continuation to TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM IN GIANT

PRICING

The price of the product is sent to the EPOS terminal when the product’s bar code is read. In the past, every single item had a price sticker attached and when a price change was required, new labels has to be placed over the old one. This was a time consuming task, as every single item on the shelves of the product requiring the price change required a new label. Mistakes were sometimes made and customers over or undercharge. Nowadays, there are no price labels attached to product, neither does the packaging of the product show the price. The only reference to the price of the product is contained on a label attached to the shelf where that product is situated. These shelf labels are produced by the branch computer and are printed out in different sizes according to the size of the shelf display for a particular product.

STOCK CONTROL

There are, in fact, six branch computers linked to the EPOS terminals at the checkout. They all record information about item sold and provide backup for each other. If only one computer was used and brake down, the supermarket could not function. These branch computers are linked via the satellite links to a large main computer housed at the supermarket’s head office elsewhere in the country. All branches of this supermarket are also linked in this way to the main computer and this is an example o an extra-net.

OTHER USES

The stores are also big users of email. Each store is connected to each other, to every depot and to the head office. The email is used for area initiatives, promotional planning, quality controls issues, head office bulletins, warning about shoplifters and banning letters. The company also uses computers for staff recruitment. New application can fill in an application form over the internet and have it vetted by the head office. These save time at branch level and serves to get rid of some applicants. If an applicant fills in a form at the branch, this can be scanned in and then uploaded to the Head Office.

JUST IN TIME – STANDARD METHOD OF STOCK CONTROL

In the standard method, a shop selling cookers etc, keeps it stock in a shop are runs low it is replenished from the warehouse. When the warehouse needs new stock, an order is placed with the appropriate suppliers – or with the organisation’s main warehouse – and the goods are delivered.

The ‘just- in- time’ system take advantages of a stock information system. As products pass to the electronic points of sales (EPOS), the relevant data is sent to a database containing information about stock levels. When stocks fall below a set level more is ordered. Thus only a minimum of necessary stock is ordered and there is no need to maintain a large, fully stocked warehouse. In some cases, the system is fully automated, working out how and what stocks is needed and electronically processing and communicating the order.

Advantages

-          Money is saved because less warehouse space needs to be purchased and maintained

-          Economies can be made in regard to labour costs

-          The business is more aware of and more responsive to change in supply and demand

INTERNET SHOPPING

Businesses have recognised that the internet are allowed people to interact with each other in a different way, and it gave the potential for creating new markets and in reinvigorating old ones. Giant began to use the internet for marketing.

-                    I. As a means of communicating information about the products and services they offer

-                  II. As a ‘virtual shop’ , allowing customers to purchase goods and services online

-                 III. As a subscription service, e.g. allowing subscribers access to valuable information such as
             might be contained in research paper

-                 iv. As an interactive sites that encourages customers to give them feedback on their products

Advantages to the customers

-                   i. Customers do not have to travel long distances to the shops and struggle through crowds
             to make their purchases

-                  ii. It can be beneficial to those customers who are disable or who, for some other reason find
             it difficult to travel to shop

-                 iii. New, smaller, more specialised businesses present themselves on the web , thus widening
             the range of goods and services available

Advantages to the businesses

-                   i.  Overheads can be cut. A web-based business does not necessarily need a high
             street shop and staff to run it. Small specialized concerns have therefore been able to
             establish themselves on the web with very little outlay.

-                 ii.  Many new businesses have been created via the internet; some has been successful
             and some not. The overall effect, however has been to invigorate the business 
             environment by introducing healthy competition.