Cxo of the week: Lokesh Harjani, CEO & Founder of OnSpot Solutions

Onspot solutions is a  Cloud-based Digital platform for Anti -Counterfeiting, Brand Protection, and Product authentication. It entered the market in 2016 to close the gap between manufacturers and their consumers by digitizing every step of the supply chain. OnSpot Solutions offers advanced technology drawn from years of thorough R&D.  The Cloud-based technology bears patents globally and empowers the end-user to verify the genuineness of a product in real-time. 

Lokesh Harjani, CEO & Founder of OnSpot Solutions, his two decades career graph reflects his expertise: He started off his entrepreneurial career at the age of 19; while studying International Finance & Marketing at the University of Miami. His first venture was in the realm of event & loyalty-based marketing. His next endeavour took him for brand security & protection for companies such as Walmart, GAP, Target Etc. He has worked in the manufacturing, Internet and Technology spaces in India and Internationally.

We recently interacted with Lokesh Harjani, CEO & Founder of OnSpot Solutions. He shared important details about OnSpot Solutions, his entrepreneurial journey, the company’s growth, and much more.

Read below to know more about it.

Introduction.

OnSpot Solutions entered the market in 2016 to close the gap between manufacturers and their consumers by digitizing every step of the supply chain. OnSpot Solutions offers advanced technology drawn from years of thorough R&D.  The Cloud-based technology bears patents globally and empowers the end-user to verify the genuineness of a product in real-time. OnSpot’s patented technology provides brands with complete supply and distribution chain tracking while protecting against counterfeiting without incurring high costs, but moreover provides instant payback for a brand.

Apart from Anti-counterfeiting solutions, OnSpot also includes a Marketing suite for personalized consumer re-engagement and a Data collection engine to capture the events in the product journey and consumer-product interaction. The company’s offerings also heavily feature Loyalty Programs and Warranty Tracking.

Can you tell us more about on-the-spot solutions and the many sectors you work in?

Onspot is a Brand to Consumer Engagement platform that is a Cloud-based Digital Solution allowing brands to engage with its consumer at various levels. The consumer can check the authenticity of the brand with a simple scan of the unique Onspot QR code on a product. Consumers are given product information such as manufactured date, MSRP, etc. Consumers can provide their valuable feedback and suggestions on products, with a single touch. On the platform, brands can engage with consumers directly to provide warranty certification; offer helpful tips or recipes. They can also provide sustainability aspects and goals of the brand along with many other dedicated features as per the industry. The consumer, meanwhile, receives loyalty points and rewards.

Onspot provides a bird’s eye view of the supply and distribution chain for brands. It covers the chain from the point of manufacture through intermediaries to the point of final sale to the end consumer. Each stage of the supply chain is scanned so, at any stage, brands can ascertain any issues occurring with the help of individually coded products.

What, as per you, are the five important things that OnSpot solutions should be looking at today?

The next important things that we will be focusing on are aggressive core product expansion, research and development, talent acquisition, and a comprehensive suite of products for all business segments with a focus specifically on the Pharma, FMCG industries, electrical and automotive (lubricants and spares), segment.

What can you tell us about India’s first dynamic real-time verification technology?

Onspot bridges the gap between brand and consumer while, at the same time, helps a brand become more efficient and alert to any disruptions in their product lifecycle.  The Onspot product authentication and anti-counterfeiting system works with present product packaging with minimal need for tweaks. It avoids the need for significant adjustments to a brand’s existing production and packaging method.  The technology is adapted to be used by mobile phones and facilitates product verification at any stage in the supply chain and to the consumer.  Brands may individually customize their security needs in the system based on markets and be immediately alerted to potential risk or threat from the grey market.

Onspot offers a variety of security solutions at each stage of the supply and distribution chain for brands. QR codes, tamper-resistant labels or in certain circumstances, RFID or other tracking methodsallows brands the opportunity to monitor the patterns of product movement from the factory or distributor down the chain. Some covert security features such as nano-sized taggants or invisible ink, coupled with optic filters within the technology also add to the security offering. The platform is active at every stage of the product lifecycle. Itprovides check and risk assessments along the cycle to the point of consumer scan to verify the product. This is what makes it India’s first dynamic real-time verification technology.

