Jera maintains a blog of events, press releases, insights and reflections 
News
Providing Real-Time Solutions for Real-World Demands
UX
2/17/2012
We recently hired someone who came to us from a not-for-profit website that reached hundreds of thousands of users. In that consumer-focused space, special emphasis was placed on UX/UI: User-Experience and User-Interface. The difference between UI and UX is generally recognized as how somebody interacts with an interface (UI) as opposed to how they perceive that interaction (UX). In the business-to-consumer space UI and UX are typically closely linked because a consumer’s experience of a product often ends when they close the browser.
In the business-to-business space we believe end-users not only place a high value on what they see, but on other elements of the product such as training, support, and even the sales process. These areas have a "UX" that is just as critical.
Jera Concepts is committed to delivering an excellent UX to our customers. A great example of this is how a “support call” is not always our customers calling us; sometimes it means we call you! Putting out fires is great, but preventing them in the first place is even better. This can include on-going training for your staff as well as conveying enterprise best-practices.
Inventory, purchasing, sales, production, and waste have a lot of moving parts. We dedicate our selves to making these important parts of your business more than just an interaction but a great user experience.
In the business-to-business space we believe end-users not only place a high value on what they see, but on other elements of the product such as training, support, and even the sales process. These areas have a "UX" that is just as critical.
Jera Concepts is committed to delivering an excellent UX to our customers. A great example of this is how a “support call” is not always our customers calling us; sometimes it means we call you! Putting out fires is great, but preventing them in the first place is even better. This can include on-going training for your staff as well as conveying enterprise best-practices.
Inventory, purchasing, sales, production, and waste have a lot of moving parts. We dedicate our selves to making these important parts of your business more than just an interaction but a great user experience.
NYACS 2011 Rochester New York
7/14/2011
NYACS 2011 Rochester New York
Thanks to all who stopped by to give us input, say hello and find out about our software. The number one topic of discussion for us at the show was how our software balances merchandising and profitability. The following excerpt outlines our strategy for this challenge.
Balancing Merchandising and Profitability of Fresh Foods
C-Store operators are in agreement that customers are driving an increase in the variety of fresh foods offered. The limited shelf life of these items is a big change from the extended shelf life typical of c-store product lines. It is forcing store managers to pay close attention to those items to ensure profitability. The diversification is driving innovation in production of the offerings, point of sale displays, customer service and technology to manage it all.
% Shrink vs. Number of Pieces: a Paradigm Shift
The challenge with short shelf life of fresh foods is balancing customer stock and shrink to optimize the customer experience and profitability. Basic POS systems provide forecasts of actual sales but stop short when including targeted shrink by piece. The forecasting tool in Supplyit™ allows you to choose a number of pieces of a product by variety that you want to have left before you must dispose of it. This is a paradigm shift.
If a percentage of waste/shrink is a determining factor in merchandising, then a lower volume store will feel pressure to reduce stock levels below customer appeal levels and a high volume location may be leaving profit on the table.
The Solution
Supplyit™ allows each location to forecast by variety by piece and record the waste. You can evaluate each location not by percentage but by a created merchandising/profitability target of a number of pieces. This ensures customer satisfaction and continued growth. Jera Concepts web hosted Supplyit™ software manages the production and inventory of these items in-store and the order, production and invoicing process in a group with a commissary.
Thanks to all who stopped by to give us input, say hello and find out about our software. The number one topic of discussion for us at the show was how our software balances merchandising and profitability. The following excerpt outlines our strategy for this challenge.
Balancing Merchandising and Profitability of Fresh Foods
C-Store operators are in agreement that customers are driving an increase in the variety of fresh foods offered. The limited shelf life of these items is a big change from the extended shelf life typical of c-store product lines. It is forcing store managers to pay close attention to those items to ensure profitability. The diversification is driving innovation in production of the offerings, point of sale displays, customer service and technology to manage it all.
% Shrink vs. Number of Pieces: a Paradigm Shift
The challenge with short shelf life of fresh foods is balancing customer stock and shrink to optimize the customer experience and profitability. Basic POS systems provide forecasts of actual sales but stop short when including targeted shrink by piece. The forecasting tool in Supplyit™ allows you to choose a number of pieces of a product by variety that you want to have left before you must dispose of it. This is a paradigm shift.
