Damas goes high-tech with MBS navigation system

Damas is all set to go high tech with its 100 stores now online using the MBS Navision system, successfully implemented by Microsoft’s local UAE partner, Landsteinar.

“This year has been a landmark year for our IT operations as it has seen our systems advance into an ERP setup. Landsteinar has played a major role to put 100 of our UAE outlets online, the Damas retail shop at Lamcy Plaza being the latest,” said Tawfique Abdullah, Chairman, Damas LLC.

“The new system provides shop information in terms of stock, sales and transfers to the sales and other management teams. This has enhanced easing out work at the Retail Back office to a large extent. Bar coding of every single piece of jewellery has been accomplished in each of these navisionised shops and the system provides excellent product information.”

The roll out of Navision has been going in phases, starting from the biggest stores in August 2004. It involved all the 100 plus stores in UAE with close coordination and scheduling for activities like stock tagging, till installation and stock migration.

“It has been a huge task and implementing it in 100 stores has been a great achievement,” said Bill Tomlinson, Managing Director, Landsteinar.

“The software captures the entire life cycle of every single jewellery piece since it is bought, transferred in multiple shops and finally sold. All these lead to quick and informed decision making, tight control on various business health indicators and proactive resolution of issues”.

Damas selected the solution after an in-depth evaluation process, assisted by consultancy group KPMG. After a detailed and careful study, MBS Navision was recommended by the consultancy for its complete flexibility in accounting methods that could be customized internally by Damas to include the double entry typical of the gold industry where every piece is valued by its weight and its monetary value.

“By December 2005, we hope to implement this system in all the UAE outlets and then look towards implementing it in our other markets,” said Tawfique Abdullah, Chairman, Damas LLC.