Datatex is the world’s leading supplier of IT software solutions for the global Textile and Apparel Industry with the largest install base of textile software, and customers in 45 countries and 5 continents. Established in 1987, Datatex is strongly based on the knowledge and expertise of the founders in the Textile and Information Technology industries. Datatex aims to be the best technological partner for the textile and apparel industry, by enhancing the productivity and the efficiency of our customer’s business. Datatex is committed to delivering key information to management allowing optimized business decisions and ensuring operational support during the production processes. Recently team Textile Focus had a conversation with Mr. Maurizio Desio, CMO, Datatex. Key discussion points are mentioned below for our readers-
Textile Focus: How Datatex is providing its services, especially for the textile industry?
Maurizio Desio: Datatex has been a trusted provider of IT software solutions for the Textile and Apparel Industry since it was established in 1987. Over the years, we have continued to refine our offerings to meet the ever-evolving industry demands and deliver the most cutting-edge technologies to our valued customers.
Our team of consultants is highly specialized and has an in-depth understanding of the textile and apparel market. They can provide expert guidance to our customers on the best practices in the industry, ensuring that they remain ahead of the competition and achieve their business goals.
In addition to ERP consultancy, we offer an array of services, including cloud solutions that eliminate server concerns, allowing for a seamless application experience. Our technical help desk is always available to assist customers with server sizing, middleware setup, and security assessments for both application software and technology.
At Datatex, we are committed to providing our customers with comprehensive IT solutions that meet their unique needs and help them achieve success.
Textile Focus: What are the products and services in your portfolio for the textile industry?
Maurizio Desio: Our company has recently made a significant investment to provide comprehensive coverage to the textile and fashion industry. We offer a wide range of services that are essential to the entire supply chain, starting from the very first step of fiber production to the finished product ready for sale. Our services include everything in between, such as MES and ERP, web applications for both B2B and B2C customers, and much more.
Our solution is designed to assist companies in effectively controlling costs at every stage of production by determining the cost of each item. This allows for complete control of all production processes in terms of timing, energy consumption, and power usage, as well as the selection of the best machinery. Our solution also provides complete traceability throughout the entire production process up to the point of sale. This means that every single product can be easily tracked and monitored throughout the entire journey from the idea stage to the final sale.
In addition to this, our solution also creates a digital passport for each product with all of its relevant characteristics. This includes information such as the fiber used, the production process, and any other relevant details. This allows for complete transparency and accountability, ensuring that customers can feel confident in the products they are purchasing. By using our solution, companies can streamline their production processes, reduce costs, and ultimately increase profitability, all while providing high-quality products to their customers.
Textile Focus: How do you see the textile industry of Bangladesh?
Maurizio Desio: The textile market in Bangladesh is projected to grow by 6% per year for the next 5 years. It currently accounts for 80% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings and 13% of its GDP.
The current trend in the Bangladesh textile industry suggests remarkable growth in the coming years. However, to stay ahead of the competition, both in the domestic and international markets, textile manufacturers need to focus on innovation. With changing consumer preferences and rapidly evolving technology, there is a constant need for textile companies to come up with new and improved products, manufacturing processes, and business models to remain relevant and competitive. Therefore, investing in research and development, adopting sustainable practices, and leveraging technology can be some of the key strategies that textile companies can explore to drive innovation and growth in the industry.
Our focus on growth and innovation extends beyond just product development – we also prioritize organizational and time-to-market improvements. By constantly seeking out the best methods and practices from the world’s top textile markets, we have cultivated an international culture that makes us the ideal partner for companies looking to expand their reach and stay ahead of the competition. Whether it’s through cutting-edge product innovation or streamlined operational processes, we are committed to helping our partners succeed and grow in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.
