We are excited to announce the official launch of our new internal platform — the Product Information (PI) tool — developed to significantly enhance the accessibility and accuracy of product-related data for the sales team. This centralized system is designed to streamline the process of identifying the right Oleoresins, Essential Oils, and Natural Colours for specific applications, empowering the sales force with quicker response capabilities, reduced dependency on technical teams, and increased confidence during client interactions.
The PI tool was conceptualized as a strategic response to the recurring challenge of locating technical, regulatory, and application-specific product data across departments. With a growing and diverse product portfolio, sales representatives were often required to reach out to multiple teams to gather the necessary information — a process that was time-consuming and prone to delays. The leadership team recognized the need for a digital solution that would act as a centralized repository of verified, easily accessible product information, allowing for a more agile and confident customer engagement process.
Key Features of the PI Tool:
- Quick search for application-based product suggestions
- Access to key documents: TDS, COA, nutritional data, ingredient statements, food grade, vegan, non-irradiation, and more
- View product certifications such as Halal and Kosher
- Download and share product-related documentation
- Dosage recommendations for improved understanding
- Identification of process owners and product owners
- Secure access controls and user tracking
The development journey of the PI tool spanned one full year, encompassing planning, cross-functional collaboration, interface design, data verification, and phased deployment. Major challenges included coordinating input from multiple departments such as QA, QC, IT, Blending, Sales, and Technical Services; managing a large and varied set of documents; and ensuring accuracy and consistency in every piece of information. The tool was developed and released in stages, allowing the team to gather real-time feedback and incorporate updates as needed, ensuring a smooth adoption process for the end users.
Before starting development, detailed internal research was conducted through in-depth sessions with the sales and technical teams. These discussions focused on understanding the most frequently requested types of information, identifying obstacles in current access methods, and defining the ideal user experience. The tool was intentionally tailored to address internal operational bottlenecks rather than replicating external benchmarks. As a result, it is uniquely aligned with the daily realities and sales requirements of our teams.
Entirely custom-built in-house, the PI tool currently operates on a desktop-based platform. A mobile-compatible version is in development to support field sales teams and further increase accessibility. To maintain data security, access to the PI tool is restricted to authorized users. Sensitive proprietary or R&D information is excluded from the tool, and usage is monitored. Future upgrades may include additional security measures like user authentication, encryption, and role-based data access.
One of the most efficient aspects of the PI tool is its internally pre-filtered logic. Sales users do not need to apply manual filters or sift through irrelevant data. Instead, the system intelligently displays only relevant, approved, and role-specific information based on the user’s search input, significantly reducing time and improving the relevance of search results.
Initial feedback from early users has been very positive. Sales representatives have reported a marked improvement in their ability to respond quickly and accurately to customer queries. Tasks that previously required multiple emails or calls to technical teams — often taking hours or days — can now be completed in minutes. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also frees up valuable time for sales activities.
For the future, improvements considered are – faster response to customers, fewer requests to the team since they can access the information through the tool, higher sales team satisfaction, and faster business deal conversions. Plans are also underway to expand the tool’s database to include all products across all product lines (PLs), making it a truly comprehensive and scalable resource.
This achievement is the result of strong teamwork and commitment across departments. A heartfelt congratulations goes out to Project Lead Roshin U Thankachen and the dedicated team members — Alan Roy, Sanaya, Jayakrishnan, Neelu Thomas, Ann Mariya, and Sojan Varghese. We also extend sincere thanks to the rest of the QC, QA, Technical Service, Blending, NPO, Fragrance, and IT teams for their invaluable support throughout the project.
We believe the PI tool will be a transformative step forward in enabling faster, more informed, and customer-focused sales efforts. Let’s continue to leverage it as we drive toward greater efficiency and excellence.
