The 5 Simple Benefits of E-Businesses

Electronic-Business, otherwise known as E-business, is quickly replacing and/or augmenting current brick and mortar stores all over the world and we are going to find out why. Electronic Business which may be categorized as the use of a website to make sales--has notable advantages. Additionally, according to www.CheshireHenbury.com “Business of all sizes in all sectors are using the Internet in many different ways - to work with partners and suppliers, for procurement, for internal activities such as knowledge sharing and new product development, and much more.” To understand why websites like cheshirehenbury.com are supporting the E-business revolution, we will be exploring the noted advantages of E-business’s in order to understand how it can benefit business.

For starters, E-business structure speaks to five easy benefits to business. That is it removes location and availability restrictions; it reduces time and money spent on a business;
it expedites customer service; shows you how to improve with tools like google analytics; and finally it keeps your business relevant (2). Let me explain these benefits.

Firstly, a store open in one location can not make a “traditional sale” (someone coming in and buying an item) anywhere else. But a business that is online and has a website can make a sale all over the world and at any time. With tools like paypal, ebay, and amazon, making sales online has never been easier. Also, there are no availability restrictions with a website. With the exception of www.BNH.com, which closes for its observance of the Jewish sabbath(3), most websites stay open 24/7.

Second, when one has a physical storefront, there are costs that go into keeping that store open. Chiefly, rent, electricity, insurance, hot water, utilities...etc. (2) Having only a website means you just need to by the fees for owning the domain. Which is important for any business functioning in the fallout of the 2007-08 economic meltdown. Plus, a store owner with a website has to merely roll out of bed and log onto their PC to check invoices, make sales, tweak marketing and check up on their business. This is a massive time saver when compared to driving to work, opening a store, setting up and then waiting for customers.

Now, one of the most important of the Five Benefits to E-business is how E-business functions in the realm of Customer service. E-business are not shackled by the same values of a brick and mortar store. According to Chron.com the “Quality of service [used to be] determined by how long a customer had to wait inline, how courteous the sales associate was, the hours the provider was open and how well they could respond to your needs. In the Internet age, most service relates to the ease-of-use of a website, how simple it is to navigate, shipping options and the ability to track your purchase.” (4) Clearly, E-business’s have changed what customers value. Which is a welcome playing field for most “mom and pop” stores, which now have to compete with “big box” businesses.

When small, local stores compete with national buying power of stores like CVS, Walmart, and Target, they (the small stores) can’t win. However, with the help of E-business structures-- stores can stay relevant. They can make sales, have a cool website, and communicate with their target market using social media and other means. Having a web presence is one of the most important things a business can do to successfully compete in the global marketplace. Web presence is to business as sonar is to deep sea fishing.

In Conclusion, our world is changing and with it, so is the way we do business. small and large business owners need to be aware of the benefits of E-business’s. Without this knowledge, we will see more and more “for rent” signs on the main streets of our local towns. With this knowledge we will see economic prosperity. That is, “the adoption of e-business at the microeconomic level of retail, wholesale, and labor market transactions has an enormous impact on the performance of firms and the eco-nomic welfare of consumers and workers” (5 Page 1, Abstract)

1. http://www.cheshirehenbury.com/ebusiness/ebbenefits.html
2. http://onlinebusiness.volusion.com/articles/e-business-advantages/
3.http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=6318.0
4. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/effect-e-business-customer-service-2097.html
5.http://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=sppworkingpapers

Personal Area Networks: The key to My Entertainment

Personal Area Networks: The key to My Entertainment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmsZFBSf4Qw

I have a lot of digital media; like music, movies, and pictures. I have bought everything I own or created it. However, it can be cumbersome to transfer and access this content from anywhere. Although, I and my friend Luis, have figured out a solution to my accessibility woes: a PAN, otherwise known as a Personal Area Network. But because my files are so large, I had to use a LAN, local area network, to ensure fast streaming. This is the story of how I used a PAN and a LAN to create the ideal viewing environment for my digital media.

