ISYS2056 Business Information Systems : Pink Lady Apple Orchard Case Study

Introduction

Pink Lady Apple Orchard is a small family-run orchard in Red Hill, Victoria. Jacinta and Pete own the property, which includes 50 hectares of apple plantings.

As the market price of apples sold to supermarkets and fruit shops has decreased in the past few years, causing the business to stagnate, Pete and Jacinta have decided to use some of their apple supply to produce their own range of apple-based products.

They have set up a small market stall at the orchard where they sell products directly to the public.  They also have a regular stand at local markets.   The number of customers is growing as word of mouth spreads.  In an effort to further expand they have negotiated with a number of small retailers to stock their products.  Recently they also employed a systems developer, who set up a website that enables them to market their products online and sell directly to the public.

In a further effort to expand sales Jacinta organised to have their products advertised on a number of ‘shopping deal’ sites.  Each site charged an upfront fee of $500.00.  The Pink Lady Apple Orchard’s ‘deal was advertised throughout February.  The orchard offered 30% off any sale made through the deal site.  After deducting a further 5% commission on sales the ‘deal’ site passed the order and the payment onto the organisation. Jacinta then processed the order and delivered the products to the customer. Jacinta hoped that by offering this deal more customers would be attracted to their products.

Jacinta and Pete have always delivered goods free of charge to their wholesale customers.  However, with increased sales, they are concerned about the increased courier charges.  Pete has decided that by charging a 15?livery charge on each retail order he can recoup all the delivery charges.

As Jacinta and Pete are already busy attending to the apple orchard, they have employed Ruby, a local resident, two days a week (8 hours per day) to attend to all online orders.   

Although the number of orders is increasing, Jacinta is concerned that maybe not all products sell well enough to continue production. She has been experimenting with different flavors and products, including a new recipe for “Spicy Apple Chips”.  Maybe she should change products or delete some products.  She does not want unwanted stock accumulating in the storage sheds.  She believes that the ‘special deals’ she has advertised for February will certainly help sales but is concerned that she has made a bad decision with regard to profitability.  

The Insights Needed for Decision-Making

Jacinta and Pete seek your consultation to help them understand their sales performance and how well their business has been running. What are the key performance indicators they should track to measure their sales and customer performance? She has asked you to complete any relevant calculations and to use excel as an analytical tool to analyse the data she has given you.   She then requires you to provide a business report with regards to the effectiveness of the recently implemented online ordering system, and in particular both the overall popularity and profitability of their products and the success of the recent ‘deals’ campaigns.  After analysing the relevant data she wants you to consider the options with regard to future sales and to alert her to other factors that need to be considered before a final decision can be made.   She is interested in reading your recommendations with regard to online sales.

Jacinta has set up a spreadsheet that you will use for analysis. Some of the data and calculations have been completed for you and you are guided to some of the other calculations and tools.

You are expected to undertake descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analysis of the data that Jacinta has provided and use Excel to analyse the data. The results of the analysis are then required to be presented in a professionally organized report that analyses and discusses both performance so far and the various options available to help improve future business performance. Some specific expectations are as follows:  

1. Analyse the February data to generate key performance indicators around discount period sales. Have the product sales and profitability increased in the discount period?
2. Undertake descriptive analytics and compare the February sales with other months and discuss your findings about product and customer performance.
3. Provide an overview of profitability trends across customers and products undertaking predictive analysis.
4. Discuss at least one business issue you have identified as a result of your data analysis that you believe may need to be further analysed. E.g. You require further information from Jacinta and Pete before you can take action. Clearly explain your reasoning.
5. Make recommendations with regard to future changes which might assist in further improving business profitability. Briefly justify these recommendations (i.e. prescribe what should be done and why this would be helpful, drawing on your predictive and prescriptive analysis).

Jacinta and Pete have asked you to write a business report which analyses and discusses both profit growth and the various options available to help increase future business performance.