Customer Solutions
Club IT Business Solutions
Introduction
Nightclubs are no exception to the technological revolution, negating from the trend means being left behind. This is the idea that brought Club IT to reinvent itself and upgrade to a more sophisticated information technology systems into their business to take it to the next level (Managerial Support Systems , 2008, p. 265). However, Club IT is facing a dilemma about choosing the most suitable and reliable IT system that will be upgraded to. The first step in the process if to identify the three major business problems that Club IT is facing. Social media platform, lack of information management tool and infrastructure within the establishment and e-commerce tool.
Discussion
Club IT's resources are only limited to standard computer units that serves a couple of POS terminals and automated cash register. A spare computer unit is reserved as a backup in case of server failures and to house business related documents. Although, though the club uses a high speed broadband service they were still not being able to fully utilize it for other purpose apart from sending and receiving online data. In terms of funding the upgrade, Club IT has enough resources to fund the project based on an average club revenue ranging from US$5, 000 to US$35, 000 every night (Referenceforbusiness.com, Web).
The main objective of the upgrading project is to re-engineer the business processes, adopt more comprehensive and integrative process and rightsizing the organization to its capacity (Project Management, 2008, p. 277). This is to re-aligned the business in the current market made up mostly of Millennials and net generations. Just to reiterate the importance of the upgrading project to Club IT, it would generally create a more convenient and faster supply solution to the conventional business processes. Meaning, simplifying the process of ordering supplies from the sources, delivering services to the customers and processing transactions. In terms of funding the project, Club IT should consider the three methods in funding namely corporate budgeting, allocation and chargeback (Funding it, 2008, p. 252).
Club IT can adapt any of the funding methods, but for the nature of the business and the planned project's intended function the club can make use of corporate budgeting. The cost of the new equipments, software licensing, helpdesk and maintenance will fall directly to the business bottom line (Funding it, 2008, p. 254). This is because Club IT generally does not have a lot of departments and employees to chargeback and allocate the cost with, otherwise Club IT management would have to shoulder the entire funding. Planning an information system project involves rigorous evaluation of applications that will offer the best functions. The applications must adhere to the organizational strategic plan stating Club IT's mission, goals and the necessary steps to reach the goals (Stormo, 2008, p. 296). With ERP (enterprise resource planning), CRM (customer relations management) and SCM (supply chain management) solutions in mind.
Club IT would be able to address the three aforementioned business problems using specific software such as InnSeries. It is an ERP solution designed specifically for nightclubs, cafe's and restaurants. It was developed by Interface Systems Group or ISG and it consists different systems dedicated to specific tasks. The InnTap POS system comes along with Inn Palm remote system to easily register orders using handheld units even away from the main POS board. The solution would be applicable to use by the waiters to directly punch in the orders instead of writing it down and head back to the main POS. Other features include loyalty management, food and beverage control, materials management and web-based MIS support (Interface Systems Group , 2008, p. 1-4). This solution will address the need for a reliable and convenient information management system on a regular operational basis.
The customer demographics of Club IT is made up of younger generations and obviously are frequent social media users. It would be a great advantage for Club IT to leverage on the popular media to increase marketing efforts while performing customer relations. Microsoft Dynamics GP & CRM is a one stop solution for all customer relations management needs with an integrated social media and online web features. It will allow Club IT to manage customers in the cloud through the online features complete with mobile and social networking functions that connects the business to wider audiences. Breakthrough marketing campaigns, event streaming and mobile push messaging would be the perfect tool for Club IT to address the problem regarding customer management (Managerial Support Systems , 2008, p. 265).
Conclusion
Microsoft Dynamics will also provide solutions to the supply chain management side of the business because the package includes features intended for all management areas of the business, providing a better insight the daily business operations. Club IT is also planning to engage in e-commerce for event ticket selling. Advansys solutions provide all the features of an e-commerce website from web hosting, design, and B2B payment processing. Club IT can also use the advantage to sell premium items in the e-commerce web site. In terms of overall I.T infrastructure to host all the new installations, CISCO is the best solution for Club IT. In a nutshell, Club IT would be able to re-invent his business by integrating the right technology to address the problems with business process inefficiency.
References
Advansys (n.d.). Ecommerce Solutions | E-commerce Website Solutions. advansys.com. Retrieved October 12, 2012, from http://www.advansys.com/
Corporate Budget. (2008). Funding IT, 252-254.
Interface Systems Group (2008). InnSeries: Restaurant ERP Solution. Catalog, 1-4. Retrieved from www.interfacesystemsgroup.com.
Managers and Decision Making. (2008). Managerial Support Systems, 265.
Prettydarngood.com (n.d.). Microsoft Dynamics CRM & Dynamics GP Implementation and Customization. PDG Consultants. Retrieved October 12, 2012, from http://prettydarngood.com/microsoft-dynamics-gp-crm/
Referenceforbusiness.com (n.d.). Nightclub Business Plan. Reference For Business. Retrieved October 12, 2012, from http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/business-plans/Business-Plans-Volume-07/Nightclub.html
Stormo, D. D. (2008). Planning for and Justifying IT Applications. Acquiring Information Systems and Applications, 296.
What Defines a Project? (2008). Project Management, 277.
