Jera Concepts provides Fresh Item Management Software to the Foodservice and Convenience Store industries; their webbased Whole-Business Software manages Store to Store/Commissary Ordering, Store Productions, & Commissary or Central Manufacturing Locations Production Scheduling.

Jera’s largest client is Dunkin Donuts, with around 1,100 locations using Whole- Business Software. Although a vendor to the chain for over two years, ‘we have had to fight tooth and nail for every client until this year,’ says Wynne Barrett, who heads the company. ‘We have seen our client base double as our users search for ways to tighten the circle on costs.’

There has also been more call for Sales Gap Analysis / Sales vs Usage variance reporting now that things are tight, and for more and more simple tools the Store Manager can use. ‘We have seen our customers become more tech savvy with each passing year,’ notes Barrett.

He then tells how the current model for software is to land a client, charge big upfront fees and ‘nickel-and-dime them to death’, not sharing them and not interfacing with other programs which could help the client.

‘There is a separate discussion for why this model exists,’ he claims, ‘but what we are suggesting is that all programs should interact with each other.’

In Jera Concepts’ “Peace/Love Model” the client’s needs are taken care of by multiple vendors who each have a specialty. ‘If a software vendor has a "Total Solution”, fine, but if not, start working to help your client,’ advises Barrett, who says his customers are asking: How come you two can't talk to each other? ‘Our answer is simple,’ he said. ‘We can but they don't want to.’

Barrett thinks the web-based subscription model is getting great traction because no proprietary hardware is dictated; upgrades, user groups, support etc are all built into the monthly cost; AND clients are finally realizing, having tried the purchase/nickel dime model, that they waste a tremendous amount of resources on upgrades, lack of customer support etc. ‘They are demanding suppliers work together,’ he says.

Jera Concepts clients apparently understand that a software purchase is a partnership, and partnerships only work if both parties work together to make the business run better. ‘Software is not about the software and its creators. It is about the end user - and they are demanding we create programs which can be used by the last rung on the ladder - the person who actually does the work.'