Now,  you have probably used a PAN before--such as, when you have logged onto a wifi hotspot. And have you ever printed something in the Ramapo College’s Library? Then you have used a LAN. But, instead of sending documents to a printer or another computer, I wanted to send my Finding Nemo movie to my Television, from my computer.

But first, I want to explain what a PAN is. According to the Textbook Fundamentals of Information Systems, a “PAN is a wireless network that connects information technology devices...you can connect a laptop, digital camera, and portable printer without cables.”(1, Page 169) I would be using PAN to get the information from my laptop to my wireless router.

To get the information from the router to my PS3 I would be utilizing a network known as a LAN. which “Connects computer systems and devices within a small area” (2, page 169). This would help the information transfer quickly from the router to the actual PS3.

Now, I will explain how I hooked everything up. Firstly, I connected my PS3 to my Television and downloaded a media server for my laptop--I used Plex Media server, for it’s ease of use and layout.  Using the media server, I connected my laptops information to my PS3, making it accessible through the PS3. Technically speaking, I used a PAN to connect to the route, but I used a LAN to connect the router to the PS3, thus completing the information circuit. Doing this ensured a high transfer rate. When dealing with large amounts of data, such as in movies like Finding Nemo, you want a high transfer rate. Without it, its like watching a youtube video that doesn’t want to buffer.

Moving on, I used my laptop to store my digital media. I was tired of having scratched DVD’s so I copied everything over to my external hard drive. I plug this into my laptop to create another drive for the media server to access.

Now, Via PS3’s media server, I was able to access my laptops data, through a LAN and a PAN. I used the this media server to locate Finding Nemo, access it, and View it on my flatscreen TV. Additionally, I can also access my media Server from Plex's mobile APP. So I can watch Finidng Nemo on my Iphone as well.

In Conclusion, with a little know how, some help from media server forums, and a friend who is good with networking, we can use networks to make our lives more convenient.

1. Information Systems- Page 149, bottom right column, second to last paragraph.

2. http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/forum/73-windows/

Cloud Computing: Changing the Face of the world

Cloud Computing: Changing the Face of the world

Cloud computing is a bold new frontier in human interaction. That is, how we interact with each other, our product, our favorite stores, and even our music is now drastically different than just a few years ago. Cloud computing offers “ the full scalability, reliability, high performance and relatively low cost feasible solution as compared to dedicated infrastructures” (1) But the beauty of Cloud computing is not just how much cheaper it is, but in how it can literally change the world. It has the ability to create (jobs), destroy (regimes), and share(media). But for entertainment’s sake, let’s start with Egypts Government being overthrown.

Writer for and Cloud computing journal, Tim Estes, wrote “On January 25, 2011 the overthrow of the Egyptian government began - quietly at first, with non-violent demonstrations of long-held grievances”(2) Later on, the ability to share, speak, record, and rapidly disperse information amongst a motivated crowd was key in Egypt's revolution. With Cloud computing, Estes writes, “we were able to see the trouble brewing in Egypt months before it was exposed through protests in the street. “ The information stored on servers and in “the cloud” shows just how much information was there and who was accessing it. Cloud computing helped to motivate an entire country to fight for a brighter future.

However, Cloud computing is not just for tearing down governments.  It is also meant to help create.The use of shared documents, like in Google drive, allows users to create manifestos and have others work, shared, edited, and forwarded all across the globe. Due to cloud computing’s low cost, companies like Google are able to offer more services for free than ever before. Additionally, according to www.eweek.com “Google's Partner Program Looks to Get More Businesses Into the Cloud" (3) because the ROI is higher due to the scalability of Cloud centric services.

Speaking of creation, Amazon and many other companies have used Cloud computing to create more jobs. In fact Forbes magazine recently wrote an article stating that “Just as cloud computing is a game-changer for many companies, it is also changing the nature of jobs – not only within the information technology department, but in other parts of the enterprise as well.” (4) The use of these technicians is similar to utilizing a database administrator. He or she has to “plan, design, create and operate, secure, monitor and maintain the database”(5, page 149) without individuals like administrators, Cloud computing can still be considered not as secure as dedicated infrastructures. That being said, without the right people guarding your information, it( a dedicated infrastructure) can also be hacked into.

