To acquire knowledge of the field, Don Bosco Tech Society (Karunapuram) set out to see the ‘Reliance Smart store’ located at Hanamkonda. The well-planned trip was for the Sales Associate domain trainees taken on October 25, 2019.

Mr. Arun Kumar (Assistant Manager), warmly welcomed the trainees, on arrival, while appreciated a lot about the dedicated service Don Bosco Tech Society is rendering to. As he welcomed, helped the trainees to go at length and breadth of the store to observe how it is maintained. Trainees closely observed the scientific settings of each item or product. It was observed that separate sections were allocated to each product, equipment, items, vegetables, frozen items, high values, food, and nonfood, etc. All products were available in varying quantities. 

The store manager asked the trainees to gather in one place and requested them for the shared experience of the store. He listened to each of them to analyze their learning.

He also explained the trainees of the customer behavior in the store, and how to convince them to buy a product, to demonstrate the know-how of equipment. He also gave them tips to entice the customers to buy additional related products of their choices. The trainees were told to help to decide the customers if they sit on a fence to buy or not to buy. The key responsibility of a customer associate, he said, “is to have the patience, even in an adverse situation too.” He added, “The customer associate must be diligent enough to help the customer see the benefit to buy more quantity.” During the visit Mr. Kumar mentioned that a good customer associate must have the knack to impress the customer to compel for the future visit, covering even several miles.

Another important and vital aspect of a customer associate he shared with the trainees is punctuality and perfection of a given work. “Sincerity and perfection in whatever work you do will go a long way,” said Mr. Kumar. He added, “Keeping the rules and regulations of the organization, you will be working for, will tell how responsible and sincere you are. And this is vital to career growth.”

The trainees had the prior knowledge as to stack items according to brand, packing items suitable to customers' needs. And they observed that a similar pattern is followed in the store. The trainees saw the offer board and discount cards for each product in the store, accessible to the customers. Before the exit to the store, the trainees had a demo session on how to use credit and debit cards in the billing session.

Trainees felt very happy about the experience they had of the store. They thanked the store manager and Don Bosco Tech society’s facilitators for having given an ample opportunity to experience something new each day.