Pan-India automated paint solution by October: Berger

Berger Paints on Wednesday said it will be rolling out an automated painting solution pan-India by the end of October and will be shortly launching an app for mobile users.

"By March 2016, we will be training 10,000 painters across India in 18 training centres on different automated equipments which will make the painting process smoother and address several customer concerns," company managing director and CEO, Abhijit Roy told media persons here.

About 2,500 odd people have already been trained in four states.

The company has procured different equipments - for sanding, putty mixing, rollers, spray painters and jet washers - from different suppliers across Europe, China and India. These, according to Roy, will help the consumer get a better paint finish with minimal interference at home.

Roy said the automated process - Express Painting - will be advantageous for the enterprise segment also as the process is dust-free and will minimally hamper the daily office routine.

Berger Paints will be distributing or selling these equipments to its dealers who will thereafter let the painters use it.

"This solution has already been introduced in West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat and by the end of this month, will cover all states in India except Tamil Nadu, where it will be rolled out in October," he said.

Although existing paints can be used with these equipments, the company has also come up with a specialized paint tailored for use with these set of gadgets.

Moreover, paints of any brand can be used with the new automated solution.

"We are also going to introduce our app in the market in November this year with unique features," said Roy.

He said although the app will have relevant feature meant for normal use and provide regular services, its unique features "will bring in disruption in the paint industry".

Moreover, it will have a consumer feedback mechanism over the performance of its painters.

"Based on the consumer's feedback we will eliminate (stop business dealings with) the dealers and painters who do not live up to consumer's expectations," he said.

Registering a CAGR of 18 percent over the last five years, the firm has a present market share of 18 percent nationally and hopes to grow it further with the new solution.