Q&AWarehouse

21. Describe the purpose LAN in reference to La Vianda supermarket  A Local Area Network (LAN); a local computer network between computers, especially a network connecting computers in a small geographical region (usually in the same building).  “The supermarket has a LAN consisting of separate servers for stock control, personnel administration and shared applications” - Case Study  In the La Vianda supermarket the LAN is used around: - Human Resources - La Vianda uses it to store staff details and payroll, and their working hours. - Stock Control – La Vianda uses it to manually store stock, see when they need more items with suppliers using EDI (Electronic data interchange) - Sales – Barcodes are use to scan items and match the codes to the ones on the database. - Customers – La Vianda uses this to provide customers to provide them with reward points. - Marketing<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"> – Producing flyers and information using DTP. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"> The use of Local Area networks used in supermarkets through a general perception: <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">When someone purchases an item from the supermarket each item is scanned and the check out computer looks up the prices and then it is sent to the check out terminal. Once the item is scanned it manipulates the data to see the actual cost of the item. Once the customer’s hands the money either by cash or credit card the price of the item is entered into the machine and the computer will read the data and see if any change is required. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Supermarkets use Local area networks because they will be linked to each other within the buildings. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">The purpose of Local Area Networks to La Vianda supermarkets <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">It is important for La Vianda supermarket to have a network system for their supermarket because they have a lot of sectors to control. The Local Area network has to make sure that the data is conveyed, manipulates and stores data for the whole supermarket. Networks are needed because a lot of their data is going to be interlinked. What it does is that it conveys data purchased into the database so they can; <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">control stock (reduce by numbers, order more stock) <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Look at the customers purchasing habits <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">See staff working habits and hours worked. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">The human resources management currently use the LAN to store staff details, and they use a clocking-in system where they key in their employee number and this is directly linked to the IT network to calculate their hours worked. Therefore the purpose of the LAN in the human resource department is to make sure that the staff details is connected to the IT network so other stakeholders can access it. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">The LAN system is needed for stock control because once items are purchased and brought in, La Vianda, currently holds a simple and long process of counting stock as their information is collected manually from the warehouse on a weekly basis. Stock is checked, orders are placed, if needed with suppliers using EDI. EDI is a business tool which is sued for the exchange as a standard business documents from places, in this case the purpose of the LAN is to transfer their stock details to their suppliers about their orders and how much they need and what??? <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Supermarkets are commonly associated with Loyalty Card where customers can subscribe to which then reward them with points. All they have to do is enter some personal information about them and they receive their card. Every time the customer visits the supermarket the card scans for its buying habits and rewards them points to the customer accounts. The loyalty card would commonly use a magnetic strip which is ‘swiped’ through at the checkout terminal and then information in the card would read all the details and points and discounts are added once all their purchasing details are added to the computer. The purpose of the Local Area Network over here is to transfer all this data to their IT network database? <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">22.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Define **Electronic Data Interface (EDI)** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"> 23.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Describe how an EDI systems work. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">24.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Discuss and evaluate the advantages of EDI to the Supermarket? <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">
 * Electronic Data Interchange: ** Is a set of standards for structuring information that is to be electronically exchanged between and within businesses, organizations, government entities and other groups. In other words a set of data definitions that permits business forms that would have been exchanged using paper in the past, to be exchanged electronically.
 * Benefits: ** EDI benefits suppliers, wholesalers, pharmacy departments and ultimately, the patient. EDI offers both direct and indirect benefits. The most immediate direct savings is regarding the elimination of manual paper processing. Indirect savings will take longer to realize but can turn into major benefits, such as: performance improvements, reduced lead times, and the benefits of having more information stored electronically.

**Evaluate the possible benefits to a supermarket of introducing RFID tags to their products**
It would be wise for a supermarket to introduce RFID tags to their product as RFID readers do not require a direct line of sight to either active RFID tags or passive RFID tags. Basically it is able to penetrate through different materials like cardboard boxes, timber, etc and therefore makes the placing of the RFID tagged objects, in this case supermarket products less problematic as long as it is sufficient that the object is situated within the range of the reader. Furthermore it would be wise to introduce this technology because the supermarket would not have that much trouble with issues such as theft or products not being in sight as the RFID tags can be read from up to 300 feet. Moreover, these tags on the products will also save a huge amount of time for the supermarket as the shopkeeper wouldn’t have to pick up each item and scan them through a barcode reader because the RFID readers can interrogate, or read RFID tags much faster – its read rate is approximately forty or more tags per second. Since all of this occurs automatically, the supermarket can also save money on the number of staff as they would not be required. Furthermore, the RFID reader is less likely to make a mistake while reading the tags in comparison to a human. Another benefit of introducing this technology into a supermarket is because the tags can be implanted within the product itself, guaranteeing greater ruggedness and reusability. Lastly the RFID tags are read/write devices; the RFID reader can communicate with the tag, and alter as much of the information as the tag design will allow and thus they can change the prices of products without having to change the barcode on every singly product but instead change it with a few clicks!

Overall, it would be very wise to introduce this technology considering the major benefits from this product. meow

I believe that La Vianda should move to RFID from using UPC barcodes. This is mainly due to the various advantages that RFID has over barcodes. First of all, RFID readers do not require a direct line of sight to either active RFID tags or passive RFID tags to register them; on top of this, RFID readers can read RFID tags at much greater distance than UPC barcodes. Furthermore, RFID readers can read RFID tags at faster rate than barcode readers interrogating UPCs. These components of RFID tags will certainly improve the efficiency of the business, and will enable the business to reduce excess labour costs and avoid stock being tied up in the warehouse.
 * Should La Vianda use UPC bar codes or move to RFID tags? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.**

Also, the RFID tags are environmentally friendly. As RFID tags does not have to be exposed to the surrounding to be read, chances of it getting damaged can be minimized; this brings increase to the reusability of the RFID tags to increase. On the other hand, the barcodes has more chances of getting ripped. Other than this, Barcodes have no read write capability that is, you cannot add to the information written on a printed barcode. But, RFID tags are able to do this. These components allow the RFID tags to be recycled, which reduces costs of the business.

