Robert Ashley owns Automatic Riding, a small business offering bicycles, parts, and repair. Other than a couple of friends who occasionally help out at the store, Robert is the sole employee. The shop is in a commercial space that was formerly a restaurant, with the "kitchen" acting as storage for parts and space for bicycle repairs, and the "dining room" acting as showroom for bikes and space for retail sales. The only "office" is a desk and a filing cabinet in one corner.

Currently, Automatic Riding's entire "customer credit system" is a box of handwritten index cards, each card containing customer information (customer number, name, address, phone numbers, and credit card information) on the front and an ongoing list of invoice information (invoice number, date, and amount billed) on the back. When a customer pays an invoice, Robert crosses off the corresponding invoice "entry" on the back of the card. The "supplier account system" is similar, but in a different box. Robert sometimes has trouble keeping track of his customers' orders, and paying his suppliers on time.

Help advise Automatic Riding on how to improve their current business and data processing procedures.

You may refer to any Chapter 14 (or even Chapter 7 or other) topics that you consider appropriate, but please note that BOTH database and REA topics should feature in your answer as support for your conclusion.