In Conclusion,  whether or not one uses Cloud Computing depends on how secure you want to be and if you are using a secure system. So, we must make a choice, do we sacrifice convenience and price for security. Or do we allow ourselves to be potentially open to harm. For individuals in Egypt, the choice was clear. I for one am glad to use Cloud computing, and I welcome it into my technological life.

1.http://www.pbltt2011.mfu.ac.th/download/full_paper/C3_Fizza%20Abbas-TTPBL-Full%20paper_A%20Review%20on%20cloud%20computing%20security%20issues%20and%20challenges.pdf
2.http://cloudcomputing.sys-con.com/node/1918552

3.http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Cloud-Computing/Googles-Partner-Program-Looks-to-Get-More-Businesses-Into-the-Cloud-380292/

4.http://www.forbes.com/sites/joemckendrick/2011/12/26/cloud-computing-is-changing-many-job-descriptions/

5.Information Systems- Page 149, bottom right column, second to last paragraph.

EBSCO Online Research Database

EBSCO Online Research Database

Think about the email you get on your smartphone--if you send, receive, or modify something, it will always be saved on the server for later access. This accessibility is a convenience that is spilling over into many professional fields, specifically the medical profession. With database technology, similar to what is used in your phone, EBSCO(1) created a way for the medical profession to share information a similar way.

For EBSCO, a medical professional can look up data about a patient, edit the information, and store it for later. Additionally EBSCO acts a server for multiple types of medical databases. These servers feature as patient educators, journal and magazine reporters, and a resource for point-of-care providers.

One of the most important features it offers is its ability to work in real time. Using its EMR (Electronic Medical Records) integration tools it “streamlines integration between EBSCO Publishing's online clinical, nursing care, patient education, and medical research resources and all Electronic Health/Medical Records (EHR/EMR), decision support and patient record applications.”(2) In laymen’s terms, this helps nurses, physical therapists, doctors, and pharmacist--among many others in the medical field-- to access and disseminate medical information as quickly and accurately as possible.

Many medical organizations use EBSCO, from small doctors offices to entire hospitals. Using a database to collect, store, and utilize data and information helps medical professionals with their day-to-day tasks. Additionally, EBSCO databases and servers helps medical professionals learn, teach, and research. This database is helping push the medical world into the future. This is because EBSCO stores journals, business reports, medical reports, patient information, historical research,e-books, and many other types of information. No longer will Doctors have to leave a patients bedside to look something up. They no longer have to second guess or rely sole on their memory--which can increase errors and medical malpractice. Doctor’s do not want to make the wrong call, EBSCO helps them to avoid this.

That is, for EBSCO, “Improving service quality and reducing medical errors are critical success factors for health care providers today.” (2) with accurate information about their patients, collected into one convenient location, health care providers are making less mistakes than ever. Additionally, they are also using on-the-go apps on mobile hardware like iPads and tablet PC’s (3). This creates an increased atmosphere of accessibility for medical professionals who use EBSCO.

However, just because the information is available doesn’t mean it is necessarily accessible. We have all used a search bar on a website to find that it was basically useless. But for EBSCO, understanding just how important Metadata is allows EBSCO’s search bar feature to provide accurate information to anyone who searches through their servers or on their database.

EBSCO provides the world with information and resources to accurately treat patients and evolve old practices into modern medicine (4). Without servers and databases like these, our information would be hard to share and teach. Though EBSCO has come a long way and is rated as one of the most helpful medical databases available for use, there are still features it needs and there are always ways which it can improve. As information systems go, we must never rest on our laurels, we must always try to improve.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

1. What Specific challenges does your database system implementation have?

EBSCO faces challenges with how it shares its medical information with different servers or a similar nature. Though, if it is compatible, it will allow easy access. If not, the system can become archaic and hard to use.

2. In what ways does it provide a competitive advantage for the organization using it?

Any organization which uses any of the services, information, and databases of EBSCO will see that they have a leg up over their competitors. They will have access to medical journals, up-to-date patient history, point-of-care assessments, newest drug information and this is only for the medical field. EBSCO also features information helpful for governments, business, hospitals, schools, k-12 schools, and public libraries. Additionally, information on “customers” is saved and properly managed with CRM technology. Also, they feature group sharing of information for anyone in your business and they offer mobile accessibility to their programs.

