4.What brands of computer can you find at Wal*Mart?
At Wal*Mart we have a variety of selections on brands computers, the only questions should be made would be: How much capacity does the computer have? How much do you want to spend? Wal-Mart offers the following computer brands: HP, e-machines, Dell, Acer, ZT, Lenovo, Cyber Power, IbuyPower, Gateway, Sony, Asus, and View Sonic, Coby, Compaq, Toshiba, MSI, Entourage System, Mirus.
The data mining tools is used to manipulate the data warehouse information and depending who need it or the department that needed this can be small or big and the goal is to create business intelligence, an example on how Wal-Mart can use this tool it could be by department like the receivables department they would create a data mart. Data mart is a subset of a data warehouse in which only a focus portion of the data warehouse information is kept an example for the accounting department would be one that will allow this department to have specific information on the need of a customer and not any information that it will be only for the department making this data mart manageable considering their particular needs to the individual receivables items. Wal-Mart will be capturing a point of sale from over 2,900 stores in 6 countries and continuously transform this data to its massive 7.5 terabyte Terodata data warehouse this will allow more than 3,500 suppliers to access data on their products and perform data analysis. These suppliers will use this information to identify the customer buying patterns at the store and they will use this information to manage local store inventory and identify new merchandise necessary to be brought to the customer.
All this processes have a correlation because data mining tools are to data warehouse users what data manipulation subsystems tools are to database users and then this data warehouse system has the responsibility for converting logical request into physical equivalent through query and reporting tools, intelligent agents, multidimensional analysis tools and statistical tools.
Sam Walton didn’t care much for technology. The legendary patriarch of Wal-Mart Stores was well-known for his lack of excitement about computers, as he called the company’s IT systems. “Truthfully, I never viewed computers as anything more than necessary overhead, he wrote in his 1992 memoir, Made in America. A computer is not –and will never be-a substitute for getting out in your stores and learning what’s going on. Many still consider Wal-Mart pioneering, IT-driven supply chain to be the works most efficient, and the company’s technology standards still command respectful attention from its thousands of supplier” (Thomas Wailgum, cio.com)
Wal-mart uses NeoVista Software deploying the Neo Vista Decision Series which suites the integrated data mining software to replenish and support the decision environment and the purpose of this program is to refine store-item seasonality and build more accurate predictive models for its system-assisted replenishment systems. On a weekly basis, the NeoVista Decision Series analyzes 52 weeks of Wal-Mart POS(point of sale) from each of its 2,900 stores, representing approximately 70 gigabytes and when the result are back adds value to the data warehouse.
Databases and brand software used by Wal-Mart
The main databases that are used by Wal-Mart are Customer Relationship Management systems (CRM) and another called Retail Link. The CRM is primarily used for tracking customers by looking at orders, complaints, amount of money spent, products purchased, etc. The other program, Retail Link is a support system for Wal-Mart and their suppliers. The specific brand that they use is called NCR’s Teradata Software, which is said to hold approximately 583 terabytes.
Wal-Mart also uses what is called Neo Vista Software. Neo Vista software is used to help Wal-Mart do research and data mining for their database. One advantage of this software is that the company was able to further enhance their inventory management system. The initial reasoning for using data mining for their database is partly because of Wal-Mart's goal to deliver what customers want and need; they want to get the right item, to the proper store, at the time it is needed and with low pricing in order to satisfy their clients. The NeoVista Decision Series is also used to look at certain items for their stores to decide their seasonal sales promotions for that year, to give them a forecast of the appropriate amount inventory during that time.
What are some of the files used by Wal-Mart?
The files the company creates for the system would be Customer Number, Order Number, Delivery Address, Order Date, and the Amount Ordered. They also keep track of employee files on the system, which also carry the data of, Date of Hire, Employee Name, Employee Number, etc. Most of the information is obtained by customers that place their orders on the website.
Wal-Mart aims to be a leader in their industry on all fronts, even on the side of social and ethical responsibility. When Sam Walton founded Wal-Mart in 1962, he instilled values that are still carried through into today’s line of business, his three basic beliefs were, “respect for the individual,” “service for the customer,” and “strive for excellence.” Going along with that thought, Wal-Mart created the Global Ethics office to promote their culture to all of their stakeholders around the world.
