Existing OS is based on DOS which is not supported by Microsoft and there is chance that vendor of POS upgrade the hardware that could cause complication when Zara will open a new store. I would recommend upgrading the exiting OS and extending functionality of existing application of POS. While this will involve big investment to switching and upgrading POS but that investment is justifiable for real time processing of order and return.
By upgrading OS and enhancing the POS application, Zara will come forward to tackle many IT issues robustly from Demand to Manufacture and then to Distribution. The new technology will help Zara to reflect all the information about their sales, customers, SKU to the director of company in La Coruna in real fashion.
With the functionality of new POS, all stores link with each other and product manager will compare the selling and can take necessary step. Store Manager will able to get all the details about new garment and visualize more clearly on new POS terminal and will be able to see current SKU on screen and place order in timely manner within set deadline. Real time information will be available to head office to access and manage demand and supply situation of each geological location. Stores will be connected with each other and can initiate the store to store transfer accordingly.
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Once the modern POS system implemented it will be centrally connected with each store and to head office through wifi built-in router and network. Information will easily share/link intra store, inter store and to head office.
Upgrading to modern operating system and enhancing the POS system and building the networks within and between stores and La Coruna will help to improve efficiency of information flow between Zara’s supply chain networks. It removes the risk of the system becoming obsolete and no longer compatible with vendor’s machine upgrade. The new system will eliminate the need for small screen PDAs and their continuous upgrades.
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Issue identification
Part 2:
Immediate Issues
POS running on DOS based operating system which has not been supported by
Microsoft anymore. Personal digital assistants (PDAs) have small screens and make it time consuming for managers to do daily tasks such as orders and returns. The screens on the PDAs are small, therefore making it difficult to view new items. The availability of several PDAs at each store location allows for redundancy at time of ordering. POS terminal at each store not connected within the store and PDA and PSO can not share the information.
Part 3:
Systemic Issues
Hardware vendor for POS terminals could upgrade their machines which would no longer be compatible with the
