EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report is divided into three tasks that are going to be dealt with in respect to the AVIS. The first section will highlight the development of an information system and deliver an overview of what the system is supposed to deliver in respect to car management. The next section deals with the human computer interface and the elements to be considered in order to develop a usable and friendly interface. Finally, the project will feature the establishment of one of the best e-commerce experiences that attracts and retains customers.
This report is important in the development of an information system that will move the company’s documentation to the digital platform of information management unlike the conventional paper based management of the company properties. The information system development identifies the various functionalities and their characteristics in reference to the business needs of the company. The system can, however, not be complete without considering the interface elements that define its functionality and usability. As such, the next stage utilizes the human computer interface design principles to deliver the anticipated motive.
INTRODUCTION
Research shows that almost 70% of all shoppers conduct their research online before they go for the actual shopping. This trend has an advantage to savvy shoppers since they have the opportunity to compare products and services before they reach a conclusion. Even in scenarios where shoppers are recommended to a particular enterprise, they are still curious to conduct online research and price comparison before the final transaction. By doing so, online shoppers equip themselves with the best outlets in terms of price, quality and viewer reviews.
Thus in order to improve the online platform, AVIS should recreate the brick-and-motor customer experience in the online platform. The creation of a successful e-commerce site is dependent on the balance between the dynamic synergy of usability, power, branding and persuasion. It is through a harmonious balance between these factors in the design process that a user-oriented and success-oriented site will be achieved that will fulfill the goals of the e-tailers and create a joyful user experience.
This can be done by contracting efficient IT companies that will develop information systems capable of storing all the customer profiles. Efficient migration of the business into the online platform has an effect of retaining loyal customers as well as attracting new clients enthusiastic with the online platform. Management information systems have the advantage of reducing operating and storage costs associated with the manual mechanisms.
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
The manager of AVIS requires the development of an information system that is used for the management of the various cars on the lot. It also desires to move its business on the online platform to improve customer experience and efficiency. The purpose of this information system is to aid in the tracking and management of the cars in the company. This includes allocation; servicing, fuelling, repair and maintenance, rentals and car hire service. Moving the business to the online platform ensures that the management and the users seeking the services of the company do not have to visit in person. Rather, they can request for allocation online. The cars owned by the company include the various models of Honda allocated according to the specifications of the user.
USERS
The company offers cars to its employees in the higher echelons of power as well as those involved in projects that require extensive travelling. In addition, it offers car rentals and hires services to other external companies and individuals. For an employee to be allocated a car, it must satisfy the required company specifications. The employee must be travelling outside the town defined by more than hundred and fifty miles. In addition, it must sign it to the system by providing the personal details such as employee number and the kind of business involved.
Staff and clients confirm their allocation through proper documentation to show the project they are involved in or payment respectively. After the allocation, their distance of travel determines the parameters for fueling and service. All users are required to check into the system during the time they leave the car yard and when they return. Thus, the information system is able to retrieve the car users at any time, their status and the type of vehicle they are driving.
Likewise, another motivation for the development of the information system and online shift of the business is because most of the customers have long term records with the company, but the absence of information in the e-platform is a disappointing experience. The reward programs and credit cards are not recognized in the online platform, and the company is losing long term and loyal customers because they cannot associate with them anymore.
In the scenario, the objects involve the employees, outside clients, car models and the projects. As such, a user requesting to be allocated a car with certain specifications determined by the projects involved and the management rank. The attributes of the car include the engine size, amount of fuel used, projects involved as well as the expenditure of the user.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Objects and attributes
The company has a range of cars that suite each and every scenario. This includes Honda CRV, CR-Z, and Honda Sedan among others. The cars combine sophistication, safety, security and speed to deliver as per the user’s needs. The car is used by the management for business purposes due to its advanced capabilities. In managing the lot, the information system automatically respond with the kind of car that can be allocated to a particular class of employee. Different details such as the color, engines power and the kind of service required is available and is feed to the user at the point of allocation. Likewise, the list of the current users is easily printable.
HUMAN COMPUTER INTERFACE
The objective of this location is to develop an interface that is usable and friendly to both employees and clients. This section particularly focuses on the design elements and philosophies that can be utilized in the system development process to yield what is beneficial to the user. The user guide developed will accelerate the user learning process and facilitate the input and completion of tasks in the system.
Most online platform lacks the charm to entice existing and new clients due to lack of proper design principles. Navigation is one such principle essential for attaining usability and retaining clients. Through effective navigation of the website, users are better informed of where to go and how to achieve it. The user interface should be easy to understand and promote online shopping tasks. The good pricing, quality of products and other dimensions of e-commerce are put to exceptional waste if the company website is difficult to navigate. The products and services should be carefully categorized using clear labels and strong indicators through groupings to reduce the effort of finding them.
AVIS requires an information system for the management of its fleet of cars for business and employee use. The report involves the development of a system that is used for the customer and employee allocation of cars, payments, authentication of the journey and receipts of the cars after the use. In addition, the project involves the development of an email that is universally acceptable to the employee’s fraternity in terms of usability and efficiency. The illustration below shoes the mock up screens for the AVIS management system.
The design of the system was based on the user-centered concept that puts the needs of the user first among other things. The primary users of the system are identified to include employees in the management portfolio, receptionist and the technical employees. Not all groups of users are conversant with computer use, and as such, the system developed should permit the easy usage of those with computer skills and those with little knowledge. With the use of interviews and questionnaires, we sampled responses from the staff on the type of system they anticipate having. This involvement of staff provided a clear overview of what needs to be in the system. The result defined the development of a system that has less data but detailed enough to perform all the operations required. A prototype developed was deployed and reviewed periodically after improvement until a system that was desired by the users was ready.
Description of the Design
The system developed will allow users at the AVIS to allocate track and manage the company vehicles using a computerized platform. It will provide users with a new way to manage the allotment of cars to staff and external users, which the conventional, paper system would not do. Users are able to book for a car online and confirm the booking by providing the details of the project involved for the staff user and making of the payment by the external clients. The system upon allocation will provide the mechanism for online payments. It has the features and capabilities to record new appointments, adjust the collection time as well as cancel the appointment. Similarly, it utilizes API technologies to integrate tracking software’s that determines the locations of any car at a given time. Each of this information is quoted and can be printed through the use of a template that is in conformity with the company standards.
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
The design process of a car management information system followed the fundamental design elements of human computer interaction. All the elements are discussed briefly to illustrate its significance in application to the system.
Visibility
The location of the buttons on the screen guides the user in the implementation of the next step. This principle is known as visibility and is based on the fact that the more visible the direction of buttons on the screen, the more the user is aware of what the next operation is. The project involves the user of brightly colored and labeled menus to give the user a recognizable and friendly interface. The figure below demonstrates the visibility principle meant to give a driving interface that guides the user on the booking and confirmation process of the cars.
The buttons are readily available for the user to click on to advance to the next level. This feature removes the memory strain that could have otherwise been needed to keep the operation in motion.
Feedback
Feedback is the response that the user is feed with once he initiates an operation. In order to realize that the process is progressing towards the completion, the system should respond in respect to the inputs of booking and allocation. These responses signify the occurrence of an activity through the transition into new pages, delivering prompts on the input of payment processes, and sequence of opening new taps.
Consistency
The location of buttons such as submit keys and confirm should be at a consistent position throughout all the pages. This eliminates confusion associated with inconsistent buttons and icons for new users. Therefore, the learning process is quickened, and the user is able to use similar elements and operations to complete similar tasks. Memorizing the processes is also enhanced giving regular users an easy ride in operating system.
Constraints
According to the use of design element of constraint states that the “world naturally restricts the allowed behavior of operations on objects such as the order in which parts go together and the way that objects can be manipulated” has been implemented. This signifies that the next operation cannot be implemented without the completion of the existing one. As such, according to the principle, the allocation of the car cannot be implemented without the completion of payment and feeding of project details for the external clients and staff respectively. This protects the business from losses and misuse of the company vehicles through irregular allocation to employees, colleagues and unauthorized staff.
Usability test
The interaction between humans and the computer system is only beneficial if the usability measurement parameters are favorable thereby implying that the product under construction has attained its intended use. The major goal of the project includes attainment of efficiency, effectiveness, learnability, memorability safety and utility. It refers to how well the system is in performing the tracking, management and control of the company cars. The management will need the records of car use by the employees and external clients, in order to determine the expenditure and revenue it brought to the company. Utility is achieved if the intended operation of the system to track and manage the use of the company cars id geared towards adherence. Otherwise, the system would not be beneficial if misuse is still witnessed even after upgrading from the paper based system.
UNCLUTTERED WEBSITE
An uncluttered page full of information for customers becomes visually overwhelming and turn’s potential customers away. The application of page layout and design principles will keep the website organized and easy to use without sacrificing important information. This is achieved through grouping related items together, giving a consistent and clear structure, emphasizing the page elements and providing clear information on what the user is trying to accomplish without giving too much information.
The effectiveness of e-commerce sites lies in the innate value of the products and services offered as well as the way these products and services are relayed. The brick-and-motor model of the business is great because of the touch, feel and the customer service provided by the enterprise. This needs to be replicated to the online platform by developing a 24/7 customer service desk that can effectively respond to queries and opinions. A management information system with a 24 hour customer desk will ensure that all the customer concerns are addressed in real time. The company has three centrally located stores to serve shoppers.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
The new computerized system will be beneficial in the management of company resources. The system has been developed with special consideration on the HCI principles. It has also applied user-centered and usability techniques to evaluate its effectiveness. It is recommended that the data stores for the system be developed with competent personnel and the security apparatus be put in place to ensure maximum usability. The system could also be extended to other areas within the company such as supplies and human resource management.
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