In an exclusive interview with TimesTech, Dinesh Pilgaokar, EVP of Process Manufacturing at Bar Code India (BCI), shares insights into the company’s rise to market leadership in the AIDC industry. With over 25 years of expertise, BCI integrates IoT, RFID, and automation to revolutionize supply chain and manufacturing processes, enhancing operational efficiency across sectors like retail, healthcare, and logistics.
Read the full interview here:
TimesTech: What inspired the founding of BCI, and how did the journey from its humble beginnings lead to market leadership in the AIDC industry?
Dinesh: Back in the 1990s, barcoding was a buzzword globally, yet in India, the concept was still relatively unknown. It was during this time that the inspiration for BCI was born, as the potential of barcoding technology to revolutionize industries was clear. Over the years, BCI has transformed into a market leader, offering cutting-edge solutions in supply chain and manufacturing.
With a focus on integrating advanced technologies like IoT, RFID, automation, and barcoding into its offerings, BCI now delivers fully integrated, next-generation solutions to enhance and optimize supply chains and manufacturing processes. Through continuous innovation and adaptation, BCI has evolved from its humble beginnings into a powerhouse, providing transformative, technology-driven solutions that lead the AIDC industry today.
TimesTech: Can you share specific examples of how Bar Code India’s solutions have revolutionized operations in diverse sectors such as retail, healthcare, and logistics?
Dinesh: Bar Code India has been instrumental in transforming operations across various industry verticals, including retail, healthcare, and logistics. For instance, in the retail sector, our solutions have helped enhance inventory management by reducing stockouts, hence raising customer satisfaction. In healthcare and manufacturing, we optimise traceability and process automation, from raw materials through production to distribution, ensuring full visibility across the supply chain while maintaining the required standards. In logistics, it enhances supply chain processes with its state-of-the-art automation and data analytics, enabling value delivery through efficiency improvements and reduced operational costs. These transformations exemplify our commitment to driving innovation and delivering tangible results that enable businesses to operate smarter and more efficiently.
TimesTech: What challenges did you face in implementing Barcode technology, and how did BCI overcome them to become a key player in the industry?
Dinesh: Initially, as with any new technology, BCI faced hurdles in implementing barcode technology with limited market awareness, infrastructure gaps, and achieving real-time data accuracy in complex supply chains. However, over time, BCI turned these challenges into opportunities by leveraging its deep industry experience and offering custom-made solutions. Through the gradual adoption of advanced technologies like IoT and RFID, BCI has continuously innovated to meet evolving customer needs. This long-term commitment to innovation and partnerships enabled BCI to ensure it remained at the forefront of the AIDC industry and set new benchmarks across new technologies beyond barcoding.
TimesTech: How has BCI’s innovative approach to barcode solutions helped organizations optimize their supply chains and improve productivity?
Dinesh: BCI’s innovative approach to barcode solutions has helped organizations optimize their supply chains, drive efficiency, ensure quality, and foster sustainability by offering technology-driven solutions that enhance visibility, accuracy, and efficiency. BCI provides extensive visibility into real-time data insights for business intelligence-driven decisions using advanced technologies, including but not limited to RFID, and IoT. Our solutions are designed to help every client’s needs and focus on increasing efficiency in inventory management, decreasing operational costs, and minimizing errors. This service also works toward enhancing the overall supply chain process to improve overall operational performance and maintain the competitive advantage of organizations in today’s market.
TimesTech: What role did your background in business strategy, sales, and team management play in driving the success of BCI?
Dinesh: Business strategy, sales, and people management have formed the backbone of my experiences in BCI. The strategic capability to capitalize on marketplace opportunities and design solutions meeting the evolving needs of our clients has helped significantly in positioning BCI. My background in sales helped to build strong client relationships, which have driven our growth and market positioning. We foster effective team management whereby a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability thrives within our teams. Strategy, combined with sales and people management skills, has been very instrumental in driving BCI forward in its provision of cutting-edge solutions and fighting off competition in the marketplace.
TimesTech: How does BCI continue to stay ahead of the competition in an ever-evolving industry like AIDC?
Dinesh: With over 25 years of industry experience, BCI has built an unmatched legacy and credibility in the AIDC space, offering a full suite of innovative solutions that no other player in the market can match. BCI stays ahead through continuous innovation, integrating advanced technologies like IoT, RFID, and advanced software solutions to optimize supply chains and boost productivity. Its latest products, Dristi—a groundbreaking IoT-based RFID reader—and Senskon, a groundbreaking IoT product, both designed and made in India for global markets, exemplify this forward-thinking approach. Strategic alliances with global technology leaders further enhance BCI’s ability to deliver efficient, cutting-edge solutions, keeping the company at the forefront of the dynamic AIDC industry.
TimesTech: Can you discuss the significance of accurate inventory tracking for BCI’s clients and how your solutions have impacted their bottom line?
Dinesh: Accuracy in inventory tracking is not only a must from the logistical point of view but is also fundamental to the very concept of financial success. Our range of advanced software solutions ensures that clients can track their stock levels in real-time with reduced discrepancies and excess stocks. In manufacturing, our systems ensure that correct raw material components are used, adhering to key principles like FIFO and FEFO, which are vital for both production accuracy and product quality. This level of precision ensures that customers receive the right products while lowering holding costs and enhancing overall operational efficiency. Since our client base implemented state-of-the-art tracking systems, their bottom line saw major improvements: an increase in profitability and enhancements in operational performance. Accurate inventory tracking turns potential challenges into avenues leading to growth and success.
TimesTech: What are some of the most significant milestones or success stories that BCI has achieved in the past decade?
Dinesh: Since inception, BCI has always pioneered the development in several technologies, forcing innovation and thereby setting benchmarks in the industry. Our endeavor for excellence has fetched us several recognition, reiterating our position as a leader in the country. Moreover, our continuous collaboration with all major global brands speaks volumes about our commitment to improving operation efficiency and data accuracy.
TimesTech: What vision do you have for the future of BCI and its role in the technological advancements of the AIDC industry?
Dinesh: Looking ahead, BCI aims to lead the way in the AIDC industry by focusing on technology and innovation. Our vision is to transform how businesses use information by integrating technologies like the Internet of Things, and Machine Learning. We are dedicated to helping our customers’ work more efficiently, reduce errors, and make better decisions. By investing in research and development and building strong partnerships, BCI strives to be at the forefront of digital transformation in supply chain and logistics. Our goal is to keep pushing boundaries so our clients can stay ahead in a data-driven world.
TimesTech: How does BCI inspire innovation within its team, and what do you believe are the key factors behind your company’s continued success?
Dinesh: Innovation at BCI is at the very core of our ethos, driven by a culture that inspires curiosity, continuous learning, and collaborative problem-solving. We encourage our team to think beyond conventional solutions by providing an environment that fosters creativity and risk-taking. Key factors behind our continued success include a dedicated R&D team and our unwavering commitment to leveraging the latest technologies, focusing on customer-oriented solutions, and investing in our people’s professional development. Exciting new projects, such as government collaborations for the execution of Dristi, also inspire and motivate our team, as these initiatives bring our innovations to life and demonstrate their real-world impact. By empowering our people and instilling a sense of ownership, we ensure they can innovate and excel, which strengthens our position as a leader in the industry.