3.What improvements would you suggest?

Due to EBSCO offering so many different features, it was hard to research specifically what they did. I would recommend them having videos explaining everything in easy to understand language. However, wordage like they used is expected in a field inundated with jargon talk.


1. EBSCO - http://www.ebscohost.com/biomedical-libraries
2. EMR- http://www.ebscohost.com/pointOfCare/emr-integration
3. Apps- http://appsontap.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/accessing-ebsco-mobile/
4. Basic Research-- http://www.ebscohost.com/uploads/imported/thisTopic-dbTopic-840.pdf

Hardware and Software in the M-commerce and E-commerce world

Being aware of new and old hardware and software can help a small business act like a large firm. Using proper software and hardware can make the difference in how you handle customers, their information, and how a business markets itself.

1. Customer Care Cards -- Basically these are scannable, refillable, and swipeable cards with magnetic strips. These cards can be stored on one’s smart phone. Much like the “Gold card” for starbucks, these cards are used to keep track of loyal customers and to reward them with perks like free refills. Also, these cards act as Personal information managers which store data on purchasing habits and customer info. (1)
2. Self Serve POS-- Point of Sale systems allow People to order things for themselves. Using a touch screen and graphics--venues can have customers placing their orders and paying without ever having to talk to a human(2). Additionally, these systems can be hooked up to mobile apps so customers can order online or from their phones.
3. Display Monitor- The Self Serve POS would be nothing without proper display. Allowing information to be displayed on a monitor or on one’s phone allows for m-commerce and E-commerce to function.
4. Online Call Center-- Websites like grasshopper.com allow small business to appear large and professional. One can set up a calling number, a personalized answer, different lines for people to call and extensions for employees. Additionally, grasshopper will save all your incoming messages and turn the call data into usable output for managers and employees. All this information can be accessed online or on their phones with a mobile grasshopper app.
5. Applications- Applications allow small businesses to enter into the smart phone market. This helps a business sell, buy, and inform its customers over the internet and on their phones. It also makes a business seem legitimate and professional.
6. Tablet Computers- In some restaurants, tablets have replaced menus and are being given to waiters to show pictures of food. Additionally, they can display purchase orders, calories in a meal, and quickly add customer information to a client database.

Fishing, Polls, and Gadgets

I added fun gadgets that will entertain and draw in readers. I used a gadget which displays fish which anyone can view, feed, and corral with a mouse pointer. I also added a poll to see which readers were being active in the blog posts.

Setting this up was extremely easy.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR FISHING POND:

1. Sign into your Google account
2. Go to the top of the page and click 'more", find blogger and then click it
3. Scroll down and click your blog.
4. Click 'Layout"
5. then look the right of the page, there should be a hyperlink that says "add Gadget", click that.
6. Go to 'popular' gadgets on the left, or search for 'fish'
7. Add it (after you customize which colors you want for your fish and how many you want).
8. Then find the gadget in the layout (probably on the right side of the layout)
9. Drag it into the main screen above or below your post.
10. Save layout, and view blog. TADA!!! Fish pond.

Repeat the steps for the poll but just search for 'poll' instead of 'fish'

Enjoy!

The Peoples Facebook

 The People's Facebook

 

People may think that, on Facebook, “my update is MY update”. But, they would be wrong. When one updates their Facebook status or their twitter feed or even their pinterest--the world watches. This problem of Facebook owning our information, rather than us owning it is wrong.

Our information is valuable, so much so that according to Gary Kovacs, the CEO of the Mozilla Corporation, tracking our behavior online is “Very big business”. At over a Billion dollars a year, people are paying Facebook and many other behavioral tracking websites to know what we like, or dislike.

Now, not all information sharing is bad. In fact, it’s great when a website can suggest things to me based on my taste. But when a company holds my information, they can do whatever they want with it. That is why I suggest we make an alternative to Facebook. This alternative will be owned by those users who occupy the site. We will all have a share and stake of the website and we will be paid to sell our information to behavioral tracking websites.

