...Walmart - Information Technology Rachel Thorne Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management BUS 3022 Gordon Flanders Walmart Information Management System (IMS) Walmart is a retail giant. Just about everyone in America has purchased something from them. It is a one stop shop for anything that a person could ever need. Walmart stores can be found just about anywhere, in fact most people are less than an hour drive away from a Walmart store. Walmart’s success has put many companies out of business. The chains success is primarily from low prices and using an information technology system to meet customer demands giving them a competitive advantage. Walmart’s first major use of information technology came in 1975 when the company leased an IBM computer system to track inventory in warehouses and distribution centers. (Wailgum, 2007) Computers have come a very long way since this time and are used almost everywhere. But in 1975 this was cutting edge technology and gave Walmart the competitive advantage over other retailers. Another thing that Walmart used to be revolutionary in their supply chain was the use of scanning barcodes in 1983. (Wailgum, 2007) Before barcodes objects had to be read by a skilled cashier. With barcodes all that was needed was a quick scan and the computer would do all the work. This greatly sped up checkout time and made tracking inventory and data collection much faster and easier for both customers and the employees. Since this time it...
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...Supply Chain Innovations by Walmart By Institution Supply Chain Innovations by Walmart It is without a doubt that Walmart has achieved the greatest operational and logistical triumphs in history. According to Supply Chain Digest, Walmart operates more than 10,000 stores in 27 countries around the globe, stocks products manufactured in more than 70 countries and managed over $32 billion in inventory (Lu, 2015). With such kind of numbers, there is a need to have an efficient and effective supply chain management. Walmart has been able to achieve this through technology. Technology forms the foundation of its supply chain as it owns the biggest information technology infrastructure of all private companies in the world. Its State-of –the-art network design has allowed Walmart to precisely forecast demand, predict inventory levels, and manage service response logistics and customer relationships For example, Walmart becomes the first retailer to make use of the Universal Product Code bar codes that allowed for immediate collection and analysis of store level information. It went further to devise Retail Link, an enormous Bentonville database (Lu, 2015). With the help of a global satellite system, this database is linked to analysts who forecast demands of suppliers to the supplier network. This displays real-time sales information from cash registers to Walmart distribution centers. Manufacturers and suppliers within the supply chain bring together their demand projections...
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...Running head: Walmart Information Systems 1 Walmart Information Systems Research Project-Group2 CIS 511 Fall 2011 Amber Slemmons, Brooke Williams, Cheri Evans, Ismael Molina, & Wesley Belz Walmart Information Systems Walmart Information Systems Executive Summary: 2 Walmart, the billion dollar retail giant, has grown significantly over the past five decades, incorporating numerous different types of information systems into their daily operations. The company is well recognized for their innovation when it comes to utilizing the latest technologies and information systems to maximize their profitability. Information systems structures and processes play a critical role in Walmart’s success and today they are bringing that innovative spirit to the market as they move toward full implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). This technology allows for Walmart’s operations to function efficiently and effectively as they are capable of sending and receiving real time data to the networks. By doing so they are able to communicate the information to the retailer and the product manufactures making it possible for Walmart to remain competitive in the retail industry by properly controlling its inventories. This report will explain how Walmart has utilized several information systems throughout the course of its history such as: point of sale, satellite communication systems, data warehouses, retail link systems, electronic data interchange (EDI), and most recently...
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...Instructor: Professor Tom Martin Report Written by: Raja Vinjamuri (7291237) Firm chosen: Walmart Person Interviewed: Mr. Clay Peltier (Assistant Manager) Report: Before, we discuss about the Supply chain management of Walmart, I would like to clarify their business philosophy, which is to keep prices as low as possible. Even if their margins weren't higher than competitors and in fact very less, they could make up for that in volume. Various factors like Technology combined with flawless Supply chain management, enables them to maintain such low costs. Now let’s see various elements of their supply chain management. The relationships of the firms in Supply chain: Normally any supply chain has a suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers. Though walmart is technically considered as a retailer, in the words of one of its assistant manager of operations, “it is actually a wholesaler with a huge number of its own retail outlets”. Because Walmart supply chain has so many suppliers, as they sell a wide range of products they tend to do a lot of “Vertical integration” which is to own a major part of supply chain. Actually, based on types of integration of supply chain, they have various types of stores such as Walmart store U.S, Walmart Discount Stores, Walmart Supercenter, Sam's Club etc. So a supply chain integration connects the flow of work and information among all links in the supply chain to maximize efficiencies He also informed me that, “Walmart’s...
