...Amazon vs. Barnes and Nobles vs. Borders Allison Foster Instructor Steven Brown BUS 508 – Business Enterprise April 30, 2011 Week Four Originally named “Cadavera”, Amazon was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994. The purpose of this company was to provide the largest online bookstore ranging from compact discs, books to electronics and apparel. Amazon made it’s own individual mark in 1994 when the owner created a business plan that had no predicted profit for the first four years. According to (wikipedia.com), by the year 2001 Amazon turned a five million dollar profit. The Pros and Cons of the Amazon Business Today Amazon has grown more than just the worlds largest bookstore. Amazon created many different entities such as; Amazon Marketplace, Amazon Fresh Market, Amazon MP3, Amazon Payments, Amazon Prime, Amazon Kindle, and Amapedi. Amazon.com is also eco friendly by promoting the Go Green campaign. This company partners with American Red Cross and raise funds for national and environmental disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, Hati Earthquakes, and 9/11. Although Amazon.com has grown to be successful, the company still endures advantages and disadvantages of diversification of business and specialization. Advantages of Amazon.com are the business to consumer relationships, vast amount of diverse product selections, low cost of merchandise, convenience, personalization, and free delivery . Over the years, Amazon has dominated the e-business and internet...
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...Information System Assignment 1 (Case Study) 2013 Finance, School of Business 宋蕊廷 201311034009 Modernization of NTUC Income 1. What were the problems faced by Income in this case? How were the problems resolved by the new digital system? Problems: (1) The old HP 3000 mainframe frequently broke down, and backup or reconciliation would be needed. However, If daily backup was not completed, the affected day’s data would be lost and cost months to do reconciliation. (2) The 1980s COBOL programs broke multiple times, halted the systems and caused temporary interruptions, and it took IT team long time(from several weeks to months) to launch new products. (3) Transaction processing for policy underwriting was a batch process and information was not available to agents and advisors in real-time. (4) Various departments did not have up-to-date information and had to pass physical documents among each other. How were the problems resolved: Income switched to the Java base eBao LifeSystem from eBao Technology. The new system seldom broke down, and it enabled the IT team to launch a new product only in a few days by using the table-driven rule-based product-definition module; plus, the real-time hot backup disaster-recovery 1/9 宋蕊廷 201311034009 ASSIGNMENT 1: MANGAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM center helped the company get real-time backup so that they didn’t need to do reconciliation. 2. What types of information systems and business processes were used by Income before migrating to the fully digital...
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...Amazon case study analysis ---- Jiachuang Sun 1. Review of Amazon’s strategy between 2007 and 2009 Strategic analysis Profiling the business: ➢ Mission: Amazon’s mission is to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible price[1]. ➢ Product/service analysis: Since the establishment of Amazon, new products has been kept adding into the original book category and Amazon has moved further to provide service. There are three product categories in Amazon, media category, electronic and general merchandise category and other category like Amazon web service and Amazon Enterprise Solution. This means you can buy almost everything from Amazon. ➢ Sales and gross profit analysis: The net sales growth of Amazon in year 2007 and 2008 was in average 30% and the total sales in 2008 was $19166m. In the same time, the gross profit grew from $3353m in 2007 to $4270 in 2008. Actually, both the sales and profits grew quickly since 2001 and they seemed to grow at a quicker way. External environment analysis ➢ Opportunities and threats: • Opportunities: to further improve the speed of delivery; international expansion in emerging markets such as China and India; extension of brands into new areas; through acquisitions and partnership to consolidate Amazon’s technological capability...
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...… (/page/menu/Jeff+Bezos+104) Jeff Bezos It takes a lot of guts to leave the comforts of your stable job on Wall Street, then move your family halfway across the country and invest all of your parents’ life savings to start up a new business with merely a 10% chance of success. However, Jeffrey Preston Bezos, later wellknown as “Jeff” Bezos, decided to make the gamble. “I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew one thing I would regret is not trying.” With this philosophy in mind, Bezos created Amazon.com in 1995. Initially, Amazon was just an online bookstore. Over the years though, Amazon diversified its merchandizes and began to sell DVDs, videos, MP3 players, video games and electronics, etc. The humble business, which kicked off in Bezos’s garage, has become a giant online retailer today, shipping a vast range of products to customers around the world. The inspiration for Amazon sparked off when Bezos discovered an amazing phenomenon: internet usage was increasing by 2300% a year. This statistic set off an alarm in his head. He began to brainstorm ideas on how to build a business plan around this growing industry. After doing some research, Bezos decided that books would be the best market to begin an ecommerce business in for several reasons. First, unlike clothes that consumers want to try on, or food that could potentially spoil, because books possess a minimally low risk for consumers to buy online before seeing. For this reason, Bezos b...
