject-based tables is to reduce redundant data. The data stored in each column must be of a single data type, such as text, character, this can protect the data more accuracy and integrity.

There have two principles for the relational database, duplicate information, correctness and completeness of information which is very important and we can't make any mistakes on it. Otherwise the reports will contain incorrect information.

As the unique record have to be retrieved, updated and sorted, the column of the data must be uniquely indentifies.

We select the fields to be included in the report. From the Product table, choose Product Category, Product Name, Selling Price, Quantity on Hand and Reorder Level. From the Supplier table, choose Company Name - this is the name of the supplier for that product.

Accommodates the data processing and reporting – using database can get the report by simply sort the information that you need. From our exercise, we group the report according to Product Category and sort the data in each product category by Product Name. At last we choose a layout and page orientation for the report as needed.
In conclusion DBMS can enhance the operation performance by increase data independence, minimize storage redundancy and increase data integrity.

2009/06/22

Session 4: Assignment One Question

Find one example of Internet marketing that you think is particularly effective and one example that is ineffective.

Explain your reasons, for example, you can describe how well the effective example takes advantage of the Internet's properties (e.g. interactivity, personalization, greater hold on user's interest). For the ineffective ad, you may describe how you can improve on it.

NOTE: You are free to use your own examples, or any of the examples I shared with you in class or in the class blog.

Effective sample as below:

Internet-based marketing will include the use of a company website in conjunction with promotional techniques such as banner advertising, direct e-mail and links or service from other websites to acquire new customers and provide services to existing customers that help develop the customer relationship.

With traditional media, the same message is broadcast to all customers. On the Internet, it is possible to send personalized or targeted offers based on the customer’s profile, needs, locations and behavior.

Nokia is one of the famous brands among Hong Kong which is an effective and successful Internet marketing example.

The Nokia website is not just for Hong Kong, it targets to worldwide therefore it provides with different language and supporting. Customers usually search the new information and product from company website. With an easy click, you can find all the necessary information from Nokia website.

The products on the Nokia website have been classified in different category and functions. The information shows about new product, mobile images, device category, design, key feature, and advanced features like GPS navigation and global roaming support.


It also has the details about the Nokia information, opening hours, support and maintenance. There is also a function called product comparison which help customer knows the differentiated of products, so that they can easily choose their desire model.

Once you registered, you can download the mobile maps, mobile games, ringtones, music, photos from the web-site which can be personalized.

Nokia Care ensures you get the very best services from Nokia. And now, you can also visit the closest Nokia Care Centre. The location of the stores can be found on Nokia’s website. You can find the store easily, as the website clearly indicated the address as well as the map.

To best utilize the full range of advanced functions of your Nokia handset, you will first need to learn about its different settings. Nokia pioneers the Door-to-Door service with professional handset consultants to teach you about various handset settings, explain their uses, and answer queries, helping you turn your Nokia handset into a personal computer.

The service includes:

• Helping you backup your contacts, calendar, photos and music
• Demonstrating how to synchronize your handset with your PC
• Setting up and using your handset's Wi-Fi functionality
• Installing and configuring Nokia Maps
• Setting up and assessing email on your handset

Just like DELL computer, customer can drive innovation for mobile application developers and share their feeling and feedback to the product and service in order to improve the quality of the product, this interactive action can help Nokia to make improvement and make the device more user friendly.
With Internet two-way-communicate from customers through online surveys, forums or blog can be easily captured. Marketing research information is also available when a user click the website pages, it will automation record down the movement of the customer. Company can analyzed such information in order to gain a better understanding of customer’s buying behavior.

Regarding the contact methods, if customers have any complaints, opinions or inquiries, they can always send it by e-mail; forum; blog; phone to hotline; visit the center themselves. The customer service representatives will give the prompt respond to the customer in order to solve the problem and gain trust so as to maintain a long-term relationship and gain profit maximization.



Obviously, Nokia is not only updating their products, but also improve their product and provide good service. Nokia can hold customer interest and attract more loyalty customer in the company as they provide the useful information and their excellent performance. With the attractive advertisement, Nokia can promote their product and increase their market sales accordingly.

That's the reasons why I think Nokia is an effective brand by using information marketing.

Reference link:

Nokia website:

Forum for Nokia:

Calling develoers:
Ineffective sample as below:

Giordano website is a roughly and simple ineffective internet marketing for demonstration. Since its website just shows a traditional push marketing with one-way communication, it provide simple information on their branch address and company background. Moreover it doesn’t provide any services to fulfill customer expectation which can’t hold customer interest and result in losing customer loyalty.

