Capstone Project [Phase]
Computer and Information Science
Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology
Literature Review
Introduction
The project aims to create a website for a restaurant that is yet to incorporate online applications into its functional operations. It is imperative for the restaurant to have a website for allowing customers to see all the foods and drinks on offer without necessarily going to the stores and also for allowing them to pay for their orders on online platforms using their credit cards. Additional advantages the ability to view pricing of varied items alongside the delivery times and pictures of the varied food items on offer. This will help the organization in reducing the time taken by customers to look for information on its products and services. The owner of the restaurant will have the ability to place the number of orders of each meal that the restaurant can produce in a day. For example, if there are stock-outs, customers will be able to know in advance before they place orders. Customers will also be able to know how long it will take for their meals to be delivered once they place their orders based on the number of orders placed before them and the time it takes to prepare the food.
Technical Background
The technical aspects of the project include that the project will incorporate skills in SQL, HTML and Visual Programs to correctly configure a website that would allow the restaurant to reach out to its clients in an innovative way. Technically, it is important to understand the limitations that come with the use of conventional methods of ordering where customers have to visit restaurants to know about food products and place orders. Furthermore, restaurants must consider the need to avoid incidences where customers lack a copy of the menu due to the limited use of visual confirmation technologies. The ultimate online system should, therefore, have a web ordering platform where customers find all the details needed to place their orders. The system also allows retailers and buyers to keep track of the orders placed hence creating an easier and effective way of monitoring delivery. With the web ordering application, customers need to understand the way they can create an account and how they will navigate through the restaurant’s menu with ease. Other details to be included in the web ordering system include the payment procedures, provision of an order number to customers as well as allowing consumers to view their orders and make any necessary changes.
The system also requires a menu management subsystem for controlling the ordering process. The restaurant needs to be in a position to add critical information on the description of products and provide images in ways that appeal to customers as they navigate through the application. Both hardware and software components need to be configured in the right manner and should also be of the recommended specifications to enhance efficiency. The hardware interface ought to have a processor and have enough space to store customer information. Software components, on the other hand, include an operating system and a web browser such as Google Chrome that allow consumers to navigate through the company’s website. An organization must also consider the uniqueness of its online platforms as it represents the face of the organization in the digital world. The organization’s profile must, therefore, stand out compared to competitors in ways that improve business reputation and motivate consumers to engage the retailer through the online tools.
Literature Review `
Sources consulted that created awareness of the problem
There were various sources consulted for the purpose of the project that included case studies on what competitors were doing to keep up with technological changes, various reports on the current and future trends as well as reports on various requirements for online tools. Other sources used addressed the benefits to the company as well as the factors that drive firms to consider investing in online technologies.
Literature reviewed to ascertain whether similar projects have been done before
There are several projects that have been done in attempts to help restaurants overcome the burden caused by increased customer orders. Among the projects include the food application platform developed by Li (2010) where users are able to search and upload information through sue of their mobile phones. The system only requires consumers to search the name of their preferred dish to get the list of different restaurants offering the dish and information on the operating hours, contacts and products details. The tool also incorporates Google Maps and GPS signals for users to easily trace the location of restaurants offering the desired meal. Lastly, the application has a rating option that allows consumers to review the comments of other consumers on the food offered hence make decisions based on the rating score provided. The other application is the mobile food ordering tool developed by Fan (2014) where customers use their computers and android devices to order their dishes. Additionally, the application allows restaurants administrators to manage their employees through online platforms hence improving efficiency and effectiveness across various departments. The other similar project is that of Mayurkumar & Patel (2015) that involves the use of an interactive and up to date menu with all the options consumers could choose from. The application has a cart where food orders are placed and could also be viewed later by the customer to confirm their order before they log out. Once the order is made, the details enter the company’s database in real time thereby allowing staff to quickly respond to the order.
