Business Management

 In response to HSBC's decision to move from custom software to leasing , here is a list of pros and cons for each decision. Pros of HSBC's Approach: Cost Reduction: Moving to a cloud-based ERP system can reduce costs associated with infrastructure maintenance, upgrades, and customization. This aligns with HSBC's shift towards a lease-over-buy mindset, potentially saving significant expenses in the long term. Improved Agility: Adopting cloud technology allows HSBC to adapt more quickly to changes in regulatory environments, as evidenced by their ability to respond promptly to UK regulatory requirements. Cloud solutions typically offer easier scalability and flexibility compared to on-premise systems, enabling faster adjustments to compliance needs. Increased Control and Transparency: The implementation of Oracle's Fusion platform aims to enhance control and transparency around costs, enabling better understanding of cost drivers and facilitating improved decision-mak...

  Covid-19 and the nearly year-long global shutdown it caused profoundly shifted the communication and logistics of international business. As populations grappled with observing new hygiene and social distancing protocols to survive a global pandemic, the businesses on which their livelihood depended upon were forced to reevaluate how they conducted themselves in order to survive. While the pandemic was, without question, a tragedy, it exposed weaknesses and inefficiencies in our existing systems and processes that ultimately improved domestic and international business. Some adopted trends have endured past the pandemic, most notably the adaptation of work-from-home positions by the general workforce and the adoption of teleconferencing virtually instead of more expensive and time-consuming face-to-face meetings. Less obvious but equally important adaptations were the shift to cloud computing and digitization. Closed borders, curfews, travel limitations, trade restrictions, and...

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital commerce, mobile devices have emerged as formidable game-changers, reshaping the way we shop, sell, and interact with businesses online. As we delve deeper into the realm of mobile commerce (m-commerce), it becomes evident that its advantages over traditional e-commerce are vast and transformative. Let's explore how mobile devices revolutionize e-commerce, particularly in terms of marketing prowess and profitability. Advantages of Mobile Devices for E-commerce: Accessibility and Convenience: Nearly everyone with purchasing power has a mobile device, many have one with them at all times. Personalization and Location-based Services: Technology within the mobile devices allows businesses to offer localized or CRM informed personalized recommendations in real time. Seamless Integration of Payment Options: Mobile wallets, and saved passwords and credit card information removes the speed bump of customers needing to search for or input payment in...

A popular hospitality industry company is Carnival Cruise Lines.  When we apply the value chain model to this company the key processes crucial to their profitability is their Operations processes.  Operations oversees their entertainment, dining, logistics, guest experience, and onboard services.  Information systems that would be crucial to support Carnivals operations processes would be a CRM (Customer Relationship Manager) for tracking customers experience and loyalty.  Having enjoyed Carnivals services in the past, I can speak to their customer tracking. The last time I sailed with their company was in 2010 and recently, while price shopping a vacation, I needed to look up my existing customer number.  Using only my birthday and last name they were able to prove me my customer number from 14 years ago. A very impressive and comprehensive CRM indeed! Another information system would be an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planner) to streamline inventory management, ...

  Collaboration as a competitive advantage While there  are many virtual meeting platforms to choose from, for my uses Webex is the best service. It offers a range of features that are conducive to productivity.  Those qualities are as follows: excellent video and audio quality, end to end encryption for security, multiple essential collaboration tools such as screen sharing, whiteboard, chat, recording and transcription, and file sharing, cross platform compatibility with macOS and Windows as well as android and iOS, and my most essential feature - the ability to customize backgrounds or blur out your current one.