Why Implementing Coordinated Information Technology Is a Competitive Advantage

Badar and Sammidi (2013) found that information collection and utilization in supply chain management is of vital importance. Badar & Sammidi (2013) also found that profits can be maximized by increasing efficiencies in the supply chain. Societal and technological trends have led to consumers who increasingly expect products and services to be quickly available (Parnell, 2014). A just-in-time inventory system based on up-to-date data prediction models that allows for quicker order fulfillment, and better in stock supplies when and where customers need the items, should continue to bode well for Home Depot long term. It will be difficult for Home Depot to distinguish itself from Lowe’s in other meaningful ways which may force it to deviate functional strategies away from the low-cost corporate strategy. Attempting to differentiate itself in other ways may cause serious misalignments in its strategies and cause an unnecessary decline in

Supply chains must be managed to coordinate the inputs with the outputs in a firm to achieve the appropriate competitive priorities of the firm’s enterprise processes. The Internet offers firms an alternative to traditional methods for managing supply chains. A supply chain strategy is essential

* Extend the value chain of the business so that the organisation’s information system can link with the information system of customers and suppliers. This should result in benefits and improved information flows

It identifies diverse procedures that lead to client contentment. It is used to depict development opportunities and is based on process modeling, performance measures, and best practice sharing. It helps the companies measure the flow of information and physical goods and consists of three levels, the scope and content of the supply chain ( level 1), the supply chain strategy is configured ( level 2) and aligning available and forecasted resources to meet expected demand (level 3).

In order for a company to quickly understand issues within the supply chain, the company must closely monitor its CRM system and identify product quality issues quickly.

The system also provides productivity information. It allows management to measure productivity by region, by plant. Managers are able to utilize the data to see which employees are the most productive. The CRM system tracks our suppliers, matching the orders placed, against deliverables. This assists the firm in identifying the premier suppliers. The suppliers are given a logon, and required to submit a quote for the goods that we need within 24 hours. The pricing they supply is automatically fed into our system, and is used in the calculation to see if the projected customer request is profitable based on that suppliers quote. The analysis is generated for the plants operation manager, and is helpful in the decision making process. The investment in technology pays for itself.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) aims at integrating all corporate activities to improve relationships at all levels (internal operations, supplier networks, and distribution channel) to meet the competitive edge and satisfy the customer. In order to build an effective and complete business process that supports SCM, information among all business partners need to be shared. Information sharing through the Internet reduces the gap for business-to-business (B2B) commerce by enabling seamless integration with enterprise processes among partner corporations.

Macy's can get examples on how leaders in industries have used information systems to obtain a completive advantage, such as Walmart or Zara. If they analyze the case of some pre-established and best-selling companies in the locality, then the study will obviously be fruitful to a great extent. Nevertheless, this should only be done as a reference, since Macy’s has its own limits. An example of this can be seen in the value chain. If Macy’s wants to coordinate its distribution of its products with the rest of its subsidiaries, then they must have an effective Supply chain management system. Walmart’s’ retail link is a perfect example of this. The value chain must be driven by accurate and

Unifying operational functions of a vertically integrated company delivers specific advantages. Technology allows organizations to fully leverage the benefits of collaboration. An integrated business system will allow business leaders to redesign workflows, processes and organizational structures to drive better efficiency, quality and decision-making. The collaboration of logistics, operations, production and administration can improve a company’s business agility. Timely data, validated reports and real-time monitoring enable better cost control, financial oversight and enterprise planning. Strategic planning can increase overall performance of personnel, maintenance, scheduling and

According to the value chain analysis, a business adds value to its products or services through a series of activities it performs within the company. First, the primary value activities describe the production, the selling, and after-sales support for its products and services. Second, the support value activities describe all business functions needed to provide the human resource, the technology, the infrastructure, and the supplies (Baltzan, 2012). EG Inc. coordinates all its value-adding activities using an MIS infrastructure, comprising of a supply chain management (SCM) system, customer relationship management (CRM) system, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, and as a result increases productivity, reduces cost, optimizes business operations, generates growth, and increases profitability (Baltzan,

Excellent customer service is a way to set the organization apart from its competitors. Differentiation can be achieved through fast and correct execution of product ordering. To improve on the order process it is important to have the correct information provided in a timely fashion to all divisions. For integration to be successful information must be available throughout the entire supply chain.

The catalyst of any effective logistics system is the ability to collaborate accurately and completely with key suppliers while also staying synchronized to the needs of the broader network it is part of. For Huffman Trucking, the challenge is to quickly ascertain which shipments need to be sequenced by delivery location, distribution and supply chain partner, and the costs versus profits of expediting or delaying one delivery relative to another. Just-In-Time (JIT) systems are a critical aspect of logistics and supply chain systems for a service providers' and manufacturing standpoint in that they can drastically reduce operating costs and increase inventory efficiency (Legner, 2005). JIT systems are indispensable for managing highly complex supply chains critical for ensuring manufacturing stays aligned to demand management requirements of their distribution channels and direct customers (Huin, Luong, Abhary, 2002). JIT functionality is a core component of many Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, which serve as the central coordination system of accounting, finance, logistics, supply chain, service in addition to many other functional areas of a company (Shi-Ming, Kwan, Yu-Chung, 2001).

Excellent customer service is a way to set the organization apart from its competitors. Differentiation can be achieved through fast and correct execution of product ordering. To improve on the order process it is important to have the correct information provided in a timely fashion to all divisions. For integration to be successful information must be available throughout the entire supply chain.

According to our class text Supply Chain Management’s goal is to create fast, efficient, and low-cost network of business relationships to get a company’s product from concept to market. In order to understand the goal we must know that the supply chain is the process the raw materials of a product go through in order to be available to the consumer. The relationships that the business creates are needed in order to create the product, each process the product goes through creates value, the supply chain is often called the value chain. Internet technologies are increasingly making the supply chain management process much more efficient and worth the initial investment. The supply chain management life

Supply Chain Management (SCM) -SCM is a cross functional interentreprise system that uses information technology to help support and manage the links between some of a company's key business processes and those of its suppliers, customers and business partners. The goal of SCM is to create a fast , efficient, and low cost network of business relationships, or supply chain, to get a company's products from concept to market. (O'Brien & Marakas,