Wal-Mart also has in place an ethical standards program, this program is to ensure that all Wal-Mart factories, warehouses, distribution centers, and stores across the globe follow a set of rules for all workers to adhere to promote a better work place environment, and a better life for all. Not only do these rules have to be abided by Wal-Mart run locations, but also by all of the suppliers who sell items in Wal-Mart stores. Wal-Mart is committed to the ethical treatment of workers in al aspects of their business. Covalence is a company that researches and tracks the ethical reputation of international companies, when the last report came out, Wal-Mart was ranked third amongst thirty-five other international retailers as more socially responsible.
http://walmartstores.com/AboutUs/280.aspx
http://walmartstores.com/AboutUs/279.aspx
An inside look of a Walmart distribution center
Logistics — it’s how we get our products from the manufacturer to our store shelves. It’s the heart of the Walmart operation. We move millions of products to customers each day of the year. And we’re using the latest environmentally-sustainable practices in the process.
We have one of the largest private distribution operations in the world. We have more than 40 Regional Distribution Centers. Each one is over 1 million square feet in size. They operate 24/7 to keep our fleet of tractors and trailers rolling. Inside each DC, more than five miles of conveyor belts move over 9,000 different lines of merchandise. Each DC supports between 75 and 100 stores within a 250-mile radius.
For Walmart, the major business initiative being used is Supply Chain Management. A supply chain management system is an IT system that supports activities by automating the tracking of inventory and information among business processes and across companies. Wal-Mart is to ensure that all their suppliers are using Electronic Product Codes and for those who do not have the capability they work with them to find packages that are within their price range. This allows for a successful ensuring that customers get what they order in a timely manner. It allows for logistics, fulfillment, production, revenue and profit, cost and price efficiency, Another initiative is the, Go Green Concept, according to Wal-Mart’s pres
s release as
se it buys so much of their inventory and is thus a large percent of those companies revenues. It is no surprise then that these companies have lived and died with Wal-Mart's orders and would do anything to protect their business with them. Buyer power has about 55% of the five forces model that Wal-Mart uses, since the Company’s sole purpose is to ensure that its customers are, “Saving Money, Living Better”. Buyer power would also include their employees, in treating them with the respect, giving them support and having an open door policy, you create happy employees which transfers to happy customers. 
ompetitive an industry is. For instance, if there are lots of companies selling essentially the same products there will always end up being a price war which will severely hurt the company' profits. Wal-mart has such low prices which has created a problem for years and fierce competition has made it tough for competitors to make a profit.What types of internet business models are used?
Wal*Mart has been the leader and innovator in supply chain management, e-commerce and e- business. In their model, Wal*Mart’s low prices create a large demand that drives the suppliers. Since Wal*Mart’s inventory control system is so advanced they are able to send purchasing information to the suppliers to know which products are selling more, the suppliers in turn are able to know how much they will need on hand for just Wal*Mart alone and since each store is able to order their own merchandise the orders are sent out electronically for the amount needed the suppliers can have a very fast turnover time to send out the needed shipment to each store, and basically replenish their stock accurately by forecasting what they will need in each store, cutting the cost down as well as the time for both Wal*Mart and their suppliers.
What type of marketing mix does it adopt?
Wal-Mart’s marketing mix is very apparent in the way their design their websites, advertisements, as well as in store ads.
Registering with search engines:
Wal-Mart uses a variety of different key words and specific descriptions when they register with a search engines such as google, yahoo, and bing, which are considered the most popular. By registering with these search engines, they are giving themselves more exposure to clients by advertising their prices right up against their competitors, since other companies do the same thing, when a person is looking for a certain item and would type in a description of it along with the word “price” for example a list of companies who carry the item will appear in the search along with their online price. Wal-Mart, uses this in conjunction with their low prices to beat out their competitors.
Online Advertisements:
Wal-Mart does advertising online in addition to what they put on their website. Many Black-Friday based websites have a list of low priced products being sold in stores. Wal-Mart is usually advertising on all of these sites because of the deals that they have on that day as well as many banner advertisements and pop-ups on other sites especially during the holiday season to promote their products.
Affiliate Program:
Wal-Mart’s main website has a link to an affiliate program that they offer in which any person with a website who provides a link to Wal-Mart’s page can earn commission based upon the number of click through’s to their site as well as an additional commission on qualifying sales that Wal-Mart is promoting at that time. Wal-Mart designs all of the ads for the program all a person has to do is register with the company and post the given ads to their own website.
Wal-Mart uses a financial cybermediary as one of their payment methods. A financial cybermediary is an account which transfers money from one person to another or to a company over the internet, the best example of this would be a PayPal account.
