America's No. 1 financial conglomerate

Chapter 433 Unrecognizable to Family Members

The excitement of the AiTech new product launch had not yet completely dissipated from the venue, and the bustling crowd gradually left, leaving only the backstage lounge remaining relatively quiet.

Cook walked steadily down the corridor and pushed open the door to the lounge.

The room was dimly lit, and the air was filled with the faint aroma of coffee. Ernst sat on a leather sofa, holding a warm cup of coffee in his hand, his gaze calmly fixed on the television screen in the room.

The footage shows that news about Ivy Technology has already been interrupted by media outlets, demonstrating just how widespread the company's popularity is.

He didn't come specifically to watch the AI ​​Technology press conference; he came because of the flash sale.

"How's the ordering machine doing?" Ernst asked, getting straight to the point as soon as Cook sat down.

As a key device connecting offline merchants to flash sale platforms, it directly affects the strategic planning and market competitiveness of flash sale platforms.

As early as the late 80s, with the acceleration of urbanization and the improvement of people's pace of life, the food delivery business had already developed in major American cities.

However, the method is very traditional. Customers need to place an order by phone or fax, and the merchant manually records the dishes, address, and phone number, and then writes or prints a receipt.

This traditional operating model is not only inefficient, but also highly susceptible to human error.

Issues such as signal interruptions, unclear language leading to incorrect order information recording, and omissions due to staff negligence during manual recording are common.

For flash sales to fully integrate online and offline services and gain consumer acceptance of this model, they must reduce the inconveniences and complaints that consumers have.

We are looking for an efficient, convenient method that can handle large-scale orders.

Ernst then commissioned A.Tech to develop a device specifically for receiving and processing flash sale orders, which is essentially a food ordering machine.

The operating mechanism of this ordering machine is actually very simple. Essentially, it is a terminal device that integrates a communication module, a processing module, and an output module, which is basically the same as the PDA widely used in the stock market.

By connecting to the Internet, a stable and secure communication channel is established with the central server of the flash sale platform. When a consumer places an order on the flash sale platform, the platform server immediately encrypts the order information and then pushes the encrypted order data packet over the network to the ordering machine bound to the merchant.

After receiving the order data packet, the processor built into the ordering machine will quickly decrypt and parse it, converting the encrypted digital information into order information that the merchant can clearly recognize, such as customer name, contact number, delivery address, name, quantity, specifications, and remarks of the ordered dishes. Then, it will sort and organize this information according to a preset format, and finally print out the sorted order information quickly.

As for the notification sound the ordering machine emits when it receives a new order, that's even simpler. It's just a matter of installing a simulation chip inside the machine to generate the notification sound and adding a small speaker.

"The factories in China are extremely efficient. The first batch of 100,000 order-taking machines has already been produced and shipped, and is expected to arrive at the designated ports on the East and West coasts in another two or three days. And..."

After giving a brief report on the ordering machine, Cook's gaze fell on Ernst, a hint of curiosity on his face. He couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you afraid that Massim will just storm into your house tonight and beat you up?"

Today is not only an important day for AiTech's new product launch, but according to the plan, he will also sign a purchase contract for food ordering machines with Massim, who has come from afar, and Cicero, the president of WShop, in the evening.

Cook originally thought that Ernst's decision to have Atech develop custom machines was something that both parties had already agreed upon.

But he only found out at noon today that Massim and the others knew nothing about it, just like him, they only found out at noon.

Ernst wore a matter-of-fact expression and said calmly, "Starting a new business inevitably requires adding new equipment to support operations. Isn't that a normal thing?"

The collaboration between flash sale platforms and offline retailers is a completely new business model. Traditional operating equipment cannot meet the needs of the new business. What problems are there in introducing dedicated ordering machines to ensure the smooth operation of the business?

Cook felt Ernst's cunning and darkness more and more, thinking that he should be more careful in the future. This guy would not let anyone go when he was scheming, and he didn't care about his own family.

The statement that new business requires new equipment sounds reasonable and is indeed impeccable.

But you didn't tell them.

Now that they've gathered so many connections and relationships, built a retail network that's practically all over the East Coast, and are ready to make a big splash, you're telling them that if they want to get in, they have to pay an entry fee.

