ROI Year-End Review

Monday, July 30, 2012

In this research assignment I will focus on the cost effectiveness of electronic business.

E-business refers to a strategic focus with an emphasis on the functions that occur using electronic capabilities, the World Wide Web or the Internet to build and enhance relationships with clients and partners. E-business involves business processes spanning the entire value chain: electronic purchasing and supply chain management, processing orders electronically, handling customer service, and cooperating with business partners. Special technical standards for e-business facilitate the exchange of data between companies. E-business software solutions allow the integration of intra and inter firm business processes. (wikidepia)1 .

Wherever the costs involved with transacting information are high, the gains from adopting e-business practices are highest. Reduced informational costs can not only facilitate given transactions, but can expand the set of transactions included within a specific market. By lowering the costs of bringing together geographically distant buyers and sellers, e-business increases the size of any given market. Larger markets make the trade of goods and services more reliable and efficient, in part because bigger markets often have lower average costs associated with them. E-business practices such as outsourcing, just-in-time inventory systems and matching markets such as consumer purchasing and auction sites are ideal (pepperdine.edu, James E.Prieger, Daniel Heil). 2.

The effects of electronic business to the economy is making products and services more cost affective and accessible to consumers. Time saving price matches are done for you, more options are available and detailed information about products and competitors are at hand. Creating more savvy consumers. This is a great route for new and smaller companies to have an opportunity to reach larger demographics and keep production cost low. Although it has created a competitive environment I believe it is fair to say e-business is a win win a win. Companies like Oracle have developed software applications to help companies manage their e-businesses.(www.oracle.com) 3. exposure for customer information and brand development. Using) integrated global business applications that enable organizations to make better decisions, reduce costs, and increase performance. In this global economy we are fortunate to have created this response. I believe without it the economy would be in worse financial state.
My conclusion is the Market place is finally reaping the rewards of cutting cost and getting a lot more. The use of this system is offering not only the customer but businesses new opportunities. By being exposed to different markets. Those buying and selling are showing proven success. Companies are able to offer more saving as a response to the competition, but still saving on production. As a new online shopper I am sometimes amazed at how much I learn by simply purchasing one item. The saving offers that are made to me and the suggestion of like products. Although I may not purchase the suggestion at that particular time, It exposes me to more options. Companies really gain so much through electronic business I think its so successful because it works for everyone.

reference:

1.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_business (wikidepia)

2 http://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=sppworkingpapers (pepperdine.edu, James E.Prieger, Daniel Heil)

3.www.oracle.com/us/products/applications/ebusiness/overview/index.html (www.oracle.com)

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Shopping Online

Shopping Online seems to be the new way to go. From high end low everyday essenitals from food to car parts. You can have avery and anything that you need arrive a your door step as early as 24 hours. This convience is unsumountable for those who are immobile or live in rural communities. Also with the offer of additional online savings to intice customers who can refuse? Online shopping does have its pro's and con's. there are many counterfit sites that do everything from steal your information for identity thefy purposes to selling you items that you didnt order weather they be a lesser quality or counterfit. And not being able to reach a customer service rep the site owner etc it can leave a lot of consumers frustrated disappointed and violated. However there are some tips that will make you feel more secure about purchasing online.

Spotting fakes online
Although several manufacturers have become vigilant about fighting fraud, some resist identifying the markers of a fake version of their product for fear of tipping off the counterfeiters.

Check the manufacturers' websites to see if they offer a list of authorized sellers and details on how counterfeiters have tried to take their particular brand hostage.

Premium denim company
True Religion goes as far as to list the names of online merchants who sell counterfeit versions of their jeans on its website.

Some product categories are particularly ripe for fakery. "Shoes and purses are every girl's friend, and the counterfeiter knows this," Smith says.

UGG boots, for one, are among some of the most knocked-off product around. The company features photo examples of counterfeit UGG boots on its website in an extensive "counterfeit education" section. Photos of the fakes can be seen here.

"We're upfront with assisting customers so that they're not duped," says Leah Evert-Burks, director of brand protection for Deckers Outdoor Corporation, UGG's parent company.

For example, UGG boots never have hang tags, are sold in biodegradable plastic bags within a box, and they'll never say "snow boots" on them as "UGG boots are not intended for the snow," says Evert-Burks.

Advertise | AdChoices

Consumers can type in the name of a suspect online seller on UGG's website and it will let them know if it's a counterfeit site.

What's more, shoppers who purchased counterfeit UGG boots with a MasterCard will be reimbursed.

WalletPop: Rising gas prices got you down? Think different

If something seems fishy, do a side-by-side comparison of a product from a site you might find suspect with one from the manufacturer's website.

Indeed, there are some telltale signs of counterfeit goods — a brand logo that looks askew, hardware details, such as zippers, that seem off, and packaging that doesn't appear to reflect the brand.

