With regular technology upgradation, Raymond has positioned itself well to enable futuristic growth and sustained value creation backed by future-ready eco-systems, advanced analytics, etc.
Embarking on the transformational journey three years back and being agile in its strategy of ‘Raymond Reimagined’, the company is steadfast in its progress towards building the Raymond for tomorrow.
Mr. Gautam Hari Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director, Raymond, says: “The business continues to build capacities for enhanced performance and delivery across verticals with innovative products and services as well as technology adoption that includes digitisation and automation”.
Factories for Industry 4.0
Raymond’s state-of-the-art linen manufacturing unit in Amravati commenced operations in April 2018. With nearly 100% capacity utilisation, this unit has set a new global benchmark of fastest scale-up from commissioning to peak capacity commercial production. The new facility is consistently producing the highest quality of linen yarn and fabric along with servicing not just the domestic demand but many global customers.
The other greenfield factory commissioned in June 2017 in Ethiopia for manufacturing of menswear suits, jackets and trousers for the US and European markets is in the process of stabilisation. With phased capacity augmentation and enhanced efficiencies, Raymond will be servicing orders for over one million garments to its global customers from this facility over the next financial year.
In addition to setting up new factories with future-ready automation and digital capabilities, Raymond has also initiated an overhaul of its existing manufacturing facilities with the adoption of relevant cutting-edge technologies to increase productivity and overall efficiencies.
Future-ready supply chain
Mr. Sanjay Behl, CEO – Lifestyle Business, Raymond, said: “Technology-led innovations are enabling Raymond to achieve a wider customer reach while setting the stage for adoption of futuristic technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Advanced Data Analytics. Tech-based optimisation and digitisation of the supply chain up to the last mile in our traditional textile businesses is already transforming our value chain by enhancing serviceability metrics, strengthening the dealer network and reducing time to market”.
He added: “Our fabric business has pioneered a B2B tool ‘Midas’ to streamline the process of placing orders and connecting the entire retail network across the urban and rural expanse of our country through a easy to use mobile app. Making the process more transparent and reliable, it is also helping the business to collect customer data in real time and driving the organisation towards a smarter and data-driven decision-making one in future”.
Another strategic initiative ‘Athaang’ was launched by the branded apparel business towards building a radically more efficient supply chain and providing an integrated customer experience across channels. The early results of this ongoing transformation have been very encouraging, and the company continues to invest in cutting-edge technologies and building relevant employee competencies.
Mr. Sanjay Behl further commented: “We have now triggered organisation-wide transition of our ERP backbone to the future-ready SAP S/4HANA and creation of next generation Phygital and Omnichannel capability linkages in the front-end retail. This will be the core foundational capability on which we will build the vision of Raymond Reimagined through the next decade of our evolution”.
Social transformation
In its bid to encourage inclusive growth, Raymond continues to enrich the tailoring ecosystem, providing a platform for skill development in the textiles and apparel manufacturing industry by rapidly adding tailoring hubs across the country. In addition, it created over 3 million hours of employability for Khadi artisans in more than 75 clusters across 16 States in India.
With the roll-out of a massive outreach program to menswear tailors over the last 2 years, the company has already upskilled and certified over 20,000 tailors. In addition, it has launched 51 franchisee-based tailoring hubs across 16 States, thereby creating an annual conversion capacity of about 2 million meters of fabric. Not only has it instilled tremendous pride and dignity of work amongst tailors, it has also helped them in significantly increasing their incomes by seamless integration with Raymond’s tailoring ecosystem.
There has been a significant momentum with pioneering innovations, with the launch of many new products like TechnoFresh fabric and Raymond Blacks, new product segments like light weight jackets, auto fit shirts and combo packs; new business segments like Linen, Ethnics and Khadi, new retail models like mini Raymond stores, Ceremonial and Atelier, new platforms like tailoring hubs and made-to-measure for casual wear, new product functionalities like anti-crease and stretchable fabrics, new technologies like 3D printed accessories and ‘do-it-yourself’ clothing line, and so on and so forth.