Datatex has established a strong presence in Bangladesh by operating in the market for many years. We believe that Bangladesh is a key market with great potential and we are constantly looking for ways to enhance our operations in the country. To further strengthen our relationship with our customers and friends in Bangladesh, we are excited to announce that Datatex will be attending the DTG Exhibition in Dhaka for the first time. The exhibition is scheduled from the 1st to the 4th of February, and we are looking forward to meeting our customers and friends in person. At the event, we will showcase our latest products and solutions and engage with attendees to gain insights into their needs and preferences. We are committed to providing the best possible support to our customers in Bangladesh, and we are confident that our participation in the DTG Exhibition will help us achieve this goal.
Recent investments and agreements in Bangladesh have brought about a significant shift in the manufacturing industry. As a result, manufacturers have been investing heavily in energy-efficient machinery and have been actively working towards improving their sustainability efforts. At Datatex, we are delighted to be a part of this positive transformation and are committed to supporting local companies in their journey towards technological innovation and sustainable practices.
We believe that our cutting-edge technologies, Industry 4.0 practices, supply chain transparency, full traceability, and corporate ethics will enable manufacturers to thrive in the current market and contribute positively to the community, customers, and environment.
We understand the importance of change and have a big vision for the future. By working together with our partners and clients, we hope to inspire and encourage everyone around us to strive for excellence and make a positive impact on the world.
Textile Focus: What are the main strengths of your product and services compared to others?
Maurizio Desio: Our company has been dedicated exclusively to this market for nearly 40 years, making us one of the most experienced players in the industry. We have served customers of all sizes, from small businesses to large corporations, across five continents. Unlike most of our competitors, we cover all the processes in-depth, not just one or two. We take pride in being on the latest technology and offer a multiplatform solution that runs on Windows, IBM Power I, and Linux. Moreover, our software is multilingual, supporting 15 different languages, and it is also designed to handle multiple currencies. Our completely web-based solution allows companies to grow and acquire different businesses without having to change their software. They only need to adjust the parameters specific to their new process or company. Our software is also customizable for other types of businesses, such as chemical, leather, shoe, pharmaceutical, tile, furniture, and other industries. Therefore, if a group has different activities, our solution can be configured to cover all of them.
Textile Focus: How will you define Bangladesh’s textile industry compared to other countries doing business in textiles?
Maurizio Desio: Bangladesh’s competitiveness in the global market is mainly based on the low cost of the labor force. However, other factors like infrastructure are relatively weak. According to a market research report from 2019, there were around 4500 export garment factories in Bangladesh. It is worth noting that the factories in Bangladesh are much larger than those in other garment-producing countries. This fact is supported by McKinsey & Company’s study from 2013, which illustrates that countries with more garment factories, such as India (with 11,000 factories) and Pakistan (with 7500 factories), are falling behind Bangladesh in apparel exports. As a result, the production capacity in Bangladesh is quite high, providing the country a favorable position in the global landscape.
The ownership of the ready-made garments (RMG) industry in Bangladesh is predominantly in the hands of local enterprises, with a negligible presence of public ownership. However, foreign firms have a greater share in large factories as they own the majority of the top 25 factories outside the Export Processing Zones (EPZs). Foreign companies have significantly contributed to the industry’s growth by leveraging their global presence and experience with different countries, which has enabled them to have a better understanding of the international marketplace. They have also established robust networks that have helped in the industry’s growth. The presence of foreign firms has also helped attract global buyers to consider Bangladesh as a sourcing destination. Additionally, foreign firms have set a benchmark in terms of quality and efficiency in production and management, which has contributed to the industry’s success on a global scale. Finally, foreign firms have played a crucial role in backward integration by encouraging their international suppliers to set up their facilities in Bangladesh.
Textile Focus: Any special message you want to convey to our readers and the textile industry in Bangladesh?
Maurizio Desio: Bangladesh is a significant market for us, and we are excited to invest in establishing a local organization within the country. Our aim is not limited to providing services within Bangladesh, but also to train new consultants and programmers. We are committed to improving the quality of services we provide to other countries and contributing to the growth of the tech industry in Bangladesh. With our investment, we hope to create more job opportunities for the local people and help them develop the skills they need for a successful career in the technology sector.
