Oh me gosh, KKD is going e-biz, web enabled !!!
Is this mean we are doomed?
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Tuesday July 17 06:54 PM EDT
Fresh Data Now: Krispy Kreme Launches Piping Hot Portal
By Erika Morphy, www.CRMDaily.com
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE: KKD - news) has unveiled a new portal that will help it serve its U.S.-based business community. Called MyKrispyKreme, the portal allows the company's management, franchisees and vendors to access applications and information.
For example, company stores can tap into daily cash balances to better manage cash planning and forecasting activities, and franchisees can order supplies online from the Krispy Kreme distribution center.
Web-enabled applications have been integrated into the portal, including Lotus Notes and Hyperion Enterprise as well as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and supply chain management tools.
The portal will delegate management of content and applications to individual stores and departments -- a move that is expected to increase productivity and save money, according to Corechange, whose software was used to deploy the portal.
MyKrispyKreme will become even more integral to the company's operations, said Frank Hood, the company's chief information officer, "as Krispy Kreme grows internationally and more employees need remote access."
Just One of Many?
At first glance, it seems as if Krispy Kreme's new business portal is just another example of a growing trend in which scores of companies are rolling out such e-business initiatives.
But reality is far different, said Ed Rogers, a principal with the North Highland Company, a national business and technology consulting firm headquartered in Atlanta.
"Krispy Kreme is one of just a few companies that are really doing this," Rogers told CRMDaily.com. "Yes, we hear a lot [of] buzz about this and that portal, but the truth is it is very difficult to bring a project like this online."
Portal technology has not really been the problem; after all, it has become fairly ubiquitous in the New Economy era. Rather, nontechnical issues have stumped many companies seeking to establish private portals or consortium exchanges.
"Concerns about security and who will see what information, for example, among business partners has been a problem," Rogers said.
Host Stress
Concerns exist for the host company as well, according to Rogers. "It takes time to look at all the data that will pass through such a portal and decide if they want to share it with vendors and customers," he said.
Often, Rogers noted, whether a portal launches comes down to a company's internal ability to organize information.
Concentrating on Brand
MyKrispyKreme is the doughnut giant's latest step to improve its brand name among customers and vendors.
In late June, Krispy Kreme announced a partnership with GSD&M, an advertising agency and brand consultant. Krispy Kreme said at the time that it wants to better leverage its brand as it continues to expand nationally and starts planning for international development.
The GSD&M partnership, said Krispy Kreme president Scott Livengood, will help the company "develop new and innovative ways to expand the Krispy Kreme brand and strengthen our connection with our customers."
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