Any department in FMCG companies can use no-code platforms to automate their processes and build business applications for their unique requirements using visual drag-and-drop controls
As the name suggests, the Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry truly moves fast and needs to maintain the momentum for many different reasons. A significant reason why the industry needs to have the means to attain agility in its functioning is that, when time is saved in business processing, cost-effectiveness can also be considerably increased, and some of these savings can be passed on to the consumers. It is because of this one reason that food processing and FMCG businesses need digital transformation solutions like No-Code to help them out.
Given the range of products that fall under the food processing and FMCG umbrella, unique processes are involved in procurement, processing, and distribution for each product category. This makes one-size-fits-all software solutions misfit for the industry. Traditional development, on the other hand, is too slow, costly and it’s even harder to make changes as per the changing business requirements.
Any department in FMCG companies can use no-code platforms to automate their processes and build business applications for their unique requirements using visual drag-and-drop controls. All this without writing a single line of code. The ease of automation, the speed, and the convenience that the solutions offer, make them an apt alternative for the FMCG or food processing industries, which are in a lot of instances still highly reliant on manual and paper-driven processes.
You will find that there are numerous functions in the manufacturing and processing units of the FMCG or food industry. Knowing how No-code helps in the general functions of an FMCG business, can help understand how efficiency and cost-effectiveness in each business function can be achieved.
Data collection and management:
Consumer surveys are very common in the FMCG industry. No-code solutions enable the creation of market research surveys and analysis of survey data a piece of cake. These surveys may be embedded in a company’s website, circulated through email, or accessed through mobile devices for door-to-door surveys. Offline functionality ensures that the field staff is never stuck and does their job without any hassle.
Organisation and department level master data can be set up and used by various processes across the organization without having to worry about any data redundancy issues.
Not only is the data created and stored effectively but it can also be transferred or shared in real-time with other stakeholders to quicken the pace of the job. This most importantly helps in saving time, effort, and money that may have to be put into the task otherwise. It also helps in making sure that there is no data mismatch when compared from one process to another, which is a common problem in manual or paper-driven processes.
Fool-proof digitized record maintenance:
Processes such as inventory and supply chain management need to be done with extreme precision and there is often little or no margin for error in these functions. This is also true for production and quality check management functions, which are extremely important tasks for players in the FMCG industry. With the use of no-code solutions, it is possible to create secure, fool-proof, and precision-driven systems that can be used in the management of critical and sensitive functions. It is observed that a lot of time, money, and effort is saved when a business uses simple yet effective no-code solutions during regular working without putting business integrity at risk.
Workflow management:
Every FMCG company is unique, and so are its workflows. The smooth running of a system should not have to be left on fate or manual work. Be it sequential, conditional, or parallel; companies can automate workflows across departments using no-code resulting in operations that are error-free, paperless, streamlined, and transparent. There are instances where businesses have experienced up to a 15% increase in levels of productivity just by digitizing otherwise paper-driven workflow management processes using no-code. The system is flexible enough to be tweaked and customized by people who have no experience or knowledge of coding, thereby saving a lot of time as well as money.
Delivery Tracking & Management:
An important aspect of the smooth working of an FMCG business is delivering the products to the final stakeholders, usually the retailers or even, in some cases, the end-users. While it is the last leg of the process, it is the trickiest of them all. Real-time management and tracking of the delivery process are highly essential for it to flow smoothly and without glitches. The use of no-code can enable the making of a system that helps you update data as the products move from one point to another. Communication among several stakeholders by receiving and sending notifications about the status of the delivery process can also be enabled with the use of no-code solutions.
Ease of reporting:
Being able to establish complete transparency in the working of the FMCG functions is a business need that cannot be compromised. The growth of a business can be planned and tracked when the reporting system is simple, effective, and transparent at the same time. Using no-code, each department user can build dynamic and actionable reports and dashboards using a wide variety of charting options the way they want them. These reports and dashboards can be accessed anytime from anywhere. These reports can even be scheduled for delivery through email or other channels as per the business requirements.
Why No-Code is the need of the hour:
When you consider the economic and social conditions that the COVID-19 pandemic has created across the globe, it is observed that a lot of businesses have had to take financial hits. Monetary and business plans have had to be revisited, and a lot of functions have had to be altered to keep businesses in sustenance mode. In such scenarios, it becomes important to have access to a tool that requires minimum intervention and provides optimal utility. When you can automate your processes and build applications that can be seamlessly integrated with other IT systems, you can enhance the precision and speed of your work. It is also ensured that more of your attention and energy is channelized towards business development rather than on workflow and process micro-management, which is taken care of through digital transformation.
The key to the survival and growth of any business is to be able to make the most of the available resources without having to compromise on cost-effectiveness. The new age No-Code solutions help businesses in saving costs while enhancing the speed and agility of the business processes. Automation of functions that are otherwise done manually, quick turn-around time, and close tracking of functions like deliveries, all lead to cost-effectiveness. The no-code solutions help in maintaining a perfect balance between cost-effectiveness and the efficiency of business functions in the FMCG industry.
The sheer size, volume, and scope for competition in the industry should be motivation enough for all the players in it to consider automation and digitization tools like No-Code with seriousness.
Gautam Nimmagadda, Founder & CEO, Quixy, Hyderabad