Cultivating Your Unique Quality for Success from This Case Study

Kent RO Systems, the pioneer in introducing Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purification technology in India, has been leading the market with its unwavering focus on quality and innovation. Despite increasing competition and evolving consumer preferences, Kent's commitment to customer satisfaction has helped it maintain a strong position in the water purifier market. With a positive attitude towards Kent water purifiers, consumers prioritize technology, brand reputation, and after-sales service. Kent continues to explore new growth avenues by diversifying into other home appliances, staying true to its mission of providing reliable water purification solutions to its customers.

Kent RO, a leading water purifier company in India, has an inspiring backstory that led to its founding. The current managing director, who started the company in 1998, previously worked as a deputy manager for Indian Oil.

In 1997, his son fell seriously ill due to drinking contaminated water. The incident made the Managing Director realize that waterborne diseases were a significant problem in India, and he felt the need to do something about it.

At the time, most people in India drank water directly from the tap without any purification, leading to various waterborne diseases. The Managing Director's experience with his son's illness prompted him to start a nationwide movement to provide purified water to every household in India.

To achieve this, he brought Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology to India for the first time. However, the product was costly due to its advanced technology and imported materials. He realized that the high cost was a significant barrier to making the technology accessible to the masses.

Despite the challenges, he was committed to his vision and decided to bootstrap the business without taking any debt or diluting the equity. Over time, he made Kent RO the number-one brand in India by reaching out to the maximum number of Indian households and making the product more affordable and accessible.

Today, Kent RO is recognized as a household name in India, and its quality products have helped millions of people access clean, safe, and healthy drinking water. The Managing Director's personal experience and determination have inspired countless people in India to adopt healthy water habits and avoid waterborne diseases.

How did Kent make His business So big? 

Join me on a journey to explore the remarkable entrepreneurial success story of Kent RO, the market leader in water purifiers that has been waging a nationwide war against waterborne diseases. Through this journey, we will gain insights into the innovative strategies and visionary leadership that propelled Kent RO to the top of the market. We will delve into the challenges and obstacles that the company faced along the way, and how it overcame them to achieve its mission of providing safe and healthy drinking water to millions of people across India. So, let's dive into the fascinating world of Kent RO and discover the secrets behind its success.

1. Problem Solving Product:

The water purification industry in India is still in its early stages, with only 3% of households having access to it. However, despite this, Kent RO has emerged as the number one brand of water purifiers in the country. The reason for this is simple - the company has been able to address the burning problem of customers, which is the issue of waterborne diseases.

The Managing Director of Kent RO quickly realised the gravity of the situation and understood that people were suffering from contaminated water. This prompted him to bring advanced technology to the industry that his competitors could not offer - Reverse Osmosis (RO).

RO technology is a highly advanced water filtration technique capable of removing two types of impurities from water: undissolved and dissolved impurities. Undissolved impurities such as bacteria, sand, and clay can be removed by using UV (Ultraviolet) water purification technology. However, dissolved impurities such as chemical impurities, inorganic salts, and gases cannot be purified in this way.

Kent RO was able to understand the burning problem of customers in a timely manner and became the first company to introduce RO technology for household purposes in India. This advanced technology has been a boon for millions of people in India who were suffering from waterborne diseases due to the consumption of contaminated water. By addressing this critical issue, Kent RO has become the most trusted and reliable brand of water purifiers in the country.

2. Consumer Product Marketing Strategy:

In the late 90s, Kent introduced Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology to the water purifier industry, which was a revolutionary innovation at the time. However, despite the product's competence, Kent faced several challenges in selling it, primarily due to its high cost of production. The first RO product was launched in 1998, priced at Rs 20,000, which was considered expensive for the average consumer.

These high costs made it difficult for Kent to gain market acceptance, as there was a lack of awareness and understanding among potential customers about the benefits of RO technology. In addition, the cost of the product was a major deterrent for most customers, making it an unattractive option for many.

To address these challenges, Kent started selling purifiers through direct marketing, by sending salespeople to households to showcase their products. This traditional method was effective in generating some sales, but Kent realized that they needed to adopt a more comprehensive marketing strategy to reach a wider audience.

In 2005, Kent launched a full-fledged consumer product marketing campaign. They introduced Bollywood actress Hema Malini as their brand ambassador and launched TV and newspaper ads highlighting the advantages of their product. These efforts helped to build trust and confidence among potential customers, and Kent's sales began to increase steadily.

Prevailing, Kent's journey in selling RO technology was challenging, but their persistence and commitment to providing high-quality products paid off in the end. Today, Kent has established itself as a leading brand in the water purifier industry and continues to innovate and improve its products.

3. Market Leader with Low Investment:

According to the Chairman of Kent, the company has always followed a stringent policy of zero debt, even when the initial investment was low. Despite this, the company managed to grow rapidly and establish itself as the leading water purifier brand in India. One of the key factors in this growth was the fact that the company expanded its reach across the country without increasing its expenses. This was made possible by the company's focus on building a strong distribution network, rather than relying on expensive advertising campaigns. Additionally, the company did not take any loans or equity to fund its expansion, which helped it maintain a healthy financial position. As the brand gained popularity among the masses, Kent began building its distribution network across the country, ensuring that its products were easily available to customers no matter where they were located.

4. Social Commitment:

Kent, a socially responsible company, has taken it upon itself to provide clean and safe drinking water to people across the country. With a mission to combat waterborne diseases and promote good health, Kent has introduced affordable water purifiers that are accessible to the masses. In addition to this, the company has also launched air purifiers and vegetable washers, making it the first to do so in the country. 

However, Kent's success is not just due to its products but also its focus on research and development. The company understands that to stay ahead in the market, it is essential to continuously innovate and provide solutions that meet the changing needs of customers. Kent achieves this by reaching out to its customers to understand their problems and concerns and then using this information to create innovative solutions. 

The company's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has made it a leader in the industry. Kent's focus on research and development has enabled it to stay ahead of the competition and maintain its position as a trusted brand in the market. Therefore, if you want to be a frontrunner in your industry, it is imperative to follow Kent's approach and focus on continuous innovation, understand your customers' needs, and provide solutions to their problems.

6. Innovative Technology:

Kent RO is a company that has always been at the forefront of research and development in the water purification industry. Their commitment to innovation and excellence has made them a leader in the market, and they continuously work towards improving their technology to maintain their position as the number one brand.

One of the significant challenges in the old RO technology was water wastage. It required three litres of water to purify one litre of water. However, Kent's new technology has been able to reduce this wastage to just one litre for every litre of water purified. This is a significant breakthrough in the industry and has helped the company to become more sustainable and environmentally conscious.

The Minerals RO Technology is another major advancement that Kent has introduced. Unlike other purifier brands that add artificial minerals to water, Kent's new technology retains the original minerals found in water. This is crucial for maintaining the essential minerals needed for the human body. To make things even better, the technology displays the quantity and type of minerals present in water on a digital screen.

Kent's business success can be attributed to the six techniques they have adopted to stay ahead of the competition. These include their focus on customer needs, innovation, quality, after-sales service, marketing, and distribution. By learning and implementing these strategies, other brands can also thrive and become market leaders in their respective industries.