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In 2005, Supply Management partnered with a web-store developer, CoreXpand™, to build our first “store” with a strategic supplier. The “Company Store” consisted of a "punch-out" link from our internal Intranet directly to the supplier’s site. The next chapter was the development of a consortium of stores, each with their own link to additional supplier sites. Shoppers were required to log onto one store, add items to their carts and then checkout before proceeding to the next store, supplier and category purchase. This was the introduction of centralized purchasing to a very decentralized and entrepreneurial organization.
In 2007, the creation of The Mall @ Bright Horizons provided a new way for our centers to shop. Working closely with CoreXpand™, we developed a unified shopping cart which allowed shoppers to purchase multiple items from multiple suppliers in one on-line shopping basket, with one checkout and one order confirmation. Orders are billed electronically and loaded directly into our Company’s backend financial system. This internal e-commerce site resides on our company’s global intranet, BrightWeb.
The goal is to provide our customers—center directors, principals, field and home office personnel, (over 18,000 employees total)—an easy, pre-vetted, cost-effective method to purchase company-approved goods and services required to run their business. The Mall @ Bright Horizons reflects our unique organization and is designed to showcase our strategic suppliers and the vast array of products available to support the Bright Horizons community.
Our shoppers experience a unique business enterprise typically found only in personal e-tailing sites. Behind the scenes, each Supplier’s private enterprise rolls up to The Mall. This provides Supply Management visibility and reporting on all products and orders in one location. At the same time, our strategic suppliers have exclusive access to their own private enterprise. It is a win-win for everyone. |