As you know, style and image, product and design are important to the fashion industry which is the main factors to attractive potential customer and existing customers to continuous support to the company.

There is limited information provided, beside the WWS membership information from the website, there is no product information, promotion issue, price list, etc. Certainly everyone who clicks in such website will definite close the window as there is no motivate to continues to search any information from such a joyless page.

Below are some suggestions to the website:
We should design a user friendly and up-to-date webpage in order to gain the awareness of customer. We can segregate in different category, such as adult, men, women and kids collection. Update news from the coming season, like Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter collections.

Briefly information of the product is necessary as well, beside the type of clothing, size, color and fabric materials and price list. With the fabulous picture image and details, we can retain customer to keep searching the web pages.

Giordano can also post some video and set some hyperlink to make it more interesting and attractive, in order to draw attention to the customer. With more advertisement, it can increase the sales so as its profit.

The location of store and address should be including in the website, which can let customer find the nearly shop easily.

Since Giordano already have the VIP scheme, they should well use of this valuable information to retain the customer loyalty. They can provide discount or coupon to member when they purchase certain amount, so that customer will enjoy shopping in Giordano.
Once customers apply the membership, they can get customer’s personal information, then they can send the up-to-date promotion to them.

For more effectively way, they should send some survey periodically to their customer to collect the feedback and opinions. A blog or forum can also be added for customers to give their comments and feedback in daily basis. This two way communication can enhance the relationship with company and customers.

To be honest, nowadays customer is difficult to serve compare with past 10 years, company should try their best to satisfy customer’s needs and maintain profit, so that they won’t driven out by the fierce market.

Giordano website:
http://www.giordano.com.hk/web/HK/index.html

2009/06/19

adding the widget on blog

Hi Jenny,

Just back home for a nice dinner at Kowloon City...Vietnam food~~ :)

I thought we just have to finish three Qs of the assignment one, so I didn't do the rest of them...haha...and now I understand that we have to finish at least four of them by next week so that we can gain a higher marks.

Yesterday we had hang out the assingment one for Economic, as a result I am so tired and lazy to start work by today, I should work hard for the coming weekend.

Just want to thanks you for teaching me to add the Dilbert widget on my blog. The strip is funny and nice. I think I might love them as well.

Time to take a little break before go to sleep.

Have a nice dream. :)

Cheers,
Samantha

2009/06/09

waiting the solution~

Hi Jenny,

How comes you still haven't give any feedbackto me??

I guess you need times to go through our blogs.

Nevermind take your times.

Thanks,
Samantha

2009/06/08

problem for amend the content~

Hi Jenny,

I think I have missing some of the icons when create a new document, I had capture the new page screen for your refernce. That's why my assignment not looking good, since I don't have the justify, font, size icons on the layout.

Could you please advice where I can get it?



It is good that I can finish the assignment before the due date. :)

Thanks,
Samantha

2009/06/07

WOW~amazing~how impressive~

The Thousand-Hand Guanyin (觀音)--21 of the dancers are complete deaf-mutes




Nice Art~ Bruce Lee~Kung Fu

Top of the World

just want to share~

Session 3: Assignment One Question



Session 3 Question:
This week we talked about Customer Relationship Management (CRM) as a process and as a software application. Based on the CRM concepts learned, answer the following questions:
List the customer data elements generated when a customer interacts with an airline by (a) making a reservation, (b) using frequent flyer miles, and (c) completing a flight. How does information from CRM improve these interactions ?



Answer as below:

(a) By making reservation, we need the following for customer profile:
- Personal Information (Name, Age, Gender, Nationality, ID no.)
-Membership ID and passport no.
-Mailing and e-mail address
-Contact number
-Marital status
-Occupation
-Destination
-Country of residence
-No. of passengers traveling (No. of adults, children and infants)
-Departure date and Return Date and Time (length of the trip)
-Trip Type (Round Trip or One Way)
-Cabin Class (Economy, business, First Class)
-Payments Method (credit card or cash)
-communicate language
-Booking reference
-Meal preference
-Special assistance
-Reservation no. (for on line check in or cancellation)



(b) Using frequent flyer miles:
-earn or redeem miles/points
-Passenger name
-Membership number
-Departure date and return date
-Booking reference
-Miles gained from the booking
-Frequent of flying (year/ month)
-Flying purpose
-Destination
-Cabin class
-Travel history



oneworld frequent flyer programmes (information from Dragonair)
American Airlines AAdvantage
British Airways Executive Club
Finnair Plus
Iberia Plus
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
LAN - LanPass
Malév Duna Club
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Royal Jordanian Royal Plus

Once customers had provide all their personal information to airlines, it had automatically build up to the CRM system, airlines is able to track all the customers data from CRM system.
When customers book the same airline again, they just have to login their member ID and password to retrieve their own record which can minimize the re-entry procedure.

