Case Study 1: Mashaweer

Case Study 1: Mashaweer

-          What Kinds of applications are described in this case? What business functions do they support?

In this case, The applications described in this case are: PDA, centralized application and SCADA. they started their own IT company, Innov8 (innovate), where they created a customized Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which they then connected to their customized PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) through a cloud computing system that was made by LinkDotNet and Mobinil. Each rider receives tasks one at a time on the PDA, which also includes a GPS to provide detailed directions. The GPS monitors the rider’s location.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) 

Processes by which a company manages and integrates are the important parts of its business. An ERP management information system integrates areas such as planning, purchasing, inventory, sales, marketing, finance, human resources, etc.

CISCO
A leading manufacturer of networking equipment, including routers, bridges, frame switches and ATM switches, dial-up access servers and network management software. Cisco was founded in 1984 by Leonard Bosack and Sandra Lerner, a married couple both employed by Stanford University. Initially targeting universities, Cisco sold its first router in 1986.

Mashaweer’s Server

Another software components developed by Innov8 include the Mashaweer Server. The Mashaweer Server is a centralized application that manages the following elements:

·           Orders (Placement, editing, pricing, review, tracking and reports) 

·           Routes management and optimization

·           Clients (Management, reports, discounts)

·           Packages tracking

·           Contracts

·           Call Center

·           Satellite offices 

·           Representatives

·           Cash transactions and expenses tracking or representatives and satellite offices

·           Asset tracking and satellite offices

·           Asset tracking of vehicles, PDAs and mobile printers 

·           Management reports.

Application Programmers’ Interface (API)           

The Application Programmers’ Interface (API) is a set of programming instructions and standards for accessing a web-based software application or web tool. A software company releases its API to the public so that other software developers can design products that are powered by its service. 

SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)

SCADA is a category of software application program for process control, the gathering of data in real time from remote locations in order to control equipment and condition. SCADA is used in power plants, as well as in oil and gas refining, telecommunications, transportation, and water and waste control.

The business functions that the case supports: Manufacturing and production, finance and accounting and human resources.

Major Business Functions:

1. Manufacturing and production: Assembling the product

2. Sales and marketing: Identifying customers

3. Finance and accounting: Creating financial statements

4. Human resources: Hiring employees

-          What are the benefits from equipping their riders with PDAs?

Through this technology Mashaweer decreases the amount of errors due to the fact that the messenger is tied to an automated process where he receives his tasks through the PDA handheld. And also to manages the following: 

1. Tracking the order items progress.

2. Track the collecting of order fees.

3. Messaging the riders.

4. Track the cash and expenses.

5. Synchronizing data periodically and at the beginning of each shift.

-          Was it a good decision to expand the business to Cairo? What are the implications of information Systems?

Yes it was a good decision to expand the business to Cairo since the succeed in Alexandria. 

 It is expected to facilitate working conditions and reduce costs is the technological advances that occur every day. They planned to enter Cairo with full force so that there would be a high barrier of entry for any competitor they decided that their competitive advantage would have to be in investing in technology. Mashaweer heavily depends on technological tools, and would benefit from the advancements and price reductions that continuously take place. As a result, Mashaweer’s total costs will decrease, enabling it to decrease its prices and further improve its quality to become even more convenient for a large number of people.

-          Do you think that Mashaweer will be able to accomplish their future strategy and sustain its market share?

Yes, Mashaweer will be able to accomplish their future strategy and sustain its market for below reasons:

Mashaweer is an online supermarket that will enable people to do their grocery shopping through Mashaweer’s website and get it delivered by its representatives within 30 minutes of placing the order. Mashaweer’s call center is expected to make up an important revenue stream for the company in the near future, as the company starts introducing marketing campaigns. Using the technology they have invested in building their infrastructure, Mashaweer now has the potential to easily enter and penetrate other markets in different regions as a very low initiation cost.

-          Do you think in near future, the competition between Mashaweer and Wassaly will be aggressive? Why?

The competition between Mashaweer and Wassaly will be not aggressive as Mashaweer is the only company of its kind in Egypt that operates on this business scale. However, there is a company called Wassaly that was established in Cairo after Mashaweer’s success in Alexandria. This company operates on a much smaller scale. Their indirect competitors include other courier services (e.g DHL, UPS, TNT and FedEx). However, they have positioned themselves as the flexible courier in contrast to the couriers available in the market today; they offer same day delivery rather than next day delivery. Mashaweer has several other advantages that make it very hard for others to compete: Database of thousands of loyal clients; Self-investment is manageable; Highly qualified and carefully selected riders due to the high salaries compared to the delivery sector in the Egypt.; Various revenue streams.; Being the owner of the IT Company Innov8 fosters technology integration in Mashaweer.