CHANNELSOLUTIONS
BAKERY FROM PAGE C2 were very afraid we’d lose versed in the bakery, his plasma screens, tied in
said. Workerssimplypush orders—and sometimes database and how his with Microsoft Power-the appropriate button to we did,” Serrao said. business worked. Now the Point on an office PC.
ring up a sale; this infor- “Now, every single order’s software we provided is a When JK Computing
mation is automatically in the computer.” better fit from what they designed the bakery’s net-shared with the database When the order is had before.” work, it built in enough
sothebakeryknowsexactly being given, the software Added Serrao: “In two power for the company to
how many of a particular prompts the employee to years, there’s never been host its own Web server
item were sold, as well as ask about each aspect of a time when I haven’t internally. With an inter-the amount of ingredients the baked goods, such as been able to reach Jim nal IT staff of one full-in stock, Serrao said. frosting color and cake within an hour.” time and one part-time
“It’s much easier to set mix flavor. “It even has The success of the POS employee, Oakmont Bak-
production for the ery is going to leave
next day or even the i t s e x i s t i n g I S P
next year. We used to and become self-
not do much of an contained, Serrao
inventory [manage- said.
ment] because we do “Jim helped me
such a gigantic num- get the software so
ber of products,” he we can run our own
said. “Every morning Web site,” he said.
I pour my coffee and “I always said, ‘I’m
hit a button to print going to have the big-
a report of what we gest and best bakery
sold the day before. in Pittsburgh,’ but I
Within 3 seconds it never envisioned the
tallies up each depart- high-tech side.”
ment [and] tells me No matter what is
what sells and what baking in the oven,
doesn’t sell. It has The bakery’s digital signs can be updated in a matter of minutes. JK Computing plans
so many really cool to be on-hand, care-
reports.” spell check,” he added. system led to Oakmont fully mixing the perfect
Over the holiday season, “It makes our ordering so Bakery’s adoption of a blend of IT solutions and
for example, Serrao asked much more efficient.” digital signage solution, services to meet Oakmont
one of his managers how which was unveiled in Bakery’scurrentandfuture many New Year’s Pretzels Cooks in the kitchen December. Once again, needs. ´
the bakery had sold. The oakmont bakery knows the company turned to
manager estimated they pies and cakes but knew JK Computing because Alison Diana is a freelance
had sold 2,000 pretzels, little about technology, of Brubaker’s IT acumen writer who has covered tech-
but because of the POS Serrao admitted. With JK and the quality of his sup- nology and the channel for
system, Serrao said he Computing on board, that port, Serrao said. 19 years. She lives in Mer-
knew the number was isn’t a problem. Before digital signage, ritt Island, Fla., and can be
1,788. With that kind of “We really beat every- it took about a week to contacted at alisondiana@
information, he said he body on service. When change a sign at the bak- hotmail.com.
can make better inventory Marc had an issue with a ery. The digital signs can
decisions. third-party software ven- be changed in minutes, REQUEST FOR COMMENTS
Custom orders are dor that wasn’t our [solu- allowing the bakery to
more accurate, too. tion], wewerethereat5: 30 instantly add specials,
Previously, employees a.m. or 9 p.m.—whenever alter pricing or com-would handwrite orders the vendor was gone,” Bru- municate with custom-and then carry them to baker said. “I, in a sense, ers. The system features
a separate building. “We had to become very well- 55-inch wall-mounted
Have a comment or
suggestion? Please
e-mail Editor Debra
Donston at ddonston@
eweek.com.
C4 e WEEK n MARCH 3, 2008
