One Key Area In The Retailing Business example essay topic

"Any sufficient advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic", Arthur C. Clarke. Technology has changed the retailing business dramatically over the past 10 years. These changes have affected a number of areas in the retailing business. These areas include the equipment in the workplace, the policies in the workplace, the general environment, the ordering of supplies, and the record keeping of the business. One key area in the retailing business that technology has changed over the past 10 years is the different equipment that is used. Interviewee A said " The change has been quite good for business, we have gone from using a simple till, to using a computer database, which helps us record the customers buying habits and other information about them".

Interview Said " The equipment we use now has made things way easier for everyone. They took a lie getting used to at first but once we learned how to use the mit was no problem. We switched form analogue gas pumps to digital ones, we also switched from doing manual gas level dips to using electronic gas level. Our Rigor machine has also been changed from the old ribbon printer to the new laser printer".

Technology isn't the only area that has been changed by technology. The business policies have also been changed. The policies in the retailing business have also been affected by technology in the past 10 years. Interviewee A said "With out new system our employees must now key in their assigned number so we can monitor who sells what. The policies haven't been changed too much over the past years, but another thing is tour security system has to be checked and our code keyed in at the end of the night. We never used to have a security system but today we do".

Interviewee B said "We used to have someone dog as level dips but now we don't have to, so we got rid of that policy, and we now have a camera that needs the tape to be changed at certain times. Wehaven't changed much in the past years". Policies haven't changed too much in the past years but other areas of the retailing business have. Another area of the retailing business that has been affected by technology is the general environment of the business. Interview said "The business tends to change with what the fashion is We have used different lighting and some cool 3 D fx on our walls for a new funky look". Interviewee B said "We have changed our security from a simple lock, to a magnetic lock, a full range color camera, and magnetic tape.

We have also got a Lotto machine which has helped increase business". The general environment has been changed for the better by both types of retailing businesses. Technology has changed all areas of the retailing business but one area that has been completely changed has been the ordering supplies for a business. The area of ordering supplies has been changed from the old paper system to a completely new system with computers and faxing. Interviewee said "When we sell an item we scan the bar code and if we choose to order more the computer keep's track of how many we sold and how many we have left so we can order more. We used to phone our orders in, and now we fax our shipping orders in.

It has made things more efficient and a lot easier". Interviewee B said "We used to phone our orders in and now we use a book full of bar codes and scan what we want then send it to our supplier and we get our orders that way. We also still use the phone for part of our ordering but the bar code system has saved me a lot of time". More efficient systems have been put in place in the ordering of supplies area in the retailing business. Technology has made many efficient advances over the past 10 years. In record keeping technology has changed it from a pencil and paper system to a easy to use computer system.

Record keeping has been advanced greatly and successfully over the past years. Interviewee A said "Our inventory is all kept with out computer. When we sell an item it keeps track of how much total inventory we have and what we have left of any particular item. Our payroll is done by a simple accounting program on the computer".

Interviewee B said "With our old system it took me a few hours to do my month end, and now it takes a than an hour. Our computer system took a lie getting used to but now that I know how to use it, it has made things way easier". I also use our Rigor machine to send daily reports which I used to have to use a courier service to deliver it, it has saved me money and time". Technology has made things easier to use and more efficient for both Interviewees. Technology is an amazing thing and has seemed to change the retail business greatly. Both Interviewees have benefited from the change in technology over the past 10 years.

All areas discussed were affected, equipment, policies, the general environment, ordering of supplies, and record keeping of business have all changed for the better. Who knows how much better things will get in the next 10 years.