If a percentage of waste/shrink is a determining factor in merchandising, then a lower volume store will feel pressure to reduce stock levels below customer appeal levels and a high volume location may be leaving profit on the table.
The Solution
Supplyit™ allows each location to forecast by variety by piece and record the waste. You can evaluate each location not by percentage but by a created merchandising/profitability target of a number of pieces. This ensures customer satisfaction and continued growth. Jera Concepts web hosted Supplyit™ software manages the production and inventory of these items in-store and the order, production and invoicing process in a group with a commissary.
Version 3.8 Release Announcement
6/16/2011
We are excited to announce the release of Version 3.8 of Jera Supplyit™. The full release notes can be found here:
First and foremost, this version focuses on polish and performance and does not have any sweeping changes. Users will not experience any radical changes in their day-to-day activities.
Here is a quick walk through of the new features:
- Default Order Views - This feature is neat because it empowers locations to make their own choices about how they wish to view their orders.
- Defaults and Templated Items - This feature enhances setup by providing the ability to copy items from one location to another. Managers of multiple locations can setup one location the way they want, and then copy items over to their other location.
- Order Item History - When users are adding items to an order or are adding a new order, they can now view the history of items. This step can help managers make intelligent ordering decisions on the spot.
There are several more standard enhancements that can be read about in the release notes. There are two BETA releases that we wanted to highlight. These "BETA" features are still works-in-progress and may be subject to substantial changes.
- Inventory / Waste Record Attachments (BETA) - For inventory or waste record managers now have the ability to upload any type of file such as a picture or a barcode scanner export. There are many possible uses including: having locations take snapshots of inventory/waste to be recorded later by a central manager; upload barcode scanner .csv exports to be imported at a later time; use for merchandising purposes to see what shelves look like at the end of a shift. We are curious to see which direction our customers go with this feature. If you are interested in learning more or trying some of these strategies, please contact your account manager.
- Labor and Timesheet Module (BETA)- This has been a heavily requested feature, and we are releasing it in its basic form in Version 3.8 to get early adopter feedback. If you are interested in recording employee timesheet activity with any number of labor categories (e.g. regular, overtime, vacation, sick, unpaid leave, etc.) please contact your account manager and they will help you get started.
News from NACUFS Mid-West and Iowa State
4/14/2011
From social events to informative sessions, the trip to Iowa State and the NACUFS Mid-West Regional Conference was a refreshing experience. The networking opportunities were a great forum to speak to vendors and schools about the business of a campus foodservice operation. Below are key points that surfaced in multiple conversations.
Recipe Management
· Current software systems in the marketplace use standard units of measure based on weight. 1 bay leaf, 5 leaves of basil or a pinch of salt have to be converted to weight to scale as a recipe size grows. This conversion can lead to egregious errors which may not be caught by a student preparing a dish. Supplyit™ allows you to choose count, mass or volume per item in your recipe, ensuring an accurate recipe as the batch size grows or contracts.
· Chefs also complained software upgrades sometimes knock a recipe out of spec without the chef having changed any of the ingredient proportions. Supplyit™ is a web based application that is upgraded and maintained by Jera Concepts for you. All upgrades are tested to ensure that your existing recipes are never compromised. Enhancements are continuously developed through communal efforts and delivered to you seamlessly during maintenance periods.
Catering Orders
· Disconnected catering software does not easily allow orders to be added into production and prep worksheets automatically. Even software with connected modules may have difficulty synchronizing orders. With Supplyit™ when an order is entered, it is added to the production in real time and seen immediately by the producing unit. It simply can’t be missed and an order can’t be entered after the designated cutoff time by a customer. This eliminates the potential for mistakes between the catering customers and the production facility.
VPN’s
· Program speed and access to a school’s VPN can be roadblocks to efficiency. Supplyit™ is a web application and allows you access to the program via any internet enabled device: smartphone, iPad or computer.
Thanks to those who stopped by our booth at the conference. We had some very good conversations for which we have follow-up scheduled.
Don’t forget our favorite expression… “Status quo is the enemy!”
(contributed by Wynne Barrett)
Upcoming Event: NACUFS Midwest Regional Conference
3/1/2011
We will be attending the NACUFS (The National Association of Colleges and University Food Services) Midwest Regional Conference which is held between March 20th and March 22nd of 2011. We’re excited to demonstrate the capabilities of Supplyit™; especially the ability to coordinate diverse vendor-customer combinations.
The conference is to be held at Iowa State University in Ames Iowa. For more information, visit the NACUFS website at www.nacufs.org.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
The conference is to be held at Iowa State University in Ames Iowa. For more information, visit the NACUFS website at www.nacufs.org.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Upcoming Event: International Baking Industry Exposition
8/16/2010
They say "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" but we've set out to prove this adage wrong by attending the 2010 International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE). We're looking forward to introducing Jera Supplyit to a progressive audience and building some long-lasting relationships that we can take away with us.
The Expo is between September 26th and 29th in Las Vegas NV, and you can find us at booth #2900. For more information, head over to http://www.bakingexpo.com/. Hope to see you t
here!
Jera Concepts Announces Version 3.5 of Jera Supplyit™ Supply Network Solution for Fresh Item Retail Outlets
8/9/2010
(August 9, 2010 Hopkinton, MA) Jera Concepts, an enterprise level development company for the fresh item retail industry announced the release of Version 3.5 of Jera Supplyit™, an application suite providing a web based solution to manage the supply of products across a network. Version 3.5 offers increased reporting capabilities, reselling of outside vendor items and a revamped navigation. Jera Supplyit™ 3.5 was developed to add additional capabilities and to streamline functions for more simplicity.
“Our customers were a vital contributor in identifying specific areas where we could enhance the program and elevate the user experience,” explained Thomasin LaMachia, CEO and Founder of Jera Concepts. “The additional functionality increases our ability to service businesses with more complex items and increases reporting functions.”
In Version 3.5, an assembly report was added that allows Supplyit to accommodate endless numbers of ingredients or components in a production environment as opposed the current version which was more limiting.
To simplify the process of taking waste, version 3.5 adds a barcode feature that reduces steps, creates a paperless trail and greatly improves accuracy. This new feature will improve forecasting accuracy and result in cost savings.
Another added feature is the addition of an API which allows companies to access base data in Supplyit such as order, inventory and waste records for integration into other systems or to generate custom reports.
In addition to the core functionality, Supplyit also includes a sales/accounting module which allows customers to record and report on cash across their network as well as additional expenses and revenue for integration into the reporting system.
The overall usability improvements along with greater range of use in Version 3.5 adds more flexibility and creates an effective tool for managing network supplies in a web based application.
About Jera Concepts
Jera Concepts was founded in 2006 and provides web based solutions focused on fresh item management and supply. They currently service over 1800 retail outlets and more than 70 manufacturing locations across the US. Jera Supplyit™ is a powerful network supply solution where retail outlets order from multiple suppliers with each location able to act as a manufacturing and/or retail outlet.
“Our customers were a vital contributor in identifying specific areas where we could enhance the program and elevate the user experience,” explained Thomasin LaMachia, CEO and Founder of Jera Concepts. “The additional functionality increases our ability to service businesses with more complex items and increases reporting functions.”
In Version 3.5, an assembly report was added that allows Supplyit to accommodate endless numbers of ingredients or components in a production environment as opposed the current version which was more limiting.
To simplify the process of taking waste, version 3.5 adds a barcode feature that reduces steps, creates a paperless trail and greatly improves accuracy. This new feature will improve forecasting accuracy and result in cost savings.
Another added feature is the addition of an API which allows companies to access base data in Supplyit such as order, inventory and waste records for integration into other systems or to generate custom reports.
In addition to the core functionality, Supplyit also includes a sales/accounting module which allows customers to record and report on cash across their network as well as additional expenses and revenue for integration into the reporting system.
The overall usability improvements along with greater range of use in Version 3.5 adds more flexibility and creates an effective tool for managing network supplies in a web based application.
About Jera Concepts
Jera Concepts was founded in 2006 and provides web based solutions focused on fresh item management and supply. They currently service over 1800 retail outlets and more than 70 manufacturing locations across the US. Jera Supplyit™ is a powerful network supply solution where retail outlets order from multiple suppliers with each location able to act as a manufacturing and/or retail outlet.
