SMEs Need to Automate Back-ends to Improve Business Process Efficiencies

Jithesh Manoharan, CEO of Techcloudpro, Vibing World, Inc explains why SMEs should shift to NetSuite from Tally and QuickBooks.

What are the solutions and services in the Techcloudpro portfolio?

Techcloudpro is a certified Oracle NetSuite Solution Provider, established in 2017, by a team of experienced, certified professionals carrying extensive understanding and know-how of NetSuite functionalities and application requirements across industries. While the company has been concentrating on bettering their NetSuite Professional Services offering, it is also looking to become a one-stop solution for clients in the long run.

Apart from being resellers for Oracle Netsuite cloud ERP, Techcloudpro is soon going to venture into the cybersecurity space and strengthen its staff augmentation offering in the coming months. This is in addition to continually working on productization to supplement their service offering. The Netsuite Ecosystem fulfills most if not all of clients’ cloud ERP expectations. But, there are those little gaps that can lead to cost overruns, partial automation, and difficulty in end-user adoption amongst many other challenges of a hybrid cloud existence. As a trusted and reliable Oracle NetSuite solutions partner, Techcloudpro is adept at understanding clients’ requirements to implement, optimize, and support their ERP on cloud. We also manage to get the best subscription costs for our clients.

Techcloudpros’ products & implementation tools are designed to serve as propellants.

Product

• SuiteSpots – AI powered bi-directional business connectors that integrate NetSuite with enterprise platforms that a business uses for CRM & Ecommerce including Amazon, Shopify, Magento, Ebay and Salesforce amongst others.

Implementation Tools

• BRD – A tool to conduct a comprehensive discovery exercise right at the beginning of clients’ DX journey. This is to understand their technology ecosystem & its challenges so that there is no mismatch in terms of client expectations and the delivery. This exercise also ensures that the team can plan and stick to a strict timeline for implementation and keep costs low for the client.
• Dashboard – A specially designed agile platform for bringing in data singularity from multiple functions & layers, making data analytics a ‘suitespot’ for clients. This comes in – built with the range of business connectors which the company currently offers.

Key Services

• Business Consulting: With extensive industry experience and in-depth know-how of NetSuite, Techcloudpro works with companies as their Knowledge Partner to customize solutions which deliver optimum value.
• Netsuite Implementation: Techcloudpro delivers on-demand NetSuite implementation for a variety of industries and client needs. We have successfully implemented NetSuite solutions for 1000+ business users. Our USP has always been a reliable and prompt service. Our clientele includes customers from Retail, Manufacturing, Fashion, Software as well as the F&B industry.
• Netsuite – Support services: Techcloudpro’s best-in-class support services for clients NetSuite ERP system comes with a 24×7 support team. With certified consultants promptly attending to client’s business issues, the client can rest assured that their system will achieve near 100% uptime and timely resolution of any support incidents. This team is also ready at hand when clients need to scale – up or bring in new technology to speed up your digitization journey.

Our on-demand skills matrix includes:

• Business Analysts
• Netsuite Consultants
• NetSuite Administrators
• Solution Architects
• Script Developers
• Project Managers
• Functional Architects
• Product & Business Process Managers
• Training: Techcloudpro’s go-to market program enables clients business users to be ready to work on the system, post-deployment. With a unique mix of trainer-led and AV-based sessions, we provide the tools and tips for the end-user to be fully equipped to use clients NetSuite Cloud ERP to the fullest of its capabilities. At Techcloudpro, we know that the key to a successful ERP implementation is a well-trained user base. We also provide full documentation of all customizations and configuration, apart from the comprehensive train the trainer programs & end-user adoption exercises.

What is the GTM strategy you follow in the Indian market?

The Indian cloud ERP market is comparatively less mature than other markets but is expected to grow given the increasing demand from SME’s. The increased competition and globalization have become the key drivers for SME’s to deploy ERP on the cloud. This is primarily to minimize infrastructure costs and yet have the scale required to compete globally. Factors such as streamlined manpower requirement, low operational cost, data backup and recovery, and anytime/anywhere access are some of the key reasons why they are considering the move.

The specific feature of a cloud ERP system of being accessible from any platform or being omni-channel can be a considerably large advantage given that the Mobile usage and data network here in India is one of largest in the world. India is also a very price-sensitive market so for smaller SMEs who are surviving on Tally and QuickBooks, the shift to NetSuite requires a mindset change which is going to take time. For many, it is also a shift from a one-time investment to a subscription-based model. Although this is an illusion – the not so visible cost of hardware maintenance, upgrades, people cost, server licenses, etc do not usually come into the picture while decision making unless it is very clearly pointed out.