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... Table of Contents Introduction: 2 1. Supply Chain Management Practices 4 1.1 Walmart 4 1.1.1 Strategic allignemnt 4 1.1.2 procurement and distribution 5 1.1.3 Logistic and distribution management 5 1.1.4 Inventory management 6 1.2 Amazon 8 2. Strategic Alliances 9 2.1 Walmart 9 2.2 Amazon 10 3. Technologies employed in the SC Network 11 3.1 Walmart 11 3.2 amazon 13 4. Challenges and risks 14 4.1 Walmart 14 4.2 Amazon 15 5. Comparison of sustainable strategies in Supply Chains 16 conclusion 17 References: 18 Appendices: 19 Section A: 19 Section B: 19 Section C: 20 Introduction: Executive summary: This report provides an analysis and evaluation of the current supply chain strategies employed by two leading retail corporates, Walmart and Amazon. The report draws attention to the following aspects; supply chain management practices, strategic alliances, Information Technology, challenges and risks,finally sustainability in the supply chain. Method of the analysis includes reviewing a collection academic journals from different databases, analysing company’s annual reports and viewing news article for new trends and announcements about the company. The finding of this paper shows how both companies apply different supply chain models to support their business strategy but yet some similarities appear especially in technology aspect of the supply chain. Moreover common risks and challenges face both companies when...
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...[;’p// Walmart Case Study: Half a Century of Supply Chain Management SCM 607 Dr. John Wu March 15, 2014 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 4 BACKGROUND OF THE COMPANY 4 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 5 KEY ISSUES 6 EXTERNAL ANALYSIS 7 Economy 8 Customer Behavior 8 Technology 8 Politics & Legal Aspects 8 INTERNAL ANALYSIS 9 Company Culture 9 Operations 9 Purchasing & Suppliers 10 Inventory 10 Logistics 10 SWOT ANALYSIS 11 Strengths 11 Procurement 11 Distribution 12 Store Network 12 Information Systems 13 Weaknesses 14 Procurement 14 Store Network 14 Human Resources 14 Focusing on the Supply Chain 14 Opportunities 15 Focusing on the Supply Chain 15 New Initiatives and a Reorganization 15 Threats 16 Human Resources 16 DECISIONS 17 CONCLUSION 18 EXHIBIT 3 19 EXHIBIT 3 (continued) 20 EXHIBIT 3 (continued) 21 EXHIBIT 5 22 REFERENCES 23 Walmart Case Study: Half a Century of Supply Chain Management INTRODUCTION Walmart dominates the retailing industry in terms of its sales revenue, its customer base, and its ability to drive down costs and deliver good value to its customers. After all, the world’s largest corporation, employing 1.8 million associates worldwide, takes pride in having received numerous accolades for its ability to continuously improve efficiency in the supply chain while meeting its corporate mandate of offering customers everyday low prices. Walmart demonstrates how a physical product retailer...
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...Management Theory, Practice, and Application MGT/330 January 30, 2012 The Organizing Function of Management at Walmart The organizing functions of management relates to many organizational resources. Knowledge and technology are the two that I chose to focus on. Knowledge as an aspect of organizing functions of management is concerned with intense acquiring then gathering information and later on using the information correctly. Technology, on the other hand, is critical in todays fast evolving and rapidly changing technological society. Walmart is a business enterprise that has developed efficiency in utilizing these two organizing functions; knowledge and technology. Walmart has integrated knowledge on a vast variety of many topics as part of their corporation. In the recent years, ethnical diversity has adjusted almost perfectly in the workplace. Knowledge of this diversity is essential in maintaining a harmonious work environment. This environment creates success and creativity among the employees. Ethnics ensure that work related skills are incorporated from various perspectives therefore diversity ensures that creativity is enhanced (Bateman & Snell, 2009). Due to difference in managerial skills, managers will be in a better position to execute the best strategies to ensure that fewer conflicts are experienced due to misunderstandings on racial or cultural basis. Language barriers between individuals of different backgrounds are avoided by the proper use...
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...| How Walmart became a Super Power | E-Business EBUS308 | | By Dorine | 10/20/2014 | Table of Contents Business Model 2 Description of Stakeholders 4 Supply Chain Management 5 Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) 6 Supply Chain Flow 6 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) 7 Customer Satisfaction 7 How Customer Satisfaction is Measured 7 E-Commerce Business Plan Template 8 Mobile Applications 8 Market Analysis Summary 9 Key Competitors 9 Walmart vs Amazon 10 Walmart vs WinCo 10 Data and Information Management Plan 11 Information Collected 11 How Information Collected Is Used 12 Policies to Protect Information 13 References 14 In today’s world shoppers like to have a one stop shop where they can go to get everything they need at a low price. Wal-Mart has provided that type of store for customer to be able to shop for groceries, clothes, house hold items, furniture, toys, pharmacy, and electronics. They are good at giving the customers what they want, they were the number one business of the Fortune 500 list for 2014 the second year in a row (Fortune 500 2014, 2014). Wal-Mart opened their first store in July 1962 in Roger, Arkansas. In 1991 Wal-Mart went international by opening up Sam’s Club in Mexico City. “Today, Walmart operates over 11,000 retail units under 71 banners in 27 countries (Our Story, 2014).” Walmart employs 1.3 million in the United States and 2.2 million associates around the world. Walmart’s mission statement...
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...The history of Walmart was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton in Rogers, Ark. It is an American multinational retail corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. They focus on making a difference in the lives of their customers, and helping customers and communities save money and live better. In 1969, the company officially incorporated as Walmart Stores, Inc. Walmart started its public trade on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. With the continued rapid growth, Walmart was operating in 11 states with 276 stores by the end of 70’s decade. In the 1980s, the first Sam's Club opened, serving small businesses and individuals, and the first Walmart Supercenter opened, combining a supermarket with general merchandise. In the late 1980s and early 1990s the company rose from a regional to national giant, Walmart was the number-one retailer in the nation. In 2000s, Walmart focus on offering customers a seamless shopping experience, whether they are online, in a store or on a mobile device. Also, during these times, Walmart put some effort in implement several environmental measures to increase energy efficiency. Today, the company has grown to be the world’s largest and arguably, the most emulated retailer. The social cultural segment is concerned with a society’s attitudes and cultural values. A major social cultural trend is the continued growth of suburban communities. The increasing number of people living in the suburbs has a number of effects...
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...Executive Summary Walmart is the biggest company in the world with a highly complex, but efficient, supply chain. In this essay we will try to analyze the bargaining power of Walmart over its suppliers, the importance of RFID (its pros and cons) and make an overview of the green supply chain and its importance for the future of Walmart. Company Overview The Walmart story began in 1962 from the vision of a man called Sam Walton who had worked for a famous retailer called J.C. Penney in Arkansas and Missouri and decided to open a store of his own. With a very aggressive price strategy and conveniently opened stores, locations and schedules, he was very successful and by 1969 he already had 18 stores in the United States. During the 1970’s the company went public and in the 1980’s the company opened Sam’s Wholesale Club, a concept based on the successful cash-and-carry, membership-only warehouse format pioneered by the Price Company of California (now Costco Wholesale Corporation). In 1992 Walmart started expanding to the international markets; they entered Mexico in 1992 through a joint venture with Mexico’s largest retailer, Cifra, to open Sam’s Clubs. The next step was to enter Canada which they did in 1994. Walmart continued to expand internationally, entering China in 1996. Nowadays they are also in Brazil, Argentina, India, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, United Kingdom, El Salvador, Japan, Chile and Guatemala in a total of 14 different countries outside the U.S....
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...The New Frontier: Data Analytics Phylicia Marie Phillips Professor Progress Mtshali, Ph. D. Information Systems Decision-Making April 17, 2016 In the past, analytics was reserved for back-room debates by data geeks producing monthly reports on how things are going. Today, analytics make a difference in how a company does business, day to day, and even minute by minute; more specifically how Walmart does business. As many know, Walmart is an American based multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, grocery stores and discount stores. With over eleven thousand stores and clubs in 27 countries, information technology and data analytics play a major role in Walmart’s survival and helps maintain its competitive advantage. Data Analytics Overview The business intelligence and analytic technologies and applications currently adopted in industry can be considered as BI&A 1.0, where data are mostly structured, collected by companies through various legacy systems, and often stored in commercial relational database management systems (Bottles and Begoli, 2014). The analytical techniques most commonly used in these systems, popularized in the 1990s, are mainly grounded in statistical methods developed in the 1970s and data mining techniques developed in the 1980s (Chiang, 2012). The digitalization of information has created more data and the development of cloud computing, and faster and faster computers has made the increased data more accessible...
