Client Success Story: Mrs. Fields

Retail Store Back Office System

The Company

The mission of Mrs. Fields has always been to create the highest quality product possible - every time. That commitment has yielded products that consumers just can't get enough of.

To extend the vision, Mrs. Fields began franchising in 1990... and now operates over 4000 points of distribution. In addition to the Mrs. Fields brand, this international company also includes the TCBY, Pretzel Time, Great American Cookies, and Pretzelmaker brands.

The Challenge

Mrs. Fields wanted to Improve operational efficiencies by updating nearly 500 in-store systems with the latest Windows-based technologies and have an architectural basis to take advantage of future technologies.

The Solution

An in-store retail system was developed that manages all aspects of remote store operations and seamlessly integrates with headquarter based financial systems and provides reporting to field sales managers. Modules and functionality includes:

• Cash register - ActiveX control based cash register interface. Cash sheet balancing and marketing data capture for promotions.
• Sales projections - Tracks historical four week or host transmitted budget comparing actual sales with graphical representations. Also tracks hourly reading of sales totals, customer counts and labor hours.
• Inventory management - Allows inventory counts on daily weekly and monthly basis. Allows entry of vendor invoices (shipments) and store transfers. Tracks inventory shrinkage and provides inventory reporting to district sales managers.
• Human resources - Employee time clock Ð management monitoring and editing, employee maintenance, EEOC and W-4. Multimedia based training with full training measurement and tracking at the store level and summary results tracked at corporate.
• Communications - Enterprise e-mail based on Novell GroupWise and Microsoft Exchange. Remote automated download with automated maintenance sent to remote locations. Interactive sessions allow any remote location to be monitored from host.
• Host Reporting - Ability to view corporate host data, reporting to store, district, and region levels from host.
• Misc. - Supply order form transmitted to corporate for consolidated ordering, repair and maintenance, quality control.

The Technologies

• Windows NT and Novell servers.
• Windows NT workstations.
• Application written in Visual Basic, C++, and ActiveX using COM technology.
• In store database designed for SQL Server.
• Remote site communications through Xcellenet.
• E-mail through Microsoft Exchange gateway and Novell GroupWise.
• Microsoft Business Systems Solomon for accounts receivable.

The Results

• System delivered on time and on budget.
• System implemented and immediately functional in nearly 500 franchises comprising multiple brands.
• Moved from non-graphical to fully graphical interface.
• More information in an easier form presented to management for better decision making.
• Multimedia training, highly improved training tracking.
• Improved efficiencies through faster performance, graphical hierarchies, and easier interface.
• Better user based and general security model.