Tasmac to implement end-to-end computerisation by end of January 2025

A Tasmac shop in Chennai. File
| Photo Credit: M. Vedhan

The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited, popularly known as Tasmac, will be extending its end-to-end computerisation system incorporating QR codes (quick response codes) to all districts across the State by the end of January 2025.

“Currently, this initiative which started in September 2024 is being implemented in 11 locations and by the second week of January 2025, it will be rolled out in 10 more locations,” a Tasmac official said.

Initially, the project was implemented in Ramanathapuram and Arakkonam, and based on the feedback and analysis it was rolled out in Kancheepuram (North and South), Karur, Sivagangai, Trichy, Tiruppur, Pudukottai, Virudhunagar, and Tirunelveli.

Explaining end-to-end computerisation system, officials said liquor manufacturers affix a QR code on each bottle which will be scanned at each point. “Every step, from the manufacturing and bottling of the liquor to its sale to the consumer, will be tracked online,” said a senior Tasmac official.

He further explained: “Once the bottles are packed into carton boxes, they are immediately mapped. A subsequent scan occurs when the bottles are loaded from the manufacturer’s warehouse, followed by another scan at the Tasmac depot. Finally, a scan is performed when the liquor is dispatched from the depot to the retail shops.” Earlier most of these processes were done manually and the details were logged into books.

According to sources in Tasmac, this system will also track the quantity of ingredients used by the manufacturers. “We can now keep a track of the ingredients used by the manufacturers too. For instance, extra neutral alcohol (ENA), demineralised water and flavours – we can get accurate data on how much has been used and what is the stock position,” he added.

Also, once the bottle is scanned at the Tasmac shops, salesmen cannot scan it again. “This will ensure that sales is transparent. Earlier, there have been instances of misrepresentation of stock and workers have used money at the counter for rotation and other purposes. All of this cannot happen anymore,” the Tasmac official said.

“Monitoring the sale of liquor from production to sale, and enabling all customers to pay bills and sell, the sale is being carried out well in about 11 districts through a portable scanner device,” said T. Dhanasekaran, General Secretary of Tasmac Employees’ Association, which is part of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

According to sources, initially, there were some technical issues with this project. “We encountered some challenges, but based on the lessons learned, we have addressed and resolved them. We have thoroughly examined both software and hardware issues,” the senior official from Tasmac said.

Tasmac Employees’ Association, State president, N. Periyasamy said: “The requests made by the Tamil Nadu Tasmac Employees’ Association regarding the technical problems in this project have been discussed and resolved by the Managing Director in person with a team of technical experts. Currently, the project is going to be expanded to 10 more districts in the first week of this year,” he said.