In Hérault, the roaster Bibal accelerates with digital – ToulÉco

“With the Covid disaster and particularly the rise in teleworking, our actions had been restricted as a result of folks had been not assembly. Our turnover fell by round 15%,” remembers Thomas Bertrand, basic supervisor of Cafés Bibal. To get again on observe, the roaster, primarily based in Saint-Aunès (Hérault), has chosen to spend money on digital.

Cafés Bibal joins forces with the corporate Imagine IT, primarily based in Montferrier-sur-Lez (Hérault), to combine its merchandising machines into Lila’s clever reception. “The Lila vacation spot detects their presence, asks the customer to begin a easy dialog, voice or tactile, in regards to the goal of the go to, and the one who sees them is notified by electronic mail or SMS to their function has arrived”, explains Alex Michel, supervisor of Imagine IT. “Any further, he can provide espresso to maintain folks ready,” mentioned Thomas Bertrand. Twenty-five Lila locations are at present in service, together with one on the Bibal boutique in Saint-Aunès.

20% improve in productiveness

As well as, Bibal has invested 1 million euros in expertise. “Now we have made a major funding in decentralized fee strategies, which, in flip, has allowed us to have information and enhance our stock administration. Till then, we needed to anticipate the rounds to fill the machines,” laughs Thomas Bertrand, who represents the fourth technology on the head of Cafés Bibal. As a direct results of this funding: “the extra refined administration of the distribution fleets has made it attainable to extend productiveness by 20%”, analyzes the final director of Cafés Bibal.

The roaster achieves 35 million euros in consolidated turnover and employs 2 hundred folks. Its turnover is distributed between merchandising machines (70%), café-restaurants (25%), mass distribution (10%) and direct gross sales by these two boutiques situated in Saint-Aunès and Montpelier (5%). “It’s deliberate to open one or two new shops within the space,” mentioned Thomas Bertrand, who continues to be unsure on the topic. Cafés Bibal will get its provides primarily from Latin and Central America (Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico, and so forth.), and a little bit from Africa and Asia.

Amelie Cazalet

Pictured: Thomas Bertrand and Alex Michel. Credit score: Amélie Cazalet – agenehv.