Carlson Restaurants Worldwide (CRW), the Dallas-based operator of T.G.I. Friday’s and Pick Up Stix restaurants, uses business intelligence software from Cognos to identify discrepancies between prices they’ve negotiated for food supplies from their vendors and what their vendors are actually charging them on invoices. Here’s how it works: Cognos parses all of the company’s invoices from suppliers and contracts with food vendors in CRW’s Oracle data warehouse to see if any of the vendors are actually charging restaurants for food at a higher rate than the chain had negotiated. Since CRW contracts with a variety of different suppliers for meats, dairy products and produce, it also uses Cognos to pinpoint the suppliers that offer the best deals-and stick to them. The company saved $200,000 in 2003 by remedying these discrepancies and by giving more business to suppliers with the most competitive prices. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe Related content feature 6 IT rules worth breaking — and how to get away with it IT is a discipline of policies, protocols, and firm guidelines. But sometimes breaking bad is the only logical thing to do. Here’s how to do so while mitigating risks. By John Edwards Sep 26, 2023 8 mins IT Strategy IT Strategy IT Strategy tip 8 questions CIOs should ask to prime their business for gen AI Gen AI has captured the attention of companies worldwide with speed and force, and, in turn, has significant implications for business operations, models, products, and services. And business leaders are taking note. By Diana Bersohn and Lan Guan Sep 26, 2023 7 mins CIO Generative AI Application Management opinion Rediscovering the value of information By emphasizing information technology over information management, we have exposed ourselves to what poor information practices can cost us, not what robust information strategies can create. By Thornton May Sep 26, 2023 5 mins Data Architecture Privacy Data Management feature 10 digital transformation questions every CIO must answer Impactful DX requires a business-centric approach supported by the right skills, culture, and strategy. Here’s how to assess whether your digital journey is on the path to success. By Mary K. Pratt Sep 25, 2023 12 mins Digital Transformation IT Strategy IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe