Sales and Marketing as a Novel Type of Management Information System

Many technological pundits still hail the Information Age as the most significant leap ever made by humanity. For the first time since the Industrial Age, technological innovations were developed en masse by various developers with the primary aim of completely transforming the manner in which interactions occurred amongst people. Many nascent entrepreneurs also viewed this as a unique opportunity to harness these new technologies with the aim of ensuring that they permeated every single facet of human life. It was from these beginnings that management information systems (MIS) were born with the sole objective of using information technology in conducting various technical operations in organizations and institution. Among its chief mandates was to collect information central to a company’s success and subsequently communicating it to other members down the pipeline. The idea was to keep every single wheel running by always providing information crucial to their operational capacity. Management information systems (MIS) were therefore developed to make sure that all each department had an improved method of tracking their operational capability and financial data (Bagnchi, 2010, p.d.80.

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Such actions were therefore expected to cushion any company or organization from unforeseen circumstances that may ultimately end up affecting it adversely.  These computerized databases have also been instrumental in providing regular reports that serve as an accurate reflection of where an organization stands at any given moment. Managers and other individuals occupying various tiers of leadership, therefore, receive feedback fundamental to their performance while monitoring actual data against their planned results. The whole process may be automated from different computer-linked counters that are responsible for gathering all this data at successive periodic intervals. It is only through such a sophisticated system the preprogramming of routine reports can be done using complex computer languages to check the performance of each employee with a computer connected to the main MIS network. This research, therefore, seeks to discuss sales and marketing as a management information system and its ability to serve an organization in advancing its mission.

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The development of sales and marketing as a part of the management information system (MIS) was as a result of a need to automate the various types of tallying and accounting techniques used as business ledgers. The primary purpose behind its establishment was to ensure that the business owner or head of an organization had a unique opportunity that allowed them to keep track of all sales made and market trends. This coherent form of the information system was developed as a way of ensuring that all significant functions took place for the ultimate success of the company to be realized.  Sales and marketing in the context of management information systems (MIS) meant that all summarized data was sent to the mainframe to aid in deciding which way to go in as far as projections were concerned. In this case, the visual interface introduced by the internet was vital in connecting all available systems directly linked to sales and marketing activities. Using computer-assisted design and manufacturing (popularly referred to as CAD-CAM), a system that was able to assess the sales and market trends regularly was developed as a way of always ensuring that the organizations had sufficient information. A majority of companies were aware of the importance of having the best quality products in the market which was also why sales and marketing were soon automated. The idea was to understand the products better while also seeking the best approaches to use when communicating with potential customers. In addition to this, sales and marketing would also be instrumental in raising awareness about a particular brand in a manner that tackles all concerns. Through this novel system, administrators in organizations would now be able to collaborate with concrete data meant to seek out prospective buyers with the highest likelihood of purchasing the product. 

 As a part of the management information system (MIS), sales and marketing are capable of aiding a company in reaching its goals by becoming a more competitive business. It is integral to acknowledge that the system uses the internet and a host of other features to increase its competitiveness. More often than not, managers are well aware of their precarious position in the market and the duty they have to ensure that the goods or services do well once released to the consumers. The primary purpose behind taking such steps is often linked to their desire to improve their product’s standing while ensuring that it gets additional exposure to the right people. A combination of sales and marketing systems and the internet means that a small enterprise can be transformed within the shortest time possible. By so doing, the organization ends up having a better chance at increasing their overall visibility in the market using technological approaches that have been tried and tested. The use of a comprehensive sales and marketing system also allows a company to make better financial choices. All facts relating to their viability in the market are laid bare for experts to scrutinize and decide on the best option while avoiding common pitfalls. An organization confident about its standing in the market is thus better placed to make informed choices while reducing their state of financial anxiety. In addition to this, employees also end up feeling more grounded and inspired to work even harder for these organizations with the aim of increasing the profit margin. Researchers have often sought to establish the link that exists between employee well-being and the overall success that organizations ultimately enjoy. A reduction in financial anxiety has been cited as an integral part of the whole sales and marketing system regimen since there is a certain level of security that is necessary for significant advancements to be made. 