By checking the record of the customers, it can enhance the efficiently of the staff. In additional, airline can offer hotel packages or car rental by cross-selling, up-selling and product bundling.

Customer can earn the flyer miles after they finished the trip, they can exchange gifts, coupon, get discount or free air ticket, upgrade their class from economy to business etc. This is one of the selling point to retain customer.

(C) Completing a flight:
Questionnaire includes:
-Level of satisfaction of employee
-Level of satisfaction to the flight
-Level of satisfaction of check in service
-Level of satisfaction for on board
-Level of satisfaction of beverage
-Any feedback / comment/ suggestions
-Any complaint
-Any recommend

When customer finished the trips, they can give their feedback by fill in the questionnaire.Airlines can use such information to understand more about customer’s satisfaction and dissatisfaction though the CRM system.

Airlines can target their customer into different segment and so provide better service and business strategy, like promotion and special discount to retain customer long-term relationship in order to gain profitable growth and increase customer satisfaction. Personalized services can provide to customers with next trip as well.

What are the benefits of integrating the sales, marketing and customer support function using a single software package and a centralized database?

Answer as below:

CRM system is a set of integrated tools that help you to manage different aspects of customer interaction. It helps you to manage key business function areas - Sales, Marketing and Customer support.
CRM help to streamline business-customer communication focusing on improving customer satisfaction identify and establish customer relationships, which are most profitable to your business.

Customizable reporting and information database, billing and accounting tools, sales and marketing management tools are just few components that compose a complete CRM system.

The benefits of CRM are as below:
-CRM enables sales force automation. You can supervise tasks, track employee performance, provide timely guidance and appraisals.

-CRM software systems help to track marketing activities, accurately study market trends, identify future prospects, draft effective marketing strategies.

-With CRM systems you can securely store customer data, determine customer preferences, provide one-to-one customer services, improve customer satisfaction and maximize customer retention.

Link for reference:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-crm.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_relationship_management
http://www.avidian.com/crm/how-crm-works.aspx



Dragonair website:
http://www.dragonair.com/da/en_INTL/homepage

Self Check-In Kiosks:
http://www.dragonair.com/da/en_INTL/atairport/kioskdemo

Dragonair promotion:
http://www.dragonair.com/da/en_INTL/offerspromotions/event


Asia Miles
http://www.asiamiles.com/am/en/homepage


Dragonair frequent flyer programme:
http://www.dragonair.com/da/en_INTL/ffp/others

2009/06/05

Session 2: Assignment One Question

Session 2 Question:
Scroll down the page and click the "View the Demo" link under the "Inventory and Operations" section.The demo will launch within your web browser. There are 4 tracks in the video. You only need to view Track 1: Introduction and Track 2: Automate the Order-to-Delivery Process.Answer the following questions after viewing the video:
Visit the
SAP Small Business web site.

Q1. Which departments within the company are integrated within the Order-to-Delivery process?

Answer as below:
In Track 1: Introduction demo from SAP Business One, Sales and marketing Department, Warehouse and shipping Department, Inventory and Operations are integrated within the Order-to-Delivery process.

Q2. Which steps are included in the Order-to-Delivery process?

Answer as below:
From Track 1: Introduction of the “Inventory and Operation” section, we know that the benefits for SAP Business One and Inventory and Operations are as follow:
1. Automate the order to delivery process
2. Manage inventory in real time
3. Adapt to changing business needs
4. Streamline end to end operations
5. Serve customer faster and better
6. Achieve profitable growth

When Sales Department received the purchase order from key customers, just like the demo, the customer require same day delivery. Then the salesman use SAP Business One to access real time inventory data to confirm the items are in stock.

The Salesman can create the sales order with just a few clicks, e.g. item code and customer account number etc. Once the order is ready, the software automatically alerts the Warehouse Department the order requires same day delivery.

Warehouse representative received the sales order alert from Sales Department. He can easily drill down to see the complete details of the customers, e.g. item order and customer ship to address and more. He quickly assembly the order use the pick and pack feature in SAP Business One. Each of the order assigns a unique serial number for future checking.

Warehouse use the SAP Business One to print the delivery note and packing slip for the shipment.

