An IT plan to support international expansion of Ramalingam Foods.

Assignment Taken

NMO S4 SPRINT ONE | BUSINESS CASE SCENARIO - 03

Case Understanding

The case involves an Indian food product company that wants to expand into new markets around the world. Ramalingam Foods found success during an emergency by selling packaged foods (Idly-Dosa batter) and later went on to make and sell similar products as its core business. Beyond batter, the company's product line has expanded to include instant, easy-to-make sweets and snack mixes. With the son of the company's founder at the helm, the company is now looking to expand into overseas markets where its food products are expected to be well received. The objectives of IT strategies and key decision areas are: • A website designed specifically for Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Singapore • The level of automation necessary in Malaysia's manufacturing centre • The use of data analytics to accurately estimate demand • Implementation of enterprise resource planning tools to streamline business processes • Looking into the idea of using Blockchain in trade finance for export and import. • Ensuring the safety and privacy of data • Assisting with the smooth transition from a domestic-only company to a worldwide one.

BCS Solution Summary

Ramalingam Foods (Tagline: Making Homemade Chefs) approached Global Business Consultancy (GBC) for help with their international expansion. Since 1965, the company has had a ready-to-cook product range that includes dosa-idli instant mix powder, dhokla, gulab jamoon mix, and filter coffee, all of which are largely South Indian culinary mixes. GBC has planned to develop in South-East Asia, specifically Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, where there is a large community of South Indians. Greenfield expansion would take place in Malaysia, with exports to Singapore (by road) and Indonesia (via waterways) following. Ramalingam Foods has been recommended by GBC to introduce current products in these three countries this year, with product portfolio expansion expected over the next two years. Ramalingam Foods will focus on food innovation (both authentic Indian and Indian-themed foreign dishes), marketing for expanding reach and brand creation, world-class IT infrastructure for dealing with digital disruption, and employee development. Ramalingam Foods will prioritise R&D for product innovation (both authentic Indian and Indian-themed foreign dishes), marketing for expanding reach and brand building, world-class IT infrastructure for dealing with digital disruption, and employee-friendly, productive HR policies. To provide Ramalingam Foods with dependable and long-term technical services and innovative solutions that provide value to the organisation and its stakeholders while also improving business processes and effectiveness across all departments. A high-level summary of the IT department's mission, basic values, objectives, and methods for achieving its objectives. • Ramalingam Foods has its own website; SAP Enterprise Resource Planning is used to streamline connected processes. • Investment in two start-ups concentrating on Blockchain Technology and Virtual & Augmented Reality for future developments • Automation using distributed control system for manufacturing facility in Malaysia • Use of Domo -Business Cloud cum Data Analytic Tool to cope with rising data analytics for global sharing, use the cloud. • Select collaborative tools that are adaptable. • Maintain data control. • Purchase essentials such as a mobile phone and a computer. • Simplify scheduling and localised checkout process by using Skype for online meetings with customers and own staff in other countries.

Solution

Creating own Website

Ramalingam Food's internet firm address will be a business website. It's where you can identify and contact potential consumers, clients, and associates. In comparison to generic Google addresses, an e-mail from a corporation with its own domain is more reliable and trustworthy. Websites provide firms with a distinct online identity. According to a survey conducted by the Better Business Bureau, 84 percent of consumers will trust a company based on online reviews, which can only be done if they visit the firm's website.

A well-maintained website can help a business achieve a competitive advantage and boost its image in any industry. Creating our own website has numerous advantages, like increased leads and prospects, increased sales, improved professional branding, and improved customer service.

The website (Ramalingamfoods.my for Malaysia) is as follows: - • Contain content transcreation – This is a term used in the field of translation studies to define the process of translating a message from one language to another while keeping the communication's intent, style, tone, and context intact.

• There will be an option for online sales.
• It will feature "ChatBot" buttons on all pages, allowing customers to directly ask their questions (if any).
• Customer reviews and feedback will be available on the site, and customers will be able to leave their feedback.

In addition, our website will include the following vital features:

• Online advertising as a means of generating revenue
• Educate our customers - Have articles from experienced people on how to live a fit and healthy life, as well as a recipe book for cooking with our products.

• Two-Way Communication - Customers can easily contact us, provide comments on our products, or inquire about our services.

 

Use the cloud for global sharing

When a firm opens an office in another country, works with customers in other countries, or outsources to far-flung contractors, it faces numerous challenges, including coordinating with individuals in different regions and time zones.

To overcome this challenge, a corporation might employ a cloud storage service like Microsoft OneDrive or Office 365 to simplify things.

Now how it will work for Ramalingam Foods?

Ramalingam Foods can store his paperwork and data online, which he can quickly arrange and share with all of his international staff. You should have the most recent version of files to keep everyone up to date, but you can restore prior versions if necessary. You can even access your info offline if you don't have access to the Internet. 

Using Data-analysis

Data is the new oil in today's world; properly acquired and analysed data can provide business insights that might provide the user a competitive advantage. Ramalingam Foods should purchase advanced tools to get such insights, according to GBC. Domo is an example of such software.

Domo is the Business Cloud®, providing BI leverage at cloud scale in rapid time to businesses of all sizes. BI-critical activities that used to take weeks, months, or even years to complete may now be completed on the fly, in minutes or seconds, at incredible scale, allowing teams and organisations to move fast, go big, and go daring. Domo, Inc is a cloud-based platform that gives decision makers across the firm direct, simple, real-time access to business data with minimal IT participation. It's a SaaS (software as a service) business. Domo connects to a variety of data sources, such as spreadsheets, databases, social media, and other cloud-based or on-premise software.

