Medienoptimierung in Transaktionsprozessen (English shop)

Entwicklung eines Vorgehenskonzepts

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Abstract

Enterprises in the agri-food sector are nowadays confronted with a multitude of requirements resulting from rising demands on food quality and food safety, from globalisation, interactivity and the worldwide interconnection of markets, requiring a high capacity for adaptation and learning in order to maintain competitiveness.

A key factor for coping with these problems is the use of information and communication technologies, since they offer a high potential to optimise information processes, to design coordination processes between trading partners efficiently and to advance process integration.

However, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a low level of digitalisation of trade activities can be observed, which can be explained by the complexity of the processes and the variance of business relationships, but also by a lack of knowledge about the advantages of media use. These particularities of the sector also explain the lack of adequate digitalisation concepts.

The objective of this thesis is the development of a generic framework which supports the integration of information technologies in these enterprises and at the same time takes into account the variance of the sector and the missing knowledge of its players. For its implementation, reference processes are modelled which aim at the design of adequate e-commerce processes for the various trade scenarios in the sector. These are integrated into a development path which provides for a stepwise improvement of media use and e-commerce use in the enterprise.

In addition, the present work names factors for the situation-appropriate assessment and selection of a process, points out necessary adaptations to enterprise-specific conditions and names steps of adoption which lead to the successful implementation of the adapted process. Particularly important in this context are the indications of possible problem areas during the introduction of the selected process option.

The validation of the reference processes and of the framework is carried out by means of a sector-typical case study from the grain sector, whose transaction process is evaluated with regard to optimisation potential with the help of a business process optimisation and a cost-benefit assessment. The results are finally discussed in an expert interview.

Abstract

Enterprises in the agri-food sector are facing a high number of requirements which are a
result of globalisation, interactivity and worldwide interconnection. Flexibility and learning
capacity as well as the use of Information and Communication Technology are seen as the
key factors for staying competitive and solving these problems as they generate a high potential
to optimise information processes, design efficient trade activities, and enhance the
process integration.

However, there is a lack of trade activity digitalization in small and middle-sized enterprises,
which can be explained by the complexity of processes, variety of business relationships and
lack of knowledge about the advantages of media usage. These specifics of the sector are
the reason for a missing digitalisation concept.

The objective of this thesis is to formulate a generic framework which supports the integration
of information technology in these enterprises and considers the sectors variance and
the missing knowledge of its players at the same time.

The configuration of adequate e-commerce processes is achieved by modeling reference
processes for this purpose. These are integrated in a development path which includes a
stepwise guideline for the optimisation of media and e-commerce use in enterprises.

In addition the present work names factors for the appropriate assessment and choice of a
process, points out the necessity of its adaptation and describes the procedure of a successful
adoption and implementation. The illustrated potential problems while implementing the
chosen process possess a strategic importance.

Reference model and concept of procedure are validated by means of a case study of the
grain sector. Its transaction process is evaluated with the help of a business process optimization
and a cost-benefit analysis to detect potential for optimisation. The results are finally
discussed in an expert interview.