Recommendations

 Recommendations

During the process of this report, we gained a better understanding of the importance of Information Systems in business operations. Reliable technology makes daily tasks easier, helps track inventory in real time, and allows companies to make smarter decisions based on customer demand. 

Lululemon values its IS and invests in modern technology. However, there are some areas where improvements can be made to stay competitive in the so competitive athletic wear industry.

1.Inventory process: some common issues include stock discrepancies, products missing from the sales floor even when they appear available in the system, and educator forgetting to move items from the back of house to the sales floor.

Recommendation: If every store schedule quick inventory checks during slow times they can catch and fix errors early. And sending reminders via BBR to educators when moving items from the back to the sales floor, can reduce human error. 

2.Order Fulfillment Issues: another challenge Lululemon faces is the cancellation of Buy Online Pick Up in Store (BOPIS) orders due to inaccurate in-store inventory. This issue is related to the stock discrepancies mentioned earlier and can negatively impact customer satisfaction. 

Recommendations: For this issue, AI can be implemented to analyze past sales data and predict inventory needs. This implementation can help avoid overselling by improving accuracy and giving Lululemon a competitive advantage.

3. Technology and BBR Reliability: A recurring problem in stores is the performance of BBR devices, they sometimes freeze or lag especially during busy periods like holidays. These issues slow down operations and frustrate both staff and the customers.

Recommendations: Schedule software updates and functionality checks, and by using some kind of tracking software to detect failing or slow devices early so they can be replaced or repaired before impacting operations.

4.Tiktok and Social Media Engagement: While Lululemon had over 1 million followers on TikTok and receives thousands of views, user engagement remains low. For example, the most recent video posted on May 5 had 29.4k views, but only 1012 likes and 486 comments.

Recommendations: Lululemon needs to stay trendy but authentic by following current social media trends while maintaining brand identity. Also, they can feature store staff, make behind-the-scenes footage, and lifestyle content with ambassadors to make the brand feel more personal and relatable.

6.New Technology Integration: Lululemon is constantly modernizing stores and systems, and they should consider adopting emerging technologies that could improve the customer experience and drive innovation.

Recommendations: Use augmented reality (AR) by implementing virtual fitting rooms to enhance the online shopping experience and reduce returns, which can be pretty high after the holidays. NoSQL databases can be used for flexible, scalable customer data management and real-time personalization across digital platforms. Exploring new technologies will help Lululemon stay ahead in the competitive athletic wear industry.

Lululemon should continue investing in the modernization of its technological infrastructure, particularly in supply chain management, inventory tracking, and customer-facing systems. Making these systems more efficient, accurate, and responsive will enhance the overall customer experience and support long-term operational goals.