ANALYSIS, DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RUGARI STOCK INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM A CASE STUDY: RUGARI

Abstract

The rapid evolution of technology has revolutionized business operations and information management across various sectors. However, RUGARI Stock Ltd, despite its expansion and success, still relies on a manual system for stock management, product tracking, and report generation, which introduces inefficiencies and operational challenges. Some of these challenges include difficulties in calculating profit and loss, insecure data storage, time-consuming report generation, and lack of clarity in stock management. Furthermore, the existing system hinders efficient decision-making for managers, complicates sales recording for vendors, and fails to provide customers with adequate product information. The main objective of this research is to develop and implement an automated information-sharing system that will address these issues and streamline operations for RUGARI Stock Ltd. The specific objectives include automating profit and loss calculations, enhancing data security, reducing the time needed to generate reports, and ensuring easy access to relevant information for managers, vendors, and storekeepers. To achieve these objectives, the Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology (SSADM) was employed. This methodology was chosen for its comprehensive approach to systems design, involving detailed analysis of existing processes, data flow, and system requirements. Through the stages of feasibility study, system investigation, analysis, design, and implementation, data was gathered using structured interviews and observations. Entity-relationship diagrams (ERDs), data flow diagrams (DFDs), and other SSADM tools were utilized to provide a clear understanding of the new system's functionality. The findings of the research show that the developed informationsharing system successfully addresses the identified problems. It offers secure data management, real-time tracking of stock levels, automated calculations, and quick report generation. The system has also simplified access to information for the manager, streamlined operations for vendors and storekeepers, and improved customer engagement by providing clear product information. Thus, the proposed solution effectively enhances the operational efficiency of Rugari Stock Ltd and serves as a reliable platform for future growth and innovation.