When the shipment is pick up by the carrier, the software automatically update the order status, so the Salesman knows the package is ship and also e-mail the customer to complete tracking details.

With SAP Business One, you can automatically the order to the process and streamline your entire business operation.

Q3. What factors would you consider when deciding whether ERP is suitable or not for a small business ?
Answer as below:

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software helps integrate management, staff, and equipment, combining all aspects of the business into one system in order to facilitate every element of the manufacturing process.
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software helps integrate management, staff, and equipment, combining all aspects of the business into one system in order to facilitate every element of the manufacturing process.

ERP groups traditional company and management functions such as accounting, human resources (HR) manufacturing management, and customer relationship management (CRM) into a coherent whole. Manufacturing management also includes inventory, purchasing, and quality and sales management.

Advantage:
ERP systems aid in the control and communication of business activities, such as
• Efficient handling of order processing and production scheduling
• Produce and access information in a real-time environment
• Management and analyses of business processes within an interactive environment
• Synchronization of departmental activities (e.g., within human resources or finances) with the needs and output from production facilities
• Monitoring, sharing, and tracking of information throughout the organization
• Ensures quicker processing of information and reduces the burden of paperwork.
• Serving the customers efficiently by way of prompt response and follow up.
• Disposing queries immediately and facilitating the payments from customers with ease and well ahead of the stipulated deadline.
• Minimize the mistakes by double entry or duplicated files.
• Ensure proper communication, productivity and efficiency

Disadvantage:
In spite of rendering marvelous services ERP is not free from its own limitations. ERP calls for a voluminous and exorbitant investment of time and money. The amount of cash required would even be looming on the management given the fact that such an outlay is not a guarantee to the said benefits but subject to proper implementation, training and use. In the ever expanding era of information theft ERP is no exception. It is alarming to note the time taken to implement the system in the organization. These means large amounts of workers have to shun their regular labor and undertake training. This not only disturbs the regular functioning of the organization but also runs the organization in the huge risk of losing potential business in that particular period.



Conclusion
We would consider efficiency and costing when deciding whether ERP is suitable for a small business or not. If we do implement the ERP system, somehow it usually requires the business to re-engineer some of its existing business processes. For my opinion, I think it is certainly worth to do so. We've trebled in size without having to hire additional staff members. Thus, the business can be expanding.

ERP is recommended in an organization not only because the advantages outnumber the disadvantages but also by keeping in mind the ways to overcome the disadvantages. An organization has to correctly weigh the advantages and disadvantages of ERP before going for them.

The foremost advantage of an ERP system is bringing down the costs and saving the valuable time. The database not only becomes user friendly but also helps to do away with unwanted ambiguity.

That’s why small business should also enjoy the ERP system.

reference link from YouTude for CRM:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0Ln4H_deGU&feature=related

2009/06/04

Try to upload the pictures~

Hi Jenny,



I am trying to see whether I can capture the picture to the right location or not. (In class now)


Is that my PC have problem? or....just I am so silly don't know how to do it...


I tried at home on 6 Jun 09, it really can't make it...


However I Can Try it out at class~~what happens?????????



Thanks,
Samantha

Name and Student ID

Hi Jenny,

Sorry it is me again, I forgot to provide my name and student ID to you. =_="

Name: So Lai Chong Samantha
Student ID: 10425273

By the way, are you from Singapore?? My ex-boss was came from Singapore~ She is now back to SG and doing a VP there~~

Can you read Chinese?

Cheers,
Samantha

How can I upload the image to the correct places?

Hi Jenny,

I just finish my first assignment, however, I don't know how to upload the image to the correct paragraph, so I just insert all the image to the assignment first...

Could you advice where I can choose the location of the image?

Sorry for my late submission. I will put more effort on it later on.

It is rainy heavily outside~ it is time to sleep now~

See you tomorrow evening. :)

Thanks,
Samantha

Session 1: Assignment One Question

Session 1 Question:
This week we talked about the role of information systems in a business (Slide 9 of Lecture 1).Think of a business or organization that you admire, then describe two examples of how that business is supported by information systems. For example, do they use it for operational excellence? Or do they use it to create new products and services?


Answer as below:
Debuted in 1997, the Octopus Card instantly became widely used in the public, as it simplified the transportation payment process to take only a couple of seconds! No need to carry coins, pay in exact fees, it's simple. Want to prove how popular it is? There are now over 10 million Octopus Cards in circulation, which exceeds Hong Kong's population of 7 million!

