Question

Assume a large manufacturing company implemented both an ERP system and a Web ordering system. Develop a process map of the steps needed to fill a Web order. Be sure to include a description of how the ERP system interfaces with the Web page. The process of filling a web order is described below:

1. Ask the customer to login. The system is going to check if the customer exists or not. If no data about the customer is found in the system, an error message will be displayed and will ask the customer to login again. If the customer is found in the system, then it will give access to the customer to fill the shopping cart.

2. During the shopping, the customer may or may not enquire about the price of product. If the latter decide to enquire then in this case the ERP system needs to be accessed to check the price. (the customer is free not to make an order yet)

3. The customer then may or may not check the availability of the product. If the customer decides to check the availability of the product, then the ERP system needs to access to check the availability (the customer is free not to make an order yet).

4. After checking the price and availability (if ever), the customer can either place the order or exit the system. If he decides to pace the order, then the system must check the customer master records to confirm the payment method.

5. The system must then check for the fund or credit available for the payment method.

6. If the fund or credit is available for payment of the order, then the system must check the price and availability of the product. It will then summarize the order details for the customer and will then check if the order is acceptable. If there is no problem with the process, then an order is created in the ERP system. If there is a problem identified in the order, then the system will ask the customer to revise the order.

7. After revising the order, the process repeat from step 2 to step 7.

8. While revising the order, the customer may not place the order, hence decides to exit the system.

9. After step 5, if not enough credit or funds is available to process with the order, the system must report problem to the customer, to which the customer may provide alternate method to pay for the order. If alternate payment method is provided then the system must go to step 5, else the the customer will have to revise his order as stated in step 6.