Spring 2010 Newsletter
6/4/2010
We've been very busy at Jera preparing for the release of Version 3.5. In this version we focused on pain-points (some of them admittedly caused by Version 3!). To be clear, Version 3 represented a paradigm shift. Version 3.5 is nowhere near as radical and most users will find that day-to-day operations are either greatly simplified, or unchanged.
Here's a highlight of the upcoming features:
You can read the full Version 3.5 Release Notes here, or skim through the highlights below. We'll be updating the release notes as we get closer to the release date which is tentatively planned for late-June, early July.
Here's a highlight of the upcoming features:
- Catalog item merging for older accounts - this mostly applies to older accounts that have been using both private catalogs and public catalogs.
- One-click waste recording - We've improved this process so that users need only click the 'Waste' button from an order and the order items will automatically populate waste records. Furthermore, waste records will include the total ordered quantity for that day and shift, giving users even greater accuracy when entering waste. Fewer steps with greater accuracy means better forecasting.
- Simplification of sections - Production orders and Inventory orders (purchase orders) had similar functionality, so those functionalities have been combined. Accounting and sales had a lot of duplicate functionality, and from that we've combined the two so that users of one can take advantage of the other quickly. Furthermore, the entire 'Administration' tab is consolidated to make managing and finding items much more straight-forward.
- Barcoding and paperless environments enabled - We've opened the door to users taking inventory and waste with a barcoded reader with a simplified import process. We've worked hand-in-hand with select hardware manufacturers to make sure the process is as simple as possible ('simplicity' being a fundamental theme of ours). Our mobile interface can be used in touch-screen environments for paperless manufacturing units.
- Assembly Report - The assembly report is similar to the mixing report, but starts with the target item (e.g. Cake Dough) and automatically calculates the components required as well as the yield. Don't worry, the mixing report (based on recipes) isn't going away. The assembly report merely complements the mixing report and enables 'assemblies' of a diverse set of items including ice-cream cakes, sandwiches and more.
A Message From our Account Managers
Jera Concepts offers something rare in customer service. We want to hear from our clients. Jera encourages all of our clients to utilize every aspect of our program. Our account managers are available to assist you with issues, additional training needs as well as listening to ideas that you feel would improve the program.In the next few weeks we will release the latest version of Supplyit. Our goal is to keep the program easy to use thereby encouraging usage. We are also in the process of merging clients to the new standard items catalog. Forecasting and inventory are being used successfully by many of you with more inquiries coming daily. Our account managers are reviewing individual accounts and will be contacting you shortly to make sure your needs are being met.
What's On Deck After the Version 3.5 release?
There are a host of items, but the focus will be on improving reporting. Reports will be refined, options increased in some cases, and periods available improved in other cases. If you have specific needs, please contact our account managers and we'll do our best to help!
Supplyit's Simplicity
5/27/2010
Facebook has been in the news a lot recently over its issues with privacy. If you're a user, you know how complicated their privacy settings have been.
The problem that Facebook faced was a common issue that can be applied to many different situations. When options are too abundant or too granular users end up not using them properly or worse, not at all. The end result is usually the opposite of what the controls were trying to protect in the first place. In Facebook's case, users didn't (or couldn't) control their privacy settings so they ended up making their profiles more accessible than they wanted.
Why does this matter and how is it related to Jera Supplyit?
Whether it's recording waste, entering orders, or even applying permissions, the simpler the better! The end-user performs what they intended to perform, and the data is collected accurately and quickly. We constantly refine our processes to take the least number of steps involved, with the smallest, most obvious, and most powerful feature-set available to collect and display data.
In our infancy we had clients request granular control over permissions, to the extent where some folks wanted to allow certain users access to particular columns of a report. While we obliged at first, we soon realized that the permissions were difficult to track and therefore went either misused or unused.
Today we have straight-forward permissions. Each console (enterprise console, account console and location console) has an administrator level, and a user level. The administrator level allows users access to the settings under the 'Administration' link while the user level doesn't. That's it! Two sentences to describe our permissions scheme. That's Supplyit's simplicity.
