Design Thinking Solves JHG Trading Problems

Mike Togle
September 7, 2017

Running a commercial enterprise is full of challenges and finding solutions to them were traditionally very difficult. One such problem presented itself to JHG Trading Inc. as it sought to digitally transform their retail operations in Mindanao to solve a common problem in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry: inventory management.

Because the solution required an expert’s hand in digital technologies, JHG Trading turned to the country’s largest Filipino-Owned Digital Business Transformation Provider for assistance. Pointwest organized a Design Thinking Workshop for the retail giant in order to bring a human-centered design approach to finding answers for JHG Trading’s particular problem.

The team from Pointwest flew to Tagum City, Davao del Norte, on 3 July 2017 to conduct the Design Thinking Workshop for JHG Trading. It was led by Pointwest Chief Technical Officer Veck Basinang, Labs Head Sherwin Pelayo, and Technology Center of Excellence (CoE) Head Jason Dela Peña. Key decision makers for JHG Trading who were present in the workshop included the father-and-son tandem of CEO John Gaisano, Jr. and EVP John Gaisano III. Representatives from the IT, Accounting, Merchandising, and Operations departments of JHG Trading were also present.

Picture: Design Thinking Workshop Orientation Phase

Sherwin Pelayo as lead facilitator for the Design Thinking Workshop with JHG Trading

“It is important to have the key decision makers and stakeholders in a Design Thinking Workshop. Any solution we come up with would be extremely challenging to implement if key people do not approve of it.” Sherwin Pelayo, Pointwest Labs and Digital Capability Head

One method used by Pointwest involved asking the participants to classify issues into their respective groups. From there, they were guided to identify key problems that, if solved, would lead to the resolution of other issues in the group.

One breakthrough of the exercise identified poor IT infrastructure as a key to why inventory accuracy of JHG Trading had issues. This causes stock information to not being updated reliably, which has an effect on product sales.

PHOTO: Participants of the Design Thinking Workshop

JHG Trading in action during one of the phases of Pointwest’s Design Thinking Workshop

At the end of the Workshop JHG Trading’s team decided to focus on the customer as the top priority, and that any solution will be tuned towards benefitting them. Pointwest continues to assist the company in addressing its issues in the operational and IT front by providing JHG Trading with recommendations.

“The workshop was helpful in teaching us how to troubleshoot some things in our current systems and processes. We got to see points of improvement and what kind of functions we needed to enhance and work on. It served as a useful diagnostic tool to help us see where we were and where we can head.”John Gaisano III, JHG Trading Executive Vice President

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Solutions to Challenges in the Digital Age are not that difficult to find with the right mindset and approach. Pointwest’s Design Thinking Workshops aim to provide organizations with the tools and methodologies necessary to come up with solutions tailored-fit to their needs and capabilities.

For more on what we can offer you, contact us and let us help you begin the journey to address your biggest concerns.