Scaling FMCG Distribution Operations through Automation

---

Customer Overview

A leading FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) company in the United States, this customer operates multiple retail locations and serves a wide network of dealers and customers. As the business expanded rapidly, managing operations manually became increasingly challenging, leading to issues such as poor inventory visibility, lack of sales and purchase transparency, and slow order processing. Recognizing the need for a scalable and efficient solution, the customer turned to Techvaria for help in automating their operations.

Challenges

The customer faced several significant challenges due to their fast-paced growth:

1. Inventory Visibility : With multiple locations and a large inventory, the company struggled to maintain accurate visibility of stock levels, leading to frequent stockouts and overstock situations.
2. Sales and Purchase Visibility : The lack of an integrated system made it difficult to track sales and purchases in real-time, resulting in inefficiencies and missed opportunities.
3. Slow Order Processing : Manual order processing was slow and prone to errors, affecting both dealer and customer satisfaction.
4. Procurement and Payment Control : Without an automated system, managing procurement and payments was cumbersome, leading to potential delays and financial discrepancies.
5. Retail Operations : The retail stores lacked an integrated Point of Sale (POS) system that could synchronize with inventory, making it challenging to manage sales data and cash flow effectively.

Solution

Techvaria implemented a comprehensive suite of solutions to address these challenges and support the customer’s growth:

1. End-to-End ERP Solution : We deployed an ERP system that integrated all aspects of the customer’s operations, providing a single source of truth for inventory, sales, purchases, and financial data. This system streamlined operations across all locations and departments, ensuring consistency and accuracy.
2. Online Order Processing Portal : To facilitate seamless online order processing for both dealers and customers, we developed an online portal integrated with the ERP system. This portal enabled real-time order placement, tracking, and management, improving the overall customer experience.
3. Procure-to-Pay Automation : We implemented a Procure-to-Pay (P2P) automation solution that established better control over procurement and payments. This solution helped the customer manage supplier relationships more effectively, reduce procurement cycle times, and maintain better financial control.
4. Inventory and Warehousing Solution : Our inventory management system provided the customer with enhanced control over stock levels, helping them maintain optimal inventory across all locations. This solution also supported efficient offline and online order fulfilment, ensuring that both dealers and customers received their orders on time.
5. POS Integration : We deployed a POS application that was fully integrated with the inventory management system, allowing the retail stores to gain better insight into sales and establish more effective cash control. This integration ensured that sales data was accurately reflected in the inventory system, reducing discrepancies and improving financial reporting.
6. HRMS and Finance Integration : To further streamline operations, we implemented an HRMS and finance application that was integrated with the ERP system. This integration provided the customer with a comprehensive view of their business, from employee management to financial performance, all within a single platform.

Results

The implementation of these solutions led to significant improvements in the customer’s operations:

1. Enhanced Inventory Control : The inventory and warehousing solution provided real-time visibility of stock levels across all locations, reducing stockouts and improving order fulfilment rates.
2. Improved Order Processing : The online portal and integrated ERP system significantly reduced order processing times, leading to faster delivery times and higher customer satisfaction.
3. Better Financial Control : Procure-to-Pay automation and POS integration improved financial accuracy and control, reducing errors and improving cash flow management.
4. Scalable Growth Platform : The integrated ERP, HRMS, and finance solutions provided a scalable platform that supports the customer’s ongoing growth, enabling them to expand operations without additional administrative burden.

Conclusion

By partnering with Techvaria, the FMCG company successfully automated their operations, addressing key challenges and setting the stage for continued growth. The comprehensive suite of solutions implemented by Techvaria not only improved efficiency and accuracy but also provided the customer with the tools needed to manage their business more effectively. As a result, the customer is well-positioned to continue their rapid growth while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.