Araij Trading

From basic information management to more integrated solutions

Company presentation Describe the IS issues

Client Databases Document Database E-mail Server Logistics Tracking

Integrated Website Conclusion

Araij is a major player in the logistics and marketing industry in the Middle Eastern and African markets

Specialization in 3PL, product development and marketing

Setup in Dubaï in 1996

8 subsidies worldwide

42 fulltime employees

Turnover of $30 million

COMPANY PRESENTATION

0.6 0.5 0.8 1.2 0.9 1.4 1.9

4.9

6.8 7.48.6

14.1

30.1

15.7

18.9

30.7

Growth of Business

CLIENT DATABASE

Current system: The headquarter and the subsidies have their own Excel client databases

Manual data entry

No harmonization Data transfer by batches

Information about clients and orders stored in different places

Resolution: Creation of a relational database linked to a Sharepoint

Clients, orders and products linked together

Possibility to make quick searches and requests in the database

Online data entry from the salesforce

DOCUMENT DATABASES

Current system:

All the key documents are stored in hard copy format or kept in attached files in e-mails

Waste of time and money to assemble documents needed to satisfy customers’ requirements

Resolution:

Web server to create a database of documents available all around the world

Use of a software like Microsoft Sharepoint 2010 linked to the database to share documents more easily with customers

Weakness: security

EMAIL ACCOUNTS

Current system: e-mail server with only 42 accounts registered

The people in the company have interlinked work which create a lot of e-mail redundancy

High maintenance cost

Low storage capacity Necessity to delete e-mails

Resolution: Cloud computing solution (Google Apps )

Lower maintenance and upgrade costs Annual $50 fee for each user account

Lower redundancy

Search engine

Ease of access Everywhere / Any computer

LOGISTICS

Current system:

Supplier Sea Freight

Multiple Supplier

Company warehouse

Landing port

Single client

Multiple clients

Company warehouse

Project site

1

2

34

4a

1b1a

4b

5

Logistic operations are quite complex as many shipment are merged together for economies of scales.

Transportation consists of road transport and ocean shipping

For the moment there is no real-time tracking communication is done by phone and e-mail at each transfer in the logistic chain

Resolution: Real-time tracking

Bar codes and RFID to track shipments and containers

Implementation cost have to be evaluated to see if they can be absorbed in the long run (phone bills savings and value addition for the clients)

Time saved on shipment tracking

Alerts regularly sent to the client

WEBSITE

Current system: Informative website

The Website is 10 years old and provides minimal information on the company

No document download Clients have to make e-mail requests to get the information they want

Resolution: A website like a gateway to online services

More information integration

Create a link to the Sharepoint

Create different accesses for employees, clients and visitors security issue

Access for clients to real-time tracking information

CONCLUSION

From a Push to a Pull information system

Buy in by cross collaboration

Mitigation of IT costs

Change management…