Unit 33
The Impact of Communications Technology on Businesses
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P1: Describe how the internet operates
When a webpage is opened on the internet, a request is sent to the web server where it's located. These requests are in the form of a packet. When this packet arrives to the server, the server opens it and reads the request. Even a small image sometimes has to be split into hundreds and thousands of packets so that it can arrive to the requester in time. These packets include information about how they should be put back together when they arrive to their destination. When the server have sent out the packets to the computer, the router(s) and switch(es) direct them to the right direction. The router will then try to find the quickest possible route for each of the packets – sometimes they arrive all at the same time, sometimes they don’t. When the computer received all the packets, the computer will have to read each packet's information in order to figure out how to put the packets together and display the information – in this case the webpage on the user's screen.
Internet Service Providers – often referred to as "ISPs" are the businesses and organizations that provide users with internet connection / access, among other internet related services. These providers connect customers to customers of other service providers using networks. Often, Internet Service Providers (sometimes also referred to as "Internet Access Providers") are companies that provide telecommunications services, including data communications access and telephone connection. The majority of telephone companies now function as Internet Access Providers as well. A few examples of ISPs are as follows:
- Virgin Media,
- BT,
- Sky Broadband,
- TalkTalk,
- EE,
- Vodafone.
In regards to computers, it is also essential to understand what a network is. There is already a wide variety of features that a computer offers on its own, however once you connect it with another equipment – such as a printer or a scanner - you will be able to do a whole lot more with the computer. In basic terms, a computer network is simply a collection of computer equipment that's either connected with wires or optical fibers, or wirelessly, so that the various separate devices (which are sometimes referred to as "nodes") can communicate with one another therefore allowing them to swap data with each other.
A computer can be connected to the internet via two ways; an ethernet cable, or wireless connection.
Connecting a computer to the internet using an ethernet cable is fairly straightforward. Ethernet cables have the same connectors on both of their ends, therefore you just simply plug in one end of an ethernet cable into a free ethernet port on your router, and the other end into your computer.
Wireless connections are more complex. In order to be able to connect to the internet using a wireless connection, the device in subject must have a wireless NIC (which stands for Network Interface Card). Most laptops, smartphones, tablets and even desktop computers have them by default, nowadays. Aside a wireless NIC, it is required for the household – or the building in general – that you are in, to have a wireless router, specifically. A wireless router provides a connection with the physical network. A computer device needs to be within close range of the router in order to get good connection. The wireless connection uses radio signals to send data across networks. The process is not too complicated; the wireless adapter converts the data into a radio signal, and the wireless receiver will decode it so that the computer in subject can "understand" it.
A few of the technologies involved within networking are Bluetooth, 4G phones etc.
Bluetooth – which is a device – uses radio waves, instead of wires or cables to connect to a computer or a phone. This is considered as a form of wireless networking.
A Bluetooth product contains a computer chip with a Bluetooth radio and software which aids the ease of connection. Bluetooth connection is only available within a short distance of the sender and the receiver.
4G stands for the 4th generation of mobile networks. When 4G phones are put into context, it refers to phones that are 4G capable, which means that they are capable of wireless, 4th generation of mobile networking.
4G networking studies claim that it provides up to five times the networking speed compared to the previous generation of mobile networking, 3G.
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P2: Describe examples of how the internet is used by selected, contrasting businesses
Apple
Apple uses the internet in many ways. They utilize social media pages - such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - alongside their own websites to gather as much traffic to their sites as possible for a chance of gaining revenue, making profits and to build their positive feedbacks. Apple focuses on the internet to be used as a platform for digital marketing campaigns - such as promoting their new products using forms of multimedia, like videos, images and music - and because of the fact that word spreads like wildfire on the internet. For example, before the iPhone 7 (their latest flagship smartphone) came out, Apple started releasing sneak peaks of their newest handset – such as the corner of the device, etc. - to get their audience to talk about their product, which is classed as free marketing basically.
When they released the "previews" of their latest flagship device (the iPhone 7) they have used Twitter (a social media website) as their platform for this marketing campaign. This was an ongoing campaign that was during the period of 10th September 2016, and 15th September 2016 – with the device being released on the 16th September 2016.
With the release of these sneak peaks, this got some people thinking; is Apple trying to conduct research from their audience to see whether there will be a "hype" generated for this new device? The answer is maybe. This can easily be perceived like so, however there is no actual proof that this was Apple's intention.
Apple's main two USPs (Unique Selling Points) are the quality of handsets that they manufacture, alongside their highly reputable customer service. I personally believe, that their customer service is what helped them develop their online presence. They have multiple ways to help their customers; both online, and in-store. Online, they have Apple forums, where customers can register and share their knowledge, and to aid one another in situations where one might be stuck. They also have a platform built into their website, which serves basically as a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). Customers can choose the product that they are having issues with, and the website guides them through a short "questionnaire" which helps them narrow down their issue, followed by giving them already existing questions, with answers to aid them with the issues that their customers might be having. In-store, it is a different story. Apple have a team of technical support members, who are referred to as the "Apple Geniuses". They are highly trained professionals who can train the new Apple product users to feel more confident using their devices.
Tesco (Tesco Mobile)
Tesco also uses the internet in many different ways. They have an online web shop where customers can safely and easily order food to be delivered to their door when they don't have the time, or just simply the energy to do it themselves. This has broadly spread across many big supermarket chains as they have all started to see the opportunities in a business like this. Tesco also has social media pages where they occasionally release vouchers or promote new products to – again – get the word spread across social media, friends and family, in the hope of generating some revenue. Tesco – like Apple – use newsletters to engage with their audience, and it is very easy to use too. They have to set 1 email up, design it all, then they can just save that template and send it to millions and millions of email addresses – and depending on whether it has been done using CSS and HTML (and JavaScript) or using a newsletter designer tool, it is quite cheap – if not completely free.
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P3: Use the internet for different types of business activities
Business research
There are different ways in which a business can do research using the internet, but mainly it's done by using search engines or by just browsing through the web.
A search engine is a very useful way to find research online if you know how to properly use it. When looking for research on a search engine, you need to make sure that you are specific with what you're looking for, the keywords (for example, if you are looking to find out what the weather is in Liverpool tomorrow, you should search "What will be the weather like tomorrow in Liverpool" instead of "What is the weather like tomorrow where I live". You also can't always expect to receive the exact information that you are looking for, therefore you need to be both flexible and measurable. You need to make sure that you read the meta information, which can be found easily; when you search for something in Google – for example – you will then receive the results. For each result, there are 2 pieces of information; the Title, and the Meta description. You need to make sure that you read those information and determine if you have found the information you are looking for or not.
By just browsing through the internet, sometimes it is easier to find what you are looking for, if you are looking in the right place. There are risks, though, for researching on the internet for business purposes. There could always be faulty information given, as the internet has access to it – therefore it can be modified – such as Wikipedia. You need to make sure that the source you are looking at is reliable, read reviews, and make sure it has an SSL certificate installed, so you can be sure that your information is protected at all times. There are also fake search engines. By fake I don't mean that they don't work, most of them do actually work and bring up results, but they will contain viruses, and go by the name of big search engines, such as Google and Yahoo. The way you can check whether you are using the actual, trusty and genuine search engine is by looking at the page's URL address. If it is www.google.com or www.yahoo.com then you can be sure that you are in the right place. If it's like www.best-free-search-engine-no-viruses.com then I wouldn't use it (although new search engines are not always harmful, there can definitely be good search engines that just want to work they up to the level that Google stands for example.
