Counterfeit goods are something we all Indians are used to. There is no object which escapes the creative act of duplication. The cheap and seemingly effective counterfeits make us drool for the price tag they come with and sometimes we are just helpless to find an original product or lack the means to find out the product's authenticity. Onspot solution is a cloud-based platform that empowers consumers and businesses equally in identifying authentic products using a white label app or a generic scanner, found in most smartphones. Analytics Insight has engaged in an exclusive interview with Lokesh Harjani, Founder and CEO, of Onspot Solution.

Please tell us about your company, its specialties, and the services you provide.

Onspot is a Brand to Consumer Engagement platform providing Cloud-based digital solutions allowing a brand to engage with its consumers at various levels.  Starting with a simple scan of the unique Onspot QR code on a product, a consumer can first check the authenticity of the brand and be given product information such as manufactured date, MSRP, and other pertinent information for the product.  At a single touch, consumers can then provide feedback on a product and even provide suggestions on the particular good.  Depending on the types of products, brands can engage with consumers to provide warranty certification, give helpful tips, and provide sustainability aspects and goals of the brand along with many other dedicated features per industry need all while the consumer receives loyalty points and rewards. For brands, Onspot provides a bird's eye view of the supply and distribution chain from point of manufacture to intermediaries to the point of sale.  With each product individually coded, brands can ascertain any hiccups in the traveling lifecycle of the product, as scans occur at each stage of the chain.

What were the company's mission and aims when it was founded? In a nutshell, tell us about your journey since the company's inception.

The idea was founded many years ago when, Lokesh Harjani, Founder of Onspot encountered a fake bottle of water.  After taking ill for many months thereafter, he thought about a method where one could verify product identity and finally invented a system in which, "buyers [could] be aware," as the adage goes.  The company's mission is very much fundamental in its outlook in terms of public safety and in these current times, Onspot seems to be spot-on with its offerings.  Providing patented cloud-based digital solutions for anti-counterfeiting [Product Authentication], consumer engagement, and visibility in the supply chain remains Onspot's focus.

For companies and brands, Onspot tackles many pain points that occur in the supply and distribution chain between plants, OEM partners, warehouses, distributors, stockists, and retailers.  Through a systemized approach, all are linked through the Onspot platform and get up-to-the-minute information on the progress and whereabouts of goods with additional value-added features that make dealing with day-to-day problems such as breakage and lost or stolen goods along the value chain easy.

Mention some of the awards, achievements, recognitions, and clients' feedback that you feel are notable and valuable for the company.

Clients across industries with whom Onspot works have been receptive and have showered accolades.  These industries include pharmaceuticals, electrical hardware, automotive, oil and lubricants, cosmetics and personal care, and the spirits segment.

What are your growth plans for the next 12 months?

OnSpot works with over 20 enterprises and several large global clients across India and newly added foreign brands. The company has registered much growth in the Covid period with brands across segments seeking to have more end-consumer outreach.  Onspot is building up its team and offerings, looking at expanding operations, pan-India with potential international outposts. As part of taking its next steps and setting future goals for 2022, OnSpot Solutions shall focus on areas such as aggressive core product expansion, research and development, talent acquisition, and development of a comprehensive suite of products for all business segments with a focus specifically for the Pharma, FMCG industries, electrical and automotive (lubricants and spares) segments.

What do you think the future holds for the company and the industry?

The company envisions much more growth in this active segment and truly looks 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.

Which industry verticals are you currently concentrating on? What is your go-to-market plan for it?

Onspot has been successful in deploying its technology across many sectors including electrical hardware, automotive, pharmaceutical, oil and lubricants, cosmetics and personal care, and the spirits segment. Onspot has been gaining traction from its salesforce deployed around India and through company-to-company references as goals of the market leading brands are united against anti-counterfeiting and consumer outreach.  Onspot maintains patents in India and abroad and was one of the first to create such technology.

Do you also feel that the right kind of talent is a challenge in the industry?

Onspot has been lucky to have acquired good talent and are industry specific since it deals across a plethora of industries with each having its own unique format and requirements.  On the tech side, the industry has been trying to synergize business and marketing measures and ideals with the right sort of technical expertise which is often taken away by very large players in the IT space.  Still, overall, Onspot has had a good experience with talent as its positive and forward momentum gains.