Major differences exist between similar projects done before and the current project. With the current project, all the applications developed before are integrated into the system thereby allowing other functions besides ordering to be performed. The project’s application incorporates use of social media platforms like Facebook and twitter where customers can find information on the company’s products as well as order their dishes. The application also realizes the need for the restaurant to enhance its visibility as it seeks to expand in future, hence incorporates Facebook and You Tube as among the platforms where the firm can upload pictures and relevant advertising information to make current and potential customers aware of products and services offered. Use of digital wallets for easier payments and advising customers on desirable spending habits are also included as part of the system in addition to system management tool where staff are engaged in real time to respond to different orders.
The advantage offered by the project’s application is that it is an integrated platform that focuses on menu management, system management and advertising hence likely to favor the restaurants objectives of expanding market share and improving competitive advantage through unique technological tools. .
Literature on business need for online applications
Restaurants continue to experience an increase in sales since they serve as the cornerstone in every society. In spite of the challenges that may exist in an economy, dining still remains a priority for most people thereby suggesting that the industry will continue growing in the coming decades (Weinswig, 2016). Weinswig (2016), through his study on digitalization of food based his findings on the fact that the retail sector has undergone major transformation due to introduction of online platforms. With competition increasing, Weinswig (2016) asserts that it is important for firms to consider adopting online technologies that will allow them to increase market share and enhance customer loyalty. Mayurkumar & Patel (2015) also focused on the high search costs consumers often encounter in obtaining and processing information on the food products and different prices. The time spent looking for information, the cost of travelling to retail outlets as well as telephone calls made by buyers to the stores make it important to have innovative ways of improving customer value. According to Weinswig (2016), consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the existence and growth of virtual shopping platforms that allow them to interact with retailers on a personal level hence making their shopping experience interesting.
Impact of installing online functions in business
Online-based technologies, therefore, reduce search costs and help customers to navigate through various websites as they browse through information on company’s offerings. The changing needs and expectations of consumers have significant impact on the relationship between buyers and sellers since they influence desire by consumers to shift their allegiance and also affect the willingness by potential customers to embrace a company’s products. Consumers have responded enthusiastically to online innovations across the globe and the interest is still expected to grow in the coming years. Previously, restaurants placed more focus on appealing outlets but the trend has since changed due to more consumers choosing to have their meals delivered to their offices or homes. As organizations move through their growth cycle, many realize the advantages derived from the increase in scale at a faster rate as well as giving consumers the chance to influence their choices of how they want products delivered to them or how they wish organization could share information with them. Online retailing allows consumers to easily access information on the available products and services, and hence restaurants have to ensure online product catalogues have all the information required to make it easy for consumers.
Literature on the tools required for an online application
Digital wallets
Businesses need to come to terms with the fact that customers desire to have a relationship with firms that can advise them on their spending habits. Digital wallets as asserted by Wyman (2014), serve to inform consumers of the need to consider spending their money wisely in order to sustain their purchasing power for a long time. Digital wallets also play part in allowing customers to have a deeper understanding of the different prices for products from various retailers and also make it easier for buyers to make purchases within the apps thereby reducing time and costs involved in looking for information and physically going to retail stores to make payments. The use of digital wallets is also a good way of replacing credit cards due to their ease of use and the convenience consumers enjoy since they do not have to carry their cards all the time. However, while adopting the use of digital wallets, restaurants need to assure customers of privacy and confidentiality of their personal and financial details due to the growing number of security concerns. Consumers must, therefore, be consulted in the processes of choosing an online payment method to increase the chances of implementing a tool that they all feel secure when using. Moreover, it is important that organizations choose a relatively affordable payment option that allows them to easily adopt and makes it easier for consumers to use.
Visual discovery technology
The other tool that is necessary for food retailers is the visual discovery technology where consumers are able to view products under various themes and share the pictures with their friends or relatives. Ricky (2014), in his study on food ordering applications, argued that consumers are also increasingly aware of the significance of restaurants providing them with recommendations on healthy eating and the need for them to consume food products in ways that help them save on cost and improve their health.
