In a rapidly evolving business landscape, traditional enterprises face the challenge of staying relevant and competitive. For Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale, a renowned name in Pune’s culinary scene, adapting to modern technological advancements became imperative to sustain its legacy. At Rising 2024, Janhavi Chitale, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale, unveiled the company’s remarkable journey of leveraging technology to scale its traditional Indian business further.
Embracing Tradition with Technology
Founded in 1950 by Janhavi’s great-grandfather and his sons, Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale started as a modest store offering milk and dairy products. Over the decades, it burgeoned into a global entity, spanning across 250 cities and 35 countries. Despite its impressive growth, the company encountered hurdles in adapting its operations to meet modern demands.
The Challenge of Integration
As Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale expanded its reach, it grappled with disparate systems and manual processes. With separate platforms for procurement, production, sales, and accounting, obtaining real-time and accurate data became a daunting task. Manual entries and reliance on Excel spreadsheets led to inefficiencies, hindering the company’s operational excellence.
A Vision for Digital Transformation
Recognizing the need for a comprehensive solution, Janhavi Chitale spearheaded the company’s digital transformation initiative. At Rising 2024, she outlined the strategic approach adopted by Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale to integrate technology seamlessly into its operations.
Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale embraced SAP Business One on HANA, a robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, to consolidate its systems. By centralizing procurement, production, quality maintenance, and accounting processes, the company aimed to streamline operations and enhance data accuracy.
Enhancing Visibility Across Channels
With an integrated system in place, Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale sought to improve visibility across its supply chain and distribution network. By digitizing processes and leveraging real-time data insights, the company empowered its channel partners with complete visibility into orders, deliveries, and financial transactions.
Driving Operational Excellence
The implementation of SAP Business One on HANA enabled Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale to optimize its manufacturing and supply chain operations. With clear visibility of stock levels, inventory management became more efficient, leading to improved production planning and dispatch processes.
Empowering Data-Driven Decision-Making
By harnessing data analytics capabilities, Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale empowered its teams to make informed, data-driven decisions. Real-time insights into sales trends, customer preferences, and market dynamics facilitated the development of hyper-localized strategies, driving business growth.
Establishing Standardized Processes
Through its digital transformation journey, Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale standardized processes across its operations. By defining standard operating procedures (SOPs) and ensuring cross-functional alignment, the company achieved operational consistency and scalability.
A Testament to Success
The adoption and the subsequent digital transformation yielded significant results for Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale. Operational efficiency improved by nearly 40%, while sales and marketing strategies became more targeted and data-driven.
Conclusion: Paving the Way for Future Growth
As Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale continues its journey of innovation and growth, its success story serves as inspiration for traditional Indian businesses. By embracing technology and fostering a culture of innovation, companies can navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape and achieve sustainable growth in the digital age.
“I know the mountain is tall, sometimes even taller for us women, but keep climbing and you will eventually get there for sure.”