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...data can be a difficult process for some companies because data increases exponentially. Companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have managed their data efficiently using databases and data warehouses, which makes then leaders in e-commerce. This research composition will cover how Amazon uses information systems to support their business processes. The essay will also cover the potential weaknesses and strengths of those information systems, and propose solution to improve the systems. Amazon.com: Welcome to the cloud Managing data efficiently is the key to success for any business or organization because data increases and changes exponentially. Successful companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon manage their data using data warehouses and databases. Managing their data through those systems allows them to improve business knowledge, assist decision-making processes, and offer a better service to their customers. This essay will cover how Amazon uses information systems to support business processes, and the potential strengths and weaknesses of those information systems. Amazon.com. Inc. overview Founded in 1994 by Jeffrey P. Bezos, the company debuted on the Internet in 1995 and “quickly became the number one book-related site on the Web” Answer.com (n, d.) Considered a pioneer in e-business, Amazon.com quickly diversified its services and products. The company’s website offers a wide variety...
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...Amazon Evolution Amazon.com is one of the largest online retailers; in recent years, Amazon has shown its intention to broaden its core competency to become a more diverse online retailer by adding computing and storage services to its product base. The team will address whether Amazon’s strategy is a good one and describe how Amazon uses each component of a database. Also review the data management issues encountered by Amazon, share how Amazon addresses the relationship between data, information and knowledge, and last, describe how Amazon uses both e-business and e-Commerce for B2B and B2C. Components of a Database and How Amazon uses each Databases involve four different aspects: tables, forms, queries, and reports. Tables are a group of rows and columns that make up the entire database. They are made of information that can be entered, edited, stored, and reviewed (Mickey, 2005). Amazon uses tables to keep records of users and sales. For example, Amazon would use tables to keep records of a user’s credit card number, address, age, and a record of purchases and sales made by that user. This information would is kept in the Amazon’s database to track what kinds of purchases and sales the user makes and to deliver the products to the user. Forms are used to enter, view, and edit data (Mickey, 2005). According to Chris Cruikshank (1999), the form should have some form of validation so that the user cannot enter rubbish onto the database. Numbers must store numbers; dates...
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...2.1 The Business View 5 2.2 Technical View 5 3.0 Amazon.com and Big Data 6 4.0 Identification of Amazon.com’s "Big Data" needs 6 5.0 Big Data problems to be solved and Big Data solutions 6 6.0 What are AWS (Amazon.COM web services) problems and what is the solution for it 8 6.1 Kinesis other advantages 9 7.0 Conclusion 10 8.0 References 11 1.0 Background description of Amazon.com History Amazon.com, Inc. (Amazon.com) serves consumers through its retail websites and focus on selection, price, and convenience. The Company offers programs that enables sellers to sell their products on its Websites and their own branded Websites and to fulfill orders through them , and programs that allow authors, musicians, filmmakers, application developers, and others to publish and sell content. The Company operates in two segments: North America and International. The Company serves consumers through its retail websites, and focus on selection, price, and convenience. The Company designs its Websites to enable millions of products to be sold by the Company and by third parties across dozens of product categories. Customers access its Websites directly and through its mobile Websites and apps. It also manufactures and sells Kindle devices. In October 2013, Amazon.com Inc acquired TenMarks Education Inc. Effective February 5, 2014, Amazon.com Inc acquired Double Helix Games LLC. Amazon.com is a Fortune 500 e-commerce company based in Seattle, WA. Amazon was one...
