Improving_the_Gourmet_Niche

Introduction The unique gourmet shop of Kudler Fine Foods was founded in 1998 by Kathy Kudler in LaJolla, California. Kudler Fine Food provides an extraordinary shopping experience. Kudler offers a large selection of fresh baked delights, organic meats, seafood, fresh organic produce, cheese, and wine. Kudler fine foods were able to expand in 2000, with the opening of the second store in Del Mar, California and again in 2003 with the opening of a third store in Encinitas, California. This paper will examine the current business information system and operations and explore business solutions through advanced information technology. Current Systems of Operation Currently each store has four, point-of-sale terminals. Not only do these terminals record all sales data at the time of check out but also records customer data associated with the items purchased. The recording of all sales data in the database helps to manage inventory. It helps to anticipate new stocking orders. The La Jolla store and the Del Mar store both have three servers. The store in Encinitas has one server where all information is stored. This data is used to help forecast items that will be in demand in the near future. Collects point-of-sale data is translated on spreadsheets reports that are used for inventory management. Proposed Solution Kudler Fine Foods will continue to be competitive and grow the company by expanding the computer network operations and how it collects data. Kudler Fine Foods will need the new and uses this data to manage all departments of all store locations. To accomplish the business solution Kudler Fine Foods must upgrade from three separate information networks at each location to all of the information sent to upgrade severs and all applications used to collect and network data information from all three stores. As reported in an article, Organizational Impacts of Information Systems Use, (2003), “The extensive use of communications technologies and networks also renders it easier to coordinate across functional boundaries.” “In short, the networked organization is one in which IT ties together people, processes, and units” (2003, p.49. Intelligent Managing and Marketing Kathy Kudler is the sole owner and operator of this organization. This gourmet shop has a unique specialty niche that keep customer’s loyal and returning often. This has been achieved through Kathy’s commitment to the freshest and highest quality of products and produce from around the world. With the proposed system upgrade, Kathy could have laptops for all managers with applications that queue managers of inventory freshness control alerts to exactly how Kathy Kudler expects her loyal customers to be served. Currently all communication with customers is through the in-store shopping experience. Kudler Fine Foods must compete in the e-commerce marketplace. As reported on NPR, national public radio, morning addition, in Half off Cupcakes and More: The Lure of Web deals, Keith (2010) "It is probably a more powerful marketing method than just about anything out there," he says. "And if you work with us, the next day you will start seeing new customers." The marketing method mentioned in the above quote is e-companies, like LivingSocial and Groupon, contract with businesses like Kudler Fine Foods and send email coupons for amazing deals on gourmet food and wine. These e-companies use not only the email addresses from not Kudler Fine Foods database but also sends coupons to emails on the e-company database. It is reported that a recent e-mail, a coupon sent by LivingSocial on behalf of the Red Velvet Cupcakery, marketed fifty dollars of fancy, gourmet cupcakes for twenty-five dollars. This company responded to two thousand people about this one coupon. The general manager of the Red Velvet Cupcakery stated that the pastry chefs were sleeping in their cars for a nap and then coming back in to start it all over again. Conclusion This paper has examined the current business information system and operations of Kudler Fine Foods. Kathy Kudler is the sole owner and operator of this organization. This proposed information system upgrade will change the current hierarchical organization structure to a networked organization structure. The proposed intelligent managing and marketing are a direct result of the networked organization structure. References Organizational Impacts of Information Systems Use (2003). Retrieved from http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/46/04713464/0471346446-2.pdf Keith, Trama (2010). Half off Cupcakes and More: The Lure of Web Deals, National Public Radio: Morning addition. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php'storyId=129386346