In an exclusive interview with Apparel Resources, Abhishek Yugal, Managing Partner of Groyyo Consulting, discusses the firm’s mission to uplift MSMEs in the textile and apparel sector. With a focus on operational excellence, sustainability and cutting-edge technology, Groyyo aims to transform how manufacturers navigate global challenges and drive profitability. Here are the excerpts.
AR: Can you provide a brief history of Groyyo Consulting, its mission and the core services that you offer to your clients?
Abhishek: We founded Groyyo with a clear vision: to democratise the apparel manufacturing sector, particularly for MSMEs, which are vital to the global economy. As we developed our B2B platform, connecting textile and apparel manufacturers across regions like India, Bangladesh and Turkey with global brands, we recognised a deeper need. These MSMEs were grappling with operational inefficiencies, like absence of any kind of performance measures and control, leading to factories working at sub-optimal efficiencies, quality and cost levels, along with lack of qualified or trained middle management. All these resulted in inefficient processes and work flow designs, lack of trained merchandising team at factories for efficient order management, sub-optimal utilisation of resources including man, machine and materials. They lacked the strategic guidance to compete effectively in a rapidly evolving market. This realisation gave birth to Groyyo Consulting—a specialised vertical focused on empowering MSMEs in the textile and apparel sector.
Our mission is to drive operational excellence, implement technology-driven solutions and foster sustainable growth for our clients. Our core services include Plant Start-up/Set-up, Manufacturing Excellence, Business Strategy and Learning and Organisational Development. We’ve also expanded into Agro-processing and Retail, always aiming to help our clients navigate industry complexities with confidence and achieve long-term success.
AR: How does Groyyo Consulting differentiate itself from other consulting firms in the textile and apparel industry?
Abhishek: What sets us apart is our holistic, hands-on approach that’s deeply rooted in our understanding of the MSME sector. While many firms have established themselves as strong players, our unique value proposition lies in blending industry-specific expertise with cutting-edge technology and an unwavering commitment to client success. Our close integration with the broader Groyyo ecosystem provides us with direct access to a network of manufacturers, suppliers and global brands, giving us practical insights that are immediately applicable.
We emphasise on a personalised approach—no one-size-fits-all solutions. We work closely with clients to understand their specific challenges and co-create strategies that deliver measurable results. Our team, led by experts with experience across Asia and Africa, is involved in every project, ensuring that our clients receive the highest level of attention. Additionally, our commitment to sustainability and social responsibility is integral to our work, helping clients adopt practices that meet global ESG standards.
AR: What current trends in the textile and apparel industry do you see having the most significant impact?
Abhishek: The textile and apparel industry is undergoing a significant transformation, influenced by geopolitical, economic and technological trends. In key regions like India, Bangladesh and emerging markets in Africa and South America, we observe several critical trends. Geopolitical tensions, such as the war in Ukraine, have disrupted global supply chains, leading companies to rethink sourcing strategies. We guide our clients in diversifying and exploring new markets to mitigate these risks.
Sustainability has become a strategic priority, especially in Asia. Countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam are heavily investing in green technologies, like renewable energies including solar energy, water management systems, including ZLD and Rainwater harvesting, sustainable raw materials’ sourcing, energy-efficient machinery and automation, including for dry and wet processes in laundry, advanced waste management, efficient lighting solutions, etc., to minimise their carbon footprint. They are also working on labour reforms to stay competitive. We help clients navigate these changes, ensuring they meet both regulatory demands and the expectations of increasingly conscious consumers. The rise of Industry 4.0 technologies—AI, IoT, blockchain—is also revolutionising the industry and we assist clients in leveraging these innovations to enhance transparency, efficiency and sustainability.
AR: How does Groyyo Consulting stay ahead of these trends to provide innovative solutions?
Abhishek: We don’t just follow trends—we anticipate them. Our approach is rooted in a deep understanding of the global textile and apparel landscape, combined with a proactive mindset that keeps us ahead of the curve. By leveraging technologies like AI, IoT and blockchain where they add value, we create solutions that drive efficiency and sustainability across our clients’ supply chains. However, our true differentiator is our agility and relentless focus on results. We dive in headfirst, adapting quickly to changes and turning challenges into opportunities. Our team’s wealth of experience ensures our clients are always a step ahead in this dynamic industry.
AR: Can you share a success story where Groyyo significantly improved a client’s operations or profitability?