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...convenient, and often-spendthrift way to find the books one wants to read. Two Internet sites, ebay.com and amazon.com are examples of this online purchasing business. Both sites have their advantages and disadvantages regarding navigation, account set-up, ease of purchasing, and shipping. I have selected 10 books that are of interest to me, and searched for these books on both sites in order to compare the usefulness and buyer experience. Amazon and Ebay are both allow a consumer to sell and buy products using their sites. The main difference between these sites is that Ebay is an auction site, meaning that the seller places the item on auction at a starting price, and after seven days of bidding, the highest bidder “wins” the auction. Amazon’s sellers have a set price on the item. Both sites sell used and new products. Amazon also sells books directly through Amazon.com, and these are always new, but sold at a discounted rate. The following are a list of the books selected for searching on the chosen websites. The prices shown for Ebay were taken from the auctions that were ending the soonest so that the amount would most likely resemble the amount that the item would end up selling for. Most of these prices were taken a few hours or minutes before the auction was ended. Two prices are shown for Amazon: the lowest amount found that private sellers were offering and the list price shown for buying directly from Amazon.com. The prices reflect used and new items...
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...A summary of Amazon’s business strategy and revenue model I’ve used Amazon in my books for over 10 years now since many companies, from startups and small businesses to large international businesses, can learn from their focus on the customer and the approach of using technology and analysis to improve results. It consistently outperforms other companies in its ACSI customer satisfaction rating too. I aim to keep the case study up-to-date for readers of the books and Smart Insights readers who may be interested. In it we look at Amazon’s background, revenue model and sources for the latest business results. I recommend anyone studying Amazon checks the latest Amazon revenue and business strategies from their SEC filings / Investor relations. The annual filings to give a great summary of eBay business and revenue models. A good summary of the latest business model initiatives is available in this Amazon annual report summary for 2011. For Q4, 2010: * North America segment sales, representing the Company’s U.S. and Canadian sites, were $7.21 billion, up 45% from fourth quarter 2009. * International segment sales, representing the Company’s U.K., German, Japanese, French, Chinese and new Italian sites, were $5.74 billion, up 26% from fourth quarter 2009. Excluding the unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter, sales grew 29%. Amazon has come a long way since it launched in 1995: From: and it’s offices… to it’s...
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...1. What is the business of Zappos and what are its critical success factors (CSF’s)? [lists] Business of Zappos: Zappos is an online shoe store, providing customers with a great number of sizes, styles and brands. What Zappos applies is the Loyalty business model, which reflected in two ways. a. The loyalty of Zappos employees: the firm proposed “the offer” as a bonus to employees if they quit, which is an incentive for employees to quit. However, the employees that stay will be very committed to Zappos. b. The loyalty of Zappos’ customers: the services that Zappos offers to its customers are very attractive and beneficial to customers. For example, free delivers, 4-day delivery window and a 365-day return guarantee. All these services help Zappos gain more loyal customers. Their revenues are mostly come from its repeat customers. Critical Success: a. Timeliness of shipment: because as the business of Zappos grew, Zappos was confronted with the issues that their customers’ orders can’t be shipped on time. So Zappos opened its own warehouse and fulfillment centers, and of course hiring more employees to satisfy this high demand. Therefore, by implementing this set of actions, Zappos can offer the best selection of shoes available everywhere online. b. Training of employees: new employees must complete an intensive four-week training program, which let them better understand the company’s culture, business strategy and process. By training them, employees...
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...than Your Average Bookstore 1. How has Amazon used technology to revamp the bookselling industry? Mainly use in the research engine of a website, it has comments and recommendations for buyers and give the idea of which book to buy. And the website can able to get the information of the customers’ interest of the book. Modify and evaluate the selling trend. 2. Is Amazon using disruptive or sustaining technology to run its business? Disruptive; this will bring more customers. 3. How is Amazon using intranets and extranets to run its business? Intranets: inside of the company, help the employee with the work; improve their communication and ability to work together. Extranets: outside of the company, corporate with other company and increase the market. 4. How could Amazon use kiosks to improve its business? A kiosk is a free website created by Amazon which can allow customers to access, research, buy and check out, which can improve the business. 5. What is Amazon’s e-business model? Business-to-Customer model; It sells product to customers via internet. Business-to-Business model; it does business with other business company. 6. How can Amazon use m-commerce to influence its business? Shopping by using mobile phones, customers can view all the products which Amazon offers, and buy them wherever they want only if they have internet access, this will make the shopping more convenient and quickly. 7. Which metrics could Amazon use to assess the efficiency and effectiveness...
