In an interaction with Payal Nambiar, cofounder and CEO of B-Square Solutions, Tech Achieve Media received an insight into the inspiring journey of the company from its modest inception to becoming a global leader in business solutions. Starting with just two computers and a vision to address the pain points faced by various industries, B-Square has developed a range of innovative applications that have transformed unorganized sectors into efficient, automated systems. Payal Nambiar shares the milestones, challenges, and triumphs that have shaped B-Square’s path to success, highlighting their commitment to research, development, and customer-centric solutions that cater to businesses of all sizes worldwide.
TAM: Can you provide us with an overview of B-Square Solutions’ journey from its inception to becoming a global provider of business solutions?
Payal Nambiar: We started from a very small level with just two computers. As we began, we noticed the pain points and problems people faced, which inspired us to develop applications to address these issues. Initially, we created small applications for different businesses. Even now, the market is largely unorganized, and our purpose has always been to bring organization to this chaos.
Throughout our journey, we’ve developed diverse applications for various industries. We started with CES for the service industry and gradually moved into ERP. Now, we have developed Pothera ERP, which includes different versions like Pothera CRM and Pothera SCM. We have also created asset management software and a car wash management software, which is now used in more than 250 franchises across the country. Additionally, we developed clinic management software for a US-based company.
Our journey has been marked by these acclaimed products and services, with a major emphasis on R&D and the dedicated workforce we’ve built. The team is the brain behind our success. By addressing customer pain points, we’ve expanded from India to different countries, becoming a software development company with a broader market scope.
Post-COVID, we realized the need to further organize the unorganized sectors. Despite digitization, many small companies in India still have scattered operations. To address this, we’ve developed a lighter version of our product for very small organizations, enabling them to be fully digitalized and automated. Our mission and vision are to target these small and mid-sized companies by 2025, providing them with a comprehensive business process management solution.
We’ve evolved from a small operation to a larger scale, with numerous successful applications running in organizations. This evolution reflects our commitment to innovation and our customer-focused approach, which has been the driving force behind our remarkable journey.
TAM: What sets Pothera ERP apart from other ERP solutions in the market, particularly as a 5th-generation system?
Payal Nambiar: Our commitment to innovation and client focus has been the cornerstone of our success. Despite the presence of bigger players, there’s always work to be done. Every company, regardless of size, requires integrated systems. Many are still running outdated software that isn’t well-integrated, which creates inefficiencies.
We’ve always been ahead of the curve, developing cloud ERP systems four or five years ago, tailored to client needs. This foresight has positioned us with the latest technology in the market, unlike some of our competitors who still use older technologies. Our advanced platform integrates cutting-edge technology, streamlining operations, and enabling data-driven decisions.
Business intelligence (BI) and scalability are crucial in today’s ever-changing business landscape. Our software is designed to be adaptable, allowing for the addition of new modules as needed. We excel in API integration, connecting multiple software systems to ensure seamless operation across departments. This eliminates the need for manual data entry and reduces dependency on individual departmental performance.
Inventory management, for instance, is interconnected with finance and client servicing. An integrated system ensures that any issues in one area don’t negatively impact the others. We provide tailored solutions for different business processes, offering flexibility and user-friendliness to meet specific client needs.
Our approach ensures that clients don’t need to overhaul their existing workflows. We work closely with them to incorporate beneficial changes while maintaining ease of use. This makes transitioning to our systems smooth and comfortable for their teams, regardless of their familiarity with new technologies. Overall, our emphasis on innovation, scalability, and user-friendly integration sets us apart, driving our continued success and client satisfaction.
TAM: How does B-Square Solutions ensure the reliability and scalability of its software solutions, particularly in the context of increasing workforce productivity and streamlining business processes?
Payal Nambiar: As the business landscape constantly evolves, it’s crucial to predict changes and innovate accordingly. Our software is designed to grow with your business, handling increasing user volumes, data loads, and process complexities with ease. Using leading technology and flexible integration capabilities, our software seamlessly incorporates new functionality and scales operations without disrupting daily activities. Customization allows us to create workflows tailored to each client’s unique system, ensuring reliability and efficiency.
Reliability is a key pillar for us. We started by solving problems for specific companies and built a reputation over time. Our clients from 12 years ago still rely on us for new ERP solutions because they trust our dependable service. In the IT business, reliability is paramount. Companies need partners they can count on, especially for critical support. We are proud to have provided this for the past 20 years.
We offer 24/7 support and are always available to help our clients with any system issues, even those beyond our standard offerings. Our dedication goes beyond providing a product; it’s about delivering quality assurance, comprehensive testing, and minimizing system failures or data loss.
Our solutions are built on a secure, fault-tolerant architecture, ensuring that critical business data remains protected and accessible. This foundation enhances workforce productivity and complete automation capabilities, making our software reliable and scalable for today’s dynamic market
TAM: Can you discuss the key features and benefits of deploying Pothera ERP, especially for small and mid-size businesses?
Payal Nambiar: SMBs are the backbone of our nation, and I proudly support “Make in India.” Our local brands are thriving, and the mindset is shifting towards valuing our own manufacturing. Catering to the manufacturing sector, we believe in the potential of SMBs to grow. We have the capability and workforce; now, even the outside world is recognizing us.
Also read: World MSME Day – Industry Applauds MSMEs for Being Backbone of Nation
Our software is a productivity powerhouse, fully integrated, customizable, and available for on-premise or cloud deployment. Each company has unique requirements, and we offer modules for production, inventory management, supply chain management, warehouse management, and CRM. Our solutions provide seamless inventory management, advanced financial reporting, and optimized resource management, even for small teams.
With our dashboard, you can monitor sales, finance, supplier status, and more from anywhere. Our system supports multi-plant operations, multi-currency transactions, and offers comprehensive HR and CRM modules. Our software enables informed decision-making, enhances productivity, and automates workflows. Every department can access real-time data and manage operations efficiently.
Key features include:
- Multi-plant and multi-currency support
- Paperless system with configurable notifications and alerts
- Document attachments in various formats
- User-defined fields for customization
- Compliance with government norms like e-invoicing
- Integrated business intelligence
Our system is user-friendly, easy to implement, and scalable. It replaces outdated, fragmented systems, increasing efficiency and agility. Pothera ERP streamlines operations, reduces overhead, automates workflows, boosts productivity, improves inventory management, and enhances financial reporting. It integrates all business functions, driving growth, cost savings, and operational efficiency, allowing you to focus on growth, profitability, and innovation.
TAM: What motivated the decision to offer both cloud and on-premise deployment options for Pothera ERP, and how does this flexibility benefit B-Square Solutions’ clients?
Payal Nambiar: In today’s day and age, everyone wants to move to the cloud. I want to understand what motivated your decision to offer both deployment options for your clients and how it adds value to them. Offering both cloud and on-premise deployment options provides maximum flexibility. Many organizations have specific requirements or constraints, making a one-size-fits-all approach impractical. For instance, some clients have concerns about data security and prefer on-premise solutions to keep their data on their own servers. Others seek the scalability and accessibility of cloud-based systems to manage multiple locations and monitor their business online.
By offering both options, we allow clients to choose according to their infrastructure, compliance needs, and operational requirements. This flexibility is a key differentiator, ensuring that clients are not locked into a rigid, inflexible solution. They have the freedom to adapt their ERP system as their business evolves, whether that means migrating from on-premise to cloud or vice versa. Ultimately, the ability to choose between cloud and on-premise demonstrates our commitment to delivering tailored, customer-centric ERP solutions. We believe that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work, and offering this level of customization is why clients value us.
TAM: With B-Square Solutions expanding internationally, what are some of the unique challenges and opportunities you’ve encountered in different markets?
Payal Nambiar: When we started, it was a crucial time for IT development in India, and we quickly understood the unique challenges here. Our reputation and word-of-mouth referrals soon brought inquiries from abroad, especially from the US, Qatar, and the UAE.
Recently, we’ve expanded into the African market and received substantial inquiries and business opportunities. Each country has its own culture, complex regulations, and market practices. For example, accounting standards and tax regulations vary significantly. In India, we deal with GST, while in some African countries, tax rates and regulations differ.
One of our clients in Zambia, similar to Reliance, operates in various sectors like petroleum, logistics, agriculture, and alcohol. They used different software for each vertical and managed multi-currency transactions. Our software’s flexibility allowed us to adapt to their specific regulatory requirements, such as item-wise tax exemptions on food products.
Infrastructure limitations in some markets, like parts of Africa, present additional challenges. While India is highly developed technologically, other regions may not be. We tailor our systems to fit their infrastructure and business needs.
Our specialized team ensures all systems are in place and works closely with clients to understand and implement solutions. Our commitment to navigating these challenges has led to over 100 inquiries, prompting us to build a larger sales team. We haven’t marketed ourselves extensively, but our reputation speaks for itself. It’s a point of pride to see Made in India products deployed in regions like Africa, the UAE, and the US.
TAM: Finally, could you share any success stories or notable case studies that highlight the tangible impact of Pothera ERP on businesses?
Payal Nambiar: From day one, we’ve focused on meeting our clients’ needs, starting with smaller solutions and gradually developing comprehensive applications. Our software now supports both iPhone and Android devices. Here are a few notable projects:
- Surya Group (Zambia): Surya Energy Limited, Surya Biofuels, First Choice Beverages, First Choice Logistics. They faced challenges with operational efficiency and fragmented resource management. We provided a customized, integrated ERP solution covering inventory, production, procurement, import/export, and more. This involved understanding each company’s unique processes and tailoring our software to meet their needs.
- Durlum India Private Limited: This German-based company specializes in metal ceilings, wall cladding, and lighting systems. They struggled with inventory management, product planning, and scheduling. Our ERP solution improved their manufacturing process, reduced manual errors, and provided real-time visibility into their KPIs, enabling informed decision-making.
- AOV International: A leading provider of medical devices, they faced challenges with asset diversification, regulatory compliance, and inventory management. Our ERP system, fully operational on mobile devices, enhanced their equipment uptime, compliance, and overall efficiency.
We’ve built long-term relationships with many clients, working together for over 15-18 years. For a software company, staying technologically advanced and providing strong support is crucial. We view ourselves as IT partners, working hand-in-hand with our clients, forming extended business families.