Microsoft DynamicsCustomer Solution Case Study

Grooming Products Company Improves Efficiency, Enhances Reporting Capabilities with Business Management

OverviewCountry or region: IndiaIndustry: Trading

Customer ProfileJK Helene Curtis Limited is part of the 14 billion Raymond group. The company was established in 1964 and is a pioneer and a leading player in the personal care grooming category.

Business SituationJKHC needed a business management system that would improve the financial and operational efficiency of its business processes and keep pace with its rapid growth.

SolutionWith the help of Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner Blue Star Infotech, JKHC deployed and customized a business management solution based on Microsoft Dynamics® NAV 4.0.

Benefits Consolidate business processes Real-Time business intelligence Faster reporting

“Microsoft® Dynamics™ NAV 4.0 is very flexible and has truly empowered our employees by giving them real time access to accurate, current, and relevant data, when and where it is needed most.”

Atul Dharap , Deputy General Manager Finance, JK Helene Curtis Limited

JK Helene Curtis (JKHC) manufactures specialized

personal care items. Its products include styling gels,

room fresheners, body deodorants, eau-de-colognes,

shaving creams/foams, aftershave lotions, talcum

powders, fragrances, shampoos, soaps and hair dyes.

The company was running a legacy system that required

substantial data handling and repetitive data entry. With

no integrated business infrastructure, it was becoming

time consuming for administrators to report on group-

wide activities and performance. JKHC wanted to migrate

to an integrated financial management solution to

improve its business efficiency. Working with Microsoft®

Gold Certified Partner, Blue Star Infotech, the

organization deployed Microsoft® Dynamics™ NAV 4.0 to

create a customized enterprise resource planning

system that uses real time information to better manage

business processes. The new system presents

consolidated, company-wide business information to

managers, helping them make better decisions and

focus on customer needs.

SituationJK Helene Curtis (JKHC) Limited, established in 1964, is a part of the U.S. $ 300 million (INR 14 billion) Raymond Group. It is a pioneer and a leading player in the personal care grooming category. JK Helene Curtis brands are of international quality on all parameters – ingredients, packaging and brand image. It has a varied portfolio of brands (procurement and selling) that span across the personal grooming and home care categories namely Park Avenue, Premium, Monarch and Tru Tone.

JKHC has earned an enviable reputation in the marketplace. Its brands enjoy a strong equity among customers and the company has built, over the years, capabilities to meet the ever-changing customer wants.

Currently the company markets its brands through 571 towns, four regional offices which controls 2 mother depot , 22 Depots /C&F agents, These C&F Agents service668 stockists who in turn service 1,60,000 retail outlets.

JKHC was using custom developed legacy applications at its multiple locations. This made retrieval and collation of data done at the end of the month from different locations a huge task. In addition, duplication of data entries led to reconciliation issues.

Multiple other key business issues that needed to be improved in JKHC were: Increase efficiency of core business

operations especially, planning and procurement, pricing, transfer process, dispatch and invoicing, online balances, and accurate financial MIS

Improve document archiving with version

Achieve authorization (posting) control at document level

Centrally manage master data Implement centralized account

closing activity instead of location wise closing

Implement calculation of excise (on MRP or PO rate)

Receive materials at multiple locations

Implement mapping of three discount schemes (primary, slabs and consumer offer)

Transfer goods from depot to mother godown and vice versa

Track material at depot level Integrate finance with sales,

purchase and inventory Apply Indian taxation on transaction

documents Visibility of the depot data to the

regional offices

The company wanted to replace the legacy system with a business management software solution. It needed a solution that could provide integrated information, and streamline processes.

Solution

“The functionality of Microsoft Dynamics® NAV 4.0 was invaluable for meeting our company’s local requirements. In addition, the scalability of the solution made it ideal for meeting future demands as the business grew.”Atul Dharap , Deputy General Manager

JKHC analyzed a number of technologies in the market and eventually decided to implement Microsoft® Dynamics™ NAV 4.0. The solution integrated business data and was highly customizable.

With the help of Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner Blue Star Infotech, JKHC deployed Dynamics NAV 4.0 as its new enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution.

“The functionality of Microsoft Dynamics™ NAV 4.0 was invaluable for meeting our company’s local requirements,” says Atul Dharap, Deputy General Manager Finance, JKHC. “In addition, the scalability of the solution made it ideal for meeting future demands as the business grew.”

