Founded in 1984, Posiflex Technology Inc. has focused its efforts to become a unique player in design and manufacture of touch screen terminals and peripherals. These terminals have been deployed globally across multiple industries and applications including retail Point-of-Sale, health care, hospitality, kiosks and more.
Baskaramoorthy D, VP – Sales, Posiflex Technology India Pvt. Ltd. speaks with Zia Askari from ChannelDrive.in about the company’s focus of operations and its plans for India.
Please explain about your company background?
Posiflex has been engaged in POS (Point Of Sale Terminal) business since 1984 globally with India Branch office being established in the year 2009. However Poisflex products has been sold in India since 2001 through distribution network prior to setting up own base in India & has grown up to leadership position today. Posiflex has established itself as a reliable POS partner in India with more than 35,000 Installed system across (India) used by retailers from Small to Large formats.
What is the big area of focus for Posiflex in India today?
Our Focus Area is Retail, Hospitality, Logistics & Supply Chain, Utility Transaction, Self-Operated Kiosk, Government etc.
Retail space is expected to grow coming year, how do you plan to address this demand?
In the recent years POS Technology growth in the Retail sector has seen significant improvement mainly due to Tier 2 retailers who have also started adopting technology as the main enabler to stay in competition against Organized and International Chains.
Compared to Supermarket/Departmental stores, POS Technology adoption in Hospitality segment is highest due to Touch screen technology, thanks to Smart Phone revolution. Posiflex is launching new series of products both Fixed and Mobility POS to address this growing need of the retail customers across all verticals.
We are waiting for the appropriate moment to set up factory (MAKE IN INDIA PROGRAM) to gear up and meet such demand.
How will you rate your (business) overall performance in year 2015?
Year 2015 is significant for us as our channel business growth is very significant compared to last few years performance. In 2015 we have successfully conducted the First ever POS channel partner conference attended by more than 85Channel partners from across India. Our POS Business has grown 40% compared to year 2014.
What is your channel strategy?
Posiflex products are sold by more than 400+ Channel partners across India with more than 10% having frequency of purchase on weekly basis. Channel partners now play a vital role in our POS sales portfolio. We consider our partners as an asset to Posiflex. We are committed to make the Point-of-Sale experience as an enjoyable one that instills value and creative solutions to its partners.
We periodically conduct both sales and support related training programs to our channel partners not only to update them on the latest products but also to train them on how to position and sell POS products to their prospects.
What is your road map for 2016?
Popularize Mobility solution and to achieve 40+% growth in the year 2016 as well. Thanks to the Popularity of Android Smart Phone usage among mass population, there is certain need of professional Android POS hardware rather than using the general gadgets available in the market as make shift POS hardware. Our newly launched powerful Android POS hardware will be our focus to reach out to those modern retail shops for our new area growth.
What is the company’s go to market strategy in India…? Explain your presence in the country?
Our GTM plan for year 2016 is by creating more awareness beyond Tier 1 city by conducting various road shows/ events in different cities. Popularize our Mobility solution among Logistics & Supply chain segment.
Posiflex has a well-established after sales service network which is spread across India. This service network has grown from 1 city to 450+ locations where onsite service is rendered to Posiflex POS products. We have committed NBD (Next Business Day) resolution for tier 1 cities. However our effort is to extend the same kind of Service Level for tier2 and 3 cities shortly with the growth of channel partners and their customer base.
What are some of the innovative products that are likely to come from Posiflex?
Our MT4008 Mobile Handheld POS cum Stock take terminal & all in one HS Series will be one of its kind innovative first from Posiflex.
Please share with us some of the challenges that retail industry is facing today..? How do you plan to overcome these challenges?
Biggest challenge faced by Retail industry today is good quality retail space at affordable rate, quality manpower, on time replenishment of inventory backed up by good supply chain. Also the behaviour pattern of the consumers has undergone major change as they easily switch loyalty and thanks to ecommerce boom discounts are part of regular sales. Retail Customers now want to eat, shop and get entertained under a single roof.
Thus retailers are expected to deliver high standard of service & still stay profitable. Technology adoption in retailer’s operation and streamlined supply chain that increases per Sq ft income is the only way to overcome these challenges.
The biggest challenge facing the Indian organized retail sector is the lack of retail space. With real estate prices escalating due to increase in demand from the Indian organized retail sector, it is posing a challenge to its growth. With Indian retailers having to shell out more for retail space it is effecting their overall profitability in retail.
Trained manpower shortage is another challenge facing the organized retail sector in India. Indian retailers have difficulty in finding trained personnel and also have to pay more in order to retain them. This again brings down the retailers profit levels.