Abhishek: One of our standout projects was the PROGRESS in Bangladesh, a project by Swisscontact, an international development agency, aimed at promoting green growth in the ready-made garments sector. Working with prominent players like 4A Yarn Dyeing Ltd., to start with, we identified the key areas for improvement through a detailed Need Assessment. We then formulated an intervention plan based on division of the targeted improvements in the form of small and breakthrough ones. Small improvements like Low Performance Improvements, optimisation of manufacturing processes were done through trainings and handholding of respective departments. Breakthrough improvements like improvement in sewing efficiencies were done through training and implementation of various lean tools like SMED, optimum utilisation of available skills, scientific absenteeism coverage, etc., which resulted in a 22 per cent increase in operational efficiency and a significant reduction in DHU by almost 58 per cent .
Our success in the BYTES project (again by Swisscontact), focused on building youth employability, further underscores our impact. The successful completion of Work Based Training in the initial eight factories, where the factories started reaping benefits of having their own customised Sewing Machine Operator training centre as well as of having on-floor low performance improvements, multiskilling of operators, which resulted in enhanced skills’ level, reduced attrition and better absenteeism control, led to the project’s extension into a second phase.
We’ve also delivered substantial improvements for clients like Allure Global Sourcing and Elira Home Furnishing. At AGS, our process optimisation efforts led to enhanced productivity by almost 320 per cent and cost reductions, while our work with Ellira in process re-engineering resulted in notable increase in production efficiency by around 97 per cent and cost per minute reduction by around 33 per cent. These projects demonstrate how we leverage deep industry knowledge and proven methodologies to drive excellence and financial success for our clients.
AR: What metrics or KPIs do you typically use to measure the success of your consulting projects?
Abhishek: Success for us is measured through a combination of quantitative and qualitative KPIs. Delivering on all committed objectives within agreed timelines and budget is fundamental. This ensures the project stays on track and sets the stage for seamless completion. Client satisfaction is another critical metric, gauged through regular feedback and the timely clearance of invoices. The absence of client escalations and positive testimonials further validate our effectiveness.
Recognition within our clients’ organisations and acknowledgment by peers and the broader industry are also key indicators of success. These often translate into long-term partnerships and repeat engagements, which we view as the ultimate validation of our impact. In essence, a successful project is one that not only meets its immediate goals but also fosters enduring client relationships and strengthens our industry reputation.
AR: What are some common challenges your clients face and how do you address them?
Abhishek: Our clients often face challenges such as setting up new facilities, optimising performance, enhancing quality, reducing costs and driving profitability. We tackle these with a commitment to excellence, combining deep industry expertise with a hands-on, practical approach. When setting up a new facility, we don’t just provide a blueprint—we deliver a complete roadmap to success, from business plans to manpower planning, recruitment and training.
Performance and profitability optimisation are at the core of what we do. Whether it’s improving efficiency, boosting quality or reducing costs, we bring best industry practices to the table. Our passion is to see our clients thrive, driving not just operational improvements but also significant gains in profitability. Empowering clients’ teams through targeted training is also key to sustained success, ensuring they can build on the improvements we implement.
AR: What are your strategic goals for the next five years?
Abhishek: Our vision was always to transcend the conventional limits of textiles and apparel and extend our expertise beyond India and Bangladesh. This year, we’ve already made significant progress, launching new verticals in Agro-processing and Learning and Organisational Development and exploring opportunities in Vietnam and Myanmar. But we’re not stopping here.
Our goal by the financial year 2025-26 is to become the largest consulting firm in our space, not just by turnover but by the impact we create. Over the next five years, we envision Groyyo becoming the industry’s thought leader, a trusted knowledge hub and expanding into new sectors and continents, including Europe, South America and the USA. This journey is driven by our relentless passion for excellence. We’re not just building a consulting firm; we’re building a legacy.
AR: How do you foresee the consulting industry evolving and what role will Groyyo play in that future?
Abhishek: The consulting industry is on the brink of transformation, driven by the integration of technology, AI and robotics. As Bill Gates once said, “We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten.” This resonates deeply as we prepare for an era where technology will revolutionise our approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
However, while technology will be a game-changer, the human element will remain irreplaceable. Our role will be to seamlessly integrate these advancements while maintaining a strong focus on human-centric solutions. We aim to leverage AI and robotics to enhance efficiency and innovation, but our core will always be our expertise, intuition and the personal relationships we build with our clients. We’re poised to lead this evolution, creating a future where technology and humanity work hand in hand.