Month: March 2024

 

IBM Cloud Case Study Entry – American Airlines

Cloud computing has become essential for businesses seeking operational agility and efficiency. I selected the American Airlines case from the IBM Could Case Study. I will explain some of the advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing. The world’s largest passenger airline, American Airlines, founded in 1930, announced on June 28 that it has selected the IBM Cloud. (Big Blue has announced the discontinuation of the BlueMix Cloud brand.)

The world’s largest passenger airline, founded in 1930, announced on June 28 that it has selected the IBM Cloud. (Big Blue has announced that they are discontinuing the BlueMix Cloud brand.) I chose this case study because I work for airlines and have seen their history with new technology platforms and the latest developments. Simplifies business operations and enables operations with fewer personnel. However, it may become difficult to hear customer voices, and the quality of customer service may decline due to a decline in service.

Advantage:　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Lower costs: Cloud computing reduces the need for initial capital expenditures on hardware and infrastructure1.
Strategic edge: Access to the latest technology and applications gives you a competitive advantage.
Fast: Rapid service deployment allows companies to bring products to market quickly.
Backup and restore: Backing up and restoring data is usually more efficient in the cloud.
Reliability: Cloud services often provide high reliability because updates and changes are communicated instantly1.
Mobility: Employees can access cloud services from anywhere with an internet connection.
Unlimited storage capacity: Cloud services typically offer scalable storage options.
Collaboration: Cloud platforms facilitate collaboration between geographically dispersed teams

Cons:　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Downtime: Cloud services are subject to outages that can impact access to your data and applications.
Security concerns: Storing sensitive data offsite can raise security and privacy concerns.
Less control: Businesses may have less control over the management of their data and services2.
Vendor lock-in: Switching cloud providers can be difficult and can lead to dependence on a single provider.　When it comes to IBM cloud solutions for American Airlines, it appears to be a strategic move to improve customer experience and operational efficiency. Migrating to IBM Cloud reportedly lowers costs, improves operational reliability, and speeds the development and release of new applications3.

If I worked for American Airlines, I would buy into the IBM Cloud solution because of my past airline experience. It will depend on a variety of factors, including your specific business needs, compatibility of IBM Cloud with your company’s existing systems, and the potential risks involved. However, based on the reported results, the IBM Cloud solution is consistent with American Airlines’ goal of transforming the customer experience through technology. Before making such a decision, it is important to conduct a thorough analysis and consider both the advantages and potential disadvantages. We believe that the right cloud solution must be aligned with a company’s long-term strategy and operational goals.

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I chose this article because I previously worked at a supply chain company for about 17 years, and I wanted to know about blockchain technology and how it affects the supply chain. When I read the first part of the article titled, The Supply Chain Has No Clothes, it was true that surely, there were no businesses that used clothes. This article caught my eye, and I thought I wanted to know more about how it can be applied to different fields and industries.

At first, Blockchain technology is a novel way of storing and sharing transaction information in a distributed and decentralized database. It has been widely used in the finance sector, but it also has potential applications for supply chain transparency and traceability. Supply chain transparency refers to the availability of information about the origins, processes, and impacts of products and services along the supply network,1. Supply chain traceability refers to the ability to identify and verify the components and chronology of events in all steps of a process chain. Consumers are increasingly demanding more transparency and traceability from the companies they buy from, especially for products that have social and environmental implications, such as food, clothing, and jewelry. Blockchain technology can provide a secure, reliable, and efficient way of tracking and tracing products from source to destination and enable consumers to access the “story” of their purchases,2.

Blockchain has the potential to revolutionize the supply chain industry by addressing its core challenges. It provides a single, immutable source of truth for all parties to trust, leading to increased transparency, traceability, and efficiency.

For example: Companies can use blockchain to record every step of a product’s production and distribution, from the raw materials used to its delivery to the final consumer. This transparency allows you to quickly identify issues such as product defects or delays, allowing for timely responses and preventing potential losses. Additionally, blockchain can automate contract agreements, reducing the need for intermediaries and ensuring conditions are met, potentially leading to significant cost savings. Overall, the potential for transformation lies in streamlining operations, reducing fraud, and building trust among supply chain participants.

The article by Francisco and Swanson (2018) explores the adoption of blockchain technology for supply chain traceability applications by end users, 3. The authors use the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) as a theoretical framework to explain the factors that influence behavioral intention and use behavior of blockchain technology. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) examines technology acceptance as determined by the influence of expected performance, expected effort, social influence, and facilitating conditions. The UTAUT model consists of four main effects: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions4. The authors also introduce two trust constructs: trust in technology and inter-organizational trust, which are expected to moderate the relationships between the main effects and the behavioral intention5. The authors develop a conceptual model with researchable propositions and discuss the implications and limitations of their research, 6.

The article contributes to the literature on blockchain technology and supply chain management by providing a comprehensive and integrative perspective on the adoption of blockchain technology for traceability applications 3,7. The article also offers practical insights for supply chain managers who are interested in leveraging blockchain technology to enhance their supply chain transparency and traceability. The article suggests that blockchain technology can create competitive advantages for companies by improving their performance, efficiency, reputation, and customer satisfaction. The article also identifies the challenges and barriers that may hinder the adoption of blockchain technology, such as technical resources, organizational support, social influence, and trust issues.

References

Redirecting. (n.d.). https://www.proquest.com/docview/2124786084?accountid=13158&parentSessionId=dQZptkp1hmfWozgXU3M8n00L8SKPxGCqcjYlNQplrBo%3D&pq-origsite=summon&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals