Technology

What are some files used in your company?

One of the files used by Wal-mart is for on-line ordering purposes. These are files that include customer number, delivery address, order date, order number, item quantity and amount. Also, Wal-mart has files for its employees, which has information such as date hired, employee number, and overall employee information.

What databases?

Wal-mart operates various database systems; one of their main databases is the Inventory Management System. Wal-mart utilizes the Oracle Warehouse Management System for ongoing operations. This system is compatible to the Radio Frequency Identification, also used by Wal-mart to increase their inventory management. Also, Wal-mart operates with a database that holds information that’s more than one half a petabyte. Teradata database works well with Wal-mart’s database link decision and their suppliers.

What brand of database software?

Wal-mart operates with brands such as Cisco, which is the Oracle Warehouse Management System’s brand. Wal-mart operates with NCR Corp’s Teradata Database which works in combination with the database brand Internet Retail Linka and EDI.

Who is responsible for the database?

Rollin Ford became Wal-mart’s CIO in 2006, and he was assigned the top tech job since.

How do managers get reports?

Wal-mart’s managers receive their reports from a system called Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment. This system is an inventory management initiative with which Wal-mart’s managers started operating since 1997.

What types of reports? Is OLAP used?

Wal-mart creates inventory, budgeting, forecasting and planning reports. Yes, Wal-mart works with OLAP. OLAP has the capability of manipulating and analyzing data from different perspectives. This allows Wal-mart to build an advanced merchandise planning and reporting system.

Is a data warehouse used? Are data marts used? Explain.

Yes, Wal-mart operates with a data warehouse called Oracle Warehouse Management. In 1997 Wal-mart’s size of data increased to 24 terabytes with 30 decision support applications. By 2004, Wal-mart increased its warehouse data to 423 terabytes. Yes, Wal-mart also operates with data-marts. POS data allows Wal-mart’s inventory management to know the product availability from the different locations at a shelf level.

What types of data mining is used?

With data warehouse available in Wal-mart, data mining was started in 1990. One type of data mining Wal-mart has been operating with is Neo Vista, which was installed in 1997. Neo Vista allows Wal-mart to analyze point-of-sale from each store.

Who is responsible?

Rob Fusillo is the Director of Replenishment Information Systems at Wal-mart.

What software?

Wal-mart works with SAP’s ERP Financials, which is software that helps Wal-mart combine all the different departments into one system.

What are some hardware categories used in (or sold by) your company?

When you pay for your items at Wal-Mart, you can see the hardware that is being used to checkout your items such as a monitor, keyboard, scanner, and computerized registers. Wal-Mart sells PC's, printers, labtops, iPods, MP3 Players, Blu-Ray Players, Cameras, and Camcorders. Wal-Mart sells Acer, Asus, Compaq, CyberPower, Dell, eMachines, HP, iBuyPower, Lenovo, Sony, Toshiba, ViewSonic, ZT Systems. You can find a Desktop without a monitor, all-in-one, Touch Screen, and with a Monitor. You can also find laptops and netbooks at Wal-Mart.

What brands of computer?

Wal-mart carries several computer brands. Such brands are Dell, HP, Compaq, Everex, Acer, eMachines, Toshiba, MSI, Sony, Lenovo, Coby, Averatec, and Gateway. What types of computers? Wal-mart sells Dell desktop computers such as Dell Inspiron One, Dell notebooks, HP Touchsmart Desktops, Compaq Desktops and Laptops, Acer Netbooks, Toshiba Laptops.

Who is responsible for the hardware and software?

Rollin L. Ford is the executive vice president and chief information office (CIO) for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. He oversees the company's global informations systems division (IT), which

includes hardware, software, databases, and networks. He assumed this role in 2006.

What types of system software is used (sold)?

Wal-Mart's decision to purchase SAP's ERP Financials provides another piece of evidence that the IT strategy of the world's biggest retailer is shifting in favor of packaged applications. An SAP press release said that Wal-Mart had purchased ERP Financials to "support the retailer's global expansion and its need to efficiently respond to changes in the business and regulatory landscape." Buying packaged software applications is one way in which the $349 billion retailer can regain its IT dominance and fend off competition.Wal-mart sells Windows Media Center, Windows XP, Unix, Mac OS, Windows CE, and Palm OS.

Is Linux used?

No, Wal-mart is currently operating with Retail Link, EDI, ERP, and SAP. The continued dominance of the Windows operating system (OS) considerably strengthened its operation at Wal-Mart, which led Wal-mart to abandone sales of Linux, equipped computer hardware and software.

What types of application software is used (sold)? What brands?

Wal-mart operates with software such as Cisco’s Oracle Warehouse Management, and NCR Corporation’s Teradata Database. Wal-mart sells application software such as Microsoft’s Word, Microsoft’s Office Home & Student 2010, Microsoft’s Office Home & Business, QuickBooks Pro 2010, Karpersky Internet Security 2010, Norton Internet Security 2010, Norton Antivirus, Microsoft’s Publisher, MacAfee Total Protection 2010, Adobe Acrobat Professional, The Print Shop, Cyberlink PowerDirector Ultra, Turbo Tax, and Nero Multimedia, among many other systems software.