Gujarat State Handloom and Handicraft Corporation Streamlines Operations with New ERP System
Implementation Aims to Boost Sales, Simplify Inventory Management, and Enhance Artisan Support Amid 'Vocal for Local' Initiative
Gandhinagar, September 6 – The Gujarat State Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation (GSHDC) has announced the successful integration of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system into its sales outlets, Garvi-Gurjari Emporiums. The move is designed to facilitate barcode tracking for handcrafted items, making it easier to manage inventory and analyze consumer demand.
The development coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 'Vocal for Local' campaign to promote indigenous artisans. Supported by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the Gujarat government is amplifying these efforts by encouraging the sale of locally-made products. Patel recently met with a team of youths from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) to collaborate on rebranding Garvi-Gurjari, a state-run enterprise.
The implementation of the ERP system is spearheading significant changes within the organization. "The work of rebranding and repositioning of products has become easier and more efficient," said Lalit Narayan Singh Sandu, the Managing Director of GSHDC. The system has digitized inventory management across the corporation's 20 emporiums and 6 Training-cum-Production Centers (TCPCs), where a total of 3,11,413 items were initially barcoded.
Driven by data analytics, the corporation has set an ambitious sales target of Rs 25 crore for the current year, up from Rs 13 crore last year. The ERP system enables real-time tracking and forecasting of high-demand items such as sarees, dupattas, bedsheets, and home decor, optimizing inventory and eliminating the production of less popular items.
The ERP system has had a transformative effect on GSHDC’s internal processes. Streamlined production and data-driven decision-making now characterize the corporation's operations. "This system allows us to proactively organize future production needs, enhancing our financial viability," Sandu noted.
The ERP system is expected to improve customer relationships by centralizing information exchange across the corporation’s outlets. This would enable personalized customer responses and likely lead to increased customer satisfaction.
At the TCPC level, the ERP system offers a comprehensive digital solution for procurement, enabling tracking of purchase records, optimized inventory management, and informed buying decisions.
Sandu acknowledged the crucial roles played by Prashant C., an intern from IIM Bangalore, and Maulik Patel, Assistant Manager at GSHDC. Drawing on experience from global engineering-production company Alstom, Prashant's insights have proven to be a game changer. Likewise, Maulik Patel led the Garvi-Gurjari team’s transition from traditional methods to a tech-savvy operational model.
As Gujarat aims to align with the Prime Minister’s vision for a self-reliant India, the ERP system’s implementation in GSHDC marks a significant step towards achieving operational excellence and boosting local artisanship.