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...Q&A Introduction CASE = AMAZON.COM IN YEAR 2000 Version: 4/12/10 This case analyzes Amazon’s growth strategies up to June 2000, and critiques Lehman Brothers’ credit analyst Ravi Suria’s report of that month. Suria report was one of the first to be publicly critical of the cash flow prospects Amazon and the dot com sector in general. He did this because he was a credit analyst and Amazon was rare among dot coms to have a lot of debt. The case provides a variety of learning opportunities: (1) an evaluation of a company’s strategy and performance from a credit analysis perspective; (2) an appreciation of the potential value of contrarian thinking in fundamental analysis; and (3) the analysis of the type of strategies and market conditions that fueled the dot com bubble. Q1. 1.1 Regarding the long-term viability of Amazon's business per the case: What was Amazon’s original business model? (2 pts) I shall define a for-profit firm’s business model as the set of plans and strategies for the future that the firm has in place for earning at least normal profitability in the long run. Viewed through the lens of a statement of cash flows, a business model requires: Plans for financing; strategies for converting the cash raised by financing into investments of tangible and/or intangible assets; and strategies for generating abnormal profits from those assets through operations. Note that in their investing and operating activities, firms are less likely to be price takers...
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...Conclusion Amazon is a revolutionary e-marketplace that is both world-renowned and extremely efficient. Amazon has gone from a small company run out of a garage, to a Fortune 100 company run all over the world. Amazon fulfills their mission statement every day by being a customer-centric company that offers over 200 million products at the lowest prices possible. Amazon is a very Background image of page 3 innovative company that creates and manufactures many products. They are always expanding and trying to create new ways to make their company and the lives of their customers better. Amazon’s biggest competition as an e-marketplace is eBay. Amazon currently leads this market by having a more organized, effective, professional, and easy to use website. Furthermore, Amazon’s brand personality is that they are a fast, friendly, innovative company that can be trusted. All of these traits make Amazon the website where most customers choose to do their shopping. Also, Amazon makes their customers their top priority and successfully appeals to their values, knowledge, and interests. Amazon’s two loyalty programs of Amazon Prime and Amazon Visa Rewards Card provide many benefits to their members and make shopping on their website quick and easy. Overall, Amazon has developed into one of the most important and successful companies in the world today. Background image of page 4 Porter’s Five Forces analysis In order to get a broader picture of the competitive structure of Amazon...
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...Current Business Model Analysis Amazon started as an online bookseller, rapidly expanding into music and movies, and ultimately into electronics and household goods. The online retail line of business includes those products sold by Amazon as a traditional retailer, most commonly as a low-cost retailer, and Amazon claims to have “Earth’s biggest Selection” of products available through its family of websites, sold at the lowest cost at a small profit. However, Amazon doesn’t stock everything that is sold through its website. Another portion of its online retail strategy is to serve as the channel platform for other retailers to sell their products and taking a cut of every purchase. Amazon maintains its status as a destination website, but does not have to maintain inventory on slower-selling products. Analysis based on business model canvas framework (Exhibit 1: Amazon business model canvas), divided into three parts, how Amazon services and products are produced and the costs involved, what Amazon offers to its customer, and who Amazon sells its services and products to and how these are delivered to market. Talking about key partners, Amazon has historically acquired, invested, collaborated and partnered with suppliers and manufacturers delivering its online retail business. Besides, the network among sellers provides chances for dealers to sharing and communicating with each other. Looking at the company’s key activities and resources, Amazon focuses on producing...
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...Amazon Evolution Amazon was once views as a company that had not shown consistent profit that investors had once expected. In fact, many analysts were in question if Amazon could fulfill its promise to revolutionize online retailing (Rainer, Turban, 2009). Because of increasing competition that Amazon has with Google and Microsoft, one might see Amazon moving away from being a leader in online retailing. However, Amazon is providing a series of computing, storage, and other services for companies and individuals. While Amazon may not be the leader in online retailing, they are assisting companies and individuals with their needs and making a very nice profit. The services provided by Amazon help in technical and logistical parts of a business. Amazon’s databases include the Simple Storage Service (S3), the Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), and the Mechanical Turk. Amazon provides these services to individuals and companies, although, their services are not free of charge. Amazon charges 15 cents per gigabyte per month for businesses to use the S3 service. For 10 cents per hour for one basic server, Amazon provides the EC2 to rent out processing power (Rainer, Turban, 2009). “The Mechanical Turk combines processing power with networks of real people who are paid to do the kind of work that machines cannot do” (Rainer, Turban, 2009) (Ch.1, p. 26). Companies use the Mechanical Turk to post pieces of work, and then Amazon receives 10 percent of the commissions from this service. ...
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