Author Archives: Prateek Dash

 

As one of the largest and most competitive industries globally, the FMCG sector plays a crucial role in our daily lives.

From the food we eat to the products we use, FMCG companies are responsible for manufacturing and distributing a vast range of essential goods that we rely on.

In India, the top FMCG giants hold the maximum market share for daily-use products. So, who exactly are these giants? Read on:

Hindustan Unilever Limited

The largest FMCG firm in India, Hindustan Unilever Limited, has been in the country for over 80 years. One or more HUL Brands are used in nine out of ten Indian households. That’s a mind-boggling statistic when you consider our population! The collection of brands has a vast reach – catering to even the most media-dark corners of India.

HUL is a staple in the everyday lives of millions of customers thanks to its 40+ products that span 12 unique categories including Fabric Wash, Household Care, Purifiers, Personal Wash, Skin Care, Hair Care, Colour Cosmetics, Oral Care, Deodorants, Beverages, Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts, and Foods.

Leading brands include Pond’s, Vaseline, Clinic Plus, Sunsilk, Indulekha, Lakmé, Pepsodent, Closeup, Axe, Brooke Bond, BRU, and Surf Excel as part of their Brand Portfolio. How many of these can you find in your home?

ITC Limited

ITC Limited, a diversified conglomerate founded in 1910, operates in a variety of industries, including hotels, paperboards and packaging, agribusiness, information technology, and fast-moving consumer goods – which include foods, personal care products, cigarettes and cigars, branded apparel, education & stationery products, incense sticks, and safety matches.

The company was formed under the name Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited on August 24, 1910. The name then changed to India Tobacco Company Limited in 1970 and subsequently to I.T.C. Limited in 1974 as the company ownership gradually became Indian.

Nestle India Limited

Nestlé – the world’s largest food and beverage corporation. Who hasn’t heard of them? Nestle operates in 191 countries and has over 2000 brands, ranging from local favorites to worldwide classics.

In 1961, NESTLÉ India established its first production unit in Moga, Punjab. Currently, the sales and marketing efforts are facilitated by its 4 Branch Offices located in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

The FMCG industry is a highly competitive and ever-evolving space. However, through a combination of automation, technology, data, and analytics these giants have managed to stay on top. They are constantly innovating, adapting to consumer preferences, and delivering exceptional customer value. 

That said, in India especially, there is a growing trend and market demand for homegrown brands. These global brands may have become household names, however, there’s still room for smaller players to disrupt the market with new ideas. The FMCG industry is full of exciting developments shaping the future of consumer goods. Want to stay abreast of the latest trends? Stay in touch with us at SwitchPe!

Retail is a notoriously competitive industry. Retailers must incorporate the latest technology to increase sales, efficiency, and income – while reducing costs.

The retail sector has undergone a significant digital transformation, and with some regions of India still recovering from the slowdown of the pandemic, the retail sector must prepare for a challenging and unpredictable future.

Even though it is hard to entirely future-proof their business, retailers can prepare for the unforeseen by making use of technology that fosters agility and flexibility within stores.

A notable example of digital tools is retail point of sale (POS) systems, which refer to the systems in place where retail transactions are conducted, such as self-service portals, cashier systems, or even mobile infrastructure. Simply installing this technology, however, is not enough. Customers today are quick to switch brands and transfer to competitor stores, spurned on by even the most minor inconveniences such as a buggy self-checkout.

A seamless digital experience is essential for success. Therefore, retailers must ensure their technology is faultless, intuitive, and solves a real customer need.

Time is Money

Recently, POS competition has increased as merchants compete for improved efficiency, convenience, and ease of payment.

POS systems need to be carefully and regularly tested, just like any other software-driven technology, to make sure they remain reliable. This is not a straightforward checkbox exercise!

Retailers will frequently add new features, such as mobile ordering, fresh offers, and contactless payments on top of existing and well-established platforms, as opposed to replacing an outdated unit – due to the lower cost and lesser time taken for upgrading rather than replacing. However, there comes a saturation point at which it becomes imperative for retailers to completely overhaul their existing systems. The question retailers must ask themselves is, “is it time to make the switch?”. 

Innovation is driven by automated testing

A one-size-fits-all testing model won’t work because of the varying complexity of systems in place. However, businesses can avoid the stress of this time-consuming effort thanks to clever automated testing.

Retailers must have complete control over the testing process,  as they are able to interact with digital devices from the point-of-view of the end-user, i.e. the customer.

Low-code methods must be employed so that non-technical staff can be easily educated to build tests without prior programming experience.

This would also allow retailers to swiftly implement testing procedures across all platforms, enhancing visibility while preserving resources. As an end result, this would enable merchants to become flexible, and ready to respond quicker than rivals to unforeseen circumstances.

The modern retail sector is competitive and more digitized than ever before. Technology adoption is no longer a “nice-to-have”, but a “must-have”! Modern tools such as digital payment platforms and supply chain solutions will now determine how well a business can perform. As platforms such as SwitchPe steadily become the norm for retail operations, retailers should embrace these solutions to maintain a competitive edge and grow faster than ever before!