Expansion of Minimart
Digitalization today is not just about implementing technology; it’s a comprehensive transformation of business thinking. Technologies are no longer viewed as an end goal but as a means to accelerate development and achieve sustainable results. Companies that embrace this approach understand that the true value of digitalization lies not only in optimizing processes but also in changing perceptions of their market position. This shift drives faster expansion, better market positioning, and long-term success.
How does the above happen in practice? Meet a small part of the project to implement business software solutions that ITC Consult is realizing for “BGK” AD and their chain of convenience stores, Minimart.
The Green Bunny that Raised the Bar in the Retail Sector. Who are Minimart?
Minimart is a Bulgarian chain of convenience stores established by BGK AD—a company that brings together established investors and experts with extensive experience in the retail business. The first store opened its doors at the end of March 2023, and by October 2024, the number of stores had already exceeded 120, with expectations to reach 150 by the end of 2024. The long-term goal of the chain is to open a total of 300 locations by the end of the first three years. Minimart is developing at an impressive and record-breaking speed for the Bulgarian market. Supporting this concept is the model for Minimart Box—a standardized commercial solution that allows for flexible and adaptive presence in locations with very high occupancy from tenants (like retail and business parks). It is expected that Minimart Box will further accelerate expansion plans, as well as fulfill the ambitious goal of bringing the stores closer to customers.
The unique business model of the chain provides excellent opportunities for the development of small family businesses, allowing franchise partners to manage the stores operationally while Minimart takes responsibility for selecting communicative and strategic locations, long-term leasing, equipment, and stocking of the stores. This enables partners to focus on customer service and daily management. In 2024, Minimart officially opened its academy—a pleasant and cozy space that allows for smooth training and introduces the chain’s partners to the company’s working processes according to the established standards.
The main goal of the Minimart chain is to establish itself as the preferred choice for daily shopping, offering customers a high level of service and a variety of carefully selected products that are proven quality and already well-known in the market. The chain aims to provide convenience and accessibility for its customers by creating stores in key locations that meet the needs of the modern consumer.
Client Request. Business Challenges and How Technologies Underpin Growth
The main challenge is achieving maximum rapid expansion, which is a critical factor for the success and sustainability of the business model due to the small size of the stores and the large initial investment. The development of the stores requires efficient processes that are managed by a flexible and adaptive software system, allowing for the desired rapid scalability. One of the system’s goals is to maintain a specific centralized logistics. Due to the limited size of warehouse spaces for many items, delivery is done by quantity rather than by package. This necessitates strict cost control and very well-optimized orders and processes.
During the project implementation, processes were defined that would combine the characteristics of managing small stores with those of large retail chains. BGK AD is implementing this project to introduce strategic technological innovations that are actively used and are a critical prerequisite for achieving the planned rapid expansion. The company purposefully chooses to implement a fully integrated system instead of starting with separate modular solutions. This is a significant challenge given the short timeframe of three months between the start of preparations and the opening of the first store.
For rapid adaptation to market conditions and customer needs, a flexible and comprehensive BI system for data analysis is required. This allows for improvements in sales margins as well as optimal stock levels in the stores.
The rapid growth and capturing of the business niche of convenience stores cannot be achieved without a sustainable system that integrates all components and reflects optimized and automated processes. The integrated system generates a lot of high-quality information that enables informed managerial decisions.
From Idea to Implementation
The project for the implementation of business software solutions began in January 2023 with the goal of providing a reliable and efficient technological infrastructure for the newly established chain of stores. The main challenge was to build all necessary systems and integrations in a short time to ensure the smooth operation of the stores from the very beginning. The first store opened its doors on March 23, 2023—only two months after the project began—after successfully creating the connectivity infrastructure between all locations. This included implementing and configuring ERP and POS systems, as well as the integration between them, ensuring seamless real-time data transfer.
Additionally, a direct connection to the banking system was established, allowing for one of the fastest card payment processes on the market, with the option to issue a combined cash receipt for customers. Concurrently, an integration between the WMS (Warehouse Management System) of the 3PL warehouse and the ERP system was implemented, providing synchronization of logistics and warehousing operations.
When operations commenced, a BI system was also implemented, using real data from the ERP system to generate analytical reports and support management decisions. These software solutions, which launched with the opening of the first store, now manage activities and processes in over 120 stores as of October 2024, with the effectiveness and scale of operations continuing to expand.
Factors for Success
The success of the project to implement business software solutions for Minimart is due to a number of key factors, the most important of which is the exceptional collaboration between the teams of BGK AD and ITC Consult. The trusting and open communication between the two organizations created an environment of engagement and motivation, in which all participants worked synergistically towards achieving common strategic goals.
The Minimart team recognized the strategic importance of technological innovations and demonstrated a willingness to invest the necessary resources in developing integrated solutions specifically adapted to business requirements. A key aspect of the project’s success was the clear definition of roles and responsibilities within the team, which facilitated effective coordination of activities. The continuous exchange of feedback between the teams of both companies ensured timely identification and resolution of challenges, contributing to the smooth flow of the project and the achievement of desired results.
Recognition of Achievements
Minimart was deservedly awarded by the Bulgarian Association of Information Technologies (BAIT) in the 2023 competition in the category “Successful ICT Project in Favor of the Bulgarian Economy.” This award recognizes the significant contribution of the project for implementing a comprehensive IT solution in the newly launched chain of stores, demonstrating an innovative approach and efficiency in modern retail. The project highlights Minimart’s commitment to technological transformation and shows how strategic investments in information technology can stimulate business growth and sustainability.