Levi's 501 button fly jeans are one of the company's most commonly knocked-off products, says Kelley Benander, a Levi's spokesperson. "If (consumers) see a zipper on a Levi's 501 jean, then it's likely a counterfeit," she says. Levi's site also includes
information on counterfeit goods.

Identifying counterfeit websites
The biggest sign of a fraudulent site is one that's offering dramatic discounts, so be skeptical about price, Block says. "If you see a brand that's sold for $150 (being) sold for $20, chances are it's fake." (Be aware, though, that rogue sites have gotten savvier, and some are now selling at more modest discounts to beef up their credibility, Smith says.)
Check out the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) or "about us" part of a suspect website as some will use the term "replica," which simply means counterfeit, to describe their products, Smith said.
Beware of "cybersquatting," which describes using a brand name in a URL without permission from the brand. These sites "want to make a buck off the back of a brand," Smith say.If a site's URL contains a construction like this — the manufacturer's brand name, the word "discount" and then something like "handbag store" or "outlet store" that's a clue the website is selling fakes and might be cybersquatting. This is particularly common among online sellers of fake luxury handbags.And a site that uses a single brand name in its own name but purports to carry a number of different brands "is another giveaway," Smith says.
Be alert to "typo-squatting," sites with names that are a misspelled version of a brand. In general, if a website has spelling errors, "don't buy from it," Block says.And when there is a period missing between the "www" and a well-known brand name, that's a "technique (rogue sites) will also use sometimes," Smith says.

© 2012 AOL Inc. All rights reserved.

This is the age of predators the onlince shopping phenomemnon has started people rent homes they dont own take deposits on cars they dont have and even sell you hand bags at great discounts I think we all should be a little more concious and ask ourselves is the convience worth it. i personally shop online less that 10 percent of the time, I like to see exactly what I am buying feel the quality and actually see my transaction from start to finish. A little traditional i suppose. I recommend www.netaporter.com an official site for high end goods and sales when they do have them are amazing. www.fashionphiles.com for the fashionistas on a budget that dont mind wearing secondhand this is a great consignment shop I have physically visited both locations and are definitely legit.
Data Mining

Web 2.0 has become an essential tool for the marketplace. Enabling real time feedback on products, services, etc. So much so a new job description under computer science was created to assist in analyzing the information captured via 2.0. The field of data mining. (Data mining (the analysis step of the "Knowledge Discovery in Databases" process, or KDD),[1] a relatively young and interdisciplinary field of computer science,[2]HYPERLINK \l "cite_note-brittanica-2"[3] is the process that attempts to discover patterns in large data sets. It utilizes methods at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistics, and database systems.[2] The overall goal of the data mining process is to extract information from a data set and transform it into an understandable structure for further use.[2] Aside from the raw analysis step, it involves database and data management aspects, data preprocessing, model and inference considerations, interestingness metrics, complexity considerations, post-processing of discovered structures, visualization, and online updating.[2] (wikipedia). )

A skill that is becoming so vital to a companies Marketing, Public Relations, and Advertisement. Customer Intelligence enables marketers to rapidly explore detailed profile data including purchase behaviour and responsiveness to past marketing campaigns. Millions of records can be analyzed. Successful marketing starts with the right data because at the end of every subscriber, follower and fan is a person with their own preferences. Data Mining has made it possible to in a sense capture the thoughts and emotions of the consumers. Monitoring traffic as well .Social media systems such as blogs, photo and link sharing sites, wikis and on-line forums are estimated to produce up to one third of new Web content.

One thing that sets these "Web 2.0" sites apart from traditional Web pages and resources is that they are intertwined with other forms of networked data. Their standard hyperlinks are enriched by social networks, comments, trackbacks, advertisements, tags, RDF data and metadata. Recently work has been done on building systems that analyse these emerging social media systems to recognize spam blogs, find opinions on topics, identify communities of interest, derive trust relationships, and detect influential bloggers. This is clearly evident on sites such as
www.Twitter.com a mini blogging site where your web influence is clearly tracked by what is trending.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=data%20mining%20web%202.0&source=web&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CFYQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.internetevolution.com%2Fauthor.asp%3Fsection_id%3D644%26doc_id%3D157077&ei=i4kQUNuyLsST6wHvyoCACA&usg=AFQjCNGbnw63pcqlK5iYPGEZZXlK_0FSHg&sig2=vMFu3e8H-BUIheim-40yXg

www.twitter.com

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=data%20mining%20wiki&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CFYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FData_mining&ei=_IoQULnlBLPg6wHjj4HACw&usg=AFQjCNEBdMti0QY-I1EzStTLLPJ0C_vwCA&sig2=Q6GSo6t2ZRbzbXqwQ0Zqow