            The sales and marketing system also goes a long way into promoting the efforts of any fledgling organization by executing and monitoring the effectiveness of its campaigns.  A large number of organizations are now becoming well aware of the fundamental nature of their sales and marketing initiatives. They are often meant to ensure that the product in question gets the right exposure that will make it possible for prospective consumers to seek these items. The sales and marketing system is uniquely placed to use all the tools in its disposal that will assure an organization of future success. It usually begins with an appraisal of all products developed to make sure that only the right items reach their clients. The sales and marketing system, therefore, serves as the best example of concerted efforts to develop products that will serve the needs of the general population. As a result, this system is tasked with developing prototypes that would soon be in demand when released to the market as finished products. During this same period, the sales and marketing system also strives to forecast possible sales on the first day of release. Making estimates of the projection is a forward-thinking strategy that is meant to tackle any unforeseen circumstanced that may emerge along the way (Gupta, 2008. By so doing, a company makes certain that it has a contingency plan that will assure it of a safe landing if the product ends up having a terrible start in the market. The sales and marketing, therefore, allow an organization to prepare for the future armed with information about the realities that they would soon have to grapple with. As part of the campaign activities, the products are presented through an assortment of online vendors. The main task is to improve the product’s image while also ensuring that modern applications are used for the benefit of customers. The presentation may include the use of high-tech approaches such as 3D imaging which is relatively recent to act as the primary motivator for consumers.

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            Also among the top reasons why organizations adopt sales and marketing systems is their ability to compile and track all advertising outlets. Producers are usually acutely aware of the importance of advertising outlets in as far as exposure is concerned. Even though there are currently hundreds of outlets that exist with regard to advertising products, few function at optimum level. It is for this reason that sales and marketing systems seek to establish the best advertising outlets that would ultimately support their cause. This would often include doing a series of background checks on a plethora of advertising agencies seeking to serve the organization. The sales and marketing system serves as an evaluation committee that makes the best financial decision for the organizations as a whole. It usually includes coming with an elaborate map of all advertising outlets and their subsequent performance in the market. Additionally, it will also include an arrangement of these entities regarding the number of sales they have made for the organization in recent times before finally settling on the best match. During this whole process, attention is given to the organization and its missions, most of which include operating in a frugal nature that allows it to reduce its cost operation. Financial and transactional data will also be recorded to develop the best strategy using a disaggregated database (Wang et al., 2010).  It is also worth acknowledging that the system also stores information about ongoing promotions, possibilities of discount and all the costs that will be incurred when transporting the products. The sales and marketing, therefore, allow an organization to track how it has been using money with the aim of bringing about the much-needed changes. Moreover, activities related to salespeople become easily accessible and can be evaluated for the profits made from their sales. With such information, managers can successfully guide the efforts of the subordinates with the aim of helping the organization to achieve its goals. They are soon able to manage their distribution networks and all products going through them due to a transparent way of doing things while fostering trust. Products are also released to the market using information recorded in this particular system in order of their performance in the market. Such a process makes certain that the crème of the crop is selected as a way of increasing the chances of increasing the profit margin.

            For an organization to succeed it has to regularly collect data on their customer’s habits, transactions and the amount of money spent on their products. The main reason why this is the case is related to the ideal nature of customer information to make a profit. Products that are popular among specific select individual is always kept ready and in circulation. Clients can obtain them at a moment’s notice and therefore enjoy the satisfaction of receiving quality care from professionals. Similarly, it provides management with an opportunity to make a detailed analysis of market trends that would help steer the organization in the right decision. An organization requires vital information related to the market as a guide leading them where they should invest and what changes they need to make to improve their current state. Most of this information is retrieved from the sales and marketing database that records every popular trend and changes that should be adopted. While following this plan, the organizations seek to maximize their chances of surviving in a society that is rapidly changing together with currency fluctuations (Gupta, 2011). Moreover, the sales and marketing also scan environmental factors to connect them with demographic and technological forces that may affect the company. Any change can halt supplier progress and distribution which would ultimately impact the chances of making further advances in future. A team of experts attached to this particular department scans the environment on a regular basis to observe any environmental changes that may affect the organization and the efforts it had previously made to establish itself as an economic powerhouse. As an early warning system, any impediment to growth is noted as the organization prepares for the future. Sales are likely to be affected by environmental factors that may harm an organization which is why particular attention has to be also paid to this component of the sales and marketing system. Marketing research also investigates the immediate situation and the reactions related to customer preference (Homburg et al. 2012, p.67). On ad hoc basis, external sources provide essential data related to all surveys conducted on a product and whether or not it is meeting the revenue goals set earlier. In so doing they are also able to establish the emotional exclusivity that clients develop concerning their spending habits which are integral the organization of their forward trajectory.  In conclusion, sales and marketing systems are an integral component of the Management information systems (MIS) tasked with making in-depth analyses on their viability. Goals set by the organizations are usually easily achieved since only the best approaches to increase the chances of being successful in the future. Tallying of recorded material has now become a common occurrence that aims to make sure that organizations are kept up to date with market trends and can, therefore, make informed choices. As a result, organizations applying the sales and marketing system during administration end up making more profit in future due to the effort involved in the present.

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