Despite these advantages the implementation of RFID tags can be very difficult, as it requires high initial investments to implement it. RFID tags are much more expensive than barcodes and the setup of LAN and RFID readers to implement the system. La Vinda must be sure that they have enough money to cover the investment that is required.

**Discuss three possible social and/ or ethical issues raised by the use of RFID tags in supermarkets like the La Vianda.**
RFID is not a secured or private device. If someone walks by your bag of books from the bookstore with a 13.56 Mhz "sniffer" with an RF field that will activate the RFID devices in the books you bought, that person can get a complete list of what you just bought. This is definitely invading a customer’s privacy as they can now get a whole list of what you have bought. This information can be sent off to companies who may send you advertisements for products that may be similar to what you have brought. Leads to excess junk mail a customer can receive due to their RFID tags being tracked. Customers may stop using La Vianda as their shopping store because they may think that the store is selling their shopping habits to other companies that are sending the advertisements. The supermarkets reputation may go down and they will lose out on profit. Another issue occurring with RFID tags is that since the RFID systems make use of the electromagnetic spectrum like WiFi networks or cellphones, they are relatively easy to jam using energy at the right frequency. This firstly could be very inconvenient for the customers at stores as they now will have to wait in long lines during checkout. Due to waiting in line for so long they could stops hopping at La Vianda and go to other stores where it is quicker. This will then again cause a commotion at the store as they will now have a lot of customers waiting in line to purchase their grocery stores putting the pressure on the manager and the staff working at that moment. The owner will have to either increase their system so that the network does not get jammed as they may have a lot of customers using it at once which could be costly for the owner. In the long term though it would be a benefit to them as they networks will not get jammed and checking out would run smoothly. RFIS tags be read without being swiped or obviously scanned (as is the case with magnetic strips or barcodes), anyone with an RFID tag reader can read the tags embedded in your clothes and other consumer products without your knowledge. An example of this would be that a customer can be scanned before you enter the store, just to see what they are carrying. They might then be approached by a clerk who knows what you have in your backpack or purse, and can suggest accessories or other items. This could get customers annoyed as they are being approached for an item that was not bought at the store. Also it is invading a customer’s privacy to check what they have that may not have been brought from the store itself which many customers may not be too happy about.

Explain how smart shelves would benefit a supermarket like La Vianda
//What are smart shelves?// Smart shelves are shelves that are able to be aware of items standing on him, on the position of the items and on certain activity of these items. Technically, the current version of Smart shelves relies on RFID technology (radio frequency tags). RFID tags are embedded into goods standing on the shelf. The shelf can determine a unique identifier and the position of each product that is placed on them. In addition each shelf can recognize when products are placed on it or removed from it. Thereby we provide a means to track the customers' behavior and the good itself. E.g. we can determine how often a product is removed from a shelf without being bought or how long a customer has hold a product in his hands before putting it back on the shelf. Thus we can bring some light into the retail black box that we face today.

The shelf is decomposed into the antenna system, the reader units and a central communication unit. It has to perform the following tasks: detect all transponders in range and read their identification, map the position of detection to an absolute position on the shelf, communicate the retrieved Ids and their position to an external system by request.
 * //Technology Behind it//**


 * //__Benefits__//**
 * Data Mining** Obviously the actions can serve as additional input for data mining and business intelligence systems. Hence they can provide a means for more detailed analyses of, for example, trends in customer behavior or the impact of advertising campaigns. In particular the interesting moment when the customers make their decision about buying a product or not can be revealed to such systems using the Smart Shelf technology. For example, we can observe how often a product is taken from the shelf without being actually bought or how long a customer holds a product in his hands before returning it to shelf. Thus we can deploy metrics similar to the click-buy-ratio or the time-on-page, which are widely used in e-commerce systems. Thus we can provide a means to quantitatively evaluate the effect of advertising campaigns and other measures undertaken to increase the sales of a certain product.


 * Store Management** Additionally the actions can be used to build various store management applications like a shelf out-of-stock watchdog or a plan-o-gram compliance check. That shelf management is a non-trivial task can be seen from figures telling that approximately 8% of all out-of-stock situations occur although there are enough products in the back-store, just because of missed shelf replenishments.


 * Recommendation Systems** The Smart Shelf allows a direct interaction with customers. When a customer performs a certain action, like picking a product from a shelf, a backend system can immediately react to this action and trigger an appropriate response action. In this section we will show how this direct customer interaction can be used to realize recommendation systems in retail stores.For such systems we also need some technology to communicate recommendations to the customers. The technology we have in mind here are electronic price labels as they are already available on the market today. Such labels consist of a LCD and a wireless communication interface. They are mainly intended to ease price adaptations, since new prices just have to be transferred to the electronic labels over the wireless communication interface, what makes a manual relabeling obsolete. Besides the price information today's labels can also display small texts, e.g. 2 rows of 16 characters. Of course it would be technologically no problem to have more advanced labels that can also display graphics and play sounds. In the e-commerce world recommendation systems are a well-known technique to increase cross-sales and customer loyalty. Consequently a lot of such systems are already in use today. The best known is probably Amazon.com's "Customers who bought" -system. For almost each kind of e-commerce recommendation system introduced there, we can find a reasonable equivalent in the retail world that can be implemented using Smart Shelves and electronic price labels. http://www.teco.edu/projects/smartshelf/