Sunday, July 22, 2012

I was introduced and had the privilege to use, WGSN is one of the biggest fashion forecasting companies in the Fashion Industry. Its data a massive data base. Processing information from status of the economy, politics, and the emotion of society. They respond to the marketplace by analyzing these parts. Developing trends which will to appeal to a consumer on their level. The database gives companies a logical calculated direction.
For example washed out fabrics and harem pants could be response to the war and the economy. These are times when people are less focused on fashion. These garments are comfortable and inexpensive. Subliminal responses to fashion and style are how designers thrive in trying times. Called the intelligence of the industry. Whether you're looking to capitalize on opportunities or to ride out a storm, WGSN enables you to make business decisions with confidence. Providing a 360⁰ global viewpoint.
From the highest-level macro trends or future consumer insights. WGSN's wealth of industry intelligence is at your fingertips, with high-resolution details and industry-standard design tools that cut down time and costs in research and travel. Offering six inspiration zones offer unrivalled creative stimulus:
• Follow street fashion around the world
• Monitor trends in arts and culture
• Track celebrity fashion trends
• Discover the latest in pop culture
• Dive into vintage
• Explore inspirational photography portfolios
Report Preview Sample: Emerging denim trend: Dust Bowl
Report: WGSN has tracked a new wave of aged and destroyed denim finishes from the international trade shows and denim mills to the influential Japanese street-style blogs
www.wgsn.com
This database is vital to an industry. It is important that companies maintain their current status and hold true to their brands reputation. While continuing to respond to trends in the enviorment they must maintain their image. Companies like www.lectra.com specializing in branding works with www.wgsn.com information to strengthen companies response to trends. These components breath life into new brands like Chris Benz and Zac Posen and keep the leaders like Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton thriving.
The price tag on access to these services are very expensive ranging from 30,000 to over 100,000 a season depending on the retailer. www.fitnyc.com www.thefashionspot.com. However if you are attending a fashion school like www.fitnyc. or www.parsons.com you can use these services for free. New talent can view a smaller data bases such as http://guides.library.newschool.edu/fashion for similar but less in depth resources.
1. What specific challenges does your database implementation have?
The data base in very expensive. New talent cannot afford the service.
2.In what ways does it provide competitive advantage for the organization using it?
The companies using this data base will be on the forefront of the industry. The database forecast 3 years ahead. The company using this service will remain in a leading position; displaying fresh new ideas and implementing global inspiration.
What improvements would you suggest?
I would suggest a smaller less expensive data base be available. New talent can thrive and essentially bring in more income for the company.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Followed this by post by Michael Albert :These are the steps I used to attach a Gadget to my blog:

1.Sign into Gmail account
2.View blog
3.On the top bar, click Design
4.On the left side, click Layout
5.Choose where you want your gadget to display (I chose under the header)
6.Click Add a Gadget
7.Choose from list

I chose Blog Statistics to enable usage statistics to be displayed prominently.


I was able to add my gadget with no problem :)
Social Network Monitoring
I am a Facebook user, I have a "fan" page. This page is used to promote myself as a freelancer. This page is useful to me because it gives me an outlet for my creativity. It also allows me to get feedback on ideas that I may have. Facebook has a widget which allows me to track my view over a span of days, hours, and minutes. I find this useful but, I wish more information was available.
I would use these Social Network Monitoring companies to fill in the blanks. Since I know the amount of views I am getting at a particular time of day. I would like to compare one day to the next; determining what factors may have caused an increase of a decline. Was there less social network activity due to lets say a boxing event or football game? Maybe everyone was posting about the Emmy's or Grammy red carpet. Could this be a transition time ie. rush hour or dinner. This information would be very useful because posting that I take a lot of time developing will not go unnoticed. This will enable me to monitor and save more important post for specific days or times.
Also I would like to have information gathered about businesses similar to mine. Who are their followers, who are they following? What information are they posting? They could possibly be developing relationships that can also be useful to me as well. I would like to use this to counteract the competition. By offering good/services that are lacking. This information can be empowering and clearly has been vital in many businesses. Allowing a strategic plan of action to secure a strong position in your field.