Social media tools for advertising
Conventional methods like the use of televisions in advertising products no longer offer the excitement and flexibility with which information reaches consumers. New ways of enhancing visibility have, therefore, been adopted by consumers across the globe making it easier and cheaper for organizations to make a large number of customers aware of product offerings using YouTube and Facebook to advertise products. However, in spite of the advantages firms achieve when they advertise through online tools, they still need to consider the design of the contents to be displayed on the company’s website. Consumers are usually keen on the way information is presented such that inappropriate and unappealing contents could trigger negative response from consumers thereby interfering with the effectiveness of the online tools. Nevertheless, restaurants have the power to create their own profile and design online contents in ways that appeal to different customers, thereby, increasing the likelihood of meeting the expectations of customers. The message should also trigger current consumers to refer the organization to friends and relatives through sharing of information that helps in expanding market share.
Discussion
The growing number of food retailers makes the industry more competitive thereby forcing players to improve on their service delivery as they aim to enhance customer value. Organizations across the globe are shifting their delivery options from conventional methods that required customers to physically present themselves to outlets and are, therefore, adopting online applications to improve and cope with technological advancements. Through the decision to follow technological trends, the use of restaurant websites is among the best strategies for customizing products and services and triggering the interest of customers in what an organization offers. The project, therefore, provides solutions on how firms in the food industry can uniquely develop their offering through the use of various techniques such as own websites and social media platforms like Facebook and twitter that make them more visible across various segments. Major challenge in developing websites for restaurants is the risk posed to privacy and confidentiality of customer financial and personal details since security threat are common issues associated with online marketing. Organizations suffer losses since failure to protect customer details lowers business reputation and increases the cost incurred in compensations and legal suits. Retailers need to move fast in countering cyber threats since such actions play a role in enhancing customer loyalty, thereby preventing them from shifting to competitors. To cope with cyber security, the projects highlight the need for regular updating of information systems in use as well as training of staff to identify any incidences of suspicious intrusion into the systems. Moreover, the project realizes the need to rely on information security tools including passwords, address verification, and authentication structures to prevent intrusion.
References
Oliver Wyman. (2014). Strategies for a changing world. New York: Oliver Wyman.
Fan, Y. (2014). Mobile Food Ordering Application. Manila: Vaasan Ammattikorkeakouluvaan University.
Li, S. (2010). Food Phone Application. San Jose State University.
Mayurkumar, & Patel. (2015). Online Food Order System for Restaurants. Technical Library, 1-12.
Neil, D., & Fiona, E.-C. (2010). Internet retailing: the past, the present and the future. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Managemen, 943–965.
Ricky, M. (2014). Mobile Food Ordering Application using Android OS Platform. EPJ Web of Conferences, 1-9.
Saha, & Amit. (2015). A Study on “The impact of online shopping upon retail trade. Journal of Business and Management, 74-78.
Weinswig, D. (2016). The digitalization of food: Grocery retail and food service. New York: The Fung Group.
Project Initiation
Charter
Project Objectives
The project’s objective is to create a website for a restaurant that is yet to incorporate online applications into their functional operations. The need for a website is to allow customers to see all the foods and drinks offered by the firm without necessarily going to the stores and also allowing them to pay for their orders on online platforms using their credit cards. Additional advantages include provision of details on prices, delivery time and images of the food as the organizations focuses on reducing time taken by customers to look for information. The owner of the restaurant will have the ability to place the number of orders of each meal they will make it in the day. For example, if the number of the orders finishes it will show customer that the meal not available. Also he will put for each meal how long it takes to know the time of delivery.
Project Milestones
Project Signoff
The signatures of the people below document approval of the formal Project Charter. The project manager is empowered by this charter to proceed with the project as outlined in the charter.
Get all involved people to sign this before you move on to the next step. One idea is to move the actual signed sheet to the appendix section. You can scan it and include it in subsequent phases.
