Siam Coconut is one of the leading suppliers of coconuts in Singapore. With a brand heritage of over 20 years, the company distributes daily to around 200 points and more than 600 establishments including major hotel chains, restaurants, beach bars, ice creameries, and bubble tea stores via fleets of trucks.
Whole coconuts are imported and locally processed in Singapore to provide maximum freshness and enjoyment with the convenience of a pre-cut coconut. Siam Coconut serves as both a manufacturer of coconut and coconut water products as well as a distributor of Thai and plant-based food items such as Cha Tra Mue Thai Tea Mix.
“Our core operations involve processing a significant volume of coconuts, averaging between 5,000 to 7,000 coconuts daily. We implement multiple layers of quality control to ensure only the best gets delivered to our customers,” said Kelvin Ngian, general manager of Siam Coconut.
IT setup at Siam Coconut
Siam Coconut recently transitioned to an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system integrated with the customer self-ordering system, warehouse management app and driver delivery app modules.
“Embracing the latest technological advancements, a significant portion of our data and software infrastructure now resides in the cloud,” commented Ngian. “This strategic move not only empowers our team with the freedom to work from any location but also eliminates the need for maintaining physical servers on-site.”
Ngian says the cloud-based setup not only enhances flexibility but also enables the company to deploy and train new staff with ease. “With just essential logins and a laptop, our team members can be swiftly deployed, improving the operational efficiency of the business,” he continued.
Manual operations
Until recently, the company relied heavily on manual processes which were time-consuming and prone to human errors. “For example, we used to triplicate invoices where documents were manually arranged, sorted and organised,” he added.
Source: Siam Coconut
He revealed that invoices were sorted by dates, a process that demanded careful attention to ensure accuracy, then grouped according to the corresponding customers, and eventually summed. This labour-intensive and time-consuming method posed significant challenges, highlighting the necessity for modernisation and automation within Siam Coconut’s operations.
The many paths to phygital
Ngian conceded that in the search for a way to digitise its manual processes, it evaluated several alternatives.
“We initially utilised a different brand of printer, which had poor battery life and caused significant challenges in sourcing replacement parts due to the absence of a local service support team,” he revealed. “This lack of local assistance led to the arduous task of resorting to online marketplaces like eBay, which heightened our frustration and triggered the need for change.”
Tailored solution
Singapore-based enterprise mobile solution provider, Orangekloud collaborated with Zebra Technologies to create a tailored solution to help Siam Coconut overcome the company’s business challenges.
The solution encompasses a comprehensive suite of tools tailored to our specific needs. It includes an ERP system integrated with three mobile applications: a Customer Self-Order App, a Delivery App, and a Warehouse App.
Each of these applications serves a vital role in streamlining our operations, enhancing efficiency, and improving customer service. This solution operates entirely in the cloud to avoid the maintenance of an on-site server.
Benefits of going phygital
Since the adoption of the mobile printing solution, Siam Coconut has greatly enhanced its operational efficiency and customer satisfaction levels. Ngian noted that one of the most notable benefits is the increased level of control over the entire process. “The solution enables the team to have a comprehensive oversight of our inventory, allowing us to monitor stock levels and track their respective shelf lives with precision,” he continued.
Source: Zebra Technologies
The ordering experience has also improved. “With the customer self-ordering app integrated into our system, customers now have the convenience of placing orders around the clock – 24/7. These orders are routed directly into our system, streamlining the order processing workflow,” he elaborated.
By integrating the handheld mobile printers into the delivery app's operations, the delivery team can now handle a multitude of tasks – deliver goods efficiently, validate orders online, obtain customer endorsements directly on delivery orders, and instantly print out delivery receipts on-site.
This has helped to increase accuracy and reduce reordering hassles. He added that in addition to being lightweight, the mobile printers are durable and have a long battery life which are ideal for Siam Coconut’s delivery drivers’ mobility needs. They are always on the go and may not handle the equipment gently, it is reassuring to have the printers built to withstand significant drops, tumbles, and accidents.
Leveraging Zebra's patented Power Smart Print Technology, the printers also consistently deliver good printing quality, ensuring reliable performance even in challenging environments.
Next steps
“As we continue to innovate, our focus remains on product development as well as seeking new and exciting brands to bring to the Singapore market,” said Ngian.
He revealed that the company is currently looking at introducing a ready-to-drink fresh coconut product with minimal plastic. With this innovative product, consumers can enjoy the ease of consumption by simply poking a straw directly into the coconut without extra packaging.
“By constantly striving to enhance the drinking experience for our customers, we aim to redefine convenience while promoting sustainable practices within the beverage industry.” Kelvin Ngian
“We are also continuously refining and modernising our operational processes to ensure the delivery of the freshest and most nutritious goods to our valued customers in the most efficient way possible,” concluded Ngian.
