The aim of this Bachelor's thesis project is to create a website for Lammasguru Ky that meets the company's needs. This thesis guides the case company to implement the website as an appropriate and effective tool for marketing and promoting their business. The research presented in this thesis is based on data collected during interviews with founding partners of the case company and a literature analysis.
The expected result of this project is a functional website for the case company that will provide customers with information about its business, products and services. Farms also need to take advantage of new opportunities with the help of technologies to expand their business. The purpose of this thesis is to find a solution to the marketing issues of a case company.
The thesis is made in cooperation with Lammasguru Ky, an example of a typical small Finnish farm. Occasional visits and regular conversations with the company dealing with the case encouraged me to carry out this thesis research.
Objective
Companies can benefit from ICT in many areas, such as marketing, networking and being active in markets. The use of ICT in an agricultural industry is relatively less than in other industries. Theoretical foundations, the process of creating the website and the implications of the website are discussed.
Research topic, aim and questions
Answering the following two research questions allows me to create a website and justify the benefits of a website in marketing. For a company's case, a website can benefit from several marketing issues, such as sharing information, creating public awareness and trust, and developing a sustainable network. After reviewing the relevant literature on marketing and explaining the use of ICT, I focus on creating a website for an example company.
The data that I present as literature is derived from studying the relevant marketing books, journals and other reliable online sources. I used various open source programs, tools and techniques such as PHP, MySQL, HTML and CSS to create the website for the case company. To answer this research question, I discuss the process, tools, and techniques used to create the website in Chapter 5.
Methodology
Limitations
Structure of thesis
In this chapter, I first introduce the case company, and then its mission and vision, marketing strategy and business environment.
Lammasguru Ky
In conjunction with the history of the farm, I discuss a brief history of the development of the Guru Group. As part of business studies at Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences, a group was formed in 2008 to start companies in Finland. Due to a well-established network with farmers in the Tornio region, the group decided to start the business journey from a small farmhouse in Tornio.
Tornio region has a long history in farming and it is a beautiful town with a lot of potential in farming tourism as well.
Mission and vision
Business environment
Marketing strategy
Research approach
Research method
The solution, which creates the website, is implemented on the basis of data/evidence collected during the research.
Data collection method
Document analysis
Interview
Reliability and validity
Marketing
The focus is particularly on the use of ICT for sales promotion purposes to increase sales and profit margins.
Use of ICT in marketing
It is the best platform for every business and companies to showcase their products and services worldwide.
Website as a marketing tool
The large number of consumers who used to visit the company's website to search for product information, compare prices or to buy online. To meet the demand target, an agri-based business should also identify and implement new technologies to meet consumer preferences and demands. Direct marketing of products on the Internet by creating your own website can create many opportunities.
The website can be used to improve customer service, raise consumer awareness and save time and money. The company may use website email and feedback form as a communication medium to communicate with consumer.
Website design and development process
- Conceptualization
- Analysis
- Design
- Development
- Testing and launch
- Maintenance
- Evaluation
During this analysis phase, all the requirements such as functionality, environment and content that are necessary and useful for the design of the website are determined. In addition, the estimated costs and time invested in the creation of the website are also analyzed at this stage. A sitemap is a working list of all the site topics and categories that will be implemented in the site design.
The functionality requirements include technical tools and technologies such as HTML, PHP, MySQL that will be implemented while designing a website. Hardware and operating system, which will be used by the user and a web server are environmental requirements. During this phase, the prototype of a website is designed after determining the best website organizational forms and page layout.
Various files and folders with related names are created for text, pages, images, media, and server-side scripts. After the home page is created, the content and other pages with a navigation structure are created, which integrate with other functions of the website. It is tested with various web browsers to ensure that the site is optimized for proper viewing in those browsers.
Various testing tools and validators are used to validate scripting languages and code used in web pages. Once the tested website has been reviewed and approved, it is published by uploading files to a server. New New information and content will be adapted and updated according to customer needs and necessity.
So, the files of the website are modified by editing, adding or deleting as required to minimize the errors. After the launch of the website, it is time to review the website whether it meets the customers' needs and objective. The website created for this project is also evaluated by the member of the case company and they are satisfied with this work.
Domain name and web hosting
Tools and techniques used
MySQL is a popular open source database which is mostly used to process data in the database. In this project MySQL is used to manage database with login form and work report form. It is available in different languages with web interface so it is more popular among the users.
Xampp is used as a web server to test a website without any internet access. It is used by website developers and programmers to test the web pages before hosting them online on the internet. JavaScript is a client-side scripting language usually used to make a web page more interactive by adding various elements and functions.
It is free and open source, used to perform animations, event handling that works with different web browsers (Jenkins 2013, 455). I use this software to edit the images used on the website in this project. This chapter presents the process of designing and developing a website for an example company.
The design and development process, tools and techniques used to create this website are discussed in previous chapters. Blue color is used on the body and background to match the color of the company logo. The content of Tuisblad contains brief information about the company along with some photos.
JavaScript is used to display date and time on each page of the website on the right side of the navigation bar. The contact us page is created to help a user find all the contact information of the company. After successful login, they can add, modify or delete the data of the job report of the company.
As shown in the image below, the administrator can manage the database through the phpMyAdmin control panel. The following sections in this chapter discuss the results in relation to the literature and provide answers to the research questions identified at the beginning of the study.
Analysis of finding
In the previous chapters, I introduced the case company, described the relevant literature, and created a website explaining the process I went through. Such a situation gives space to the case company to make the customers aware directly, which is possible from its own website with a low budget. In addition to creating awareness, the case company has a traditional business concept, structure and operation that needs to be changed.
Therefore, most of the farm's profit relies on government subsidies. In this regard, the company needs a better solution in its system for a sustainable growth. Using ICT for marketing purposes can move the case company to a higher level in the markets.
Currently, there are small private slaughterhouses that could accept small orders for the case company. It is believed that the case company benefits from the website and it can increase sales and profits. Research question two focuses on identifying and implementing the appropriate development environment, tools and techniques while creating the website.
Since one of the development parts of this thesis is to create a website, the requirement in this project is IT knowledge and skills. Since I am a student of Business Information Technology (BIT) in Laurea UAS, I have acquired good knowledge and skills in ICT and business during my studies. PHP, MySQL, jQuery and Xampp are examples of open source programs used during the creation of the website for the case company during this project.
In conclusion, the need for a website for a suitable company is identified through interviews. For example, selling directly to customers can increase a company's profits. The website is created using HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, jQuery and other tools and programs.
However, further research can be done within network cooperation with other farmers with a view to mass production and marketing in larger markets. In the future, the case company may wish to expand their business by using online purchasing capabilities.
