Analysis

Data Management System

When asked Jewel Miller, current owner of Asisco Automotive Inc., “What type of information system do you use for your business?” She responded and started discussing ICas. ICas is an information system that is used on a daily basis at Asisco Automotive for almost everything. 

“ICAS computer systems Inc. began 30 years ago.  It has been a leading provider of superior business management software provided to aftermarket distribution companies.  These companies are warehouse distributors, jobbers, and truck parts & service operations.  The company’s innovative solutions are designed specifically for inventory intensive environments to increase productivity and efficiency while maintaining the industry’s lowest TCO.  ICAS is committed to their customer’s success by providing world-class customer service and support.” (www.ICAS.com)

Asisco Automotive has been using ICas computer system for 20+ years for accounting, inventory, and accounts receivable purposes. Bills for customers that have charge accounts are made using this system and then printed out. Mrs. Miller explains that ICas is extremely helpful for Asisco in that it is able to pull up prices, check inventory, locate past bills, and keep up to date on which customers owe them how much money. Being a small business, it is sometimes hard for Asisco to always keep on things of this nature. “ICas helps keep this company running smoothly,” stated Jewel. Asisco Automotive does more B2B (business to business) business than any other type. The ICas system provides a very efficient way to keep up on these accounts

On top of the ICas system, Asisco uses a very old style system that has been in place since the company first opened in 1961. They use a carbon copy turn-style, which stacks all the handbills that have been made for the day. At the end of each day, Scott (the manager) takes these handbills, and counts out both himself and the cashier’s money according to these bills.  The bills are then given to the accountant to put them in the books. When we asked Scott why they use such an old style system, he responded saying “Because it’s effective and easy. Why replace something that works perfectly fine”.

While inquiring about how they keep up to date on customers accounts when they do not pay with cash or charge, Jewel explained that all the receipts, no matter the payment style, are given to the accountant. He then takes all of the receipts, and enters this information into the ICas system accordingly. When customers send checks to pay off their bill, they are also given to the accountant and entered into the system after they have been deposited.

E-Commerce

            Asisco Automotive has only begun using E-commerce in recent years. Scott told us that they have a pretty descent amount of customers coming in and purchasing inventory from advertising on craigslist. Here are some links to their advertisements:

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/pts/3015073855.html

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/pts/3077355716.html

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/pts/3077352236.html

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/tls/2965239786.html

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/pts/3015274718.html

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/pts/2974545864.html

Since Asisco is also a B2C (Business-to-customer) company, they are trying harder and harder to get their name out to potential retail customers. Asisco has recently set up one social networking account, which is Facebook to help do so:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ASISCO-AUTOMOTIVE-COMPANY-INC/113008125376049

Asisco is still in the beginning stages of figuring out how to make this effective for their company.

Business Intelligence

            Being in the line of business that they are in, Asisco Automotive has to deal with constant changes in price. Whether it is oil prices changing, or battery prices fluctuating, there is always something to keep track of having to do with price changes. In order to keep on top of this, and even make an attempt to forecast this, Asisco uses Excel spreadsheets to follow the never-ending price changes on their inventory. Jewel tells us, “if we keep a record of how much our cost changes on inventory it’s a lot easier for us to follow the trends”.  When Asisco’s cost changes for a product, this in turn means that they have to change the price of the product accordingly in order to maintain the net income that they are receiving per unit sold.

            In an effort to keep their customers informed on price changes, Asisco made up a “special sheet” that has all of its more popular items with the current prices on them. These sheets are given to customers generally on a monthly basis in order to keep them informed and up to date on all of Asisco’s prices.

Hardware and Software

            Asisco has 2 old style desktops at the counter that run the ICas system. The manager, Scott, and the cashier, John, use them. Jewel, the owner, uses an average dell computer for business use. There is one more computer running the ICas system that is used by the accountant to enter data regarding customer accounts. No other employees use any sort of computer in the workplace besides these four people. Also, the cashier, John, uses a cash register that is not linked to any other sort of information system. These are the only types of hardware and software used at Asisco Automotive. It may be primitive in comparison to some other companies or competitors, but it gets the job done perfectly fine.