Furniture Industry & Computer Systems
This is an excerpt from the paper...
The hardgoods retail industry is one of the most competitive and one of the most difficult in which to succeed. High-ticket items require a significant capital investment, and failure to meet customer expectations with regard to selection or delivery can be disastrous for a retailer. The furniture industry is a prime example of hardgoods retailing (along with electronics retailing and appliances) and is characterized by small local retailers with one or two locations as well as by regional retailers selling from showrooms attached to warehouses. One of the largest retailers, Levitz, has written its own inventory control system, which encompasses nearly all aspects of the company's business, and which Levitz sells to other retailers. Other companies also sell software for this industry, which is a specialized niche. This research examines the computer systems available to the retail furniture industry and considers the challenges associated with implementation as well as the factors critical to the long-term success of the software and the company.All inventory systems have the ability to identify the items that are in a company's inventory, and account for how many of each item are on hand. Inventory is typically one of the largest costs associated with any business, and this is particularly true in the retail sector. The furniture industry is a high-ticket industry, which means that companies have much of their capital
. . .
vary widely. The Levitz system, which uses the Unix operating system, is the most flexibility of the systems, and gives customers the ability to choose from more than one hardware vendor. Because Hewlett-Packard and DEC are both committed to remaining in the minicomputer market, and because both are financially healthy, the systems which run on these platforms have an edge over HFD and its outmoded IBM technology.
The cost of these systems is significant, with the American Data and Levitz systems both running in excess of $90,000 for a complete system, including hardware. When various additional components are added in, such as additional terminals, printers and credit card scanners, the cost can approach $250,000.
The Levitz system is ideal for the larger retailer that uses centralized functions for purchasing or for paying sales representatives from a central office. The American Data system is good for retailers who have multiple locations, but who may not have warehouses at each location. Their system allows for centralized control of operations, but also gives each store the flexibility to process transactions on an as-needed basis. HFD is primarily designed for single-store operations where there is not a need to co
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
HFD IBM-based, Data Levitz, Success Factors, American Data, Inventory Systems, , Various Systems, Implementing Systems, System Comparison, Hewlett-Packard DEC, computer system, american data, computer systems, furniture industry, data system, american data system, inventory control, american data levitz, levitz system, data levitz systems, levitz systems, data levitz, levitz american, levitz american data, systems available furniture,
Approximate Word count = 2613
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)
More Essays on Furniture Industry & Computer Systems
|
Customer Service
to Over
32,000 Professionally Written Papers!!!
