Week 8: Networks and Wireless

1. Explain the business benefits of using wireless technology.

The business benefits of using wireless technology is that less hardware is required (thus not as much IT infrastructure, reducing costs), universal access to many applications (web enabled applications allow for better access), 24/7 hour 365 day availability and mobility of employees.

2. Describe the business benefits associated with VoIP.

The business benefits of VoIP is that voice traffic can pass through existing internet lines, communication is free across the VPN for businesses with many sites, cost savings in not needing traditional phone infrastructure and can leverage existing network for free communication.

3. Compare LANs and WANs.

A LAN is a local area network, which is designed to connect group of computers in close proximity to each other such s in an office building, school or home. A WAN is a wide area network, which spans a large geographic area such as state, province or country. The two technologies can be compared and contrasted by the respective geographic scopes.

4. Describe RFID and how it can be used to help make a supply chain more effective.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) uses active or passive tags in the form of chips or smart labels that can store unique identifiers and relay this information to electronic readers. Examples include e-tags (e.g. the RTA tag used to pay road tolls) and smart cards (e.g. London's Oyster card for accessing public transport). RFID can be used to make a supply chian more effective by being attached to inventory, allowing businesses to keep track of their inventory as it passes through the various stages of the supply chain. It allows the supply chain to be more productive and efficient. Less buffer inventory is needed as estimated times of deliver known. Helps facilitate JIT (just-in-time) stock management.

5. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of deploying mobile technology.

The advantages of deploying mobile technology are a mobile workforce (e.g. a sales person can have access to a CRM system while on the go, being able to easily know real time data on sales, stocks, customer experiences etc). It allows for real time processing of information and faster delivery of that information. Business data and applications can be stored in the 'cloud' and thus accessed wherever and on whatever device.

The disadvantages are that it is not a very secure form of data if not set up right, privacy issues, security issues and unsecured devices are easier to get a virus.