Assignment Taken

Create an IT plan to support this international expansion.

Case Understanding

For international expansion, especially in the era of digital innovations and disruptions across the industry, there is a need of extremely sophisticated, latest, very effective IT plan. The objectives of IT strategies and key decision areas are: • An website designed for both India and UAE • Extent of automation required in the manufacturing centre at UAE • Application of Data analytics for accurate demand forecasting • Adoption of enterprise resource planning software for streamlining organization wise processes • Inquiring possibility of application of Blockchain in Trade finance related to export and import • Maintaining data security and privacy • Facilitating successful transition from domestic operation only to global operations

BCS Solution Summary

We are asked for advice regarding international expansion by amalingam Foods (Since 1965) which has a ready to cook product portfolio, predominantly South Indian food mix including dosa, idli mixes, etc and filter coffee. We decided the company to expand in UAE first and then to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia of South-East Asia and UK where there is huge south Indian population. We has advised Ramalingam Foods to launch with current products at UAE in this year with planned product portfolio enhancement over next two years. Ramalingam Foods will focus on R&D for product innovation, marketing for extending reach and brand building which will need the support of world-class IT infrastructure for coping up with digital disruption. To provide the Ramalingam Foods a reliable and sustainable technical services and innovative solutions that brings value to the organization and its constituents and enhances business processes and effectiveness for all departments. A high-level overview of the IT department that covers its objectives and approaches to accomplishing its goals. With the efforts of our IT Team we will create our own business website of Ramalingam Foods to address the company at an online platform, its where potential, customers, associates and clients can find you, contact you and place an order. According to a survey 84% of consumers will trust a company based on its online reviews, which will only be possible if they see a business website. In the advanced stages we will also be using much advanced technology like • use of SAP Enterprise Resource Planning for streamline interrelated process, • Automation using distributed control system for manufacturing plant in UAE, • Use of Domo -Business Cloud cum Data Analytic Tool for coping up with growing data analytics, • Investment in two start-ups focusing in Block chain Technology and Virtual & Augmented Reality for future innovations • Use the cloud for global sharing. As part of necessary requirements we will stay in control of data, get basic and fundamental necessities like mobile, computers, use of Skype for online meetings with customer overseas and own employees overseas and simplify scheduling &Localized Checkout Process

Solution

Creating own Website

 

A business website will be Ramalingam Food’s online company address. It’s where potential customers, clients, and associates can find and contact you. A company with its domain makes an e-mail more credible and trustworthy rather than generic google addresses. Websites give businesses their own unique online identity. According to a survey 84% of consumers will trust a company based on its online reviews, which will only be possible if they see a business website.

A well-maintained website can help one to gain a competitive advantage in any industry and improve his business image. Developing our own website offers many benefits including getting more leads and prospects, increase sales, enhance our professional brand, and improve our customer service.

Creating Brand Presence

We will integrate our website with pixel at many touchpoints like

• “Add to Cart”,
• “Initiate check out”,
• “Chat support and query”
• “Sign up button”

This will help us collect user data and with this data we will set up our Facebook Business account to run campaigns on it to retarget consumers to complete the purchase.

• For targeting we use a super lookalike i.e. stacking 3-4 lookalike in a single ad set. The retention period can be 90 to 100 days
  • Value based lookalike (2%)
  • Instagram and Facebook engagers’ lookalike (2%)
  • Add to cart lookalike (2%)

About the website (ramalingamfoods.com for UAE): -

• Contain content trans creation – It is a concept used in the field of translation studies to describe the process of adapting a message from one language to another, while maintaining its intent, style, tone, and context
• It will include the option of online sales for all of our different variety of 13 products
• It will have “Chat Bot” buttons on all pages, through which customer can ask their queries (if any) directly
• The site will have customer reviews and feedback system in which customer can give their reviews

Along with this our site will have some key features too: -

• Online advertisement through which we can generate revenue
• Referral system to get incredible discounts
• Educate our customer - Have blogs on fit & healthy life from experienced person along with recipe book related to cooking with our products
• Two-Way Communication - Customers can quickly and easily contact us, give feedback on our products or ask about product
• Help to build a brand image

Using Data-analysis:

In today’s world, data is the new oil- data if collected and analysed correctly can give business insights that might give the user competitive advantage. We adviced Ramalingum Foods to buy Domo software for the same

Domo is the Business Cloud®, empowering organizations of all sizes with BI leverage at cloud scale in record time. With Domo, BI-critical processes that took weeks, months or more can now be done on the fly, in minutes or seconds, at unbelievable scale, helping teams and organizations go fast, go big and go bold. Domo, Inc is a cloud-based platform designed to provide direct, simplified, real-time access to business data for decision makers across the company with minimal IT involvement. It is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) venture. Domo integrates with multiple data sources, including spreadsheets, databases, social media and other cloud-based or on-premise software programs.

