At Walmart there are multiple AIS systems used due to there being different
types of services being performed. There is an AIS system for the main part of
the store that deals with shipping and receiving with cash flow in and out.
There is also an AIS system for the vision center, the pharmacy, and the auto
care center that all perform specific tasks related to those specific services.
The AIS keeps track of the inventory in the store. When the inventory starts to
run low due to purchase the register sends a code to the system that says this
item was just bought. The inventory is then reduced by the number of items
that was purchased. When the inventory for that particular item gets low
enough the AIS system orders more of that product. The only time that a
manual order is ever placed into the system is for those supplies that the store
uses on a regular basis such as oil for the Auto Care Center or paper towel and
toilet paper used in the bathrooms. Another part of the AIS system is used for
the online grocery shopping. As a customer orders their items the AIS system
sends a message to the handheld devices that communicate with it that the
items need to be picked. As the items are being picked, the workers scan each
item to let the store system know that these items have been purchased so that
the inventory is accurate. After all items have been taken out of the system and
picked for the customer the AIS system then sends the payment for that order
through just like it would if the items were purchased at the register. Because
it is an online order, the AIS connected to it records the customers information
like name and address as well as what was ordered. This helps the customer
track their order to know when it is being delivered to them or when it is ready
for pickup. When it comes to the AIS for the Auto Care Center, there is a
small adjustment made to the b system. Just like the online system, the
customers information is stored into it for easy access to the account. The only
difference is there are no items being ordered. It is a service that is being
purchased. Which means that from the initial write up of the service order to
the completion of that order, the system has to be in constant communication
with all aspects of the system because the system has to relay the information
from the service writing program to the bay system program. Then when the
service is finished, the bay system has to relay the information to the register
and then from there, once the customer has paid, the register needs to relay the
information to accounting and inventory so that the proper amounts are
recorded (cash inflow to the ledger and subtraction from inventory as well as
purchase of the inventory). The system has to break the order down into the
multiple parts used for this service (i.e. the oil used and the oil filter used).
These parts are not subtracted from the system as being used until the
customer pays for them after the service has been rendered. This means that
changes can be made to the service order at any time per customer request.
The only change that I would make to the system would be in regards to who
sees the personal information that gets stored. As of right now most
employees in Walmart can access that system. Which means that all personal
information is vulnerable to attack. Because of how the systems connect and
communicate throughout the store a person that works in online grocery
pickup can login to the system in automotive and see the personal records of
customers and vice versa. This can also be done in regards to the pharmacy
even though there are security measures in place to try and prevent it. I would
make it so that only those employees that work in those areas are allowed to
access personal information. If you work in pharmacy you cannot access the
personal information of a customer who visited the Auto Care Center for
service, same as a person from online grocery pickup cannot access the
personal information of a customer who visited the pharmacy. The only time
access can be granted is when it is given to that person. If automotive needs
help writing up customers and they call on an employee inside the store, that
employee needs to be given access by management only to that system so that
they can help out. When they are done helping out management needs to take
that access away so that there is no chance for a breach of that part of the
system. Right now the system gives restricted access to several applications
and systems that help run the store. The higher up you are in the store (i.e.
department managers, leads, coaches) the more access you have to the various
applications. This should be the same for accessing the applications that are
used in the various service areas of the store.