Its simple. Our information is being sold and we do not benefit from it, at least not via monetary compensation. A people’s Facebook will benefit society by putting our information in our own hands and it will add value to our shopping experience. That is, marketers will know the information is accurate because it is in the users’ best interest to keep it accurate.

About The Author

 About the Author

 

Please answer the following questions by starting a new topic.

1. What is your major?

Marketing

2. What operating system do you have on your computer?

Windows 7

3. Do you have the right to upgrade the software on your computer?

Yup

4. What Internet and computer related courses have you already taken and what are your usual activities on the Internet (Facebook, email, chats, etc.)?

I haven't taken any courses for computers. However, I am familiar with twitter, chat, facebook, Odesk, some HTML, email, some microsoft office, some mac shortcuts, firefox, chrome, and IE, also I use rockmelt fairly often.

5. Have you taken online courses before?

Yes, we used moodle, So using it again provides some form of comfort.

6. Do you have MS Office on your computer? If yes, which version?

Yes, Office 2010

7. Do yo work anywhere now?

I do some consulting work for Mint Consignment NJ, with they're shopify account.

8. When do you graduate?

May 2014

9. Add anything you want about your interests, skills, job projects, etc. that might help the instructor and students understand you and your computer/Internet skills and interests better.

I've always been good with computers. Though, I would like to be a bit better. I have a friend who is studying to do IT work and security for Xerox. He shows me a couple of neat things with my computer and other linux OS's.

My brother has always been a huge nerd when it comes to computers, but instead of mocking him for it, I use this to my advantage. He has taught me how to format, download, upload, connect drives, and do many other things on multiple OS's.

Though I know more than most when it comes to computers, luckily there is always more to learn and I would enjoy learning more in this class. Specifically about connecting network drives. For some reason I'm having issues with maintaining connections between laptops on my network and I'd like to figure out why this is occurring.

10. What are your hobbies or what do you like to do outside of school and work ?

I enjoy reading. I like my PS3. I spend time traveling, learning, and exploring with my girlfriend. Hopefully I will be working for Alex Olbrecht at the Eastern Economic Association here at Ramapo, this coming September.

I have been a photographer since highschool. I play guitar( not well, but i can get around). And I enjoy TED talks.

Artificial Intelligence, Computer's saying "checkmate" and Computer diagnosing humans.

While reading through the book fundamentals of Information Systems, one subject caught my attention and drew me in. That is, I was fascinated by Expert Systems, which is a way for humans , companies, and governments to save precious experience, and specific skills which may be lost if the human which posses said information, dies. 

 Human beings have always been looking for ways to save and preserve their knowledge, from the first papyrus scroll, to the inscriptions in the tomb of a Pyramid. However, now, we actually have a way of saving skills and experience in remote locations. 

For web MD, the knowledge and diagnosis of a doctor can be gathered from their "easy diagnosis(1)" engine. Rather than using an expensive doctors visit, patients and visitors to the website can find out what their issue is from the comfort of their own home. Web MD--Using symptoms, gender, age, and descriptions of yourself--will diagnose your problem. Though Web MD may not be the most reliable expert system, it is still a step forward for the medical world and for information systems.  Perhaps, one day, we will cut costs of healthcare by using  Expert systems to diagnose patients.

Now, in similar fashion, diagnosing a patient is sort of like chess. There are pieces to the puzzle(symptoms) which the player must recognize and then create an appropriate plan of action towards success. For a doctor, that is a healthy patient. For Chess, that is a check mate. For Rybka(2), a computer based chess playing information system--using past experiences, games played, and all available content on chess-- makes Rybka, another step forward for Information Systems, programmers, and chess enthusiast.  Rybka doesn't use abstract thought to make its decisions, it uses programming, algorithms, and raw processing power to discover what available moves are allowed for her game and which ones have the highest chance of success. Imagine, a computer which can beat a man in chess, that is what Rybka is programmed to do. If Rybka were a person, and she passed away, her information would be lost. Luckily, her information can always be saved as binary. 

