Automation isn’t a threat, says BFL’s tech lead

For off-price retailer Brands For Less (BFL) Group, change management acts as a roadblock while implementing tech-based transformation. That’s why, it engages with all stakeholders right from inception to co-create, co-own and co-adopt.

“That’s why before undertaking any project, we agree on how technology will improve our everyday operations,” said Bappaditya Banerjee, Director of Technology at BFL Group.

After all, this may not be a unique challenge just for BFL Group. An Oliver Wyman survey indicated how reluctance towards change often acts as a barrier to transformation. Based on its survey, the consulting firm stated that often the barrier in artificial integration (AI) integration and mass adoption is not a technological challenge but a human one. For instance, its AI survey indicated that while 96% of employees think Generative AI (GenAI) can help them at their current jobs, 60% are afraid it will automate them out of work.

“Importantly, we also agree how their DILOF (day in life of) will improve with technology and how they can be re-purposed to do more value-added activities. A good example are our RPA (Robotics Process Automation) bots built to automate the HR, finance and buying processes (such as employee onboarding, PO creation, invoice matching) and leveraging our warehouse teams to do more QC and price fixing related tasks rather than moving boxes,” Banerjee shared.

Over to tech-based milestones

Adeptly navigating roadblocks, BFL Group has achieved some major milestones in 2024. One highlight is the implementation of robotics in their warehouse, leveraging shuttle systems to do intelligent put-away (driven by AI/ML [machine learning]) of the cartons post receiving. BFL also uses robotic sorters to sort the products by store at the outbound stage in the warehouse, which then transports them to the store grids for the final dispatch to the stores, without any manual intervention. “We have implemented the robotic shuttle and the sorter across our warehouses in UAE and in KSA,” Banerjee added.

That’s not all, BFL has several tech-based investment plans for 2025 as well. “One of them is investing in an integrated buying and planning solution that will help us to evaluate deals and offers from our suppliers, plan and manage our intake (OTB – open to buy), build the right assortment for the stores based on dynamic store clustering and use AI-driven intelligent replenishment at the stores,” Banerjee revealed.

Fashion at a ‘watershed moment’

As an industry fashion seems to be at a ‘watershed moment’ with technology playing a crucial role in the industry’s approach towards sustainability and innovation.

In this context, Banerjee said, “Sustainability is at the core of the industry, be it the composition of the products, fabrics, yarns and materials, or reducing the carbon footprint using EMS (energy management systems) combined with solar energy across facilities. Optimising fleets for last-mile and consolidating shipments using CFS (consolidators) will all use technology to do route and fleet optimisation across the supply chain and reduce consumption of fossil fuels in transportation. Moreover, reusability of cartons and packaging materials and moving towards totes (with robotics automation) which can be reused will contribute to sustainability fuelled by innovation.”

Tomorrow’s tech agenda

In summation, asked if digital transformation was yesterday, what’s tomorrow’s tech agenda, Banerjee observed, “I think digital transformation will continue, but it will be complimented with newer capabilities like GenAI and ML, which will make the applications smarter with our natural language (like English prompts) becoming the mainstream for HMI (human machine interface). An example is GenAI based self-service reports and insights within the BI platform, where users don’t have to always open dashboards to find information and insights, a simple natural language prompt will use Gen AI to extract, interpret and explain the information.

To get more insights up and close, register to meet Bappaditya Banerjee at the Middle East Retail Forum 2024.