Frequently asked questions

Questions about WorklikeGenie, the distributor management system (DMS) for companies, distributors and retailers.

What is a distributor management system (DMS)?

A distributor management system (DMS) is software that a brand, its distributors and its retailers all use to manage billing, orders, stock and coverage across the distribution channel, instead of each side keeping its own spreadsheets. WorklikeGenie is a DMS with AI features (Genies) layered on top of your own billing and sales data.

Who is WorklikeGenie for?

Companies that sell through a distributor-and-retailer channel (FMCG and similar consumer goods), and the distributors and retailers who work with them. All three sign in to the same portal with different logins.

How much does WorklikeGenie cost?

Pricing depends on your channel size and which modules you need. Write to hello@worklikegenie.com and the team will get back to you with a quote.

How long does setup take?

You can be up and running in about 2 days. Assigning controls and login IDs for your full team typically takes another 5 days on top of that.

Where does our data live?

In your own database and your own file storage, not WorklikeGenie's. The application reads from your database in real time when a dashboard is opened; we never copy, keep or sell your data. The only thing stored centrally is an encrypted pointer to where your data lives.

What systems does WorklikeGenie work with?

SAP, by Excel export/import or by a secure API key, for invoices and master data. Excel/CSV import for anyone without SAP or API access, with you mapping the columns yourself. Tally and Busy are supported through step-by-step import/export guidance -- a manual, Excel-based workflow, not an automatic sync.

Who can see what inside WorklikeGenie?

The company, each distributor and each retailer sign in separately and only see their own data and whatever part of the channel their role is allowed to see. A dealer who works with several companies on WorklikeGenie switches between them from a single login, with each company's data kept completely separate.

What do the AI (Genie) features actually do?

Every Genie works from your own billing, stock and hierarchy data -- never invented numbers. Ask Genie answers plain-English questions from your real sales and stock figures; Genie Suggested Order drafts next month's order from recent trend and what is on hand; the Competition Analysis Genie estimates town-level market size and outlet count and compares it with your own dealer count there. Estimates are always labelled as estimates.

Does WorklikeGenie replace our ERP?

No. It sits alongside SAP or another ERP, importing billing and master data from it so your channel team has one place to work with that data for reconciliation, coverage and forecasting. It does not replace core accounting or ERP functions.

Can retailers bill customers from a phone?

Yes -- the retailer billing app lets a retailer search or scan a product by barcode, add it to a bill, and record payment as cash, UPI, card or credit, from a phone browser.

Can a distributor dispute an invoice or scheme claim?

Yes -- a distributor can raise a concern against an invoice, credit note or scheme claim, with a photo if needed, and follow it through your company's escalation matrix with a timeline both sides can see.

Does WorklikeGenie track orders with a unique number?

Yes -- every order placed through WorklikeGenie, whether typed in or taken from a Genie suggested order, gets its own unique order number that both sides can track.

More about the product: what is a DMS? or see the full feature list.