The Octopus Card can be purchased from any public transportation company's customer service centre, such as MTR's or KCR's. When first purchasing the Octopus Card, HK$50 is included as refundable deposit, and the remaining value will be stored in the card for normal payments.

On-Loan Octopus is available in four different types:
Child - for ages 3-11 (Deposit $50 + Stored Value $20= Price HK$70)
Adult (Deposit $50 + Stored Value $100 = Price HK$150)
Elder (Deposit $50 + Stored Value $20 = Price HK$70)
Personalized - can apply to child, student, adult and elder

Octopus has become an integral part of the daily life of almost all Hong Kong people. “Dood and go”. Its fast and convenient payment method widely used for our daily public transportation and purchase, Moreover it available at over 2,000 different service providers including apparel stores, bakeries, car parks, cinemas, convenience stores, fast food chains, household stores, leisure facilities, personal care stores, photo finishing stores, photocopiers, supermarkets, and vending machines, making it the pride of Hong Kong in the international arena.

With the Octopus payment service now extending to all sorts of merchants, a “Dood” on your Octopus is not only convenient when you’re shopping, but also provides a wide range of exclusive privileges for customers. Octopus has become not only an everyday payments means, but also an effective marketing and promotional tools welcomed by both consumers and businesses. Octopus is pleased to offer companies from all sectors innovative solutions to help them identify new business opportunities

As of today, over 200 types of Octopus cards and products have been produced. Apart from the common on-loan Octopus and sold Octopus for open purchase, many of them are Special Octopus uniquely created for individual corporations as premium gifts, company cards, membership cards or access control cards. Some are in the form of generic Octopus or Mini Octopus, and others of different sizes and shapes are embedded with Octopus functionality.

Special Octopus are very well received by both businesses and consumers, as they can not only be tailor-made to meet an individual company's requirements, but also function in the same way as any other Octopus. Corporate clients are welcome to provide their own card or product design that complies with specific guidelines, and Octopus Cards Limited will proceed to the manufacturing stage according to stringent quality control requirements

For instance, Octopus has recently produced exquisite Mini Octopus and handset chain sets for Beverley Pacific International Limited, sole agent for Sony Ericsson in Hong Kong and Macau.
In additional with Octopus Automatic Add Value Service (AAVS), your credit card account will automatically reload HK$250 or HK$500 to your Octopus (maximum once a day) when the remaining value reaches zero or a negative balance. In order to avoid hassle of manually reloading your Octopus. You can enjoy the convenience and pay smart to earn credit card reward points or cash rebates by using your Octopus. For security issue, Octopus with AAVS can be automatically reloaded for a maximum of once per day and customer are protected with lost-card reporting service.

If you wish to have added security against card loss, use a Personalised Octopus or the Octopus Automatic Add Value Service. Through these services, Octopus Cards Limited will have your personal particulars, allowing verification of your identity as an Octopus holder, and therefore protection by the Octopus Lost Card Reporting Service. If you lose your Octopus, simply call the Octopus Lost Card Hotline on 2266 2266, a 24-hour interactive voice response system, complete the lost card reporting procedure and minimize your possible loss. The system will activate the card blocking procedure, and you only need to bear the loss arising from unauthorized use by others of the Octopus for six hours after successfully reporting the loss. The balance of the deposit will be returned to you after deduction of relevant charges.

If you want to become a member of the newly-created "Friends of Octopus" activities, a program designed to strengthen their communication with customer and help them improve their services and products. You will be invited to take part in online surveys while they will also ask some of you to join face-to-face gatherings with Octopus representatives with a view to seeking your input on our services and products.

If you want more information about your recent transactions, make use of the 377 self-service Octopus Enquiry Machines across MTR stations. A simple "Dood" will show you the last 10 transactions free of charge.

With an Octopus in your hand, you can even download music, purchase movie tickets and pay for sporting and leisure activities at LCSD facilities – or in short, you can enjoy endless convenience and privileges!
Marking everyday life easier. Enjoy a relaxing and convenient way of living!

2009/06/03

I can catch up before 4 Jun 09~

Hi Jenny,

Seems I have to hurry up to send the link to you, as I just have two days leave...haha...anyway I am here finally :)

IT system, software is a stranger to me. For me I can survive without the Net / PC, as I just like an ancient people.

However from now on, I have to learn more about it and maybe treat it as my friend...because I can gain more
useful knowledge from the lesson and from the Net.

Since your note said we have to include the name and student ID in the first blog, so I better add it here as well~


Name: So Lai Chong Samantha

Student ID: 10425273

Cheers,
Samantha