The Right Way

Issue No.3 | Nov 2023

Unleash the Power of Systems and Automation - Part 2

Greetings, Innovators and Dream Weavers !

Welcome back to the third issue of The Right Way 🚀

In this edition, continuing our deep dive into the world of systems and automation, uncovering the strategies where efficiency, accuracy, and the 'wow' factor are the stars of the show

A Tech-Driven Vision: Efficiency, Accuracy, and the 'Wow' Factor

Coming from a technology background, my focus has always been on how to automate operations to bring in efficiency and accuracy, eliminate person dependency and guesswork.

The first entry point for implementing automation was Customer Service.

Our goal wasn't just to make customer service efficient; we wanted to use technology to create that 'WOW' factor. Our entire system design revolved around this principle, with a keen eye on the user experience.

User-Centric Design: Simplified Work, Enhanced Service

Our aim was clear: We wanted the system to be user-friendly, ensuring that our customer service staff, including store representatives and delivery teams, found their lives made easier by the system, rather than adding to their daily chores.

With a hands-on approach at our stores, I gained firsthand exposure to customer interactions at our stores, the challenges faced, and the pain points. With these insights in mind, we crafted a user interface (UI) that made data entry a breeze. Considering that each order often consisted of around 15 line items, it was crucial to ensure an efficient and easy-to-use system.

The Evolution of Convenience - Innovative Data Entry, Touch Screens and More..

To make the processing facility's job easier and ensure perfect traceability and accuracy We captured details like the make and colour of each garment received at the store. We integrated this information into our system design. Our data entry screens were designed to be exceptionally user-friendly, featuring large blocks for selecting garment types, make, and colour.

One of the intelligent aspects we added was the integration of customer history. This feature significantly simplified the creation of order sheets, reducing customer wait times to a minimum.

We didn't stop there; we continued to enhance the system. We introduced touch screens and incorporated a camera to capture garment colors and makes, further streamlining the process and adding a layer of convenience for both our customers and our team.

Our basic entry point gave us a wealth of data that not only added accuracy and efficiency but also provided us with a plethora of insights into how each store was performing. We could slice and dice the data to improve backend operations, create enticing offers for our customers, plan for long-term investments and equipment upgrades.

Expanding the Horizon: Comprehensive Systems

We didn't stop at customer service; we implemented similar systems for inventory management, payroll, and incentives. These end-to-end systems allowed us to create a business that our competitors could never catch up with. We achieved complete market dominance through our commitment to technology and automation.

The return on investment (ROI) from our systems and automation was truly remarkable. It not only streamlined our operations but also allowed us to address blind spots and eliminate daily firefighting. With this robust foundation in place, we were poised for even greater success in the future.

As I wrap up my exploration of systems and automation, I look forward to sharing the valuable lessons I've learned from one of my business failures in the next issue.

Stay tuned for a candid reflection on my journey, including the bumps along the way.....

With brighter beginnings on the horizon,