Artificial Intelligence in Business Applications

Artificial Intelligence in Business Applications Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Business functions that can/cannot be automated INTRODUCTION Computer systems today are a part of almost all businesses; this is because they provide us, along with the added use of the Internet, with a variety of means that made business operations easier, productivity higher, and communication processes faster. Computers and the programs (or the software applications that are installed on them) along with the robotic systems do a great amount of the tasks that were previously performed by the employees and/or workers themselves. This transformation, towards an automated work environment, saved businesses a lot of unwanted expenses, a lot of time, and caused profits to increase steadily. Computers substituted, in different business structures, classical machines and tools, such as the calculator, the fax, the telephone, the photocopier and many more. The automation of different business functions led many organisations and companies to a higher level in what concerns production and management. But the point that should be understood is that even though many processes and functions related to businesses and organisations have been automated, there are still many aspects that are not, or that cannot be, automated for a wide range of reasons. BUSINESS FUNCTIONS The main objective of any business is to achieve success. To be able to reach success, an organisation needs to have an effective structure because any entity depends exclusively on two factors which are management and use of information. An efficient use of information systems can allow an easier and faster access to data that are essential for the workflow and for the quality of that work and, therefore, can assist the management in performing its duties in the best possible manner and in making the right decisions at the right times. In order to achieve such objectives, specific business functions should be established and specific tasks should be performed. Every k ind of business and every organisation, depending on the nature of their operations, the products or services that are provided by them, their geographic location, and depending on the management and production schools that they relate to, have different business functions, but there are certain generic functions that apply to all kinds of businesses all over the world. These functions are usually general management, information management, operations management, marketing, finance and accounting, and human resources. Lan and Unhelkar (2005) identify the various generic business functions by stating that they are the function of Management and Administration which is the department whose tasks are to â€Å"corporate resources, corporate image, quality in all aspects, industrial relations, stakeholders relations, productivity, [and] promotion,† the function of Human Resources that should deal with â€Å"job analysis, position classification, employee training, employee select ion, employee auditing and promotion† in addition to other related tasks, the function of Finance and Accounts that is responsible for â€Å"the capital operations required by the entire enterprise activities†¦ the funds required by management, administration, sales, marketing, human resources, [and] purchasing,† the function of Purchase and Procurement, the function of Sales and Marketing, and the function of Customer Care or Customer Support.

Wal Mart - Economic part Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Wal Mart - Economic part - Essay Example The primary data I used to get a glimpse of the nature of issues facing Wal-Mart included visiting a number of branches and observing the in-store traffic. I also observed the type of customers by age and observed the items that they picked as their preferences. I also interviewed the customers about the nature of services that they expect to find in all Wal-Mart stores. The secondary data I used include scrutinizing the monthly and annual sales report that is compiled by employees. I also read the company report that shows its annual expansion rate. Although Wal-Mart has experienced a remarkable growth and expansion in its market over the years, there still exists a large market for expansion in both domestic and overseas market. This if exploited will enable it to continue dominating grocery retail and consumer goods markets. With this kind of expansion, Wal-Mart would become the market leader by revenue and profitability. Wal-Mart can also take advantage of the economic opportunities by target different segments, especially the more affluent populations. This requires demystify the notion that discount prices are only meant for those with low incomes. Serious awareness is needed that discount stores and there to save money for all citizens as a way of improving their economic status. To appeal to all classes of customers, there is need to increase product availability by increasing the number of each product line. Wal-Mart will continue to lead the market because low prices will always attract customers. This is may remain a competitive advantage for Wal-Mart for a long time since the global economy is experiencing recession and may remain so for a long foreseeable future. Wal-Mart can overcome competition by offering to better prices by adopting the most effective supply, high quality products, and therefore becoming different from its competitors. It has the most effective supply chain

Sampling and data coolection Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Sampling and data coolection - Research Proposal Example Both of the said processes have direct influences on the outcome of the research. Furthermore, data collection and sampling are both concerned with the elements to be studied, the population, and what data will be gathered from them. As such, their role in market research is very significant. Careful thought and consideration must be given to the choice of data collection method and sampling approach to be used in any research. Since there are several methods and approaches available, the researcher must analyze the scenario to ensure that the right method and approach will be used. Each situation may call for a different data collection method and sampling approach. Such choice relies on several factors. Primarily, the researcher must consider the problem at hand. He must determine whether the problem requires qualitative or quantitative research. This is important because the researcher must determine what type of data is involved or required. Once the type of research has been established, the researcher must then take into consideration other elements such as the population, budget, time allotted, and the number of personnel at hand. Basically, this means that the researcher should study the resources he has at his disposal for all of these are factors that help determine the most appropriate data collection method and sampling approach. This paper will attempt to highlight the process of choosing the appropriate data coll... Are employees being managed to maximize their productivity as well as commitment to the success of the restaurant' What are the best approaches to attract new customers, and to keep and grow existing customers' To arrive at the appropriate choices, the alternatives for both data collection method and sampling approach will be discussed. This discussion will include an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each method and approach as well why it is appropriate or not appropriate for the given situation. In essence, this paper will provide insight as to how to choose the right data collection method and sampling approach. Data Collection Method There are several data collection methods that a researcher may choose to employ. Also, the researcher may choose to combine some of these methods in order to gather the necessary data more effectively. The basic methods that may be used singularly or in combination to achieve specific research objectives are as follows: Internet surveys / Online Data Collection Mail surveys Interviews Real-time tracking Store checks and mystery shops Internet surveys/online data collection Conducting market research online allows the researcher to gather data in a simple, easy, and effective manner. With the internet, one can create interactive electronic surveys for specific markets or groups. Also, one can create surveys that reach wide market bases through the use of the Worldwide Web. Internet surveys are the most cost effective way to gather data internationally. Using various programming techniques, one can easily randomize data gathering. It is most effective in gathering data from a large segment of the population. However, there is a tendency for internet surveys to be non-representative of the entire