In most cases, we can only do this only once we are deeper into the purchase journey, so the process really requires a lot of effort. One must be patient and take a more consulting approach rather than being transactional. So, it is essentially a shift from a cost predominant purchasing style to being more focused on quality and long-term value for money. And it is also a shift from having everything on-premise to having a hybrid existence, before going completely on to the cloud. Or having at least parts of the back end on cloud – you cannot touch and see it as opposed to a traditional on-premise solution. We are still getting used to that idea at least at the workplace.

But, India in any case is a paradoxical marketplace where on one end we have numerous digitally native e-commerce players and on the other hand, we have larger industries that are struggling with the change from a more linear to a more agile way of working. We need to be harbingers of that change.

With the pandemic in full swing, the weaknesses of the supply chain not only in India but globally, have come to light. Essential services were the most impacted. What also came to light is the increasing dependency on the online medium for procuring these services. While we are not in the favour of profiteering from anyone’s misfortune, we feel that this is a good time as any to fortify business supply chains & logistics; meaning speed up on digitization and bring in automation.

The lockdown will phase out as we learn to live with this new reality and businesses will be rushing to make the most of the opening markets. Only those who get there faster and more efficiently will be able to survive. Consumer demand for online services has quadrupled, if we are to go by the news & reports, it is a question of capitalizing on the demand by ensuring that fulfillment is as easy for the business as it is for the consumer.

Having been in this business for the last 18 years as an individual and for the last 4 years as Techcloudpro, we, as a team are in good stead to support businesses with aggressive growth aspirations & those who understand that digitization is the best way forward. We understand that investment in IT innovation at a time like this may seem foolhardy as it is a heavy investment. In fact it is like a double whammy!

But an investment now could help businesses tremendously increase their ROI in the months and years to come, as more and more consumers gravitate towards online procurement and the WFH routine becomes commonplace. To bring in fluidity to information flow, increase connectivity, and ensure that your processes are running smoothly with the least amount of manual intervention, digitization is a must. This is what we are trying to drive with our customers here in India.

Which are the verticals you witness maximum traction?

The key industry verticals that we service and witness maximum traction from are:

• Wholesale Distribution
• Retail
• IT Services
• Education
• Healthcare
• Manufacturing
• Community Services and Non-profit
• Restaurant and Hospitality
• Media and Publishing
• Other Professional Services

Our latest project in the US was with a California based company called BH Cosmetics. With the inclusion of NetSuite cloud ERP and SuiteSpots, the organization is now all set to go global. As technology partners, we have enabled the organization to bring in scale, geographical flexibility & consistency and also set up a foundation for the much-needed personalization required within the beauty products and make-up space.

In India, our last project was with ESI, a virtual prototyping giant. We have connected 40+ subsidiaries for them from a Financial Management perspective to ensure compliance with regulatory parameters. A key add-on from us was a customized GST bundle which we believe is bringing in the ease when it comes to GST tax regime here in India.

There is no industry vertical as such that we cannot target except maybe complex manufacturing like pharma or chemical. But even these can be managed by bringing in the right customization. Having said that, unlike a lot of other service providers we do not believe in “force-fitting” a solution hence our approach is to first conduct a comprehensive discovery session with our potential clients, draw up a roadmap and a possible solution which could also include third party integrations before we proceed further. It is best to avoid unpleasant surprises later on in the journey.

What are the special features in your solutions targeted at SMEs? What are the advantages or benefits SMEs can derive from your solutions?

For small and medium enterprises, automating the backend is essential to realizing increased operational and business process efficiencies. Techcloudpro meets the enterprise where they are in their digital transformation journey, quickly and easily helping them take their next steps towards

digitization. With the disruption created by the pandemic and high probability of such disruptions in the future too, it has become imperative for businesses to get digitized, switch to cloud and Techcloudpro enables them to be ‘Future Ready’ while strengthening the ‘Digital India’ movement.

The rising SME and MSME demand for ERP systems in India is something Techcloudpro has been preparing for. The typical challenges that we see are the use of legacy systems and multiple technology platforms to support the primary production system, logistics, and the last mile fulfillment. More often than not this means multiple data sources, manual intervention, expensive and multiple upgrades & patchy integration. The cost to the business to just maintain this framework is huge. A lot of this pain could be taken away by digitization and the use of a single platform solution that NetSuite provides.

