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7. Agentic AI Transformation for POS driven business

Picture of Satyaprakash Pandey

 

Problem Statement:

Accurate and real time financial reporting is a key challenge faced by the CEO/CFO/COO of mid-market PE-backed PortCos. This is mainly caused by a lack of system automation across end-to-end business processes. In most growing mid-market PortCos, IT has never been given due importance, resulting in poorly implemented systems, no integration, and manual operations, that limit both current and future growth while putting business continuity at risk. As PortCos grow through buy-and-build, systems are never properly integrated, causing constant friction in business operations 


Digital Transformation vs AI Automation:

With the advent of AI, it is not essential to have a fully end to end integrated and properly implemented system across the value chain business processes. Agentic AI fixes can be implemented in around 6 months, and may have a similar impact provided by an end-to-end digital transformation

Digital Transformation: 12-18 months, Real-Time Integrated Data

  • For a POS driven Catering company, CIDEK led an end-to-end Digital Transformation, completed in around 18 months – touching across customer facing (POS & online ordering), front office (CRM), back office (ERP, Finance) and Reporting (Data Warehouse, BI dashboards).
  • This fixed CEO/CFO Financial Reporting problem and created value to the customer in the longer run, with foundation system sorted & real-time data

Digital Transformation Problem:

  • System & integration layer issues (highlighted in red) causing inefficiencies and operational gaps
  • Multi-layer problems impacting performance and data flow

Digital Transformation Solution:

  • Digital Transformation requiring 12–18 months' timeline
  • Requires proper system implementation + integration middleware
  • Ensures data integrity across layers, leading to a stable, scalable architecture

 

Fixing through AI:

With Agentic AI implementation, same problems can be fixed in short term (5-6 months), highlighted in green below

AI Fixes: 5-6 months, Key Financial Metrics, Short-Term Value

  • End to end process flows were mapped
  • System automation and manual workflows were understood
  • AI automation then fixed all the broken areas – namely Supplier Data, Menu Costing, Menu & Tills config, POS & Tills, Invoice & Forecast – without changes in foundation system
  • 70% automation achieved - value created in short term


 
 

CIDEK’s recommended approach for agentic AI implementation:

  • Map business Process Flows (High level) & identify System Automation, AI & Manual workflows
  • Build System Transformation Roadmap & AI Transformation Roadmap
  • Analysis on Digital Transformation (12-18 months) vs AI automation (5-6 months) - ROI, Cost, Timeline, Pros & Cons, Vendor & Systems/Tools
  • Finalise 5 key business problems and function areas to be automated through AI
  • Confirm 1 business problem which CIDEK will complete in a 2-week Proof of Concept (PoC)

Estimated timeline for agentic AI implementation: 

Why we recommend approach:

Most AI projects do not fail because of bad technology. They fail because organizations invest too much time in getting ready and not enough time in getting started. By the time everything feels aligned, the opportunity is already behind them.

The Real Issue:

Organizations spend 2–3 years on data modernization and tech consolidation before even thinking about AI. But the window where AI can actually drive real impact is only 12–18 months. That mismatch is why most AI initiatives collapse before they see results

A Better Way:

  • Start narrow Pick the one area with the highest impact potential and focus everything there
  • Do only the data work that matters you do not need clean data everywhere, just where it counts for your chosen focus area
  • Progress over perfection improving outcomes for even half your organization is a real win. Do not wait for full readiness
  • Keep it simple Run AI alongside your existing setup, no need to rebuild everything first.

 CIDEK is available to support and keen to discuss any carveout programs for PE investors and PE backed PortCos.