MicroNEX Information Group

The MicroNEX Information Group manages collaborations of participating “partners” and produces process, analytics, and information products. For collaborators, the network is the system. The Information Group brings the skill sets — especially the grocery management, operations, and finance expertise — needed to make it happen.

Customer management and inventory optimization are examples of the processes offered. The IMA Group, acting as a consumer infomediary, maintains data belonging to individual customers and develops customer profiles. It also manages Xtra Card member data and uses CRISP internally.

Inventory optimization includes correlating customer profiles to purchasing patterns and projecting ROI for specific inventory investment levels. MicroNEX matches retailer performance to customer profiles and industry averages.

MicroNEX teamed with Sarvis, Inc.— a full service food broker — to perform inventory analytics and order routing to legacy distributor systems. Sarvis also offers periodic physical inventories to adjust shrink.

The Information Group develops risk profiles using pattern recognition techniques. Profiles are used by MicroNEX’s Vx check and Vshrink merchandise return verification products to suppress fraud in realtime. A MicroNEX affiliate, Consumers Benefit Group contracted to use the same risk profiles for on-line sub-prime consumer loan acceptance processing and to package cash advances as digital products delivered via CRISP-equipped retailers.

The Information Group gives retailers internal transparency similar to what was called “Management Reporting” in pre-Internet days. The trick is to put reports on the right desks every Monday morning for the previous promotion week.

Collaboration is required to overcome two obstacles: pulling data such as space and utility costs from internal legacy systems; and, disseminating confidential information to the right eyeballs. The Internet excels at disseminating password protected reports. Extracting data from legacy systems is another matter. Collaboration between retailers and e-hub personnel is required. The Information Group has skills and tools to make it happen.

MicroNEX’s Information Group collaborates on White Papers, similar to research reports in the financial industry, on topical subjects. MicroNEX also teams with management consulting firms to develops best practice standards from collaboratively produced data and to undertake consulting engagements.