What do you think India’s future will look like with all of the technological advancements?

With tremendous advancements in technology, India is already driving on the road to growth. Many new technologies are being implemented by the day, propelling economic growth. Next-generation tech like Artificial Intelligence, Smart Cities, Blockchain, Internet of Things is being strategized, implemented and executed. With more technological advancements, every industry will collectively start to work efficiently with lesser wastage of resources, and this will lead to exponential economic growth. Cloud-based digital platforms like ours are in high demand, and both companies and consumers are aware of this. We see high growth in the Cloud-based Digital Security space, with everyone in the value chain benefitting.

Would you be able to provide some light on the importance of developing a brand?

Absolutely! It is crucial right now for companies to protect their brands and consumers, especially in this post-pandemic future. The world is becoming increasingly aware of the adage, ‘buyer beware’ and it will evolve gradually to understand that this can be done simply by using everyday means such as mobile phones.  As many consumers are not completely updated on the intricacies of emerging digital solutions, brands and governments face the challenge of consumer awareness and the adoption of newer, safe technologies.

Eventually, consumers will adapt to the new world to protect themselves and their hard-earned money from unscrupulous grey markets. Once initial security is done, OnSpot offers perks like loyalty and rewards, product information, helpful tips, recipes, warranties, coupons and a direct feedback link. This protects consumers from being duped by counterfeit products. Onspot offers a full approach for companies, consumers and government agencies to build great synergy while protecting and benefitting every interest. That’s why we say, “Track, Trend, Trust”.

Protection plan for both brands and consumers?

Onspot’s anti-counterfeiting solutions help consumers and companies in areas like product liability, regulation, reputation, profit, corporate value and most importantly, personal health and safety assurance. We provide monitoring and tracing of each product from the point of production through the distribution cycle to point of retail sale. Our solutions also include information so that a customer can determine the difference between genuine and false products on their own. With the help of the unique QR code, brands have visibility over the entire supply chain, obtaining real-time information about the product through its market cycle. Simple mobile phone technology can be used to determine the legitimacy of the products.

What are your expansion and growth plans for the future?

We currently work with over 20 organisations and several large global clients across India and overseas markets. Onspot has shown tremendous growth during the pandemic with brands across segments seeking to have more end-consumer outreach. We are looking at expanding operations in Pan India and international by building up our team and offerings.

We plan to focus on aggressive core product expansion, research and development, talent acquisition, and a comprehensive suite of products for all business segments. There are also plans to concentrate specifically on the Pharma, FMCG industries, electrical and automotive (lubricants and spares), segments. We envision strong growth in this segment and are looking to bridge the gap between brand and consumer. It seems not just the need of the hour, but a long-term business and living approach for brands and individuals alike.

How would you summarize On Spot’s experience in India?

In every industry we entered in India, we have seen substantial growth. In India, the need for battling counterfeiting and monitoring the supply chain grew. In a market like this, we became more relevant. OnSpot has witnessed considerable growth in several industries for its patented protection platform, including medicine, particularly during the Covid period. Many firms across industries consistently reach out to learn how to adapt Onspot’s solutions across industries.

What aspects, in your opinion, led to the company’s growth even throughout the pandemic?

The pandemic and post-pandemic time paved the way for Onspot’s growth. The rise of e-commerce sales in 2020, led to a surge in fake goods across industries and this was posing a threat to many brands. For example, in the cosmetics and personal care sector, there are reports of a 56% increase in counterfeit products sold via online channels. More seriously, fears over shortages of medicines, pharmaceuticals – and now vaccines – in many regions have led to greater penetration of counterfeit goods, against which consumers need protection. This consequently increased the use of anti-counterfeiting solutions; track and trace schemes among brands, which is where we come in. The need for a solution provider like us, automatically increased.