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...Technology Sam Walton, Walmart’s founder, did not care much about technology, although he was smart enough to work with a team that understood the difference that “computers” (as he called the company’s systems) could make in the success of the business. Technology has set Walmart apart and ahead from its competitors. Leading is part of the culture at Walmart. Sam Walton never intended to have the largest company in the world, but the best company in the world. The company runs on a basic goal, set when the first store opened in 1962: Save money, live better. It’s the statement that is in the front of every store, right below the company’s logo. To accomplish this goal, Walmart has built a very efficient communications network that includes suppliers, stores, distribution centers, and customers. Until a few years ago, when people thought of a private company that was a technology leader in the industry, Walmart was first in the list. Technology at Walmart means more than computers. Organizing is, among many other things, having a truck fleet that deliver products to all the stores efficiently. One of Walmart’s goals is to “Double our truck fleet efficiency in the U.S. by October 2015 (2005 Baseline)” (Walmart, 2011, Goals, para. 1). In working toward this goal, Walmart has partnered with leading companies to test new technologies that reduce the impact on the environment, are viable for the business, and provide a return in investment. Walmart has been working with Daimler...
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...Introduction to IT(IT190-1503B-03) Information Systems Overview 2015 Paula Culbreath 8/26/15 Table of Contents Walmart Information Systems overview1 Retail Link (RFID Technology)2 Openstack(cloud infrastructure)3 Walmart Information Systems concepts4 Networking5 Wifi in Warehouse6 Business Information Systems7 Definitions of MIS,TPS, DSS, AI8 Walmarts System9 Systems Development10 TBD11 TBD12 Information Systems & Society13 TBD14 TBD15 ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Walmart Information Systems Overview Walmart Technology In its relentless pursuit of low consumer prices, Wal-Mart embraced technology to become an innovator in the way stores track inventory and restock their shelves, cutting costs and passing the savings along to customers. In the process the company became synonymous with the concept of successful supply chain management. Wal-Mart isn’t just the largest retailer in the world over the past several years it has popped in and out of the top spot on the fortune 500 list—meaning that the firm has had revenues greater than any firm in the United States. Wal-Mart is so big that in three months it sells more than a whole year’s worth of sales at number two U.S. retailer, Home...
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...Intelligence and How Walmart Uses It Walmart is the biggest retailer in the world and handles more than one million customer transactions every hour and generates more than 2.5 petabytes of data storage (Venkatraman & Brooks, 2012). To put this into perspective, this data is equivalent to 167 times the number of books in America’s Library of Congress (Venkatraman & Brooks, 2012). So how can Wal-Mart use this massive amount of data and what useful information can this data provide? This paper will provide a brief overview of the importance of Business Intelligence (BI) and how the largest retailer in world, Walmart, is using it. BI platforms help management to truly understand its customer base and deliver individualized products and services (Brannon, 2010). When BI tools and analytics are used effectively, managers and decision makers can yield an all-encompassing view of the company, its position in the market, and its potential and perspectives (Albescu, and Pugna 2014). BI is best explained as a systematic process not found in a magazine, online or in a knowledge database. An organization that doesn’t have a viable BI capacity is making decisions without key information in this competitive market (Thomas, 2001). Walmart has more customer connections than any retailer in the world, from online activity to in-store purchases, and even social mentions (300,000 social mentions per week) (SAS Institute Inc.). Due to the abundance of information requiring analysis...
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...deals which caused the increase in demand of green cars. The manufacturing department was not aware of the promotion and believed that consumers had started to like green cars (Michael Bean, 2006) 3) The bullwhip effect can be reduced by keeping prices low and keeping demand steady. This reduces periodic high inventory levels and the need to discount products (Ivey, 2011). VMI (vendor-managed inventory) is a model in which an accord is reached between the customer and the retailer based on customer demand. The customer to an extent decides the prices of the products in this model. Large amount of inventory is hence not held by the retailer and the cost of holding the inventory hence reduces (Hernandez, 2010). Retail link is used by Walmart in order to reduce time lag or lead times in a supply chain while processing orders (Hernandez, 2010). With the help of a tool called Point of sale (POS), product details, pricing, rate of sale etc is transferred into a database. Walmart’s manufacturers...
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