Organization and Information Systems
I am going to use a live example on this project as a Freelancer Organization and Information systems is bottom line how I get things done. Working in the Fashion industry everything needs to be done yesterday. Things are hardly ever flawless in this fantasy world . Things could've always been done better;or differently. In an effort to achieve a perfect outcome which is next to impossible... since the beauty is the eye of the beholder.
As a Fashion Stylist my job description is to create styling solutions. (If you have a strong visual sense and an aptitude for working with color and proportion, consider becoming a fashion stylist, creating visual solutions for publications, media, and entertainment events. This course provides an in-depth study of the stylist's role in print and interactive media, with an emphasis on fashion and home fashion. The actual work and responsibilities of the assistant stylist and stylist, from shopping and prepping merchandise to working with models and layouts, are covered. The specifics of styling professionalism are taught. Program is highly interactive, with work assignments)1. (www.myfitnyc.com). So your job always starts with a problem and a set of challenges.
The first thing that must be done is to Understand the Problem (System Investigation). This is done by finding out what the outcome should be; what tools and resources do I have to achieve this. Understanding the solution (System Analyst). In industry terms I need to find out the concept is or work with the photographer to create one. A mood board is then developed. ( http://www.google.com/search?q=fashion+mood+boards&hl=en&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ACAW_enUS366US366&biw=1366&bih=615&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Q00CUOPlMOur0AH9v8DxBw&ved=0CFAQsAQSystems ) 2. Once that is done, the vision is clear and a mutual understanding is met. Model selection takes place. This person must be able to help translate the concept in body language and expressions . At this point I will need to select and plan solution ( system design). My responsibility as a wardrobe stylist is to pull apparel to fit into this equation. The garments must fit the model size complexions and hues.
This apparel must be obtain by various source of contacts, using selling and marketing tactics as well as calling in favours. New talent as well as established designers and showrooms such as (www.bluestripepr.com ) 3. this merchandise must be picked up via assistant or courier prepped styled then returned as perfect as it came. This is how the resolution is made. Placing the system into affect (System implementation). I must use the concept, model, and clothing while considering the outcome the client expects. The should be fresh, current and visually pleasing to their clientele. Once the shoot is complete the results are evaluated (system maintenance and review) by reviewing the final images we chose the strongest, most clear and concise. These are submitted to the client and the job is complete.
Reply
The CD Exchange

The Value you Exchange for my new business The CD Exchange. Using a typical Information System which helps our Internal and External customers meet their goals. In the Upstream The raw materials or CD's are taken into our inventory these products come to us through a variety of logistics ; Shipping drop off/ pick up. Once received we package the merchandise and delivered them to a secured storage unit. Here it is packaged with our company materials. It is then merchandised separated by price and type. An inventory is taken the amount of product and its value. This helps determine our proceeds. This information is then put into a data base to be manage.
In the Downstream and the more internal aspect Customers can place orders for the products. Customer Service handles order processing as well as uphold policies along with management. It is important to make sure this portion of the business is strong. As this is essentially the first line of contact for any customer. We always wasn't to continue to market the business and generate additional income so we constantly need to advertise through special offers and branding, creating a positive image for the business. Once orders are placed with the company we like to give the customers options as to how they retrieve their products. We have on-sight warehousing the customer has the option to pick up their product or have it shipped. Once this is decided; we then create an internal order for the item to be pulled from the warehouse and taken out of inventory. This updates or inventory system through sales tracking. This is a important process this ensures we have the proper merchandise at a given time.
 If a customer decided they want to return a product a restocking fee is charged because this entire process will need to be reversed. The finished product leaves the warehouse packages and ready for sale.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

The value of a simple information system to a company can be quite massive. Simplicity enables more users to require less training and information to be accessed easier. In today's fast paced work enviorment It is essential to productivity to have information clear and concise. By no means does simple mean basic; in this capacity. The term is actually emphasizing the nature of the operating system which is user friendly. Being user friendly or simple allows decision makers to achieve thier goals easier. By having a more direct process for obtaining vital information. This allows time management and delegation to be more effective and efficient.

I have some knowledge of an e-commerce business. This business deals directly with individual sellers. The company collects images of merchandise and post them on their website for sale; similar to eBay. Using a less sophisticated mode of Information Systems. The company collects the data (images). Merchandise the products to be aesthetically pleasing. The process is manipulating in itself because the company doesnt physically hold or own the merchandise as the site would initially lead you to believe. However this is thier selling process which eliminates the need for warehousing, less overhead and essentially helping the decision makers meet thier goals of effective and efficient business at lower cost to the company. They essentially dissemate this information to keep the illusion of an abundance of inventory and drive sales.

Buyers in turn contact the CSR's at the online store. They place an order, the order is then taken and the seller is contacted to have the item prepared to be overnighted or dropped/pick up in most cases. This minimizes security issues or any conflicts in the return/exchange process. The company arranges the shipment direct to buyer and money transactions. Everything is done under the policy and procedures guidelines of the e-commerce store term. Which both buyer and seller must agree upon before any transactions. The store acts as a broker between the two parties (seller/buyer). (As this relates to IS, Date, Information, and knowledge. > INPUT ref: to the data which is used to place the order <PROCESSING> is ref: the brokering between the company and buyer/seller. OUTPUT> ref: low cost and simplicstic business practices.This is a simple process in that things can be easily delegated and the turn around time is minimized as there are no re-negotiations. Just point of sale contact and shipping. Simple