Chennai: Tasmac has begun implementing its new automated stock indent system on a pilot basis in 484 retail outlets across four regions, with the management planning a phased expansion across the state after assessing the software’s effectiveness and the practical challenges.Though Tasmac had initially planned to roll out the system across 4,052 liquor shops across the state, it has initially been introduced in 66 shops in Chennai North, 167 in Salem, 108 in Coimbatore North and 143 in Trichy. The automated system is aimed at replacing the existing manual process of preparing indents for liquor stocks with a digital, data-driven mechanism. Sales and stock details from individual shops will be captured digitally and used to generate indents based on the requirement of each outlet.The system will analyse the stock available at a shop, its sales pattern and the requirement for different liquor categories and automatically generate an indent for replenishment. The move is expected to reduce paperwork and manual intervention while enabling the management to centrally monitor stocks, sales and supplies.However, employees raised concerns over whether an automated system based primarily on historical sales data would address the problems faced at the retail level. Tamil Nadu has 11 IMFL manufacturing units and seven beer manufacturing units, from which Tasmac reportedly procures around 64.5 lakh cases of IMFL and 50 lakh cases of beer every month.Tasmac workers’ association says they already face confrontation at the retail end, claiming that they are being abused by liquor buyers over the non-availability of preferred brands. Tasmac officials said the new system will make sure the purchases are demand-driven. “What people buy will be replenished and naturally, their supply quotient will increase. That’s why the changes to the automated indent is capped at 20%,” said the official
