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INFOSYS.110 BUSINESS SYSTEMS:

DELIVERABLE 2: BUSINESS SECTION
2014

Name Jamahl Su
NetID Jsu826
Group Number: 036
Website Link: http://infosys1102014fcgroup036.blogspot.co.nz/
Tutorial Details
Tutor: Day: Time:
Nicholl Monday 2pm
Time Spent on
Assignment:
17 hours Word Count: 1631

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THE BLIND AND THEIR PURSUIT OF
INDEPENDENCE
INTRODUCTION
There are 285 million people around the world who suffer from sight loss. This is a
significant proportion of the population and is still a growing issue (Blind population is set to
increase in the coming years). The problem also affects us here in New Zealand. Based on a
2006 census there are currently 71,100 people in New Zealand with sight loss, 11,500 of
which are fully blind.
While there are many methods already in place to make the world more accessible for the
blind, such as the international blind language Braille, I feel that more needs to be done to
make daily activities and routines. One area where Braille can be used more effectively is
the restaurant / caf industry. Blind people need a more efficent way to order from such
places, without having to revert to asking staff to physically read everything out on the
menu.
This is where our solution comes in. Our product is a software that can be installed onto a
standard computer, and is able to convert menus into Braille, in a format that can easily be
printed from a 3D printer. This will make ordering from cafes and restaurants a much more
smoother process for the blind, but for the employees and staff also.
3. BUSINESS SECTION
3.1 Vision
Providing vision for those who cant
3.2 Industry Analysis: Disability Services Industry
Industry: Disability Services Industry.

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Force: High/Low: Justification:
Buyer power: Low Buyer Power would be low, as there is not much
of a choice in alternatives. Buyers wouldnt have
much control as it is a very unique product, and
its the only software that provides its service.
Supplier power: High Because our product is the only one that actually
converts menus into a printable format of Braille,
supplier power would be quite high. This is
because in the Disability services industry, there
are no products that target such a niche area of
blind accessibility, and therefore our product
would have practically the entire market share.
Threat of new entrants: Low In the disablility services industry, blind
accessiblity is only a small section. Blind
accessibility within cafes and restaurants is an
even smaller proportion of that. Because of this
the threat of new entrants is quite low, as there
isnt much desire to enter such a specific industry.
Set up costs would also be high in terms of
developing this software, so barriers to entry
would be moderate to high.
Threat of substitutes: Low Because the only real current alternative to
helping blind people order in restaurants is
getting the staff to read out the menu for them,
the threat of substitutes is quite considerably
low. There are other software that are centred

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around Braille, but they dont convert menus into
a printable format. They only translate text into
Braille for people to learn how to use Braille.
Rivalry among existing
competitors:
Low There are no current competitors who aim to
achieve this specific goal within the industry, so
rivalry levels are low. The competitors in terms of
Braille-oriented software dont offer full printable
conversions, but rather translations.
Overall attractiveness of the industry: Because there are few to no substitutes for this
product and it appeals to a niche, but necessary area of the blind community, this is a very
attractive industry to get into. Especially considering the disability services industry is such a
large industry, and little attention is currently paid to the blind community and their
restauring ordering experience.
3.3 Customers and Thei r Needs
Our main customers will be managers of various restaurants and caf / diner owners. This is
because they will be the ones who purchase and use the software / printer. Although this
product is essentially for blind customers, it will provide a great deal of help to the
employees. This is because they are able to provide a more efficient service for the blind
which can speed up the general ordering process, meaning that more customers are able to
get served. It can also help build new customer relationships, as knowledge of this product
might give blind people an incentive to attend their caf more often, which can help
increase sales.
3.4 The Product and Service
This product prodives the service of being able to print out a menu in full braille complete
with the bumps and indentations required for Braille to be readable by the blind. This helps
Caf / Restaurant employees and staff by fufilling the need of helping serve blind people

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faster. It means they are able to provide a braille sheet for blind people to use, and quickly
and efficiently update it when they make last minute changes to their menu.