Strategic Investments:

In today’s world, foreseeing is one of the most important driving factors behind success of any company. We advise Ramalingam Foods to invest in some technologies for future benefits. Since it is hard for Ramalingam Foods to develop that expertise in short span, it would be wise to invest in start-ups those are potential and work on some topics which are in line with Ramalingam Food’s work.

One such area is Block chain. Blockchain technology is continuing to dominate headlines across the globe.

Blockchain can reduce processing time, eliminate the use of paper and save money while ensuring transparency and security. These are the key benefits of blockchain in trade finance. Removing bad actors and forcing everyone to play fair in a new transparent way of doing business will virtually eliminate the risk of manipulation by participants in the chain.

SAP- ERP Adoption:

For integration among the systems and processes, streamlining many processes like order taking, financial book keeping, daily progress reports etc., Ramalingam Foods will subscribe to SAP module. 

Stay in control of your data

There are so many scams around these days, who can stole the companies personal information, selling information or any other data which we are sharing online. As Ramalingam Foods is sharing business information with distant teams and brand-new global partners it can feel a little risky. Choosing a solution of Office 365 will let you control what happens to your information can get through this problem. Through this one can restrict access and control, who sees and/or edits each document, etc. Also, under this software company can create a project-specific team site that has to be shared only with those who need to know.

Also, Ramalingam foods will have subscriptions of Antivirus to protect its computer from any external attack.

Choose flexible collaboration tools

The world is full of different types of people in which some people like to communicate by email or phone, while others prefer face-to-face meetings or online chat. Since Ramalingam Foods is expanding his business internationally, he is going to meet all kinds in his global expansion. So to overcome this we can look for collaboration tools like Office 365 that offer a range of options, from chat with Skype for Business to full-on HD videoconferencing. That way, you’ll be prepared no matter whom you’re working with.

Fundamental Tech requirements:

Ramalingam Foods will subscribe to some fundamental hardware and software packages and technologies to facilitate daily operations without any hassle. These are computers, mobile and landline phones, printers etc. for its employees. Also, Microsoft Package, Office 365, Antivirus, Skype etc. will be required for daily needs.

Localized Checkout Process

Apart from all other important factors, the important part is providing international shopping convenience through your cart which leads to better online sales. So to make our website user friendly Ramalingam Foods should:

• Inform the buyer beforehand if the product is available for shipping to his local address or not.
• Give your buyer the option to convert payment in his currency too to make your global website user friendly.
• Allow the user to check the delivery charges and taxes prior to starting the checkout process to avoid abandoned carts.
• Provide multiple payment options. As people from different locations are comfortable with different payment methods.

FINANCES

At the end the most crucial part is the financing and strategic investments. 

Project/Item	Approx. Expense (INR)
Computers (11 pieces)	7 lac approx
Mobiles and landline phones (20 pieces)	5 lac approx
Domo -Business Cloud cum Data Analytic Tool- 2 users	1.7 lac (Yearly) approx
Website	5 lac approx
Website Maintenance	0.5 lac (Yearly) approx
Microsoft 365 Business Premium	3 lac(Yearly) approx
Investment in Blockchain Technology (in Start-up)	25lac approx
Business Antivirus Subscription Fees	1.2 lac ((Yearly) approx
Skype Subscription Fees	1 lac (Yearly) apporx
Specialized Technology Training	5 lac (Yearly) approx

Conclusion

The IT Department, parallel with all the departments is suggesting to implement most optimized and innovative ideas including Social Media platform, Mobile applications, Websites, Cloud based ERP and department wise software to ensure smooth running of the Ramalingam Food Business. These cloud based platforms are cheap and affordable in comparison to the office based servers but also come with the 5 percent chance of data theft. The IT security team will work on the cloud based software licenses and their policy agreement to stop such incident of data theft to occur in future. We are looking forward to the success of Ramalingum Foods in the near future.

Attached File Details

View Attachment file (Logo Ramalingum Foods.jpeg)

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKRPioxOhbQ