How Tesco Can Increase Productivity And Efficiency Through Technology

A number of Tesco staff in your store are extremely technophobic. They are reluctant to make full use of the software available to them and sceptical about the introduction of new technologies into the business. 

You have been asked by the managing director to prepare a report, with the aim of demonstrating to Tesco staff that information technology advances, such as self-checkout systems, increases their productivity and enhances the quality of Tesco's management. 

To do this, prepare a report for your team on the following.

1. Write a brief introduction outlining the background and purpose of the report.

3. Explain how Microsoft Office could help Tesco to increase its business productivity.

4. Describe three technological advances in terms of software and hardware that are taking place at Tesco.

Tesco and its staff's apprehension towards technology

Tesco Plc is the largest supermarket chain in UK which has recently posted profits after suffering losses from the past four years now. However, the staffs in my Tesco store are quite reluctant and hesitant to shift from the old method of dealing with the customers and the inventory to the usage of the software which is made available to them. They look at the technology as their competitor rather than their friend thus have a very apprehensive attitude towards acceptance of the new technology into the business. The said report is being made so as to highlight to the staff how the introduction of technology into the business and store would help to increase their quality of performance as well as overall productivity. The fact that these technology would not replace the staff but assist them in their work and how would they assist them is further discussed.

MS office or Microsoft Office is a collection of programs for the computer made by Microsoft. It is a user friendly program and has different versions for the domestic as well as commercial users. MS office is one of the most sought after tools which can help Tesco increase its productivity manifolds. It is very common connotation, ‘the heart of business productivity lies with the information worker,’ but the same is very true also. The same was never possible while doing the same independently or in conjunction with someone so efficiently as is now being offered by MS office and the various applications it offers such as word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. These applications gave Tesco the freedom to share information more freely as well as reliably. Further, since the business of Tesco is spread across various geographies, hence it helps to bring all the staff, customers and the partners under one roof.

It is the era of cloud computing and so Microsoft also offers its own set of cloud suite which is named as Microsoft Office 365 which ensure to provide cloud based productivity on your terms and conditions. First and foremost it has bought in the concept of Office Online. Tesco’s main aim is to ensure that technology reaches the hands of all he employees irrespective of their location so that they can create value for their customers which would in turn increase the productivity of the company. It has a search function which helps the staff to have quick access with the experts, data and the tools which would help them to conduct their work and also ensure that they are able to work together effectively (McCallion, 2013). It would ensure that they are working in cohesion and thus would provide an environment of trust and ease which would in turn boost productivity. The same is possible after the installation of MS Office 365, the new version of MS Office. The flow of valuable and processed data is such which supports effective and sound decision making by ensuring that information which is of need is bought to the right user.

How MS Office and Office 365 can help Tesco increase productivity

Flexibility is also one of the core strategies for success of a business organization and the same is offered by Office 365, thus ensuring that the productivity of the staff gets enhanced considerably. Flexible work environment would allow the colleagues of Tesco to communicate with each other and deliver high end shopping experience irrespective of the channel thus increasing the customer base as well.

Apart from the newer version of MS Office, the old version which offers the MS word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint applications are also useful and will always be for any organization irrespective of its size. Simple reason being writing of reports and proposals for business is well written with the help of MS Word which is more professional, Excel offers better calculations and statistic analysis which helps a business to understand how it is growing, what needs to be done in order to increase the productivity and PowerPoint helps to make useful presentations in a manner which the lay man would easily understand and reproduce it in real life.

Tesco has undergone through various technological advances currently. All these advances have enabled the supermarket chain to multiply its business with ease. Amongst the various advancements, three of the most sought after hardware and software technological advancement that has taken place in Tesco is narrated in the following paragraphs.

Firstly, Tesco has subscribed to Office 365 instead of MS Office 2016 simply because the former would ensure that the company and its staff always be equipped with the latest tools being offered by Microsoft. The main aim behind the roll out of such a technology within the company was to ensure that the employees are loaded with technology irrespective of their placement whether in a store or a distribution centre or a retail centre or back office. This would ensure that their way of working also gets flexible. This in turn would ensure that staff turnover is reduced considerably. The company has recently signed an agreement with Microsoft who would update Tesco with the latest versions of its products and services at the company’s head office, stores, distribution channels and data centres as well which would comprise of Windows, Office, Sharepoint, Exchange, Lync, BizTalk and SQL Server. The agreement also includes the consultancy services as well under the Microsoft Enterprise Strategy Programme. As per the company officials, this deal would help it to improvise upon the productivity, decision making, obtain operational efficiency as well as help to share knowledge easily. Since the employees are widely spread across various geographies, the said deal would help to bring them all together thus enabling them to share their experiences, problems, issues as well as find solutions to their queries as well (Williams, 2011).

Cloud-based productivity on your terms and conditions

The company has been one of the most successful user of the self checkout system and has gained manifolds with the implementation of the said technology. This system has enabled the Tesco stores to convert their cash counters into unmanned automated terminals so that they are able to manage the large volume of the customers easily. These systems have increased the profitability of the company as it has been able to attract more customers due to their time saving technology while billing wherein they are not required to stand in long queues before final billing of their chosen products are done.

Another advancement which has been seen in the technology of Tesco is the introduction of the new audio voice in their self checkout system which was introduced around a decade ago. It was a more friendlier way of self check out system which was less talkative and the system will not send warning messages to the customers with an infamous phrase, ‘unexpected time in the bagging area.’ The said system of self checkout was introduced in the year 2003 and now the company has around 12000 such systems which have a very important part to play in the life of those shoppers who have paucity of time. However the earlier voice was very irritating for the customers as it used to put unnecessary pressure on the shoppers once they are done with picking the stuff they want to shop. Thus this new audio system has a softer tone and phrases have also been updated to friendlier ones such as ‘Thank you for shopping at Tesco.’ The said new voice is now a part of most of the Teso stores in UK (tescoplc.com. 2015).  

Conclusion

Thus on a concluding note, I would like to highlight the fact to the employees and staff of the company, that they should not fear the implementation of technology within the company. If a technology is being implemented, the company would ensure that adequate training and support is being provided. Further in this world of globalisation where technology is advancing at a fast pace, becoming technophobic and sceptical towards implementation of technology would even hamper the career of the staff as well as the productivity of the company. Tesco is one of the biggest supermarket chains of UK and it cannot afford to stay laid back in terms of technological advancement and if the staffs are not supportive then it can never achieve success. Productivity would increase if the staffs agree to adapt to the technological advancements as it would help to reduce the processing time of the customer orders, get instant inventory level thus serving to customer queries without a doubt as well as ensure that the management is provided with the right information at the right time. Thus, the fact that the staff self checkout systems, introduction of Office 365 as a newer version of MS Office would not deteriorate their quality of work but in turn lead to greater output as compared to what they have been delivering till date.

References:

McCallion,J., (2013), Tesco bags Office 365 deal, Available at https://www.cloudpro.co.uk/saas/5166/tesco-bags-office-365-deal (Accessed 05th April 2017)

Tescoplc.com., (2015), Tesco to end ‘unexpected item in the bagging area’, Available at https://www.tescoplc.com/news/news-releases/2015/tesco-to-end-unexpected-item-in-the-bagging-area/ (Accessed 05^th April 2017)

Williams, J., (2011), Tesco signs eight-year deal to use Microsoft products and services, Available at https://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240105230/Tesco-signs-eight-year-deal-to-use-Microsoft-products-and-services (Accessed 05th April 2017)