Structured Process Analysis
A structured process is one that is stable and almost fixed. It repeatedly occurs within the organization and uses the same means in order to achieve a goal. One of the most common structured processes within organizations occurs when sales are being made. Our group chose to focus on Target's sales process as they use a personalized system to support it.
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| (POS System Hardware) |
More specifically, the sales process we focused on encompassed everything from transactional data to inventory management data. In order to support this process, Target uses a Point of Sale (POS) system. "While POS systems are used throughout the business world in order to support the sales of goods, Target has created their own customized, in-house POS system that only they can use. This system runs servers that can support up to thirty self-checkout and conventional cash registers at a time". While these systems run on Microsoft software applications for the sale of retail and grocery items, the pharmacy operations are run on Linux software. The POS software used to make and record credit card transactions and signatures is run on "Elo" touchscreen hardware that is custom to Target.
Overall, the POS system is a very effective way to store transactional data, additionally, being able to support self-checkout registers is a great way for an organization to greatly increase efficiency at checkout.
Dynamic Process Analysis
A dynamic process is one that is more flexible and less standardized, they also require less structured managerial decisions. One system Target uses to support this dynamic process is social media. More specifically, we focused on Target's use of Instagram. Social media is an excellent way to support marketing processes as the community can use peer-to-peer marketing and sales. This occurs when customers collectively write and view reviews of a product or service.
Target is able to utilize these peer-to-peer sales on Instagram as anyone is able to make a comment or write a review. One reason this is very effective is because this can happen without Target having to intervene or oversee anything. Another very effective use of social media is for the entity themselves to communicate with customers. They can use it to inform the public about different promotions or sales that are currently being offered. They can also use it to answer any questions or concerns the community might be having which only builds the customer relationships.
Target mainly uses Instagram as a way to market and promote the sales or products that are currently being offered. This is very easy to see as every post is a promotional post intended to get more people into the store.
NCR Scanner Scale - 7878 Hybrid (only available for self-checkout) ⤴⤴
Verifone is a company that provides mobile payment devices and enables Target to transform how they engage with customers. Customers can purchase by Apple pay, tapping, swiping, or inserting their card. This pin pad is also at every register and self-checkout lane.
Instagram is the information system that we are focusing on in our project. Target utilizes this system to better connect with their customers and find trends that could become marketable. Target has been able to amass a ton of followers on their Instagram account throughout the years and gained a loyal customer relationship.
Target's followers continue to grow as time goes by
Amassed 5.1 million followers
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