INTERNATIONAL MARITIME COLLEGE OMAN
Implementation at AlMadina Logistics
Freight Forwarder Department
IN
PORT, SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT
It is manifest that there is greater efficiency achieved with the use of book-keeping and documentation software. The study shows that there is a difference in terms of operations efficiency with the implementation of computerized software, and without one. Such is easily visible from the return on investment, customer satisfaction and reduction of time wastage. Having worked at AlMadina Logistics Freight Forwarder Department, I concluded that there were inefficiencies experienced in the record-keeping and documentation processes. Employees did most of the work manually, and this involved a lot of paperwork. A client seeking AlMadina’s services spent considerable time waiting for the staff on duty to search for his manually. After conducting a study on AlMadina’s business processes, I concluded that their book-keeping practices were not in line with the computerized modern ways of documentation. Such was a major drawback in the department since some jobs are best performed with the introduction of freight forwarding software. After research, there was a discovery of two major software applications that could improve the efficiency and save time.
Lack of modernized ways of book-keeping and documentation contribute to negative productivity and lack of efficiency. Improper and outdated methods of record keeping and documentation lead to inferior customer service quality, decline of employee productivity and painfully tired and irritated clients. Such clients have to queue for long as searching of their records from the archives takes place. In a competitive market, companies must identify and implement computerized software applications specially tailored for their organizational requirements, in order to remain at the cutting edge. AlMadina Company, at first had poor and outdated operational procedures. However, with the implementation of computerized software, the operational processes are more efficient.
After studying the freight forwarding department system, there was the discovery that there was no record keeping, book-keeping or accounting databases for records of freight forwarding activities. In an effort to eradicate this inadequacy, there is the recommendation of a software application solution. The software design should specifically suit the freight forwarding department, and it should also fulfill its requirements. The application must also have robust features in an effort to automate much of the manual work of the freight forwarding department. Such parameters remain the main reasons for the study and the project as a whole. They are also crucial for any company to work efficiently and have effective and efficient operations. Eventually, there is the gratification of the company’s clients.
It is highly recommended that other companies, just like AlMadina, get automated by implementing computerized software systems custom-built for their needs. Book-keeping and documentation are crucial processes in an organization. While there is an agreement by most people that there should be safeguards of the efficiency and flawlessness of such processes, consensus dissolves around how to maximize such efficiency in the modern day organizations. The use of computerized systems to perform book-keeping and documentation tasks has greater benefits compared to the conventional manual methods that involve lots of paperwork. With the need for greater efficiency on the business processes within an organization, there’s need for organizations to invest in modern computerized software applications. However, before the implementation of such systems, any company must exercise caution. It must ensure the testing of the applications to ratify that the price of investment is worth the time, efforts and benefits derived from the system.
