Produtec is a technical service company specialized in CAM (Computer-aided-manufacturing) and machinery services. The company is mainly active in the metal cutting/milling industry and is focused on distributing machines, selling complementary products and providing services. Produtec currently operates with several basic types of software to support current operations, like Word, Excel, and AccountView. This is complemented with online services for communication with partners and suppliers and external sources for additional information.

The current software programmes used to facilitate the process are not integrated with each other. The IT infrastructure facilitates decentralized use of the administration which leads to a lot of communication of information outside of the program. The quality of the information depends largely on the individual knowledge of an employee that operates the software and one’s communication with others.

This inefficiency increases unexpected costs created by the administration operations. Furthermore, revenue is also lost because the arrangements made with the customers and the suppliers are missing within the current software programs.

The use of separate programmes reduces the cost efficiency because of its sensitivity for mistakes. This can result in missing components or non-accurate inventory. Furthermore, the interaction is not efficient because the use of several programs for collecting the current orders, the purchase invoices, etc. The entire process can not be controlled by one employee. Besides, it has a high risk of freedom to manipulate the information uploaded in the programmes, like for example working hours.

Momentarily, the company is scanning the market of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. No choice has been made yet, but they are sure that they want a new IT-system. Because of several disadvantages in the old way of doing business, it is clear for Produtec that changes are required to take the next step as a company.

Produtec has already compiled several characteristics that the new ERP-system should contain. The system should be user friendly, it should give clear insights into the current inventory levels, quarterly figures and several other aspects that are important to them. Furthermore, the new ERP-system should provide free software updates that can be performed in the cloud. A major disadvantage of the current system is that there were monthly/quarterly updates that had to be executed. One important benefit of the ERP-system is that it improves (the speed of) internal communication. In the current situation, knowledge is deeply embedded in human assets. Additionally, the ERP-system can also extract this deeply embedded implicit knowledge into accessible information. Several aspects of conducting business at Produtec are not formally recorded in documents.

An ERP-system reduces the need for employees to remember all this information. Mistakes, like forgotten invoices or oversized discounts, will occur less often. Besides improvement of internal communication, there is also room for enhanced external communication. An ERP-system will enable employees to easily access internal information when they are ‘on site’, visiting customers. An ERP-system could structure this process by notificating employees of Produtec to inform the ERP-system if the needs of these companies might have been changed. Overall we think that Produtec will make the right decision by acquiring an ERP-system, because it will create more efficiency in multiple areas.

Group 61 – video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QofY1xX6ROw

What is the talk of the town in September every year? Exactly, the newest version of the iPhone and its additional new features. September latest the iPhone 7 got out, the newest version of the Apple mobile device. So what’s new? Well, there seem to be two remarkable changes. One is the improved camera, which is logical since the technology is developed according the latest version. The iPhone 7 Plus got even two cameras. And the other obvious change is the disappearance of the headphone jack (Apple, 2016). Lots of people seem to have an opinion about this change, but it remains unclear why Apple chose to remove these headphone jacks.

What strikes me more is the fuss about it. How is it possible that in a time with so much choices and different possibilities, the only thing people can talk about is wireless earplugs? For Apple on the other hand, it is a prestigious marketing stunt. How can you draw so much attention with such a small change?

In my opinion the answer is built on the fact that Apple sells a service and not individual products. The customer can make a choice of a great range of different devices like a Macbook, iPad and even an Apple watch. The hardcore Apple lover owns every single device Apple sells and can connect them through iCloud (Apple, 2016). This service provided by the company will lead to loyal customers. They want to buy each and every device possible to complement their collection.

Through iCloud every device can be connected and the customer has the ability to sync them. This platform provides customers to use the device they prefer, whenever they want wherever they want. This example shows that Apple tries to be very up-to-date when it comes to the newest technology and services. This is probably the reason why the introduction of a new version of the iPhone is such a success. The crowd knows Apple will do anything to supply the best and newest products!

Source:

http://www.apple.com/icloud/

http://www.apple.com/iphone-7/

A decade ago, the first thing people talked about when they saw their friends in school or colleagues at work was: the TV show they watched on television the night before. And most important, have you seen it? Because, if you hadn’t, you were not able talk about it with your friends.

Nowadays, the TV shows are less popular. At the coffee machine, people no longer talk about that particular TV show, but they talk about things they saw on the internet. How is it possible that this changed so rapidly in such a short time? Well, because of the disruptive new platforms with which people can see whatever they like whenever they like. We are not forced to watch a certain TV show on a predetermined time, but are allowed to watch it the next day or sometimes even earlier than it would have been broadcasted.

This disruptive change has an influence on our morning talk with our friends and colleagues. This change enables us to talk about other stuff then just the regular TV show. It allows us to discuss videos on Facebook and topics on blogs. In other words, we are encouraged to develop our own interests.

Of course, there are still people who have the tendency to watch the same TV show as their friends. The ultimate solution has taken over the world since 2010 and is called Netflix (Netflix Nederland, 2016). This online streaming platform allows us to watch the same show as our neighbors, but at 4 AM instead of 8.30PM.  On the other hand, there is YouTube which enables individuals to post a self-made video online. This platform is very popular among young people and creates a new subject to talk about during recess. These two forms of new information goods show that our lifestyle changes very fast. It is up to the media platforms to keep up with the changing needs of this generation.

Source: http://www.netflix-nederland.nl/wat-is-netflix/