OVERVIEW
Chapter twenty-two is titled, Managing Information and Information Technology, and the closing case, The Right Way to Deliver Groceries, is perfect for this topic. Joe Fedele, an expert in the grocery business, already has a thriving grocery store, but wanted something more. The outcome to this quandary was FreshDirect, an online grocery store that minimizes the focus of the internet aspect and emphasizes the food. The motto used by FreshDirect is, "It's all about the food." This company is different because the customers order directly from the internet, and all the products, which are stored a warehouse, are then delivered to them. The warehouse is located on Long Island, and the customers (or "depots") must be located in one of twenty-two nearby zip codes. Deliveries are made on weekends or evenings when Manhattan traffic is lighter. The only stipulations are, orders must be at least $40.00 and the delivery fee of $3.95 must be paid. Costs are kept 25 percent lower, and freshness is increased by purchasing products directly from suppliers. Products range from baked goods and deli salads to readymade-gourmet meals.
The website, www.freshdirect.com, is easy to navigate and has a large selection of products. Helpful hints, pictures, recommendations, and tables make ordering easy for those who have limited knowledge of foods and computers. Once orders are placed, they are then processed through the warehouse, which is heavily operated with the help of information technology. Machinery is hooked up to controls that can activate alarms incase of a malfunction. The entire building is hooked up to an automatic spraying system that sprays the food every night, with an an ...