Procurement
So what does procurement mean? Procurement stands for the act of obtaining or buying goods and services. How is procurement done using technology? Well, it's quite straightforward if one has experience purchasing goods / services online. The customer will navigate to the company's platform (website or app etc.) where they are able to purchase the required goods and / or services. The customer will click on "Add to basket", followed by navigating to their basket and clicking "Checkout". Here they are usually able to login and / or register, as well as inputting their delivery details. After this is done, they can click on "Proceed" where they will be able to choose a way to check out. PayPal is the check out solution that is mainly used by online retailers today, however some still offer the ability to purchase goods and services by typing in card details, and making a transfer manually. After the purchase, the customer usually receives an email in which the invoice is included, as well as a link where they can view/download/obtain the product/service they have just purchased. The process includes preparation and processing of a demand as well as the end receipt and approval of payment. The process of procurement is often part of a company's strategy because the ability to purchase certain materials will determine if operations will continue. A business will not be able to survive if its price of procurement is more than the profit it makes on selling the actual product.
Business activities
Backing up data:
In a business environment, it is essential for business documents, and just information in general to be backed up. This is important, because documents could get lost and therefore be in a bad position. We are not only talking about offline information, but online too – or at least some form of technological data. So how would we back these information up? Offline documents could be backed up by photocopying the important pieces of information that the business depends on, and hiding in a safe of some form – or scanning it, and storing it on some form of digital database – such as Google Drive or Dropbox. Digital information could be backed up by saving copies onto portable hard drives, or even burning it onto discs – if that's what a business prefers. Another way of keeping data safe, could be done by encryption. Encryption is one of the most powerful ways that can keep data safe, and it's majorly deterrent to hackers. Even if the data ends up being stolen, there is a high chance that it will be unreadable and near enough useless, as long as it's encrypted. Encryption is done by using computers and algorithms to turn plain text into an unreadable, jumbled code.
In order to decrypt the data into plain text, you will be required to input the encryption key – which is a series of bits that can decode the text. The key is considered as a password – only you, or the recipient knows. Computers are capable of breaking encrypted code by simply guessing the encryption key, however if a very sophisticated algorithm is used – like the elliptic curve algorithm – it can take a very long time to decrypt.
Shopping transaction:
Carrying out a shopping transaction is fairly straightforward – whether it be in person, or online. In person, all that needs to be done is simply get the items you wish to purchase, take them to the till, and pay for the items using cash, or debit / credit cards – sometimes even PayPal, in some stores. A technology that is highly used nowadays to pay for your goods is Apple Pay, as well as Android Pay. This technology uses NFC connection with the card reader, by which it can read the amount payable, and the account payable to quick and easily, by holding your phone to the card reader. Not all card readers are compatible with Apple or Android Pay, however in most stores – like McDonald's, Sainsbury's, Tesco, JD Sports, this technology is available. This technology is – in theory – the same as using contactless cards to check out, just a little bit more secure, since with Apple and Android Pay the user can turn on an option to only be able to use Apple and Android Pay whilst reading their fingerprints on the fingerprint scanner of the device (which is why this technology is only available on devices, which have fingerprint readers). The technique is the same in theory for online shopping too. However, instead of physically picking the items, putting them into the basket and paying for them in person, you do everything online, virtually. So you browse through a big collection of products, click "Add to basket" for the ones you wish to purchase, and include the quantity (1,2,3,4...). When you are finished with picking the items, you go ahead and navigate to your basket, review your order, click on "Proceed with Payment" or something of this sort, and then some websites will ask you to either Register or Login, although some will just let you skip that and Check Out as a Guest. Once you have created your account, logged in or just clicked Check Out as a Guest, you will be given (in most cases) two main payment options; Credit & Debit Card Payment, and PayPal. If you'd like to pay with card and you don't have PayPal, you will have to input your card details (usually Account Number, Sort Code, Account Holder's Name, Expiry Date and the CVV (or CV2) code, which are the 3 numbers at the back of your card. After you have made the payment, you will (most of the time) receive an email confirmation regarding your order – and if you have chosen your items to get delivered, it will most likely include delivery details too.
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