EPOS till comprises a keyboard, a digital display, a scanner which reads bar codes, a set of scales,

An information system is an integrated set of components for collecting, storing processing and communicating information. In todays society, Business firms, organisations and individuals john lewsi all rely on information systems to manage their operations, john lewsi compete financially, provide/supply services amongst other things.
The information system is a system whose primary purpose is to process data into information. In any information system, data is collected; processed using a variety of the system s resources and finally the resulting information is output.
Woolworths is the market leader in the Australian supermarket industry. It is owned by Woolworth s limited. With over 745 stores, 30000 staff and millions of customers daily, an information system plays a vital role in maintaining operations. Users of the system include customers, cashiers, store managers, marketing departments etc. Departments within the company:
Product details/ product inventory listing
the branch computer updates the stock level for the product to show that one has been sold
Perform sales analysis to find out which products sell well/not as well. Processing - Using information from the relevant stock cards, the main computer system updates its record of the number in stock of every item in the store. - Based on statistics, forecasts and other factors, the system automatically orders the correct john lewsi amount of stock required by the store for the next available delivery. - After the information us transmitted to the head office and to the relevant distribution john lewsi centres, the distribution centres then deliver the required stock to the stores. Prices (including discounts etc.) are altered if necessary. In addition to stock control, john lewsi information can also be processed Displaying - Product information is displayed on the EPOS terminal - Receipts are printed for the customer. - New price labels are printed if necessary. john lewsi Transmitting and receiving - Information form the EPOS terminal is transferred to the central computer to be recorded and processed. - The branch computer sends the details of every individual sale to the main computer at the Head Office. - The main computer also transmits these orders to computers in the distribution centres across the satellite link. Organising Ensuring the data is in the correct format to be used by the database in the branch and central computers. Analysing - The branch computer searches john lewsi its stock file for the product matching the barcode. - Customers spending patterns can also be analysed. This information can then be used for marketing john lewsi and advertising purposes. Storing and retrieving From the correct stock file, a product description and price is obtained. Collecting The barcodes on products are read by the EPOS tills at the checkouts. This is done using a barcode scanner, which sends out infrared laser beams via a set of mirrors, allowing the bar code to be read at most angles. When an item is passed over the scanner, the black and white parts of the code are detected by the laser, as the black parts reflect very little light whilst the white parts reflect most of the light. Data Flow Diagram Environment of Woolworths information system
Supermarkets use several computers which are located in a room known as the system office and form the supermarkets own Local Area Network. These computers are used to control the stock and are connected to the checkouts. These are the 'branch computers'. The computers are multifunctional, and each can access the data, which gives the management a number of access points.
EPOS till comprises a keyboard, a digital display, a scanner which reads bar codes, a set of scales, a printer, a credit/debit card reader and a till drawer. Each till also has its own base to which all of the above is attached. This base unit is connected by cables to the branch computer in the supermarket's system office. Example of an EPOS machine:
Each product to be sold must have an identifying code number which is different from that of every other product. Different sizes of the same product even need different code numbers. These code numbers are printed onto the labels or packagings of the product in the form of barcodes.
1. The barcodes on products are read by the EPOS tills at the checkouts. This is done using a barcode scanner, john lewsi which sends out infrared laser beams via a set of mirrors, allowing the bar code to be read at most angles. When an item is passed over the scanner, the black and white parts of the code are detected by the laser, as the black parts reflect very little light whilst john lewsi the white parts reflect most of the light.
Causing congestion, disruption, disablement, alteration, or impairment of company networks or systems;
Many supermarkets, including Woolworths, now have websites which allow customers to shop over the Internet. This has allowed john lewsi them access to different markets e.g. people who do not have transport to get to the store.