Imagine running 40 different companies across four countries with 4,000 employees—all using various systems that barely talk to each other. Does this sound like a nightmare? That's exactly Ramco Group's challenge before discovering a solution that changed everything.
Picture this: Your finance team uses one system to process payments, your manufacturing floor tracks production in another, HR juggles employee requests in another tool, and IT has its separate ticketing system. Now multiply that chaos by 40 companies, and you'll understand why Ramco's leadership team struggled with inefficiencies.
But what if I told you they solved this massive headache without hiring an army of developers or investing millions in new software? Let's explore how one of East Africa's largest conglomerates turned its operations around with low-code technology and why their story matters for any manufacturing business struggling with digital transformation.
From hardware store to East African powerhouse
Ramco Group's story began in 1948 with a single hardware store in Nairobi. Today, it has expanded into manufacturing, building materials, print and packaging, IT distribution, services, trading, and real estate. With operations in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya, Ramco now boasts an annual turnover exceeding $300 million.
This rapid expansion, however, brought significant operational challenges highlighting the very real challenges of digital transformation in manufacturing, especially at scale.
The digital mess: When more tools create more problems
Before their transformation, Ramco was drowning in a sea of disconnected software and manual processes. Their challenges included:
- Tool overload confusion – Employees constantly asked, "Which system do I use for this?" due to multiple overlapping tools.
- Operational blind spots – Leadership lacked real-time visibility, making monitoring and managing operations difficult.
- Approval bottlenecks – Getting approvals felt like sending requests into a black hole. Delays were common, and tracking progress required endless follow-ups.
For a manufacturing organization where timing and coordination are everything, these inefficiencies posed a significant risk to growth and prevented meaningful manufacturing efficiency improvements.
The low-code light bulb moment
Ramco realized they needed more than another software tool. They needed a way to connect their existing systems and standardize workflows, where they discovered low-code technology.
Here's why low-code stood out as the perfect solution:
- Speed – Low-code solutions deploy in weeks, unlike traditional development, which takes months or years.
- Flexibility – Manufacturing processes change frequently, and low-code allows quick adjustments without IT intervention.
- Integration – Rather than replacing their existing systems, low-code platforms could connect and streamline them.
This became the catalyst for a major low-code transformation in manufacturing that reshaped the company’s entire operational structure.
One executive said, "We don't need more software—we need the software we have to work together."
From chaos to coordination: The implementation journey
Partnering with Kissflow, a leading low-code platform, Ramco embarked on an ambitious digital transformation journey:
- 85 processes automated
- 400 integrations deployed
- 50 data sets created
- 5 case systems implemented
- All within one year
Rather than tackling everything at once, Ramco focused on its most critical business areas:
- HR – Automated leave applications, employee onboarding, and offboarding, building a more connected digital workforce in manufacturing.
- IT – Standardized hardware requests, software approvals, and support tickets.
- Finance – Streamlined payment requests and customer credit applications.
- EHS compliance – Simplified tracking of statutory compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
Success stories: The real impact
Let’s take a closer look at two standout process transformations that contributed toa significant impact in digital manufacturing.
1. Automating job outsourcing
Before automation, tracking outsourced jobs required spreadsheets, emails, and phone calls. Managers had no centralized way to monitor jobs at different locations.
After Kissflow:
- One unified dashboard to track all outsourced jobs.
- Real-time visibility into raw materials and daily production.
- Faster invoicing and dispatching, reducing delays from days to hours.
2. Simplifying IT hardware requests
Previously, employees hated raising IT hardware requests. The process was slow and non-standardized, and requests often disappeared into approval limbo.
After Kissflow:
- Employees submitted requests in seconds.
- IT gained complete visibility into the request status.
- Compliance improved with a standardized approval process.
These small but high-impact wins set the stage for larger transformations across the business and reinforced the long-term benefits of digital transformation for manufacturers looking to scale efficiently.
The human side of digital transformation
Technology isn't the only hurdle in digital transformation is people resist change. Ramco faced the usual challenges:
- The "we've always done it this way" mindset – Some employees resisted new systems out of habit.
- Training thousands of employees – Teaching 4,000+ people across multiple countries was no small task.
- Balancing implementation with daily operations – The transition had to be smooth without disrupting business.
The key? Strong partnership and support. "The Kissflow team met our expectations and helped smooth the transition," said Nicholas Githinji, Ramco's Group Processes Head.
Lessons for leaders in manufacturing
If your organization is struggling with disconnected systems and manual processes, here's what you can learn from Ramco's transformation:
- Start where it hurts most – Focus on fixing the most frustrating, time-consuming processes first.
- Leadership must drive change – Digital transformation isn't an IT project; it requires executive commitment.
- Prioritize user experience – Employees will embrace solutions that make their jobs easier.
- Measure success – Track KPIs like time savings and process speed to demonstrate tangible value.
The numbers that made finance happy
- 30+ hours saved weekly – The equivalent of adding a full-time employee without hiring anyone.
- 35–45 percent faster processes – Crucial for just-in-time manufacturing.
- 2,500+ items processed – A testament to scale and success.
These wins are powerful examples of measurable manufacturing efficiency improvements that translate into operational excellence and cost savings.
What's next for Ramco?
Ramco isn't stopping here. Their next steps include:
- Consolidating reporting across all business units.
- Integrating Kissflow with additional systems.
- Automating enterprise-wide reporting for real-time insights.
Why this matters for every manufacturer
Manufacturers face unique challenges of digital transformation in manufacturing, including:
- Complex supply chains spanning multiple partners
- Production processes that require precise coordination
- Regulatory compliance varies by region
- Tight margins that demand efficiency at every step
Low-code platforms offer a way to modernize operations, streamline workflows, and reduce IT dependency without the time and cost of traditional software development. The impact in digital manufacturing is clear: scalable, adaptable, and future-ready systems that empower teams and elevate outcomes.
The takeaway: Digital transformation doesn't have to be hard
The most important lesson from Ramco's journey is this: digital transformation doesn't have to be a years-long, budget-breaking odyssey. With the right approach and technology, even complex manufacturing enterprises can transform their operations in months, not years.
As we've seen with Ramco, the key ingredients are:
- A clear understanding of your pain points
- The right technology partner
- A focus on high-impact processes
- Consistent measurement of results
Take heart if your manufacturing organization is drowning in disconnected systems and manual processes. As Ramco discovered, there's a better way, and it might be more accessible than you think.
Save 30+ hours per week like Ramco! See how Kissflow can help.
