As a result of its information system, 7-Eleven Japan has extensive knowledge of its market. It maximizes sales in limited space and optimizes its inventory level. Also knowing exactly what the customers want helps the company to negotiate good prices and high quality with its vendors, who support the just-in-time approach. (About 20 manufacturers have special factories that make only or mostly 7-Eleven products).
7-Eleven Japan has also created a time-distribution system that changes the product mix on display in its stores at least twice a day, based on careful and continual tracking of customers’ needs. The company knows that consumers’ needs in the morning are completely different from those in the evening. So the system allows them to display the most appropriate items at different hours of the day.
In late 1997, 7-Eleven was the first convenience store chain to introduce Internet access terminals in their Seattle area stores. These terminals allow customers who do not have computers to access the Internet by paying a user fee to 7-Eleven. In 1998 it introduced a computerized system to track inventory and forecast sales in the United States. In 1999 it introduced multimedia-based Internet kiosks in its Japanese stores for ordering from the stores’ site, with capabilities to pay for the goods in the stores. The stores are also used as a receiving station for the merchandise ordered.
Sources:
Based on Minicase 2 of Chapter 3, in "Information Technology for Management - 3rd Edition", by Turban, McLean, Wetherbe
Beberapa pertanyaan yang menarik untuk didiskusikan:
1. Menurut saudara apakah 7-Eleven telah menerapkan konsep SCM dan CRM? Jelaskan
2. Apakah prosedur pengumpulan informasi tentang kustomer mengganggu privacy dari kustomer? Mengapa ya atau mengapa tidak?
3. Jelaskan beberapa hal sebagai berikut:
a. Jelaskan “just-in-time” approach? Bagaimana penggunaan pendekatan ini? Benefit apa yang dapat diperoleh?
b. Jelaskan bagaimana data berkaitan kendali kualitas (quality control) dikumpulkan dan dianalisis?
4. Berkaitan dengan penggunaan teknologi Internet.
a. Bagaimana Internet access memberikan benefits bagi kustomer 7-Eleven?
b. Bagaimana Internet kiosks dimanfaatkan? Nilai atau value apa yang diberikan Internet kiosks bagi 7-Eleven?