Business Processes and Information Systems
Nicole Keefe
CIS 568
March 17, 2014
Dr. Jerald Hatton
Business Processes and Information Systems
Amazon Inc.
Amazon Inc. is an international online retail company created in America. Amazon originally started as an online bookstore and expanded its products to clothes, furniture, toys, jewelry, and electronics. One of the most successful operations management business process utilized by Amazon is their multiple fulfillment centers that are strategically located near airports and rapidly fill an order and deliver to the customer.
Business Process of Amazon
According to Rainer and Cegielski (2012), “A business process is an ongoing collection of related activities that create a product or a service of value to the organization, its business partners, and/or its customers” (p. 35). As Amazon continues to have success in its industry it is because of its business processes that have elevated itself as a company. Amazon has created centrally located centers that provide warehousing and order-fulfillment for third party sellers in close proximity to delivery suppliers. The location of the warehouses, typically near airports, provides efficient and effective delivery of their products ordered by customers. Centralized computers are kept in these warehouses and record the location of goods, map out delivery routes, and monitor the tracking course of each product and delivery service.
Amazon is a company well known for its rapid delivery of ordered items to its customers. The business process for Amazon’s production and operations management is streamlined and efficient for effective management of its packing, storage, and distribution methods. Computer information systems are used to streamline customer orders and provide quick and accurate delivery to the customers. The centralized computers receive customer orders, indicate where the order can be found, provide the best delivery route, and track the order within its inventory system as well as delivery system.
Benefits and Risks of Computer Information Systems for Amazon
Computer systems are one of the key components for Amazon’s success. As with any computerized or electronic system there are many benefits as well as potential risks that come along with the ease and ability they provide. In terms of Amazon’s business process there are many information systems that need to work efficiently to create and ship orders. From determining shipping centers depending on distance and products to creating a seamless flow of communication between the ordering center and distribution center will keep Amazon successful. The benefits of having such a centralized communication tool that can be utilized nation-wide is the foundation of Amazon’s success.
Amazon’s streamlined ordering process is known as its “Holy Grail” ("Marketing Plan", n.d.). Easy navigation of the website and smart search continues to allow customers to find what they are looking for without difficulty. Once a customer finds the product they are looking for with ease the process of purchasing is just as seamless. The pure simplicity of the