Smarter Dairy Logistics
A tailored platform for DKMUL to streamline ice cream and milk distribution under KMF’s network.
Services
End-to-End Product Development
Industry
Supply Chain & Logistics Tech
Client
DKMUL - Karnataka Milk Federation
Product Overview
Tenera is Tikanga’s in-house product – a comprehensive distribution management platform built to handle everything from inventory and orders to dealer management and reporting, all from a single system.
For this project, we fine-tuned Tenera into a specialized Dairy Management Platform for DKMUL (Dakshina Kannada Co-operative Milk Producers Union Ltd.), which operates under KMF (Karnataka Milk Federation) – one of India’s largest government-run dairy cooperatives.
The platform was initially deployed for streamlining ice cream sales and logistics, with the architecture and workflows prepared to seamlessly support milk distribution at scale in the next phase.
The Challenge
DKMUL was operating with an older software system that struggled to meet its operational needs. The issues included:
Slow system performance, especially during high-order windows
Complicated user journeys, making it hard for dealers and internal teams to operate efficiently
Delayed payments, with dealers often keeping large amounts pending due to lack of real-time tracking
Cluttered UI/UX, causing friction and increasing onboarding time
Limited reporting features, leaving managers blind to key trends and operational gaps
No real-time visibility into orders, stock status, or sales performance across regions
With their growing footprint in the frozen product space, and with a goal to eventually digitize their milk logistics, DKMUL (under KMF) needed a stable, scalable, and easy-to-use digital backbone.
Research
We started the project by deeply immersing ourselves in DKMUL’s day-to-day operations. This included:
Interviews with depot managers, dealers, and field executives to understand on-ground problems
Process audits of the current software to trace where inefficiencies and bottlenecks were occurring
Mapping real-time dealer journeys, from product inquiry to order placement, delivery, and payment
Studying seasonal variations in ice cream sales, regional demand differences, and logistic routes
This research helped us understand the real-world edge cases, user behavior, and specific regional needs — all crucial for tailoring Tenera into a practical, frictionless solution.
Our Solution
We customised Tenera into a dedicated Dairy Management Platform for DKMUL, focused on simplifying and digitising their ice cream distribution.
Here’s what the platform now offers:
Dealer App – Dealers can browse products, place orders, track deliveries, and make payments in real time
Admin Dashboard – Enables internal teams to manage dealers, monitor stock, oversee payments, and generate reports
Super Admin Panel – Role-based access control and consolidated insights for management
Inventory Dashboard – Real-time updates from multiple depots, stock tracking, and automated low-stock alerts
Execution
We approached the execution with a clear focus: smooth rollout without disrupting daily business operations. Here's how we executed the transition:
1. Discovery & Workflow Mapping
Our team began with a process discovery sprint. We conducted workshops with depot heads, sales teams, and IT staff to map their existing workflows. We reverse-engineered how orders were processed, how dealers interacted with the system, and how internal approvals happened. We identified duplicate tasks, redundant approvals, and information silos that could be eliminated.
2. UX/UI Redesign for Dealers
The existing system's cluttered interface confused dealers and slowed adoption. We rebuilt the dealer app interface from scratch, with a clean, intuitive design and minimal steps to place an order or make payments. The interface was tested with real DKMUL dealers and refined based on their feedback before going live.
3. Migration from Old System
We performed a clean data migration — moving dealers, products, pricing structures, and historical orders into Tenera. Where data was inconsistent or poorly formatted, we collaborated with the client to standardize and clean it before import.
4. Custom Module Development
Specific modules like returns management, multi-payment handling, and depot-based inventory control were custom-built to match DKMUL’s operations. We also created workflows that automatically matched payments with dealer orders and flagged discrepancies.
5. Pilot Launch in Selected Depots
We chose a few high-volume depots to test the system in a real environment. Field managers, dealers, and depot staff were trained by our team. We shadowed them during the first few weeks to gather feedback and resolve live issues instantly.
6. Training & Support Structure
A hands-on training module was deployed for all users. We developed vernacular training content, conducted in-person walkthroughs, and created helpdesk flows for continuous support. Feedback loops were integrated into the app itself for rapid iterations.
7. Full Rollout with Remote Monitoring
After the pilot success, we rolled out Tenera across DKMUL’s ice cream depots. Remote monitoring tools were embedded into the platform to help identify usage gaps, inactive dealers, or stock anomalies.
Why We Took This Path
Instead of building something entirely new, we believed fine-tuning an existing, proven product (Tenera) was the most efficient way forward.
Here’s why that worked:
Speed – We were able to go live in weeks, not months
Flexibility – Tenera’s modular structure made it easy to adapt to DKMUL’s processes
User-Centric Approach – Dealers are at the core of this system. We simplified their journey and built for ease of use
Real-Time Visibility – Everyone from depot heads to top-level management can now see what’s happening, where
Scalability – The system is ready to be scaled for milk distribution, which is significantly more complex
Outcome
Over ₹10 million in revenue processed through the system within weeks of deployment
Dealer payment defaults have reduced drastically due to real-time payment visibility
The average time to place and process an order dropped by 60%
Inventory discrepancies were reduced due to automated stock tracking
Depot managers now access accurate reports without manual collation
DKMUL’s leadership has full control and visibility, with consolidated performance metrics at their fingertips
The platform is ready for pan-KMF deployment, starting with milk logistics in the next phase
Conclusion
The Tenera implementation for DKMUL is a strong example of how product thinking and domain adaptation can bring real impact. With KMF as the parent body, and DKMUL as our direct implementation partner, we proved that a large government-led dairy operation can go fully digital — without overwhelming its users or interrupting its daily operations.
This project is not just a deployment — it’s a transformation. Tenera didn’t just replace an old system, it redefined how DKMUL manages its dealers, inventory, and sales, paving the way for a truly scalable, future-proof Dairy Management Platform.