3.5 Suppliers and Partners
One of the partners which this product could have is a 3D printer manufacturing firm. This is
because our software requires use of a 3D printer in order to print the Braille effectively for
proper use. This is a potential partnership because discounts can be offered when the
software and printer are purchased together.
One of the suppliers could possibly be a tech company of some sort, because our product is
software oriented and therefore our resources would be made up of tech related materials,
such as program development software.
Another good partner could be a Blind charity or organisation, as it they could be a suitable
sponsor who could help with funding in the project.
3.6 Strategy: Focused High Cost
There is currently no software that is able to do what our product sets out to do. Because of
this, a great deal of innovation is required in order to develop this software. This means that
the costs for developing this software will be reasonably high.
The market we are aiming to appeal to is very specific. In terms of the disability service
industry, the area our product caters to is very niche, and because of this we would be
competing in a narrow market. The overall strategy is therefore Focused High Cost.
3.7 Value Chain Activity:
The most important value chain activity for this business is Technology Development (R&D).
This is because our product is not only a software, but the only one of its kind. This means
that the most value will added during the development stages of the software. Most of the
value from this product comes from tech innovation in the sense that technology is being
used to ultimately solve our problem of improving blind accessibility.

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3.8 Business Processes
3.8.1. SOFTWARE TESTING PROCESS - This process is essentially the manufacturing process in
the sense that the development of the software is a part of it. The software will have to be
designed and then eventually tested to see if the translations are correct. A software testing
system is set in place in order to ensure our product is functioning properly.
SOFTWARE TESTING PROCESS MODEL


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3.8.2. CUSTOMER REGI STRATI ON PROCESS - This process involves the delivery of our software
to the cafes and restaurants that are willing to purchase it. Making full use of technology
and the internet, the entire transaction and delivery process is done online. This makes it
convenient for companies who wish to quickly apply our product to their menu systems. The
customers may also provide feedback and send enquiries through our customer database,
which they are registered to upon purchasing our software.

CUSTOMER REGISTRATION PROCESS



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3.9 Functionalities
3.9.1. SOFTWARE TESTING PROCESS
Find errors within the software
Test run software
3.9.2. PRODUCT DELIVERY PROCESS
Discounts on products of partners
Customer service / maintanence (via database)
3.10 Systems

3.10. 1. SOFTWARE TEST SYSTEM - The software test system helps determine if there are any
errors / bugs in the program. This is done by performing various test runs on beta versions
of the software until all expectations are met. This is to ensure that the software is working
at its fullest extent to guarantee it is ready for use the minute a blind customer is ready to
order.
3.10. 2. CUSTOMER DATABASE SYSTEM - The customer database system is designed to build
customer relationships with the various restaurants and cafes that purchase our product. Its
provides a service for the customers through feedback and the answering of any inquiries
might have. This helps add value in the sense that our company is able to monitor how well
the product is working in making ordering food more efficient for blind customers.
3.10. 3 PRODUCT DISCOUNT SYSTEM. - This system helps make the products vision much
more affordable for small caf and restaurants. It does this by offering discounts for 3D
printers and braille paper to loyal customers who purchase the software. This helps get
more cafes and restaurants on board with the system, which would help increase efficiency
in the long run for blind customers. This is another kind of customer service.

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3.11. Summary Table: Value Chain to Systems

Value Chain
Activity
Processes Functionalities Specific Information
System(s)
Broad Information
System(s)

Technology
&
Development
(R&D)
1. Software
Testing
Process
1. Find errors within software.

2. Test-run software.
Software Test System

Structured collaboration
System

2. Product
Delivery
Process
1. Feedback area.

2. Customer service.
Customer Database System


Customer Relationship
Management System

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CONCLUSION
In conclusion this product is very much necessary in order to improve accessiblity for the
blind. In the disability services industry, blind people ordering in cafes is a niche area, and
because of this little attention is currently being paid. Due to this lack of attention, the
industry is very attractive for entry simply because of the fact that no one is currently doing
anything about it. As stated earlier, the population of blind people is on a steady increase so
there is no better time than now to take action in order to make the blind peoples lives
more accesible.

REFERENCES

1. Blind Founation New Zealand. (2014). Statistics on Sight Loss.
Retrieved from:
http://blindfoundation.org.nz/learn/blindness/statistics-on-sight-loss
2. New Zealand Search Engine. (2014). New Zealand Blindness: Blind, Deaf, Vision.
Retrieved from:
http://www.nzs.com/new-zealand-articles/lifestyle/blindness.html

3. World Health Organization. (2013). Visual Impairment and Blindness.
Retrieved from:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en/

4. American Foundation for the Blind. (2014) Braille Technology.
Retrieved from:
http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/assistive-
technology/braille-technology/1235
5. Bar-Cohen, Y. (2009) Electroactive polymers for refreshable Braille Displays
Retrieved from:
http://spie.org/x37076.xml?ArticleID=x37076