Jera Concepts announces Jera Supplyit™ a supply network solution for fresh item retail outlets
5/12/2010
(Hopkinton, MA) Jera Concepts, an enterprise level development company for the fresh item retail industry announced Jera Supplyit™, an application suite providing a web based solution to manage the supply of products across a network at the NYACS Show on May 12, 2010. Jera Concepts has been providing innovative highly effective web based solutions to manage production, ordering, inventory, and sales management, resulting in significant cost reductions since 2006.
Supplyit provides an ordering, production, inventory and sales management system for bakery production facilities and the retail outlets they service. The advanced technology uses a set of cloud computing tools to provide a simple and flexible solution. The application covers a complete range of functions from production management to ordering, invoicing and forecasting.
“Supplyit was developed in response to our customer’s request for a management tool that would automate their production process in a multi faceted fast paced environment,” explains Thomasin LaMachia, CEO and Founder of Jera Concepts. “The application was designed to have an easy-to-use interface but still provide a state-of-the art technology solution in an industry not predisposed to using enterprise software. Jera Supplyit™ makes it simple to implement a supply network solution across your organization quickly that creates the opportunity for significant cost savings.”
Supplyit's integrated modules collect and share information which results in features such as flash P&L’s as well as transferring and reselling products across a network. Summary reporting allows viewing of data across multiple locations, but can be limited by permissions.
“Since I've been using Jera Concepts I have a much better grasp on the day-to-day operation of my business. The Supplyit program is very easy to learn and use, and they have a great support department that is always willing to help you when you need it,” said Milton Sobral, Dunkin’ Brands Franchisee. Jera Concepts is an approved vendor for production planning for Dunkin’ Brands.
Jera Concepts has a commitment to being a customer focused provider that ensures a smooth implementation process as well as continuous ongoing customer support which is included in all subscriptions. Plans for Jera Supplyit™ include future enhancements around integrating sales and multi-day fresh product stages into the forecasting engine.
About Jera Concepts
Jera Concepts was founded in 2006 and provides web based solutions focused on fresh item management and supply. They currently service over 1700 retail outlets and more than 50 manufacturing locations across the US. Jera Supplyit™ is a powerful network supply solution where retail outlets order from multiple suppliers with each location able to act as a manufacturing and/or retail outlet.
For more information contact Debbie West at press@jeraconcepts.com 774-278-0091
Supplyit provides an ordering, production, inventory and sales management system for bakery production facilities and the retail outlets they service. The advanced technology uses a set of cloud computing tools to provide a simple and flexible solution. The application covers a complete range of functions from production management to ordering, invoicing and forecasting.
“Supplyit was developed in response to our customer’s request for a management tool that would automate their production process in a multi faceted fast paced environment,” explains Thomasin LaMachia, CEO and Founder of Jera Concepts. “The application was designed to have an easy-to-use interface but still provide a state-of-the art technology solution in an industry not predisposed to using enterprise software. Jera Supplyit™ makes it simple to implement a supply network solution across your organization quickly that creates the opportunity for significant cost savings.”
Supplyit's integrated modules collect and share information which results in features such as flash P&L’s as well as transferring and reselling products across a network. Summary reporting allows viewing of data across multiple locations, but can be limited by permissions.
“Since I've been using Jera Concepts I have a much better grasp on the day-to-day operation of my business. The Supplyit program is very easy to learn and use, and they have a great support department that is always willing to help you when you need it,” said Milton Sobral, Dunkin’ Brands Franchisee. Jera Concepts is an approved vendor for production planning for Dunkin’ Brands.
Jera Concepts has a commitment to being a customer focused provider that ensures a smooth implementation process as well as continuous ongoing customer support which is included in all subscriptions. Plans for Jera Supplyit™ include future enhancements around integrating sales and multi-day fresh product stages into the forecasting engine.
About Jera Concepts
Jera Concepts was founded in 2006 and provides web based solutions focused on fresh item management and supply. They currently service over 1700 retail outlets and more than 50 manufacturing locations across the US. Jera Supplyit™ is a powerful network supply solution where retail outlets order from multiple suppliers with each location able to act as a manufacturing and/or retail outlet.
For more information contact Debbie West at press@jeraconcepts.com 774-278-0091
