A Lip-smacking Fare

For a business, such as Bikanervala that specializes in recipe based

products, IT implementation is not an easy task. This is mainly because

processes are not defined and majority of the work is done manually that differs

across outlets. The challenge gets even bigger if the business is on an

expanding mode. With twenty-eight restaurants spread across the country and

eight abroad, the toughest challenge for Bikanervala was to maintain consistency

in taste and quality of food.

"Hence, we went for Microsoft Navision ERP system in 2005," says Deepta

Gupta, executive VP, Bikanervala. The main purpose was to bring all departments

on a single platform. It was done in a two-phased manner.

Rollout



In the first phase, it targeted accounts, sales, and procurement

departments. Navision took three to four months to understand the business, take

feedback, and accordingly prepare data. Then, it finalized a flowchart, and

helped in the standardization of work processes.

The main purpose of Navision ERP was to bring all outlets under a single platform	Deepta Gupta, executive VP, Bikanervala

In the next phase in 2008, Bikanervala implemented an advanced version of

Navision. This time the focus was on the integration of all internal departments

into the system, and on data entry. However, it wasnt smooth sailing from day

one. Often data entry would go wrong and hence, the manpower underwent training

to adapt to the new IT set-up. Also, manufacturing and retail were separate

entities which had to be brought together on the ERP system. "Currently, our ERP

modules include accounts, inventory management & logistics, quality control,

budget making, effective cost control, and purchase projections," informs Gupta.

"These apart, we have also incorporated point of sale application from LS

Software," he adds.

Stepping up



IT adoption has reaped huge benefits for the company. "Now our manpower is

only involved with the management of inventory. The rest is all taken care of by

the ERP system. Moreover, gross profit of each outlet is known on a real-time

basis, which has boosted our analysis of costs and profits in a big way," says

Gupta. Another advantage is that as all departments are internally integrated on

the system, hence there is less paperwork now.

The company is now planning to use its ERP as a resource planning tool.

"Moreover, there are plans of extending the ERP modules to distribution and HR

departments. "Once that is done we are considering to loop in our international

outlets into the system," informs Gupta. This couldnt be done earlier due to

security and high license fees.

These apart, there is a host of IT enabled services for customers as well.

The adoption of customer relationship management is in the pipeline. Another

interesting service will be the automatic debit card system at outlets. Much

like the movie tickets vending machines, these automatic machines will enable

customers to make direct payments through their debit cards instead of waiting

in queues at the counter.

Well, for Bikanervala, the wait for IT seems to be over for sure. For

customers, its worth the wait, if one gets to savor its famous crispy hot

jalebis at the end.

Monalisa Das



monalisad@cybermedia.co.in