MILMA Unmanned Milk Delivery

April 3, 2020April 15, 2020 ~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment

About two years ago, I wrote a blog post on Milma. I had listed few points on the blog which was mostly from my observation and few from the experience of visiting their outlet at Pattom.

Every time I pass by MILMA outlet at Pattom, I often wonder what plans they have of bettering their service. We have reached a situation that we hardly see MILMA products in the shelfs of supermarkets and margin free outlets in Trivandrum. (Need proof – visit Drive in Margin Free at Kumarapuram). This shows that Milma’s influence and market is shrinking. Why is MILMA milk or curd unavailable in these shop?

What’s happening to the milk brand which was a part of our life?

I’m afraid that it’s loosing time. It’s time to do something magical to bring back the sheen and regain market share. Where should the management focus on improving? It’s from customer service to innovation in packaging, process, marketing, cleanliness, etc.

Today in Covid times, I felt the need to revisit the same topic. I wonder what has changed at MILMA in these intervening years. Has it become a better managed place? Are decision taken faster than what it was done earlier? What’s the turnaround time for implementing new ideas?

Also, in today’s times of social distancing, has it implemented new methods to sell their products?

If we look at MILMA’s market share of milk and milk related products, it’s evident that their share has come down. One competitor which has taken a big slice of its market is Muralaya. This is a privately run biz – young and more agile than the middle aged MILMA brand. As a small place, they can bring fast changes, implement ideas faster than MILMA which has legacy system and process.

The entry of Muralaya Milk and the way they marketed, distributed and build business worth a marketing study. It’s a Marketing Case Study worth discussing in MBA classes.

The old blog post has points which I wanted to share or discuss with the company’s decision makers. But, it just remained in this blog. I should have send the blog link to the top brass. Lazy me! Btw, will they bother to read. 🙂

Hire me as a Disruptive Change Agent aka Marketing Consultant for MILMA
Another epiphany moment. I coined this title for me. In simple words, I am willing to work as a freelance marketing consultant for Milma and suggest them innovative and disruptive ideas.

ANYONE HOME!

As an external consultant, I will present my finding, suggestion to the management team.What all will the disruptive ideas that will help organizations like MILMA to improve their day-to-day outlook and improve their marketing.

Few Points of my Work Role

1. Website ( Optimization suggestion)
2. Comparing features with local competition
3. SWOT Analysis
4. Ideas to STAND OUT
5. Propose Marketing Strategies
6. How to bring out the stories out ( Storyteller)
7. Customer service training
8. Write to companies for follow-up
9. Mystery shopper

Innovation and Inspiration from another Source
Hey another epiphany moments while writing this. Yesterday, I was watching a YouTube video related to baking. A Malayalee lady from US was showing how to make a cake. On the table there was a long butter strip which looked different from the block of butter we get here. The butter was wrapped in a paper which had measurement marking on it. BINGO! COPY THIS.

Simple Innovation – Easy for HOME BAKERS
A simple innovation in packaging of Unsalted Butter can be useful for home bakers and newbies. Beginners usually require a small portion of unsalted butter for baking. In some cases it will 1/4th cup or 1/2 cup would suffice. Currently in the market there’s a 200 gm, 1/2kg and 1 kg pack. This is usually too big or small for baking.

If there’s a packing for 1 cup, with measurement of 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 cup in it, then it will be convenient for home bakers. A person can easily look for the mark and take the required portion. This will save a lot of time, less messy and make baking more enjoyable. There is not need to dig a measuring cup in the butter and make a mess of it. Less cleaning, and happy baking. It’s just an innovation in packing.

If Milma is late in implementing this, Muralaya or Amul will come with a butter strip very soon. What about Nandini?

Let me know Milma if you going to take this idea or I can pass this suggestion to Nandini. I know a higher up in Nandini to pass this suggestion.
Sample of how this looks – Quora and one on Reddit ( Just for reference)

GOT IT!
Another problem plaguing Milma could be the insidious bureaucratic step up. There could be too many managers, too many heads to approve a single change. Is it so Milma bosses?
Is the complacent attitude that lead Milma to loose it’s market share? Or is it the Union and Political interference stalling its growth? I’m just guessing.

MILMA – Recent Innovations
There’s good news and signs MILMA is making changes in their business. Their new app for milk home delivery and also AM Needs have garnered many positive reviews. Good going! I ordered through AM Needs and the delivery person came well protected and delivered in a professional way.

Conora Virus – It’s not business as usual

We are now reeling under the clutches of National lock-down due to the spread of Corona Virus. It’s now been more than a week. I lost count of days and I was surprised to know that today was Friday. Oh, how sad. I remember those days of my visit to Tavern Pub or Purple Haze on Friday after office hours.

My question and thought now is not about the days that are invisibly flying, but about the MILMA’s business improvement stuff.

24/7 MILMA Outlet

One thing I have noticed about MILMA office in Pattom is the limited working hours. Why can’t it be run 24/7 so that customers can visit any time and buy.

Initially I thought that a person can be deputed to work the midnight houses. But the question the management would ask is – what is the ROI?

Concept Milk Booth – Remote and Unmanned Unit

What are the other options of running an unmanned outlet? Sure, it can be done, but the question for the management will have will be returns. Imagine an unmaned MILMA outlet near Secretariat, one at Pattom, one at Kovalam beach, one in Vazhudacadu, one inside Museum compound. etc.

How about an automatic milk dispenser kept in the existing MILMA parlour at museum compound? The early morning walker also can buy milk packets from this store or buy butter or ghee while they return after the morning walk.

It could be something like the condom selling kiosk near Pullimoodu junction.

What and how?

1. Install a large modified refrigerator kind of machine which will dispense milk or any product on display. ( The cold storing unit sponsored by LG or Haeir, Samsung in return for a banner on the machine. Now that cost is taken care). Customer makes the payment by Gpay or by scanning the QR Code for the amount displayed on the screen of the unit

2. Remotely manned unit. Here a person controls many such Milma outlets from a remote location. The camera and microphone at the counter is used to get the customer request and based on it, remote employee will press buttons and product is delivered to the customer through a chute.

3. A feature of this device is the display screen. It will show the remaining stock of each item, bill, date of manufacture of the products, etc.

Also, each such kiosks or units should be connected via Internet network. Tapping on the screen at one location , customer should know how much of each material is available in each store. Also, make this information available on the Milma’s App. Imagine this senario – I want to buy 4 kg of unsalted butter from Milma. So, before I leave the house house I should be able to see where is the closest shop where I can buy Unsalted butter. This will save a lot of my time.
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( Another idea popped up while writing is. This is related to ATM in banks and I’ve felt the need of this in Bangalore. Sometimes on weekends when I go to deposit cash in ICiCI Cash Deposit Machine (CDM) at Indira Nagar. Very often the machine shows – Sorry, machine is temporary unavailable” Damn it. There are two CDMs at this branch, but on Sundays the machine stops functioning as its Cash FULL.

Just imagine, I need cash to book a tatkal train ticket or something urgent. In this case, the only option for me is to visit any other CDM unit of ICICI and it’s at MG Road. But, what guaranteed is there if the machine there is also full. Sometimes, I ask the security but they are have no information. why can’t banks at least give them the phone number of security staff in that counter or close by counters).

Now, if the machine is connected to the near by ATM, and fetch data about it’s status ( working or not). Then, if this info is displayed on the screen, it will be great help to customers. Same way, if an ATM runs out of cash, it can also display the nearest ATM where the customer can draw cash. ( I guess, most of you must have faced this situation when we see an ATM without cash. Which is the closest ATM? But, what are the chances that it’s also empty!

Every business should think of the pain points of the customer and work out a way to help them). If the technology is not present, at least use human resource ( ATM Security staff) to help the customer.
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This is beneficial to people who are buying large quantities. For example, in few instances visited Milma main outlet at Pattom to buy unsalted butter ( make than 4 kg during Christmas baking) Shop assistant un-apologetically said that stock is over. NO STOCK. – WTF ( You forgot to say Please ( sorry) – Terminator Starting Scene ( Judgement Day ) came to my mind)

When I get only a part of the butter, I have to again visit another shop. What a waste of my time. In my case I had to stopped at Amuls’ outlet at Pottakuzhi to buy butter.

Suppose, a caterer or baker who stops at Milma’s outlet for a big purchase, then it would be great it they can get everything at one visit.

WHY THIS POST – Just a Suggestion for Improvement

The point of writing this post is to share few of suggestion which came to my mind. I am sure most of these tips must have been thought by the Milma’s board. However, it’s my turn to make it black and white.

Btw, I’m open for discussion with the management team at MILMA or the concerned person in charge. Feel free to hire me as a Freelance consultant. I come not too expensive, nor on a small budget. Try my services if you can.

For the Good of MILMA

P.S – Another set of suggestion for MILMA. Mostly above value addition and processing of milk to other products.

15/4/20 Update – Latest on what Milma can do with AM Needs App

Happy Present

April 1, 2020April 1, 2020 ~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment

How we overlook the beauty of the moment, only to reside in the past or in the unknown future. Why are most people ( me) not really anchored on the present?

This simple and heartfelt story sums it well in a page.

Let this be a reminder.

Lockdown Days Diary

April 1, 2020 ~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment

How do you spend your time during the lockout days at home?

For me, I’m really, really busy from dawn to evening – working on things which I think matter, de-clutter, reading, updating the Pages, helping in the kitchen, spending time in the garden, practicing bread making, also candle making, and more…

Kanni Konna Bloom

March 27, 2020 ~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment

Everyday brings depressing news from all corners. The fatalities from the pandemic is growing, with Italy bearing the blunt of this virus. There’s lot of suffering, pain, and agony around us. In Kerala, 37 new cases where reported in one day.

Everyday, I wait for the evening press release by CM’s press. However, day by day the figures of positive cases are just climbing new levels. The worst hit is Kasargod.

We are on the third day of the 21 day lock-down. Today, after a break of two days, I decided to go out for a walk. I went out by 5:30 and reached home early. The streets were empty except for the clueless dogs which are scattered on the road from Kumarapuram to KIMS Hospital. Everything is on a standstill and I hope there will be some slow-down of positive cases that are reported daily.

Now, there’s not much we can do. Hope for some positive news.

Tomorrow, everyone going out should wear a mask and I luckily found one.

When Will India Grow Up?

March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 ~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment

Absolutely, surgical and precise way in which this man has spoken about Indian society and how far we need to grow up.

These days, many among us talk in such a way that we are in par with Western societies. They do by telling few parameters about our growth and tell how we are comparable. But all these are just masks the damning realities of our lives, our attitudes. It’s no doubt that we need to grow more on civic sense, privacy, freedom of speech, skill etc. All these requires a shift in our mindset.

One aspect in this is about privacy and how we have little or no regard for someone’s privacy. One thing about privacy and individual excess is the way revenge porn is proliferating around us. All it needs is to have a look at one of the porn sites to sites to see hundreds of amateur, homemade private videos that has leaked to public domain. How can someone just leak private moments which bares it all for the world to see. They do it because they know nothing is going to happen to them. The victims are mostly women and one can just imagine how her life would be after these videos or pictures are leaked. There’s so much stress, unimaginable mental shame, victimization and self blame. And, this is leading many women to take extreme steps like taking their life or living in isolation, etc. Also, what all things parents or immediate family go through when their daughter becomes the victim of such acts!

Why do people upload private videos without any qualms?
I feel that such videos are made public by people for these three reasons. Firstly, they would have something to score with the person shown in the video. Mostly directed at the lady.
Secondly, the perpetrator of such uploads are people who are sure they are safe under the screen of anonymity. True to some extend. However, it’s not easy to find out who had leaked the video online. We have cyber cells who track cyber-crimes, threat, etc. One more thing is that these videos may be uploaded as a way to blackmail the victims. Before they upload, they might ask them to some favors or cash. And when it’s not happening, the video goes live on Whatsapp or other sites.

Finally, such clips are made online by strangers who don’t know the people but they do without thinking of the backlash these people might face.

I had earlier written a post about revenge porn and how other countries has law against them.

Boom Time for Provision Stores

March 23, 2020March 24, 2020 ~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment

Lock down of cities, fear of viral flu spread, slow economy, shortage of essential commodities, etc are triggering panic of all sorts across the world. It’s not much different in Trivandrum.

One scenario is common. Most stores are seeing panicked buyers, emptying shelf and buying more as reserve.

Grocery stores are now holds the most valuable merchandise. It’s the big shopping bonanza for shop owners – no mega deals or discounted offers or Wednesday deals are required to appeal customers. Open the shutters and they are they to greet you with a smile.

Today, I reached the drive-in Margin Free store at Kumarapuram by around 3ish in the hope that there were would be fewer shoppers.

Guess what. The parking space was lined with cars and bikes. Looks like each one in the shop have thought the same and came in for a surprise. 🙂

As I moved through the aisles, most of the shopping racks were nearing empty. Shoppers had picked all the essential stuffs – from eggs to liquid soaps, atta to crunchy bites. The curd rack too was empty. Luckily, fresh stock just came in.

Frenzy of shoppers – Hoarding or Precautionary Buffer Purchase

One thing is certain – business is good in this FMCG sector, especially things related to pre-packed food.

It’s the time for home-chefs to make eatables and make good sales. If you are living in a big apartment complex, then people interested in food related business can see good number of takers for fresh and tasty dishes.

Now in Trivandrum, I’m missing the sight of shoppers in Bangalore. I’m sure stores like Top in Town at Cambridge Layout too would be experiencing a tide of shoppers and so would be the profits.

Ramit’s Quote

March 23, 2020March 30, 2020 ~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment

Honoring your word – when you commit to something ( Follow Through)

How often do you break your promise – a promise which you made to your yourself? Well, I do all the time. Few days back I found that writing down the plan of action on how to execute the activities in each day is the best way to bring some control or clarity. However, even by writing, there are many instances where we deviate from the written rules. For instance, I plan to read blogs before lunch. However, I get attracted to something which is easy on the eye, rather than going as per the plan.

I wonder how I can be so fickle minded? How to reign in my thoughts and then commit to actions as per the script?

Do you experience such kind of transgressions in your pursuit to achieve your daily goals?
Do you write down the list of daily activities – time for every activity?
Do you have iron clad vest when it comes to executing daily thoughts?
What do you think is the best way to achieve your daily goals?

Reading Revival with Checklist Manifesto

March 23, 2020March 31, 2020 ~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment

I can’t remember when I have finished reading a book in two to three days. Even though I love reading, and enjoy visiting libraries, spending time in used book stores, reading has been a spluttering process – two pages here and then a long break, and in most cases the book gets abandoned midway – only to gather dust in some faraway corner. However, I have high expectation about a revival.

The 21 day lock-down period has given a new reason to rekindle a new spirited reader in me. I guess, there would be many like me who would have restarted on reading, more than any other activity. Probably, binge browsing YouTube, watching movies, de-clutter and gardening activities would come next in line as activities. What about sexting? Can’t leave that as an activity when people all types are anchored at home.

Art in Everything

Thanks to Mrs Saramma Markose for gifting the bookmark which you see in the book. It is handmade – flowers she had picked, dried and pressed into a bookmark. This is something unique, personal and it’s not factory made.

Checklist Manifesto from Blossoms Bookstore
Bought the book from Blossoms, second hand bookstore at Church Street, B’lore. While at the bookstore, I checked the price of it in Amazon. The shop was quoting a higher price, but I gave in for the experience of picking a book at a store.

About your reading habit…
What are you reading now?
As you read, do you highlight lines that catches your eye for some reason?
Do you start and finish a book or mix couple of titles as you read?

Islands in the Stream – Ode to Kenny Rogers

March 21, 2020March 24, 2020 ~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment

This news came today – Kenny Rogers, one of the known Country Music stalwart passes away.

I guess there are thousands of people around me, who has grown up listening to many of his songs. I wonder when I had started to listen to his song – a time when I explored many other country singers. It was in my 20’s when I got hooked to his music. I used to repeatedly play, Islands of Stream, Coward of County, etc. It was my cousin who introduced me this music artist. It was a time, when I hardly had any music collection and this was one of the cassette which I played repeatedly.

It was many years later, I saw his videos on YouTube. By then, I had moved to other types of music.

Which of his songs do you listen?
What are you listening now?

I recently started listening to “Summer Time Sadness“, “May The Good Lord Bless & Keep You| Jim Reeves | Cover by Jajai Singsit“, “Julie Berthelsen – Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da“

KIMS Hospital Trivandrum New Blog Expansion

March 17, 2020March 18, 2020 ~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment

KIMS Hospital is constructing a new East Block which will their major expansion after it has developed the North Block. A friend from US after seeing this construction remarked that the place he stays in US doesn’t have such a big hospital.

Once it start functioning, it’s going to add many hospital beds, also bringing in many more doctors, nurses and other staff. All these will be a boost to the local economy – adding jobs, increasing the real estate value, rent, lodging facilities, patient care services and many more indirect job growth.