1) What systems are described here? What valuable information do they provide?
Sybase Adaptive server with the SQL Anywhere is used by the communications among the headquarters and the client’s branches. The system provided the braches have the most recent version of client list, trucks’availability, and new shipping contracts which allow the customer deal with the Albassami at any branch on any time.The database of the shipping agreement is sent to HQ on every 30 minutes from every braches. After that, the HQ sent an aggregated version of the database from all branches back to every branch. The received database from HQ then it is created a receipt entry on the system upon arrival of the trucks and then an Short Message Service communication (SMS) is created and sent to the customer, who will then go to the destination branch to receive the item.
2) What value did the the IT/ IS investments add to Albassami?
The Albassamiinvested on the Sybase Adaptive server allows the braches create the shipping agreement then it is sent to the headquarters (HQ). From this Information Technology (IT), it allows the Albassami to decrease the communication period of the HQ and the branches and improve on the reliability of information transfer among the HQ and all branches that covering more than 45 locations. The system records the client’s data and holds maintenance information with linking with vehicle maintenance centers helps to enhance company performance and achieve better customer service.The system also allow the top management reviews and access on the productivity of each branch, so that the can allocate the proper budget according to the accurate identification of needs for different regions. In additional, it allow better audit and performance monitoring on all drivers’ behavior by using the output of the vehicles’ tracking information so that resulted inadequate employees’ appraisals and consequently loyal staff. The IT improves on the company’s performance and the customer satisfaction on the service provided which can increase in the future business relationship among the customers.
3) How did Implementing the Shipping Information System address needs and information requirements of Albassami?
The IT helps in collecting the database of each branch then sent out to the HQ in every 30 minutes, hence it reduce the period of creating of shipping contracts from any branch with customer. It allows the HQ to monitor the shipping contracts over 45 locations in live time so that can make better decisions on increasing the shipping numbers and shipping layouts for each location.
With the help of the Sybase Adaptive server with the SQL Anywhere, Albassami can obtain the database from the branches to HQ in 30 minutes and monitoring the performance of the output by the vehicles’ tracking information so that it allow the top management to analysis the needs of Albassami by alocate proper amount of budget on the needs of every regions the covering more than 45 locations.
The output of the vehicles’ tracking information allowsAlbassami to appraise on the employees’ performance so that they can reward to the hardworking employees and a warning letter is given to the low performance workers (even could not pass the lowest monthly target).