Blue Star Infotech suggested Microsoft Dynamics NAV 4.0 as it is one of the integrated ERP solution which addresses issues relating to various departments and locations. It supports the company’s business processes and addresses most of its issues.

The solution helped in centralized database application, which finally lead to better control over transactions and thus eliminated data duplication. In addition, employees were able to witness or view available stock across locations/warehouse.

Initially the implementation was done at the Mumbai location and at the warehouse located in Bhiwandi. Later

the solution was rolled out at 24 more locations.

With the new solution there has been sizeable involvement of top management governing the overall implementation, which includes cutting down on customization leading to development. The rigorous and painstaking testing helped close many of critical processes or customizations well within timelines.

BenefitsMicrosoft® Dynamics™ NAV 4.0 helped JKHC keep its competitive edge by providing real-time access and insight into store inventory. It has streamlined operations and directed more attention toward fostering efficient workflow. Moving from a legacy system to an online integrated solution has enabled JKHC to increase its sales revenue and improve efficiencies throughout its company operations.

Consolidate Business ProcessesMicrosoft Dynamics NAV 4.0, a fully integrated business management solution, has enabled JKHC to control all business processes through one application. This has eliminated redundant processes and helped the company to automate time-consuming processes to reduce workload.

“The solution has streamlined our business processes. The consolidated, single view of data saves employee

time” says Kiran Nabar, General Manager Sales.

Real Time Business IntelligenceWith immediate access to real time information, JKHC employees can quickly respond to issues, eliminating inventory backups and accumulated holding costs. Says Kishor Deshmukh, Deputy General Manager, Value Chain

Faster ReportingMicrosoft Dynamics NAV enables JKHC to automate more of its financial information cycles, which makes for speedier reporting.It has given the company a new level of control and reporting across its entire system, thereby ensuring operational efficiency.

“The efficiency of Microsoft Dynamics® NAV 4.0 is really the greatest benefit for us,” says Atul Dharap, Deputy General Manager Finance, JKHC. “With this solution, the company can easily accommodate the reporting needs of its business. We can now prepare accurate and speedy reports.

Better Use of Human Resources“The Centrally deployed Microsoft Dynamics® NAV 4.0 has provided for use of underutilised human resources located at distant places to their full potential” says Atul Dharap, Deputy General Manager Finance

About Blue Star InfotechBlue Star Infotech, is a global provider of Product Development services, ERP solutions, Travel Technology solutions and Testing services. Part of the US$600M Blue Star Group, Blue Star Infotech (BSI) provides profit-enhancing solutions to enterprises and product companies. With operations in North America, Europe, UK, Japan and India, Blue Star Infotech delivers high-performance technology-based services by adopting a partnering approach with its clients.

Blue Star Infotech is a Microsoft Gold Partner and an Oracle Certified Partner.

Microsoft DynamicsMicrosoft Dynamics is a line of integrated, adaptable business management solutions that enables you and your people to make business decisions with greater confidence. Microsoft Dynamics works like familiar Microsoft software such as Microsoft Office, which means less of a learning curve for your people, so they can get up and running quickly and focus on what’s most important. And because it is from Microsoft, it easily works with the systems that your company already has implemented. By automating and streamlining financial, customer relationship, and supply chain processes, Microsoft Dynamics brings together people, processes, and technologies, increasing the productivity and effectiveness of your business, and helping you drive business success.  For more information about Microsoft Dynamics, go to:www.microsoft.com/dynamics

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.

Document published March 2008

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.

Document published July 2008

Software and Services Microsoft Dynamics

− Microsoft Dynamics NAV 4.0

Hardware Storage DELL PowerVault MD1000 HDD - 73GB x 12Partner Blue Star Infotech Ltd

For More InformationFor more information about Microsoft products and services, call the Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 426-9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft Canada Information Centre at (877) 568-2495. Customers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can reach Microsoft text telephone (TTY/TDD) services at (800) 892-5234 in the United States or (905) 568-9641 in Canada. Outside the 50 United States and Canada, please contact your local Microsoft subsidiary. To access information using the World Wide Web, go to: www.microsoft.com

For more information about JK Helene Curtis Limited products and services, call 91-22-4036 8226 or email jkhcl@raymondindia.com

For more information about Blue Star Infotech products and services, call 91-22-66956969 or visit the Web site at: www.bsil.com