Ready-to-drink Beverage Habits and Ecology (Total Marks 20 – Each Question carries 4 Marks)

1. What is the importance of handling huge quantity of waste generation from beverages at least in all Metros, Mini Metros, Big and Medium Towns in India, as a part of ecology macro environment responsibilities on an organisation? (Hint: PESTEL Factor)
2. Can a “Refill model whereby selected important stores in various localities is taking care of refilling” in beverages products work? What kind of Retail Vendor Incentives may be needed to be given to administer this model? What are the practical difficulties in this distribution strategy?
3. Can a “IoT-connected refill vending machines dispensing “a part of business model work well, particularly in middle- and upper-class localities? What could be the difficulties?
4. Interact with about 3or 4 big or medium size vendors in your selected town/locality and enunciate their response to your preferred solution. Mention the Name of the Town and retailer Shop Name in your answer.
5. What kind of re-orientation is needed to be done by the organisation in terms of product strategy along with integrated marketing communication strategy? (Hint: Functional Level Strategy)

Answer:

Question 1

Handling vast waste quantities will help keep most environments in the Indian Metros, Mini Metros, Big and Medium Towns fresh and neat. It will be the best way of enabling Indian citizens living in the areas to enjoy their right to a clean environment. One advantage that will accrue to the Indians living in the regions is reduced health issues. Typically, overflowing waste leads to increased respiratory diseases. Examples of such diseases include Asthma and Lung Cancer. Handling huge waste quantities will help create more spaces in the affected environment for such reasons as settlement. This will help accommodate the increasing Indian population.

Question 2

As I see it, a refill model cannot work if some stores are being used for refilling activities. This is because such an approach will reduce the number of stores required to house the refilled beverages. The best thing would be to open new stores that are specifically meant to do the refilling. The retail Vendor Incentives that could be needed to be given to administering this model is profit sharing. Some of the practical difficulties in this kind of distribution strategy include fluctuating fuel prices and delivery delays due to bad roads or even weather.

Question 3

I don't think that an IoT-connected refill vending machine dispensing part of the business model will work well. Some of the difficulties that I feel will be experienced include frequent malfunctioning of the machines and high maintenance costs. The vending machines will translate to huge losses in cases where there is a delay in repairs. The cost of repairing the vending machines will depend on the underlying problem.

Question 4

Some of the vendors I interacted with in Lakheri include the following;

1. Kinara. The response of this vendor to my solution was that it is workable.
2. Joya. This vendor said that my solution is better than the existing solutions.
3. Rathore. The view of this vendor on my proposed solution was that it is an idea that has come at the right time.

Question 5

The kind of reorientation that will be required is training (Human Resource Strategy). The importance of training, in this case, is that it will help sharpen the knowledge and skills of the employees. This will translate to improved performance on the part of the employees.