Speaking of Rybka, this program would be nothing without its knowledge base, which is a collection of data rules, procedures and relationships that must be followed to achieve value or the proper outcome. In Rybka's case, that is a check mate. But for the army, the outcome is bringing troops home from a mission. The U.S. Army uses Knowledge and Information Fusion Exchange (KnIFE). According to www.corpsman.com "US Joint Forces Command's (USJFCOM) Joint Center for Operational Analysis (JCOA) Knowledge and Information Fusion Exchange (KnIFE) went operational in June 2008 and is designed to help warfighters rapidly adapt to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on a constantly changing battlefield and provide information to units preparing for deployment. (3)"If we relied on pen and paper, we could potentially lose soldiers when we don't need to. This helps our men and women in uniform come home safe. 

Clearly, Expert Systems are helpful for humans. We no longer have to be worried about our knowledge dying off with us. It can live on inside computers. Expert Systems help us create new worlds. One day we may not need doctors to diagnose and treat or soldiers to plan our battles. However, we will need humans to create, invent, and use abstract thought to bring us to new conclusions. Although, perhaps one day we will have an Expert System which can accomplish this as well. It's a brave new world, and Expert systems are leading us to it.

1. Web MD, Easy Diagnosis 2012  http://symptoms.webmd.com/default.htm#./introView

2. Rybka Chess Program http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6381

3. Knife description : http://www.corpsman.com/forum/showthread.php?29043-USJFCOM-KnIFE-for-IED-D

Shopify.com-- an all-in-one information system E-commerce solution

Shopify.com at a glance

Shopify is a superb example of what a great e-commerce provider can do for small or large businesses.

By allowing users to pick from easy to customize website templates, small businesses can create an online presence for themselves quickly and easily. They provide 30 days of free service and charge affordable rates ranging from $29 a month to $150 based on a stores sales traffic.

Shopify hosts and stores all content necessary for selling items online. They help with creating mobile friendly versions of your website and for a nominal fee will even help you create and connect a mobile app to your website. Allowing your business to branch out into M-commerce as well as E-commerce.

Additionally, Shopify gathers information about users, visitors, and buyers who go to your website. Shopify also offers secure sales and storage of customer information. They save the data in an easy to access database and turn it into information with their easy to understand "information output section". Rather than only providing users with data, shopify creates charts, lists, and histories. They save IP addresses, visiting time, and daily revenue as well as many other metrics to see where your website can use help or is succeeding.

Input for Shopify.com

Shopify stores information on who views, buys, and shares your website by reading the webserver log files. They also allow e-commerce stores to create a database of sell-able items.Additionally, shopify.com allows customers to email and provide feedback to store owners. All communication can be saved in your store's account. 

Shopify also tracks where people are finding your website. They see the search terms which lead a viewer to your page and on average how many pages a person views before purchasing or leaving the website. This important feature allows a business owner to see which metadata is effective and which is not. 

Processing for Shopify.com

All the data which shopify collects is almost useless until it is compiled into workable information. The shopify database processes all this information and then creates a helpful output for Managers. The processing aspect of shopify uses statistics, based number of sales, revenue, revenue earned per item, visits, time spent browsing, location of viewers and many other equations to create useful information.

Output for Shopify.com 

Shopify's draws processed data from the shopify.com database to create useful graphs, charts, and suggestions to see where changes may be made to a user's website. The website owner, team members, and managers can access these statistics and track progress. Allowing the enterprise to reach its goals. However, if the enterprise is not reaching its goals, shopify provides these metrics and aids to get the business on track. It is in shopify's best interest that stores stay open because then they have continued subscription fees. Which means the information they provide users is realiable, accurate and useful.  

Feedback for Shopify.com

Shopify's feedback provides managers and owners with the tools to reach their goals or, as previously stated, to create course corrections so that they may reach their goals. Shopify.com has an incredible customer service team which helps you out if your store is in trouble. If there is something that confuses store owners, either the human resources or the information provided by the e-commerce database output will guide the store to success. Shopify.com provides start-ups, brick and mortar stores, and e-commerce ventures with a viable solution for creating e-commerce based revenue and online presence.

Thanks!
Thanks for reading! All comments and questions are welcome.