Information systems enable organizations conduct and streamline operations, engage with consumers and vendors, and compete in the industry. An information system is a collection of interrelated systems that collects, processes, and analyzes data while also delivering insights, perspectives, and digital resources (Pozdniakoy et al., 2018). To manage coordinated supply chains and digital markets, information systems are deployed. Corporate information systems, for example, are used to handle financial data, manage employees, and market the business to new clients via the internet (Pozdniakoy et al., 2018). Such management information systems offer several advantages to organizations including competitive advantage, increased operation efficiency, and organizational performance. This essay aims to discuss two management information systems for a medium-to-large aviation-related business arguing how these systems will be of benefit to the organization.
One of these solutions is the provision of a Digital Dashboard with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This will help monitor real-time updates to provide a quick and comprehensive snapshot of the company’s performance. It assists businesses in achieving their desired outcomes by ensuring that they are always reaching for their target (Lavrador & Laureano, 2019). It gathers data, organizes and groups it, and then visualizes it on a digital dashboard with important indicators of corporate performance and projected growth (Lavrador & Laureano, 2019). Businesses can see what they want to see and provide a more condensed perspective. Digital dashboards provide graphs and indicators that are more evident because data or statistics cannot adequately inform of the measurement of their performance. Given the correct dashboard, using a KPI dashboard may create a competitive advantage for the company. It lays out a clear route for the company’s future growth and how it can outperform its competitors (Lavrador & Laureano, 2019). It assists firms in evaluating their current situation and enables the managerial team to make long-term strategic decisions. As a result, it may serve as a strong reminder about where the business is in terms of income, as well as vital and timely data that can provide necessary solutions at critical times, ensuring the organization makes the best judgments possible to further its future growth (Leblanc, 2018).
In this case, Klipfolio is the vendor being considered. Klipfolio is a solution that helps businesses discover the metrics that are important to their business or operations. It uses their own BI system to automate the process of monitoring and acting on metrics (Bhingarde & Vora, 2018). With single-click filtering and data visualizations, PowerMetrics, their most recent innovation, provides a new way to get started and visualize data. The strength of Kilpfolio is that it gives templates for users to customize their dashboards (Bhingarde & Vora, 2018). It’s easy to link to other gear, and the company’s customer support is quick to reply and assist in the design of IT solutions. However, this approach has a flaw in that it lacks a database to store all data from many sources, and users without a technical experience will struggle to use the application.
In addition to this, the use of a digital dashboard for KPIs is required since it allows the organization to continuously evaluate itself. It can provide a visual representation of where they are in the industry and how their competitors are faring (Leblanc, 2018). Aside from that, it enables organizations to spot trends and patterns that can aid in the improvement of the firm, as well as to uncover vital data or insight that can lead to a better solution for the company’s future growth. Since they keep business goals at the frontline of decision-making, KPIs are important to attaining them (Leblanc, 2018). Business objectives must be made clear all throughout business; whenever staff are informed of and responsible for their specific KPIs, the company’s wider goals are not forgotten.
The second IS-solution for the company is Supply chain management (SCM). This encompasses the process of designing, planning, implementing, monitoring, and analyzing supply chain processes with the purpose of generating relative profit, building a competitive organization, employing global logistics, coordinating supply and demand, and gauging worldwide performance (Pal,2019). It requires controlling a set of interrelated smaller business divisions, as well as systems of networks that help produce a commodity or service bundle for end users or consumers. Effective supply chain management is crucial for corporate success and can give a number of benefits, including improved customer satisfaction and a more streamlined flow of goods and services (Pal,2019). Running an efficient supply chain that is built on strong supplier relationships, adheres to tight quality and stock management, and keeps a close eye on costs and pricing can significantly improve a company’s liquidity.
SCM could be achieved through the use of mobile phone apps, conferencing systems, and shared dashboards. This will enable business managers to stay in touch with suppliers at all times (Barletta, 2019). Software solutions can also aid in the effective management of stock levels, the tracking of distribution channels, and the monitoring of business performance. Businesses will be able to put in place contingency measures to help them weather the storm if they have real-time data metrics at their fingertips (Barletta, 2019).
An example of SCM software solutions is E2Open, which is commonly used supply chain management program. It is a B2B internet based, on-demand software application for computers, telecommunication, and electronic systems that provide supply chain management services (Pal,2019). It offers real-time analytical technologies for managing product and information movement throughout the supply chain. E2open enhances efficiency, decreases mechanical re-keying inaccuracies, enhancing information integrity, and improves supply chain performance by automating numerous labor-intensive, manual activities and simplifies decision-making at varying stages in the supply chain. For example, when transactions are in jeopardy of being stalled or producing challenges, computerized side-by-side preliminary pricing is employed, and alerts are sent out (Pal, 2019). E2open has united the sourcing and logistics teams. As a result, firms may benefit from a more interconnected, intelligent supply chain that helps them boost efficiency, lower risk, and increase supply chain agility.
Moreover, data-driven supply chain management gives insight from purchasing to manufacture and supply to the end customer by tracking the movement of data, products, and commodities (Barletta, 2019). Strong client and supplier relations, efficient cost control, identifying the right operational partners, and implementing innovative supply chain solutions are all components that contribute to effective supply chain management (Barletta, 2019). Businesses can use real-time data on raw material availability and manufacturing delays to develop contingency plans, like procuring materials from an alternative supplier, to avoid future delays. Without real-time data, businesses may not have enough resources to implement plan B, leading to problems such as running out-of-stock and delivery delays to end customers.
However, supply chain management can be a source of sustainable competitive advantage because it helps in cost reduction and efficiencies across the supply chain, resulting in higher revenue for businesses (Barletta, 2019). Supply chains can be utilized as strategic tools during great recession because firms can be adjusted to perform better than competitors, thus increase profit levels, and reduce expenses (Barletta, 2019). The streamlining of the supply chain via just in time stock levels procedures, as well as an emphasis on decreasing the cost of goods sold through supply chain component expense minimization, all lead to a condition that can be incredibly beneficial to businesses.
References
Barletta, K. A. (2019). Supply Chain Management Software for Textile Networks at ITMA 2019. Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management.
Bhingarde, A., & Vora, D. (2018). Visualization tools and techniques in big data. International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET), 5(11), 1659-1664.
Lavrador, A. M. S., & Laureano, R. M. (2019, June). Dashboard to monitor performance of an hotel in the financial perspective. In 2019 14th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI) (pp. 206-211). IEEE.
Leblanc, D. (2018). Use Key Performance Indicators to Improve Results. Opflow, 44(2), 8-9.
Pal, K. (2019). Quality Assurance Issues for Big Data Applications in Supply Chain Management. In Predictive Intelligence Using Big Data and the Internet of Things (pp. 51-76). IGI Global.
Pozdniakov, S., Kuzmin, O., Kiiko, V., & Korenets, Y. (2018). Definition of the role of business modelling in the building of a management information system.