John Keells - OMS
Overview
Keells Supermarkets, a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) – the largest conglomerate listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, has long been a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s FMCG retail sector. Known for its strong nationwide presence and customer-first approach, Keells has built its reputation on delivering convenience, quality, and innovation to consumers across the country.
By the late 2010s, Keells’ leadership recognized that the company’s legacy systems were limiting its ability to scale and respond to emerging retail challenges. With growing competition, evolving consumer behaviors, and increasingly complex supply chains, the need for a modern, data-driven retail infrastructure became clear. In their pursuit of a capable technology partner, Keells turned to FINAP Worldwide, initiating a large-scale digital logistical operations transformation effort designed to future-proof operations and ultimately enhance end customer engagement.
Objectives
• A modern order management system to create a unified, data-driven retail management infrastructure.
• Enhance operational efficiency through automation and centralized control across suppliers, warehouses, and retail outlets.
• Enable AI-driven demand forecasting to optimize stock levels and reduce wastage.
• Support multi-channel order management for both in-store and online operations.
• Improve responsiveness to market changes, especially during dynamic conditions such as seasonal fluctuations and pandemic-related disruptions.
Solution
At the core of Keells Supermarkets’ digital transformation was the implementation of FINAP’s Retail Order Management & Forecasting Solution (OMS), a state-of-the-art system designed to bring intelligence, agility, and scalability to Keells’ retail operations.
The OMS developed by FINAP provides a comprehensive platform for demand forecasting, stock replenishment, and order management, seamlessly integrating consumer, supplier, and warehouse data into a single unified solution. Using AI and machine learning algorithms, the system identifies purchasing patterns and generates highly accurate forecasts, enabling Keells to anticipate demand and adjust inventory dynamically.
The OMS also allows rapid cloud-based SaaS deployment, ensuring minimal downtime and faster adoption across multiple business units. Its multi-channel order management capability empowers Keells to efficiently handle orders from both physical stores and online platforms. Moreover, its easy parametrization facilitates seasonal promotions and price adjustments with minimal configuration effort—critical for a retailer managing constant shifts in consumer demand.
Key functional highlights of the OMS include:
• AI & Machine Learning-based Forecasting for predictive stock planning.
• Integrated Supplier, Warehouse, and Customer Management within one system.
• Real-time Order Tracking across multiple channels.
• Automated Stock Replenishment to minimize wastage and prevent order mismatches.
• Scalable Cloud Deployment ensuring flexibility and performance under varying loads.
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global retail operations, Keells’ investment in the development of OMS enabled it to adapt swiftly. The system’s forecasting accuracy and centralized data model gave the management team real-time visibility into supply chain performance, allowing the supermarket chain to maintain optimal stock levels and ensure uninterrupted service to customers nationwide, even amid lockdowns and supply constraints.
Impact
The partnership with FINAP empowered Keells Supermarkets to transition from traditional retail systems to a digitally intelligent retail ecosystem. With the OMS as its operational backbone, Keells achieved improved inventory accuracy, reduced waste, and greater agility in responding to market dynamics.
Today, Keells continues to lead the Sri Lankan retail sector in operational innovation, supported by scalable technology, actionable insights, and a future-ready order management system built by FINAP.
“I want to express my gratitude to FINAP for their technical expertise and work ethic, which have been crucial in overcoming our software development challenges.”
– Mr. Osanda Warnakulasuriya, Vice President, John Keells Holdings PLC