Assignment One: Question Three
Find two examples of what you consider to be an effective use of Internet marketing.For each example, describe what Internet marketing method(s) or technique(s) are used, discuss what you think is the purpose of the marketing campaign (customer acquisition ? customer retention ?), and evaluate which of the following Internet properties the online marketing campaign takes advantage of:
· interactivity or two-way communication
· pull marketing
· personalization or one-to-one
· greater hold on user's interest
· measurable and trackable
Minimum word count: 200 words

Choi Fung Hong Company Limited and the personal internet banking of Bank of China are effective use of internet marketing. Below are their websites:

http://www.choi-fung.com/pmpage.php
http://www.bochk.com/web/home/home.xml?lang=en

Choi Fung Hong is a company selling skin care products which produced in Hong Kong. The company does not spend any money on hiring star to promote the products. The goal is to provide good quality products at reasonable price. It creates value to customers. Besides internet marketing, the company also uses the tradition marketing methods, including provide free delivery services for every purchase over $300 and free samples will be given to customers.
The company has outlets in Hong Kong, you can find the details on the website and visit the outlets and ask for skin care advice from the staff. Doing a simple skin test on the website to see what kind of skin you have. You can contact the company if you have any enquiry, the contact information can be found on the website.

The following Internet properties the online marketing campaign takes advantage of:

1)Two-way communication: you can contact the company for any enquiry
2)Pull marketing: since the website lists all the products and their unit price, consumers can purchase according to their budget and needs. And the free delivery service is attractive.
3)Measurable and trackable: the company can measure the visitors and the sale and oversee the effectiveness of the internet marketing.
4)Greater hold on user's interest: products with cheaper price and free delivery services.

Another example is the personal internet banking of Bank of China.

You can overview your account, transaction record, asset portfolio and investment via internet.
Besides normal banking services, you can pay your bill as well. Monitor and manage your investment and check your MFP anytime you like. Easily apply loans and insurance via the internet banking.

By the way, the bank will regularly send you the monthly statement and promotions details.
It is convenient and easy to use. No need to line up anymore in the bank. You can contact the bank via the internet to have any information you like.

The following Internet properties the online marketing campaign takes advantage of:

1)Two-way communication: Consumer can contact the bank for any information
2)Pull marketing: convenient and easy to use, attract customer to use the services
3)The personal internet banking records can be used to evaluate the user’s needs, it is useful to define the segment of the user and then provide the right services to the user.

last one question is coming soon......

Individual Assignment: Question Two

Read this recent job posting for a customer relationship manager (CRM) from JobsDB.
Based on this job description, what would you say are the main responsibilites of a CRM manager ? Do any of these responsibilities involve in-depth or hands-on knowledge of information technology ? Explain your answer.

With refer to the job description, CRM manager’s main responsibility is to add profit to the company by concentrating on customer benefits and values.

To accomplish the responsibility, the CRM manager firstly needs to have touch point with customers. It includes brand’s co-op efforts with retailers, via online and offline programs, multi-channel consumer marketing programs, etc. The job description is mentioned: Lead the respective affiliates to develop and execute consumer contact strategy.

Secondly, the CRM manager has to identify, attract, differentiate and retain the customers through overseeing and monitoring the marketing programs and activities, analyzing consumer database, studying consumer behavior and key drivers of consumer lifecycle. The job description shows us that the CRM manager has to put a lot of efforts on this aspect. Including:

-development of consumer database, work with regional analytics team on analyzing the database and use consumer intelligence for better consumer marketing programs

-better resources allocation and better consumer services

-work closely with regional CRM Director and analytics team to understand key drivers of consumer lifecycle

-lead the respective affiliates marketing teams to integrate product marketing activities with consumer lifecycle programs.

Besides, monitor and analyze the effectiveness of the CRM programs to improve for future plan and re-allocate the resources in order to better serve customers. Obtain key data to aid in decision making is also a main responsibility of CRM manager. Just like the job description mentioned:

assist to develop and employ new customer research / survey methods to enable brands to obtain key data to aid in decision making.

All these responsibilities involve in-depth and hands-on knowledge of information technology. At the beginning of the job description, it is clearly stated that it is not an analytics position. The CRM manager has to word and co-operate with different parties such as local affiliates, regional teams, regional CRM Director, analytics team and service provider to run and monitor the programs, maximize the effectiveness of the marketing programs, understand the consumer behavior, better reallocation of resources, obtain key data to aid decision making and assist to develop and employ new customer research / survey methods. It is completely customer-focused strategy.

ANOTHER 2 IS COMING SOON......

Individual Assignment: Question One
Evaluate and compare the features, functions, pricing, available editions, technology etc. of any two sources of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. Here are some sources you may choose from:SAPLawson SoftwareMicrosoft Dynamics NAVOpenBravo - open-source ERPKingdee K/3QADBased on your understanding of ERP, do you believe that a firm should implement enterprise resource planning software when it is a new company, or after it has had time to mature ? Explain your answer.Minimum word count: 200

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a packaged business software which is used to collect and manage information across different functional areas in an organization. Both SAP and QAD are the companies who provide the ERP systems.

SAP and QAD provide different solutions to companies in different industry. SAP mainly focuses on providing solutions for companies in small and mid-sized as they occupies SAP 78% business base. SAP totally provides 6 ERP solutions and from which 4 solutions are suitable for SME enterprises. 3 solutions are with general business management functionalities and another 3 are business intelligence solutions. The implementation is from 2 days to 16 weeks.

QAD provides 11 solutions and most of them are specifically designed for function such as supply chain, manufacturing, customer management, analytics and reporting and financials. QAD provides variety education methods and customer support to the customers. On the contrast, SAP deploys the system on premise or desktop. For certain systems, free edition upgrade service is available in both companies.

SAP and QAD’s solutions are designed with the ease-of-use features. That means quick to implement and intuitive for users to learn. Their business is mainly based on licensing and certain based on monthly subscription. Tailored made system is also available in order to meet unique customer needs.

ERP system is used to polish internal and external process in order to smoothness the operation then focus on making business more profitable. No matter it is a new company or matured company, for large extent, ERP system is a good tool to the company. For a new company, it can be costly to build up the system especially a tailor made system. Comparing, it is safer and easier for a matured company to implement ERP system because such company realized what they need, choose which system, the budget and with stable human resources to implement the system.

I am going to finish my 1st assignment by 26th Oct.

Oh, my God! I forgot the password of my previous blog and created a new one, it's terrible...