Being a team of techno-functional subject matter experts, we are in a position to guide businesses on what can work for them from a tech and process optimization point of view. Take for example online retail & e-commerce, the largest challenge that retailers face today is Return Merchandise Authorization, Free Shipping, and Refunds. And, these are the biggest influencers when it comes to consumers choosing one brand over the other while purchasing online. Retailers worldwide are collectively losing out on billions of dollars because these processes are still either manual or semi-automated. This was precisely the reason why we thought of SuiteSpots.

Other business connectors do exist in the market, but we have specifically designed our range of connectors to bring in complete automation. Our connectors do not require access by CSEs to initiate RMA, the data exchange is bidirectional, as mentioned earlier, right from inventory management, to sales order invoicing, to warehouse management, revenue streams per SKU – everything is auto-synced. This brings about the cost reductions that SMEs are aiming for. AI powered Least Cost Shipping allows them to further optimize costs. We bring in the customization, which is required, and we keep it simple in terms of pricing. There is a flat pricing model as opposed to what is on offer elsewhere.

What has been the business and economic impact of COVID19 pandemic on your business?

Honestly, the pandemic was a bit of a showstopper, initially. And, as a start-up and SME ourselves, we can truly understand why. A lot of companies have gone out of business and are experiencing cash flow issues now. However, many have realized that they need to use this time to upgrade & upskill. There is also an uptick with respect to adoption of cloud-based services given the limitations of on-premises systems in a situation like the pandemic where employees need to work remotely. So, after the initial slowdown, we have experienced an uptick with more businesses realizing the importance of robust technology and digitalization for the survival and growth of their own businesses. Like I mentioned earlier, it is better to be prepared before the race gets tougher.

Who are some of your marquee customers and what are their use cases?

Implementation of Cloud ERP for any business within the manufacturing segment requires granular understanding right down to the last molecule of the ecosystem, especially when the aspiration is to move to a completely digital existence. This held just as true for Molekule, a world class manufacturer of air-purifiers with ground-breaking PECO technology.

The Beach House Group is a consumer product solutions company that helps companies create their brands and build them. Apart from brand development, they also do product development, design, licensing, and procurement services.

ESI, founded in 1973, is a “leading innovator in virtual prototyping software and services”. ESI allows manufacturers to replace their physical prototypes with virtual prototypes, allowing them to virtually manufacture, assemble, test, and “pre-certify” their products before the actual process of manufacturing begins.

BH Cosmetics, launched in 2009, is a cosmetics company that is vegan, affordable, and uses development practices with rigorous testing.

Based in San Jose, California, SVXR was founded in 2013 expressly to bring high speed inspection and metrology technology to the semiconductor packaging industry. SVXR’s founders anticipated the need to deploy inline 100% transmissive inspection into the semiconductor packaging manufacturing process and developed the company’s technology with this end in mind.

With SMEs being impacted severely due to the pandemic, what sort of incentives are you offering them in the current circumstances?

SMEs need more than a powerful ERP system; they need the expertise of a company that can come in, assess where they are, where they need to go and take them there quickly to gain a competitive edge. Through our differentiators, our implementation, support, and training services – our expertise, Techcloudpro is offering complete support to SMEs in emerging strong out of the situation.

Our client journey begins with a comprehensive discovery session which leads into 40 hours of free consultation, a free cost assessment, a proof of concept demo, and for a limited time, we are willing to offer implementation at a discount and with a deferred payment structure. Our business connectors are also available for use for free, for a period of 3 months.

What are the measures undertaken to support and service existing clients?

Each client has different needs and as such we are geared to support whatever the need of the hour is. In a nutshell, we offer dedicated post-implementation support to our clients as per their needs, instant troubleshooting through a 24X7 desk, L1, L2, L3 support, staff augmentation, knowledge sharing sessions, remote training, on-site and offshore presence, etc. Our team has a large talent pool of NetSuite certified techno-functional resources who are on stand-by as and when the need arises.

How are you prioritizing between retaining existing clients and acquiring new clients?

Our focus is on both. We have retained all our existing clients and worked closely with them during this period to support them. Meanwhile, we have attracted interest for many new clients who are looking to move ahead in their dx journey. There have been many opportunities for staff augmentation, especially during this period, which we are catering to.

What are going to be your key focus areas for the next 12-18 months?

Our key focus is to provide a holistic offering to our clients. This could be through our product offering or the diverse set of services that we are currently in the process of building. We are also looking to expand into newer markets. Our next destination after India, North America, and Canada are Australia & New Zealand.