Transcript Mr. K.K Chan - Master of Science in Electronic Commerce & Internet

Introduction to Shun Hing
Group
 Local privately owned business with 1600 staff in Hong
Kong and strong presence in China
 Main business is electrical/electronics goods
distribution - sole agent for Matsushita of Japan in Hong
Kong and Macau
 Also with sizeable business in services, logistics,
building services and advertising
 Established in 1953 – celebrating 50th anniversary
 Largest local electrical/electronics distributor
 Largest local electrical/electronics service company
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IT Systems at SHG
 Main system is based on SAP R/3
 Hardware is based on IBM RS/6000 SP2
 Many other self-developed systems based on
Microsoft’s technology, often integrated with
SAP (both batch and online)
 Most systems are for internal use only
 Only simple interfaces to partners (file transfer)
 Access by customers limited to web sites
 Use of Internet mainly for e-mail and browsing
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Challenges SHG Faces
 Downturn of economy
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Customers demand more for less
Shrinking volume at slim profit margin
Shrinking budget but more demanding management
 Business is evolving
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New products and new organisation structure
New distribution channel
• Credit card promotion – mass order processing
• Retail - Point-of-sale
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New business
• Logistics - 3rd party logistics
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New Concepts Entail New
Systems
 CRM – Customer Relationship Management
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Everything about customers should be known and be readily
accessible
 More integration with partners to shorten turnaround
time and improve service
 Anytime, anywhere access
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Web
PDA
Wireless
 Fast response time expected of any changes
 Self service – everyone is a user
 Do more with less
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Shortcomings of Current
Systems
 Very expensive to run
 Very tightly integrated
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Inflexible
Difficult to change
 Too fragmented
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Difficult to use
Difficult to support
 Turnaround time for changes too long
 Difficult to integrate with partners
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Objectives of New System
 Instead of further tweaking the existing systems, a new
system is being built with these characteristics:
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Do more with less
• Improve workflow
• Improve usability
• Save on cost
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One integrated system that is distributed
• Start from small and grow to large
• Replace existing systems gradually
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Bespoke yet flexible and customisable
• Develop once and implement many times
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Everyone is a user
• External as well as internal
• From operation to executive
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Web, PDA and Wireless ready
Improved security
• use of encryption and smart card where appropriate
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New IT Revamp Project
 Scope covers all businesses in SHG
 Self-developed based on MS.NET technology
 Distributed yet integrated
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Each company has its own system
All companies are integrated
Integration extends to partners later
Users include internal staff and external partners and
customers
 Bespoke yet flexible and customisable
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Microsoft .NET Features
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Portable across MS supported devices
Object-oriented
Multi-tiered
Windows form and Web form
XML web service
Supports industry standard security
technologies – PKI and smart card
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New Development
Methodology
 Global perspective
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both internal and external
 Process oriented
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Workflow improvement
 Software architecture
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Multi-tiered design
Object-oriented design
Layered development
• Framework code generator to hide architectural details
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XML web service for connectivity
 Universal accessibility
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Web
PDA
Wireless
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New Breed of IT Personnel
 Business analyst
 Software architect
 More demanding on skills of systems
analysts as well as programmers
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Object-oriented know-how
Business knowledge is essential
Layered development
 Team work is more important than ever
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Trends at SHG IT
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From packaged to self-developed
From tightly integrated to loosely coupled
From centralised to distributed
From internally focused to balanced (both
internal and external)
 From simple to sophisticated architecture
(object-oriented, multi-tiered, layered design)
 From technology oriented to process oriented
(reengineering and workflow improvement)
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Summary
 Evolving business implies evolving IT systems, which
have become strategic competitive tools instead of just
back-office transaction processors
 Global perspective means IT systems must cater to
internal staff and partners and customers as well
 Business process design is as important as software
design
 Software architectural design is critical
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Object Oriented technology
Multi-tiered design
Layered development
 Use of Internet and XML web service is essential
 Microsoft .NET greatly facilitates such new
development methodology
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Thank You