FiLLi Cafe adopts Oracle NetSuite to drive global growth

FiLLi Cafe has rolled out Oracle NetSuite across its business as the Dubai-headquartered cafe chain manages operations in 13 countries and more than 100 locations.

The company operates 114 locations and has expanded beyond the United Arab Emirates into the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Oman, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles and Australia. FiLLi Cafe started in 2004 as a single cafe in Dubai.

After reviewing options for a single system to run multi-country operations, FiLLi Cafe selected NetSuite. The business had relied on legacy systems that struggled to keep up as its footprint widened.

NetSuite is an enterprise resource planning system covering finance and operational processes. It is used by companies managing multiple entities and locations, and Oracle positions it as a cloud product with embedded AI features.

Scaling operations

FiLLi Cafe has used NetSuite to centralise financial processes, automate workflows, and gain real-time visibility into operations as the brand expanded.

"The remarkable growth of our brand across multiple countries presented operational complexities," said Ahmed Hasanain, Head of Information Technology, FiLLi Cafe. "NetSuite has helped us centralise our financial processes, automate key workflows, and gain real-time visibility into our operations. This has been instrumental in supporting our global expansion as it has enabled us to work productively with our franchisees and ensure we deliver the high-quality experience our customers expect."

The chain's expansion relies on franchise partners in several markets. That structure can add reporting and coordination requirements, particularly around inventory purchasing, pricing and performance reporting. FiLLi Cafe linked its NetSuite rollout to stronger collaboration with franchisees.

Finance and inventory

The deployment includes NetSuite's financial management tools. FiLLi Cafe said it has automated accounts payable and accounts receivable processes, leading to a faster month-end close and improved cash flow.

The business is also using NetSuite OneWorld, designed for multi-subsidiary organisations. FiLLi Cafe said the system supports tax, reporting and currency processing across its international subsidiaries.

Inventory management is also part of the rollout. FiLLi Cafe said it is using the module to optimise stock levels, reduce waste and support product availability across locations.

For multi-site food and beverage operators, inventory is a recurring operational pressure point. Stock planning often needs to account for both forecast demand and short shelf-life ingredients. Variations in local supply chains can add further complexity when a brand operates across borders.

Oracle's view

Oracle NetSuite highlighted the rollout as an example of a hospitality brand moving away from older systems as it expands into more markets, and pointed to the value of consistent operational data across countries.

"FiLLi Cafe's impressive growth is a testament to its commitment to quality and innovation in the restaurant and hospitality space," said Nicky Tozer, Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Oracle NetSuite. "With NetSuite, FiLLi Cafe has been able to streamline its operations, gain valuable business insights, and scale efficiently to bring its renowned offering to new markets."

NetSuite has more than 43,000 customers across 220 countries and dependent territories. Oracle has increased its focus on AI features across its software portfolio, including within NetSuite.

FiLLi Cafe has positioned its menu around tea-based drinks, alongside coffees, smoothies and food such as wraps, sandwiches and flatbreads. The brand's expansion has taken it into established cafe markets as well as smaller island economies, which can require different approaches to sourcing, pricing and store operations.

FiLLi Cafe said NetSuite will provide a platform for future growth as it opens more locations and enters additional markets.