This is like meeting a beautiful woman at a bar, and after you've both agreed to meet, booked a room, showered, and finished all the foreplay, she tells you she's an escort and you have to pay first to get in.

If you can't get orders without an order processing machine, what's the point of building this retail network?

"Besides, I made it very clear to Massim on the phone that the flash sale platform operates by receiving consumer orders online, sending the order information to the nearest offline store, preparing the corresponding goods after receiving the order, and finally having a delivery rider deliver the goods to the customer's door. What's wrong with that? Wasn't that clear enough?" Ernst further defended himself, his tone tinged with grievance, as if he were the victim in this incident.

"A flash sale platform is essentially an internet platform. You can't send order information by thinking, can you? Massim himself didn't understand and didn't even ask. Can you blame anyone else for that?"

Ernst shifted all the blame onto Massim, saying with dissatisfaction, "He was hurling insults at me on the phone, and I hadn't even said anything yet. What's there for him to be angry about?"

Cook was speechless, and even felt an urge to kick the other man a couple of times on behalf of Massim.

You're just trying to trick people who don't understand the internet; you're using linguistic traps.

A set of ordering machines and a dedicated printer costs $980.

What about the cost?

It's less than $340.

The key issue is that you're using a predatory, coercive sales tactic, stating that if merchants want to join the flash sale platform, they can only use the ordering machine equipment developed by AiTech.

This piece of junk could achieve the same effect with just a computer and a printer.

Ernst told Massim that it was essential to use AiTech's equipment; no other equipment was compatible.

In contrast, Quinn, who knew a bit about the internet, raised questions.

Cook still remembers Ernst's answer clearly; every word is imprinted in his mind.

"That's right, just like you said. Theoretically, having a regular computer can indeed enable you to receive order information from flash sale platforms. I don't deny that."

"But can you guarantee that the computer system will not experience transmission failures during actual use?"

"You should know that our flash sale platform system was designed and developed specifically for ordering machines from the very beginning. During the system development process, we never even considered using ordinary computer devices as order receiving terminals."

Ernst emphasized that due to the different initial design intentions of the systems, ordinary computers may encounter various unpredictable problems when interfacing with the flash sale platform system, such as delays, loss, or errors in order information transmission.

However, in Cook's view, this is just like burning newspapers at a grave, a complete charlatan.

"As you know, computers are too expensive, while custom-built machines are much cheaper. We've taken your cost into full consideration."

"Printer? That's right, thermal printers on the market are theoretically compatible as well."

"But the problem remains the same: system compatibility. Who can guarantee that other printers won't have issues like order processing failures or printing problems? Our compatible printer can guarantee that."

Cook was right next to him listening to his rambling, about how the professionally matched printers from AiTech were actually manufactured by a Taiwanese OEM factory. He said that while they weren't the cheapest ones on the market, costing only a couple hundred dollars, they weren't more than three or four hundred dollars either.

Because of its price, the factory price is only NT$3000, which is less than US$100.

"You seem to have reservations about this order?" Ernst tilted his head to look at Cook, feeling that the guy's expression didn't seem like that of someone who was making money, but rather like someone who had been ripped off.

"Huh?" Cook snapped out of his daze and immediately explained, "I'm considering the follow-up orders, how much for the second order."

"Really?" Ernst asked skeptically.

"Of course," Cook said sincerely.

"So you're happy that AIO Technology got this order?"

Cook nodded.

"laugh."

Cook gave a strange smile, even stranger than the Mona Lisa's, a smile that was neither a smile nor a smile.

"Very good. When you see Massim and the others, greet them with a smile." Ernst picked up the coffee on the table and leaned back.

"As for the follow-up orders you mentioned, I think ordering another 200,000 sets shouldn't be a problem."

There are over 97 retail stores in the United States. If you exclude those in rural areas and some special stores, at least half of them will still be there.

If the flash sale proves effective, Ernst doesn't believe that acquiring 300,000 stores will be a problem.

Most importantly, there are channels to back it up. How could Ernst possibly miss out on such a huge catering industry?

Once e-commerce stabilizes, this model will be replicated in the catering industry, and even in industries such as clothing and pet supplies.

This is the real big market, and it's the market Ernst most wants to capture.

By then, no company in America will have more employees than him.