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The absence of a local area network and a wide area network for the firm makes connectivity and communication among the various employees difficult. Furthermore, there is no centralized database system. Moreover, the computers have different versions of MS Windows. The firm does not have a website for linking clients and the firm or for linking employees. This situation is very hazardous especially for follow-up on business and creation of reports. Eventually, this affects the process of decision-making.
The SAP business intelligence solutions can become suitable to aid in solving many of the challenges facing this firm. First, they can be utilized in creating a rich and user-friendly website of the company. This website will provide all the essential information to current and potential clients. It can also provide information on frequently asked questions. More importantly, the website can be utilized as a primary or secondary hub of communication among the employees. Managers can have junior employees provide the managers with raw data for analysis. Branches can share the same website (with different branches and their employees having different logins) to allow for communication and sharing of resources between different branches in a prompt manner.
The main problem at Seminole Industries is the lack of an integrated system for a company that is going global. Data relating to actual demand, sales and number of employees is not readily available. It takes time to collect such data and even so, it is still not reliable. The current communication channels being utilized are outdated ones, including fax and postal letters. This means that there is a need for a total rebranding and change in such channels through use of ERP systems. These systems are very useful for firms with branches in different and distant geographic regions.
Business transactions require automation though the use of new technologies such as those available with the SAP solutions. Manual receipts can be replaced by electronic ones for purposes of increasing convenience and accuracy. These electronic receipts are fed directly into a database where they update this database automatically. This reduces the need of record keeping and time wastage in searching and tracking physical files. Instead, the files are electronically stored and updated hence minimizing the probability of errors. This would mean it would not be necessary to cross-reference manual files with electronic ones. Instead, an audit department can be set up to just follow up on the various transactions and make sure that they add up or balance.
The setting up of a SAP Net weaver warehouse is what is required to ensure that the reports are generated in an automatic manner. This would be with the advantage of a high degree of accuracy. This warehousing solution, and the analytical tools that come with its installation, would enable Seminole to have periodic generation of various reports in a timely manner. Furthermore, these reports would be user-friendly. SAP’s accelerator tool would enable managers to make more sense of the various reports available for their viewing. This is through the distinctions made possible by color-coding and other helpful visualization enhancement techniques such as graphs.
SAP can also set up an internet-based database management system. The system can be backed up by local systems in the various branches. This would make the whole organization seem like a single entity in a single office with easy access of various kind of information so long as access is granted. Creation of easy data access and generation of reports would be instrumental in solving the problem at Seminole Industries.
References
Seminole Industries Case Master
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