 

Strategic Investments:

In today's world, vision is one of the most important factors in determining a company's success. Ramalingam Foods should invest in some technology, according to GBC, for future benefits. Because developing that knowledge in a short period of time is difficult for Ramalingam Foods, it might be prudent to invest in promising start-ups that work on themes related to Ramalingam Foods' activities.

Blockchain is one such area. Blockchain technology is still creating headlines around the world. As the digital transformation accelerates, an almost never-ending number of projects and pilots vie for our attention.

While providing transparency, security, and trust, blockchain can shorten processing time, eliminate the usage of paper, and save money. These are the main advantages of blockchain technology in trade finance. By removing bad actors and pushing everyone to play fairly in a new transparent method of doing business, the possibility of manipulation by chain participants is almost eliminated.

Virtual and augmented reality is another topic. Ramalingam Foods wants to use the principles of augmented reality and virtual reality to improve client experiences through visualisation. AR/VR, it believes, will be quite valuable in the coming days of operations.

Ramalingam Food has been advised to invest INR 50 lakh in each of two startups: WoToken in the Blockchain area and RevoAR in the Virtual and Augmented Reality arena.

 

SAP- ERP Adoption:

Ramalingam Foods will subscribe to SAP module for system and process integration, as well as optimising numerous activities such as order taking, financial bookkeeping, and daily progress reports.

The following are some of the advantages of SAP ERP:

• Boost productivity by streamlining and automating critical business processes, allowing everyone in the organisation to accomplish more with less resources.
• Improved insights: Break down information silos, establish a single source of truth, and get quick answers to mission-critical business problems.
• Business and financial reporting may be completed quickly, and the findings can be shared effortlessly. Act on what you've learned and improve your performance in real time.
• Reduce risk by increasing business visibility and control, ensuring regulatory compliance, and predicting and preventing risk.
• Easier IT: By integrating ERP apps that share a database, you may simplify IT and make it easier for everyone to work. Improved agility: You can swiftly identify and react to new opportunities thanks to efficient operations and ready access to real-time data. 

Stay in control of your data. 

There are a lot of scammers out there these days who can steal a company's personal information, sell it, or steal any other data that we share online. It can be risky for Ramalingam Foods to share company information with far-flung teams and brand-new worldwide partners. Using a service like Office 365, which allows you to control what happens to your data, can help you solve this issue. This allows you to restrict access and control who sees and/or modifies each document, among other things. Additionally, a software company can use this software to construct a project-specific team site that must only be shared with those who need to know.

Ramalingam Foods will also have Antivirus subscriptions to secure its computer from any external threats.

 

Choose flexible collaboration tools

 

People come in all shapes and sizes, and some prefer to connect by email or phone, while others prefer face-to-face meetings or online chat. Ramalingam Foods is extending his business abroad, thus he will encounter a wide range of people. To get around this, we can use collaboration solutions like Office 365, which provide a variety of alternatives ranging from Skype for Business chat to full-fledged HD videoconferencing. That way, no matter who you're working with, you'll be ready.

This will be particularly valuable for firms with foreign clients/customers or personnel stationed overseas for daily briefings, conversations, and meetings, among other things.

 

Fundamental Tech requirements:

Ramalingam Foods will subscribe to very few basic hardware and software packages and technologies to help with day-to-day operations. For its employees, it covers computers, mobile and landline phones, printers, and so on. For daily necessities, Microsoft Package, Office 365, Antivirus, Skype, and so on will be required. 

 

Simplify scheduling.

Due to the multiple time zones, Ramalingam Foods will have difficulty managing its time as it expands its operations abroad. To solve this problem, you may use Office 365's calendaring system, which allows you to build shared calendars among teams so that everyone knows when they are available and you know when everyone is available, making scheduling a pleasure. Additionally, the Outlook integration in Office 365 makes scheduling meetings and videoconferences a breeze. 

 

Localized Checkout Process

Aside from all of the other vital factors, providing international shopping convenience through your cart, which leads to increased online sales, is critical. So, in order to make our website more user-friendly, Ramalingam Foods should:

• Let the buyer know ahead of time whether the product is available for shipping to his local address.
• Allow your buyer to convert payments into his own currency to make your worldwide website more user-friendly.
• To avoid abandoned carts, allow the user to examine the shipping rates and taxes before beginning the checkout process.
• Provide a variety of payment alternatives. People from various areas are familiar with a variety of payment options. 

 

Manage your contacts

Ramalingam Foods should maintain track of all his new global contacts, such as consumers, vendors, and suppliers, in order to maximise production. To keep track of all of this information, a firm can utilise Office 365, which syncs everyone's emails, calendars, and contact information across all of their devices, allowing them to meet and converse in real time. Ramalingam Foods will always have up-to-date information about the persons with whom they are collaborating.

 

A Table for Projected Expenses

 

Project/Item	Approx. Expense(INR)
Automation of the plant in Malaysia using distributed control system (DCS)	50 lac
DCS Maintenance	5 lac (Yearly)
SAP Module (10 users)	22 lac (Yearly)
Computers (12 pieces)	7 lac
Mobiles and landline phones (20 pieces)	5 lac
Domo -Business Cloud cum Data Analytic Tool- 2 users	1.7 lac (Yearly)
Website	5 lac
Website Maintenance	0.5 lac (Yearly)
Microsoft 365 Business Premium	3 lac(Yearly)
Investment in Blockchain Technology (in Start-up)	50lac
Investment in a start-up focused in Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality	50 lac
Business Antivirus Subscription Fees	1.2 lac ((Yearly)
Skype Subscription Fees	1 lac (Yearly)
Specialized Technology Training	5 lac (Yearly)

Conclusion

It has been proved that information technology (IT) will provide a competitive advantage to global businesses, allowing them to remain competitive in the international market for the long term. Information technology is vital to global business because it allows organisations to have easy communication between enterprises in different countries, better supply chain management, and successful product marketing.

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