Indian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are lagging behind in technology adoption and thus not able to take advantage of latest technology advancements to assist their business operations, due to tight financial situations and dependency on conventional business operations and structure, said Sudhir Singh, Managing Director, Marg ERP Ltd., in an exclusive interview with SME Times.

Excerpts of the interview...

Please tell our readers about Marg ERP Ltd. and its entrepreneurial journey.

Sudhir Singh: The Indian SME industry is a true powerhouse of the Indian economy. With over 63 million MSMEs, the sector is the second largest employer in the country employing close to 110 million people and contributes 40% of our exports.To energize the MSMEs as growth engines of the country, Thakur Anup Singh founded Marg ERP in year 2000 along with Sudhir Singh and Mahender Singh.Today Marg ERP is New India’s trusted technology partner for large, medium, small and micro enterprise’s success, growth and ease of doing business.

With a focus on creating disruptive and user friendly technology avenues for every business success, Marg ERP has a strong R&D team of over 200 people catering simple and affordable solutions to over 21 trade segments. A magnifying strength that glitters with more than 1200 master partners, 20000 smart feet on the ground, including 12000 sales partners, Marg ERP is a brand with its PAN India presence in 707+ districts and 25+ countries. The company has global presence, with footprint in over 25 countries. Marg ERP has seven zonal offices across the nation i.e. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Gujarat, Chennai and Hyderabad. 

The company is also on the mission of creating impactful education, skill development and job avenues in the country through Marg Academy. Associated with Skill India and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, it is designed to provide convenient and cost-effective Marg training to aspiring students through Marg Academy program.

What are the services do you offer?

Sudhir Singh: Marg ERP is consistently delivering the best possible solution for all the users who come from different trade segments and look for trade specific software solution that ensures guaranteed business growth. Being one of the most versatile software solution provider for every business need of MSMEs across economies, Marg ERP is democratizing technology for Retailers, Distributors and Manufacturers to fuel empowerment, profitability and growth of businesses.

By disrupting future technologies such machine learning & artificial intelligence to enable maximum automation, better information for quick decision making and accelerate operational efficiency, the company is successfully simplifying inventory management, accounting, payments, GST compliance, sales, marketing, HR and other basic yet complex needs of last mile MSMEs in India and other geographies.

Marg ERP offers highly Customized Solutions as per industry verticals. With the help of this Credit Limit Management option, the users can set the credit limit for their customers. Push Sale feature perceives focused, dump and near expiry items and aides in controlling and doing sale of such items.Bill Audit feature leaves no room for mistakes & errors throughout the process from bill generation to delivery. Notification and Alert System allows getting instant custom alerts through e-mail or SMS and keep the team/ business updated about inventory and transactions. On collaborative commerce platform users can upload and download their invoices and all the mismatch conditions are totally eradicated through this system.Stock Clearance Management can set some items which are required to be sold out as soon as possible from the stock. With the help of Claims & Statements, the user can keep the track of the benefits of the claim against the purchases which is being done.

Marg ERP also offer a wide array of integrated mobile apps to enhance efficiency on the move. Pharma NXT is an application extremely valuable for Chemists, Pharmacists and Medical Stores where chemist can seek information of more than 3 lakh medicines with their salts at one go.E-Retail app is a step much Faster & reliable for ordering and increases the order value and adds mobility for retailers when placing an order to their suppliers / distributors. Marg E-order app is enriched with some beneficial aspects which have a key role in revolutionizing the business operations especially for distributors/ suppliers in collecting orders & collections. eOwner keeps a strong vigilance on your business and is a perfect management app for entrepreneurs (Retailers, Distributors & C&F's). CRM/SFA Solution is online reporting software which ensures online reporting for field force and provides crucial information such as their daily calls, Monthly sales report territory wise, automatic missed call alert etc. The GPS Tracking Application of Marg ERP helps in tracking of Field staff activity, allows a smart scheduling and gives real-time updates about the field sales force which ensures positive consumer experience.

How your services help companies, particularly MSMEs?

Sudhir Singh: The key focus market for MARG ERP has always been the most versatile segment of MSME, Retailers, Distributors and Manufacturers who have immense business potential in India but are still under-served. Marg keeps MSMEs ahead in their significant business activities like making invoices, filing GST returns etc and assists in inventory management, accounting, payments, boosting sales, amplifying marketing efforts, ensuring talent hiring and management, addressing almost every requirement through effective software implementation as per the growing and fast changing business needs. Marg has always believed in adding value and sustainability to the ever-changing business environment and is a key player while serving both the SMEs and MSMEs across the globe.

Are Indian SMEs lagging behind their global peers in term of technology adoption?

Sudhir Singh: Due to tight financial situations and dependency on conventional business operations and structure, SMEs are not able to take advantage of latest technology advancements to assist their business operations. For a long time the segment has been under served due to absence of appropriate solutions with affordability, accessibility and convenience. Technology being the key enabler for scaling up of business, seamless management of business operations, flawless accounting/GST filing/inventory management, wide customer reach, exposure to global markets, reduction of long run costs, etc., Indian SME and MSMEs need higher adoption of future technologies. Absence of adequate funds, high decibel awareness around the need for tech adoption and access to appropriate technology solutions is a major obstacle in their growth.

We have disrupted technology for seamless accounting and inventory management to promote ease of doing business for every sector. As a Margdarshak or guidance provider, Marg ERP is simplifying every complex business and growth need of MSMEs through innovative tech solutions to ensure ultimate efficiency.

What is the current scenario of the Indian SME sector, overall, according to you?

Sudhir Singh: SMEs and MSMEs are undoubtedly the backbone of country's progress on world map. We strongly believe that India can achieve the much talked 5 trillion dollar economy goal provided, we address the challenges and gaps more effectively and efficiently, allowing MSMEs to cherish and grow with light speed. Today SMEs and MSMEs are not able to take advantage of latest technology advancements to assist their business operations. Technology being the key enabler for scaling up of business, seamless management of business operations, flawless accounting/GST filing/inventory management, wide customer reach, exposure to global markets, reduction of long run costs, etc., Indian SME and MSMEs need higher adoption of future technologies.

Please tell our readers about your future plans. 

Sudhir Singh: We are the market leader with over 1 million active users. We proudly cater to more than 2,50,000 SME and MSMEs spread across 707+ districts and 25+ countries. 60% of India’s Pharma Business runs on MARG ERP making us the undisputed leader in the category. We have disrupted technology for seamless accounting and inventory management to promote ease of doing business for every sector. Marg ERP is progressively moving towards the larger goal of creating a robust ecosystem of future technologies for every business need. We intend to make these technologies accessible to the last mile enterprise. We are in process of acquiring medium and large size software companies so as to widen our product offering and customer base. We aim to reach out to 5 million customers by 2025. Fueling ease, comfort and speed across Retail, Distribution and Manufacturing chains, MARG ERP is supporting New India to gear up for hyper growth.Our vision is to make Marg ERP an eminent global Indian brand offering effective, advance, convenient and affordable software solutions to support every MSME of the world to achieve growth, success and scalability by crossing conventional boundaries and geographies.