Bangalore-based startup, Applicate, a software product that helps consumer-facing companies manage workforce better, has raised INR 3.5 Cr. from Rishi Vasudev, Flipkart’s vice-president for fashion retail, Amit Gupta, Vice-president of PE firm Urban Infra, and Rajiv Nayan, director business development at TCS Canada.
The fresh funding will be utilized to expand operations across the country.
Speaking on this development, Ranjeet Kumar, Co-founder & CEO, Applicate said, “We have had a 100% hit rate. So far, technology has remained aloof from business operations in this sector. We have integrated the two.”
Founded in June 2014 by Ranjeet Kumar and Deepak Rewadi, Applicate is targeting to address execution, effectiveness and engagement related gaps and opportunities in Sales and Marketing with its Innovative Mobile and Web based applications.
The startup has created a unique solution to integrate all the elements of front-end execution right from outlet visits to in-store merchandising, availability, compliance, team communication, and effective use of data.
The product, which is a mobile app installed by every field person, marks attendance, geo-tags locations, shows managers the activity on the ground across its many regions, through pictures captured in stores and malls.
Around 3,000 employees across eight organisations are currently using the app. The startup is already in talks with 22 large enterprises and expects to earn INR 8 Cr. revenue this year. Currently the charges are between INR 3,000 and INR 10,000 per person yearly for the app and is looking at raising $5 Mn later this year to scale up operations across Asia.
Meanwhile, consumer-facing companies like Kelloggs, Hero Cycles and Madhura Garments have also started using this application to adopt their sales and operations personnel across the globe.
“It took five minutes to decide as the solution appeared to be exciting and relevant for our business needs. The diversity and scalability of Applicate is quite unique, said Pankaj Munjal, managing director of Hero Cycles.
